ArcaMax

The headline of a Wall Street Journal editorial caught my eye: "Arizona's School Choice Election." Writing as if nothing had changed in American politics since 2011, the editorial board assailed Katie Hobbs, the Democratic candidate for governor, as a tool of the teachers unions for her opposition to school choice. The Journal advised that ...Read more

America needs more immigrants, but we seem determined to shoot ourselves in the foot. Before addressing that self-sabotage, permit a small digression.

In the 1980s, Venezuela was the wealthiest country in Latin America. Sitting on about 18% of the world's proven oil reserves, Venezuelans enjoyed higher living standards than their neighbors and ...Read more

At the moment when freedom-loving people around the world are elated (if on tenterhooks) at the progress of Ukrainian forces in pushing back the Russian invaders, Heritage Action, the political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, has joined with other self-styled conservative groups to oppose helping Ukraine fight for its life. I know, ...Read more

A French politician has ignited a fracas, or should I say, contretemps, over men barbecuing meat. Lest you think culture wars are an exclusively American preserve, leading members of the French political establishment have been exchanging barbs over whether the French male's attachment to his sizzling steak must be abandoned for the sake of the ...Read more

This past week marked the first day of school in our neighborhood. I'm a sucker for the family tableau -- a kid with her new backpack, mom and dad with cameras at the ready as the bus pulls up.

It's alarming to consider how likely it is that by the time that smiling child reaches high school, she will be anxious, depressed or cutting herself. ...Read more

Last week, responding to Damon Linker's persuasive arguments about the dangers of criminally prosecuting former President Donald Trump, I ventured that we might have to sacrifice justice on the altar of prudence. The column provoked a fierce backlash, and while it may seem odd to say this, I'm in sympathy with my critics and offer these ...Read more

The longing to see right prevail and wrong punished is arguably one of the fiercest human desires. That's why it is nothing less than agonizing to consider that in the case of Donald Trump, justice may have to be sacrificed on the altar of order.

That is the argument advanced by Damon Linker:

"Large numbers of Republicans think Democrats are ...Read more

Executing a valid search warrant, FBI agents arrived in the morning to search the office. The word "unprecedented" was on everyone's lips. They seized business records, computers and other documents related to possible crimes. An enraged Donald Trump denounced the FBI and the Justice Department, saying not that they had abided by the warrant ...Read more

Postcards from the great American labor shortage: A couple arrives at the Seattle airport after a five-hour flight and stands in line at the car rental desk. People are angry. At the desk sits a harassed employee explaining that he simply has no cars of any kind to rent. Nothing. Why? There aren't enough employees on hand to vacuum, wash, fuel ...Read more

Mike Pence thinks he has a shot at the presidency.

You can imagine how the conversation went with his political advisors: People are tired of Trump. They want to move on. And you're the perfect person to fill the void. You served him faithfully, but when it came to violating the Constitution, you stood your ground. And you are the true ...Read more

We went west for vacation this year, to Washington State. COVID robbed us of travel for so long that it was possible to lose the sense of gratitude for this vast, gorgeous country.

People from the East Coast assume you're speaking of Puerto Rico when you mention the San Juan Islands, but those from the Pacific Northwest know them as perfect ...Read more

The day Dobbs was handed down, I happened to be lunching with a new friend who was upset and angry over the decision. She's a libertarian and strongly pro-choice. I said "Sorry," and meant it. Not that I agreed it was a bad decision (I was in the mushy middle with Justice John Roberts), but I understood her feelings and sympathized. She, in turn...Read more

In a sense, the mass murder at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, was a symbol of how badly off-track our country has gotten. Amid the bunting and marching bands and families on lawn chairs, a disturbed idiot with a powerful rifle fired randomly at grandfathers, children and couples holding hands. Blood, bones, eyeballs and guts...Read more