Washingtonpost.com

The Virginia Tech massacre raises questions that may never be answered. Even in the insolubility of this week's events, however, one thing is clear: Cho Seung-Hui was a very sick young man.

No one deserves an explanation to the questions this tragedy raises more than the victims and their families. One question we all should be asking: Is America serious about the mental health of its young people?

America's young people face a mental health… more

A growing strain of opinion suggests the reform project in the Arab world is dead and consequently the United States should revive democracy promotion in the Middle East. Whether attributed to the rise in oil prices, the outbreak of sectarianism, or America’s lackluster performance in Iraq, the requiem for Arab reform may be premature.

Modernization of both Arab culture and the Arab state began long before US engagement after 9/11 and it continues today independent of the "West." And most Middle… more

The top priority of pro-labor members of the United States Congress is passage of the employee Freedom of Choice Act, a law that would make it easier for workers to organize a union in their workplace and negotiate a contract with their employer. This legislation has been the subject of vigorous public debate among labor organizations and business lobbyists, yet it only scratches the surface of a badly needed overhaul of U.S. labor law.

Currently, labor law is stuck somewhere in… more

The National Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of inspiring speeches and solemn moments of silence, recently drew President Bush and hundreds of lawmakers when it was held in Washington. This year, the event was unusual in that it was attended by much of what is the most religiously diverse Congress in American history.

The 110th Congress includes one Muslim and two Buddhists. The U.S. Senate is now led by a Mormon. All of these are firsts. The new Congress also includes… more

Now that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has come out with unequivocal evidence of human-caused global warming, all eyes are on Capitol Hill to finally come up with a plan to deal with greenhouse gases and US energy security. More than a decade of wrangling over the details of greenhouse cap and trade, raising CAFE standards, and imposing gasoline taxes has lead to a deadlock that has cost Americans time, opportunities, and (as prices have risen over the last… more

Democrats are in a bind when it comes to their domestic economic agenda. They have promised a number of new and costly initiatives such as fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax, providing middle-class tax relief, and increasing spending on homeland security and education. But they have also made a commitment to fiscal responsibility. So how can they deliver on their promises without opening themselves up to the old "tax and spend" label? Reforming tax entitlements -- a large, mostly under-the-radar part… more

It's unlikely that many Americans know Stewart W. Bowen Jr. They should. As the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), Mr. Bowen has helped save taxpayers billions of dollars. His audits of reconstruction contracts have turned up waste, mismanagement and fraud; and his investigations led to four criminal convictions and embarrassed excuses from the U.S. government's biggest military contractors.

Yet, for all his good work, some in Congress are not terribly appreciative. On the eve of recent mid-term elections, an… more

With less than a week to go until the 2006 elections, the campaign trail is as muddy as ever. Conservatives claim a Democrat-controlled Congress would cut and run in Iraq, raise taxes at home, and engage in partisan payback across the board. Liberals warn of Rove-ian schemes and election-day dirty tricks. And campaign ads from both sides have alleged everything from racism and corruption to womanizing and smutty writing. Yet when the votes have been counted, and a new Congress… more

From sea to shining sea, many Americans agree: Our health care system is broken. The uninsured now exceed 46 million and health costs keep growing faster than incomes, facts that strain household, employer, and government budgets alike. Awareness of mediocre quality and poor safety performance is spreading beyond academic whispers to mainstream headlines. Still, Washington fiddles and tries to change the subject. Why the chasm between awareness and action?

Consider this: Political extremists, with an iron grip on each party, don’t… more

The recent 10-year anniversary of welfare reform provided an opportunity for both Democrats and Republicans to claim victory. President Clinton recently described how political compromise by both parties led to one of the crowning achievements of his Administration.

There’s one problem with this assessment -- the work’s not done. Despite the lauded overhaul of 1996, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policies are failing to promote the primary goals of welfare reform in two important ways: economic independence and personal responsibility.… more