The News

In my post last Friday, I provided a link to a column by Peggy Noonan in which she suggests that discontent in the United States (e.g., a recent "Gallup had a poll showing only 24% of Americans feel we're on the right track as a nation") is not strictly about the economy.  It is not even more broadly discontent with the culture.  It is, most basically, discontent with national character.  As evidence, she highlighted news stories from the past week.  These stories were variously alarming, shameful, embarrassing, and contemptible.  Her use of news stories as evidence for character evaluation brought to mind comments by James Q. Wilson.

Leviathan & Liberty

Whatever one's ultimate opinion about any number of contemporary topics -- from the Affordable Care Act to the limits of executive power, from government regulation of health care to the promotion of individual and religious liberty -- The Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer made some keen observations about ten days ago with which everyone should wrestle.