http://www.mercatornet.com/ An on-line voice for human dignity. We stand for reframing ethical and policy debates in terms of human dignity, not dollars and cents or political calculation. webmaster@mercatornet.com editor@mercatornet.com http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/92000_documents_is_confusion_not_information/#When:12:16:57Z The Wikileaks are dangerous and uninformative <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/" title="Permalink to '92,000 documents is confusion, not information'">Read more...</a></div> http://www.mercatornet.com/Newsletterv0810/newsletters/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:16:57 GMT http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/convicted_felons_are_citizens_too/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/convicted_felons_are_citizens_too/#When:10:22:55Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/no-vote0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />But 5.4 million Americans are currently barred from voting due to a felon conviction, with severe consequences for their rehabilitation and the democratic process. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/convicted_felons_are_citizens_too/" title="Permalink to 'Convicted felons are citizens too'">Read more...</a></div> Rebecca Gould http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/convicted_felons_are_citizens_too/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:22:55 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_the_dreyfus_affair_matters/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/why_the_dreyfus_affair_matters/#When:05:06:26Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/dreyfus0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A century later we still have much to learn about the fragility of civilized behaviour. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_the_dreyfus_affair_matters/" title="Permalink to 'Why the Dreyfus Affair Matters'">Read more...</a></div> Leonard Franchi http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_the_dreyfus_affair_matters/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:06:26 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/teach_my_child_that_and_youll_be_sorry/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/teach_my_child_that_and_youll_be_sorry/#When:01:25:08Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/grossman0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />It is not what you would want to read before breakfast, but it's the sex menu they are serving up to children. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/teach_my_child_that_and_youll_be_sorry/" title="Permalink to 'Teach my child that, and you’ll be sorry'">Read more...</a></div> Miriam Grossman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/teach_my_child_that_and_youll_be_sorry/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:25:08 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/open_monogamy/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/open_monogamy/#When:22:04:16Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/gay0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />What gays can teach straights about marriage, according to some people. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/open_monogamy/" title="Permalink to 'Open monogamy'">Read more...</a></div> Mary Rice Hasson http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/open_monogamy/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:04:16 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reasoning_about_life/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/reasoning_about_life/#When:07:46:07Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/Thought_silhouette.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Is it possible to reach agreement on disputed issues like abortion and euthanasia? Yes, but only if you are ready to reason things out.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reasoning_about_life/" title="Permalink to 'Reasoning about life'">Read more...</a></div> William E. May http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/reasoning_about_life/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:46:07 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_right_way_to_fire_teachers/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_right_way_to_fire_teachers/#When:08:14:37Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/20100727-jnrqmne5yumcc2scr47eymfr84_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />To the cheers of conservative critics, Washington DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has fired scores of teachers. But will that fix the system? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_right_way_to_fire_teachers/" title="Permalink to 'The right way to fire teachers'">Read more...</a></div> Thomas C. Reeves http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_right_way_to_fire_teachers/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:14:37 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_wikileaks_show/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/what_do_the_wikileaks_show/#When:03:39:16Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/wikileaks23.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The shocking truth of the 92,000 documents is that they contain no shocking truths. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_wikileaks_show/" title="Permalink to 'What do the Wikileaks show?'">Read more...</a></div> George Friedman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/what_do_the_wikileaks_show/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:39:16 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_world_turned_upside_down/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_world_turned_upside_down/#When:03:16:26Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/world-turned-upside-down.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />In an age of reason, we are behaving increasingly irrationally, contends a leading British journalist <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_world_turned_upside_down/" title="Permalink to 'The World Turned Upside Down'">Read more...</a></div> Francis Phillips http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_world_turned_upside_down/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:16:26 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bearing_the_burden_of_the_past/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/bearing_the_burden_of_the_past/#When:19:14:17Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/beeswaxcandlesgroup_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />We were not actors in wrongs committed by our ancestors. But don&rsquo;t we have some sort of responsibility for them? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bearing_the_burden_of_the_past/" title="Permalink to 'Bearing the burden of the past'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Casey http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bearing_the_burden_of_the_past/ Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:14:17 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/mel_gibson_conservative_demon_or_caravaggio/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/mel_gibson_conservative_demon_or_caravaggio/#When:23:58:36Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/mel-gibson0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Scandalous tape recordings expose the movie star in an ugly light, but some critics are honing their own agendas. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/mel_gibson_conservative_demon_or_caravaggio/" title="Permalink to 'Mel Gibson: Conservative demon or Caravaggio?'">Read more...</a></div> Carolyn Moynihan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/mel_gibson_conservative_demon_or_caravaggio/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:58:36 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_challenge_of_imperfection/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_challenge_of_imperfection/#When:06:56:49Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/d-syndrome266.