Chicago Tribune

Maya MacGuineas in the Chicago Tribune | 'Fiscal Fairyland'

Articles — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:47:00 -0400

New America in the News:

One of the most illuminating parts of the debate came when someone asked the candidates what sacrifices they would ask of Americans. McCain said that he would assess every federal program and "eliminate those that aren't working." Not that he could name one.

Obama was no more helpful. He encouraged Americans to conserve energy. Both of them vowed to take on ballooning entitlements, and both declined to explain how.

"They don't make any of the tough choices," despairs Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "Not even close."

For all their differences, Obama and McCain agree on one central policy: to go on living in Fiscal Fairyland. It will be nice while it lasts. LINK

Daniel Levy in the Chicago Tribune | 'U.S. Envoys Less Active in Mideast'

Communications — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:01:00 -0400

New America in the News:
...The threat of military blowback from the U.S. is not what it would be if there weren't 150,000 American troops stuck in Iraq," said Daniel Levy, a former member of the Israeli negotiating team now at the New America Foundation... LINK

Shannon Brownlee in Chicago Tribune | 'High Cost of Unnecessary Treatment'

Communications — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:41:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...[T]he best here is medical journalist Shannon Brownlee's argument that health care is screwed up not because we don't ration care like Canada; or that malpractice lawsuits are to blame; or that absurd administrative costs raise insurance costs; or that consumers don't shop wisely since we often don't pay out of pocket.

No, she contends that over-treatment is to blame not only for high costs but for often making us more sick, suggesting we spend $500 billion a year on unnecessary care...LINK