Outside the Beltway

For the first time in 80 years, there are no veterans on the major party Presidential tickets.

The novelist, playwright, and social critic Gore Vidal has died, aged 86.

“The average Canadian has quietly become richer than the average American,” claims a pro-Canada organization.

The largest group of immigrants to the United States doesn’t come from south of the border anymore.

There may be only one solution to saving the Euro.

Romney comes down firmly on the guns side of guns and butter.

“Can Domestic Policy Affect Income Distribution?” Why, yes, yes it can.

David Brooks points out that, despite the mythology of America as a land of rugged individuals and Europe as a socialist experiment gone wrong, the amount of social welfare spending is roughly the same.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti admits that the fight over the eurozone crisis is opening some old wounds.

Are their cultural reasons for America’s obesity problem?

A Washington Post fact check calls this “true but false.”

Once again, pundits are suggesting that New York’s Michael Bloomberg might run for President. Though nobody seems to be able to explain why.

Despite our rather obvious problems, we’re in great shape compared to the rest of the developed world and, especially, to even our fairly recent ancestors.

“The debt crisis is burrowing ever deeper, like a worm, and is now reaching Germany.”

From Europe, a case of regulation gone nuts.

We’re running out of excuses.

Italy’s new government is comprised exclusively of un-elected experts.

Interesting and significant goings on in Italian politics.

Last night, most of the leading Republican candidates for President acted as if Europe was on another planet.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will resign after the makeup of the nation’s new coalition government is decided

Another month, another jobs report that makes you go “meh.”

The Greek referendum could be a disaster for the global economy. And might be the right thing to do.

A major backer of Republican and Libertarian causes is under fire.

Is S&P’s downgrade of the US bond rating “free speech” and thereby protected by the Constitution?