programs

England’s Royal College of Physicians (RCP) recommended on April 28th that doctors “promote the use of e-cigarettes, NRT and other non-tobacco nicotine products as widely as possible as a substitute for smoking in the UK.”

Plummeting oil prices, which are largely the result of the U.S. hydraulic fracturing revolution that has nearly doubled oil production in the United States since 2008, have left many oil-exporting nations around the world reeling. The price drops have been particularly hard on nations in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Myriad OPEC governments are now stuck relying on dwindling oil revenues to fund large portions of their important social welfare programs, many of which are essential to maintaining national stability.

It hasn’t been a great year from the perspective of shrinking government. In fact, it’s been terrible. Really awful, pork-and-cronyism-filled programs are being refunded, renewed – and even resurrected.

Education savings accounts offer options not available in the current U.S. educational system. Legislators supporting this concept are clearly indicating they realize the traditional public education system is failing and increased parental involvement and control are desirable and necessary.

At a time when the Louisiana legislature is facing a $1.6 billion budget shortfall with massive cuts in important programs like healthcare and education as a solution, legislators realize tough decisions have to be made—even when the choice may anger advocates who depend on the handouts they claim are essential for survival.

A recently released report on the degree of confidence that Americans have in the country’s leading political and economic institutions showed that few of these institutions are held in high regard by the public.