Outside the Beltway

“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?

Lost in the hubbub of S&P downgrading the US bond rating is news that the Italian government has the ratings agencies under criminal investigation.

Upon further review, S&P’s downgrade of the United States bond rating . . . still makes no sense.

The world is starting to denounce the crackdown in Syria, but the reaction seems unlikely to go much beyond strongly worded statements.

A take on the conflict that’s probably different from the one you’ve been reading.

My latest piece for The Atlantic, “Is the U.S.-European Relationship Really in Decline?” is posted.

James Arness, best known as the iconic Marshal Dillon on Gunsmoke, has died at 88.

A bizarre legal case from Italy.

Humorous take on America’s wars.