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why are we exterminating Down syndrome children if they can bring so much joy? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_challenge_of_imperfection/" title="Permalink to 'The challenge of imperfection'">Read more...</a></div> Bill Muehlenberg http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_challenge_of_imperfection/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:56:49 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/roman_polanskis_get_out_of_jail_free_card/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/roman_polanskis_get_out_of_jail_free_card/#When:23:33:50Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/roman_polanski.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Should the geniuses of Hollywood be judged by a different law in view of their cultural contributions? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/roman_polanskis_get_out_of_jail_free_card/" title="Permalink to 'Roman Polanski’s get out of jail free card'">Read more...</a></div> Jeremy Prichard http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/roman_polanskis_get_out_of_jail_free_card/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:33:50 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/sobering_thoughts/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/sobering_thoughts/#When:06:05:50Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/j0439359-300x300_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Criticism based on fact should be the common coin of public discourse, not misleading rumours. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/sobering_thoughts/" title="Permalink to 'Sobering thoughts'">Read more...</a></div> Thomas C. Reeves http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/sobering_thoughts/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:05:50 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/divided_hearts/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/divided_hearts/#When:05:24:39Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/weepingcitizen.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Dual nationality is becoming more and more common, but it changes the traditional American notion of citizenship. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/divided_hearts/" title="Permalink to 'Divided hearts'">Read more...</a></div> George Friedman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/divided_hearts/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:24:39 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/america_divided_the_politics_of_inequality/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/america_divided_the_politics_of_inequality/#When:04:06:02Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/Unemployment-jobs-ad-002.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The entrenchment of inequality in the United States damages the economy, degrades politics and corrodes the American dream. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/america_divided_the_politics_of_inequality/" title="Permalink to 'America divided: the politics of inequality'">Read more...</a></div> Godfrey Hodgson http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/america_divided_the_politics_of_inequality/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:06:02 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whistling_past_the_graveyard/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/whistling_past_the_graveyard/#When:02:54:27Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/41PkGmTVJWL._SL500_AA300___thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why is public debate so shallow, impoverished and pointless? A new book contends that reason has been exiled and replaced by mere reasonableness. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whistling_past_the_graveyard/" title="Permalink to 'Whistling past the graveyard'">Read more...</a></div> Dwight G. Duncan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whistling_past_the_graveyard/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:54:27 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_strange_silence/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/a_strange_silence/#When:02:28:08Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/WayForward.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why aren't critics going to the root of the problem of paedophilia among the clergy? The author of a new study explains why.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_strange_silence/" title="Permalink to 'A strange silence'">Read more...</a></div> Giovanni Cucci http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_strange_silence/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:28:08 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/plan_c_for_conscience/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/plan_c_for_conscience/#When:09:45:00Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/thumbnails/plan-b0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />One American state has thought better of its policy to browbeat pharmacists into selling the morning after pill. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/plan_c_for_conscience/" title="Permalink to 'Plan C, for conscience'">Read more...</a></div> Cristina Alarcon http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/plan_c_for_conscience/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:45:00 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/srebrenica_the_pain_and_the_politics_of_an_anniversary/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/srebrenica_the_pain_and_the_politics_of_an_anniversary/#When:06:42:46Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/srebrenica0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Commemorations of the massacre of Bosnian Muslims in July 1995 retain their integrity and human core, even as the leaders of a divided Bosnia turn them into political pageantry. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/srebrenica_the_pain_and_the_politics_of_an_anniversary/" title="Permalink to 'Srebrenica: the pain and the politics of an anniversary'">Read more...</a></div> Peter Lippman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/srebrenica_the_pain_and_the_politics_of_an_anniversary/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:42:46 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/resisting_the_age_of_infidelity/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/resisting_the_age_of_infidelity/#When:21:52:31Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/holding-hands0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Students on college campuses are learning to lie with their bodies and affections, but some are working hard for change. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/resisting_the_age_of_infidelity/" title="Permalink to 'Resisting the age of infidelity'">Read more...</a></div> Viviana M Garcia http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/resisting_the_age_of_infidelity/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:52:31 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/we_need_a_society_which_cares_not_kills/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/we_need_a_society_which_cares_not_kills/#When:18:48:21Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/beachwheelchair1.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A quadriplegic who has just published a book on attitudes to euthanasia in the Netherlands and Australia asks whether it should be legalised in a caring society.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/we_need_a_society_which_cares_not_kills/" title="Permalink to 'We need a society which cares, not kills'">Read more...</a></div> