Outside the Beltway

Of the five countries that use the death penalty the most, only one is a democracy.

It’s unlikely that the Chinese yuan will replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency any time soon.

While the American economy languishes, China is booming again.

Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo has dedicated his Nobel Peace Prize to the victims of the June 1989 massacre in Tianamen Square. Proving again that the events of that day still live on in the memory of many Chinese people.

Should the UN expand the number of permanent Security Council members?

If everything you know about Islam comes from Pam Geller and Christianity from Christopher Hitchens, you’re doing yourself a grave disservice.

Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. He probably doesn’t know it, though, because he’s currently sitting in a Chinese prison.

It’s worth reminding ourselves, in a country where so many are trying to figure out the best way to keep excess fat off our bodies, how recently abject poverty was widespread here

Support for the Tea Party is at record levels but that movement does not have a coherent policy platform. Can the energy be harnessed to good use?

Under what conditions might we see filibuster reform?

If it’s September, it must be time for Mahmoud Ahmadinjad to stand up before the United Nations General Assembly and say something completely insane.

We need global cooperation to deal with a growing variety of serious problems. But we can’t even agree amongst ourselves on policy options.

There isn’t much doubt that China is manipulating its currency for competitive advantage. What can be done about it?

David Brooks blames our economic woes on a change from a culture that valued productive work to one of gentility. And Bill Cosby.

Ted Koppel thinks our actions since 9/11 have helped Osama bin Laden fulfill his goals. He couldn’t be more wrong.

According to Paul Krugman’s latest column, the massive destruction of World War Two was actually good for the U.S. economy. Sadly, there are people who consider him an expert.

Four news items and articles about China that have caught my eye.

More odd developments inside the modern day version of the Hermit Kingdom

Once again, an American President is stepping into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and, once again, he has no idea how to accomplish the goals he’s established.

What do the critics mean when they say that the United States should be more like Germany?

The First Family can go on vacation, but politics never does.

The US standard of living is not only growing but its lead over Europe and Japan is growing.

Another depressing poll demonstrating American historical ignorance.

There are a whole lot of reasons to be concerned about the economy.

Is the blog bubble bursting? Only if you’re innumerate.

A lot stands in the way of returning to pre-collapse employment levels in the USA.

“It’s illogical to hunt a species to extinction.” – Spock

Daniel Larison and Reihan Salan have an intelligent discussion on the Internet, managing to persuade each other!

China has pledged to allow their currency to fluctuate. Don’t get too excited.

Do we care about lithium reserves in Afghanistan?