The technologies undergirding zero carbon energy sources like solar, wind, and nuclear are advancing, and as efficiencies go up, the costs associated with green energy production are coming down. But despite the best wishes of environmentalists, the world isn’t yet ready for a wholesale replacement of fossil fuels.

Since 2011, Oregon has been pursuing an ambitious “40-40-20 plan,” which aims to have 40 percent of the state’s adults holding a bachelor’s degree, 40 more holding an associate’s degree, and the remaining 20 with a high school diploma or equivalent in the next 15 years. This goal naturally involves a major overhaul of the state’s education system, one that de-emphasizes standardized tests. That’s where the state runs into conflict with the Obama administration.

Despite being booted from office in disgrace and convicted of tax fraud, Berlusconi and his party’s approval ratings are trending upward again. For the umpteenth time, Berlusconi’s party seems primed for a comeback after being counted out for good (although this time his daughter may be the one in charge).

The UN’s much-vaunted Green Climate Fund (GCF) opened its headquarters in South Korea today. You’ll forgive us if we don’t bust out the streamers and kazoos; at this point, there’s not much to cheer. The fund has raised just $40 million of the tens of billions of dollars originally envisioned.

Once again, Brazil seems to have missed an historic opportunity to transform itself and leap into the front rank of world economies. The FT reports that Brazil just had its worst quarterly slowdown in five years, its GDP is shrinking, and investment is drying up. Yet he finance minister did his best to shift the blame by talking about the global economy.

Hospitals are getting bigger, prices are going up, the system is getting even more complicated, and networks are getting smaller. Meanwhile, politicians continue to debate reforms that largely fail to address any of these problems.

The US “pivot”, and Washington’s enduring commitment to stability and prosperity in Asia, is one of the most important geopolitical strategies of the Obama administration. It is a bipartisan goal, and whoever takes office after President Obama will likely support it. But in this sensitive time, as rising China tests the US and other Asian powers, Washington mustn’t give its Asian allies any reason to doubt that the US is anything short of fully committed to the region for the long term.

Outrage is a spent emotion in Pakistan. Both terrorists and those terrorized are finding it increasingly difficult to shock, or be shocked any more, by anything. There was nothing surprising about this attack or its aftermath. Politicians and the police have promised a swift and thorough investigation and better security. It would be wise to be skeptical of their promises.

The British Catholic journal The Tablet (which I have found to be a reliable and balanced source for what goes on in the Roman world) carried a story in its November 23, 2013, issue by Christa Pongratz-Lippitt, its correspondent in Germany. Titled “Mueller vs. Marx: Clash of the Titans”, the story reports on a public […]

Melancholy and some relief filled the corridors of the Illinois state legislature last night as it finally worked up the chutzpah to pass modest but important pension cuts over the heads of union leaders and some demurring lawmakers. Predictably, dissenting Democrats called it draconian, a handful of Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and unions, which prefer the bill vetoed, will contest it in court. This is only the first of many necessary reforms and it’s far from a comprehensive fix, but given Illinois’ dismal record over the past two years, any step forward should be seen as an accomplishment.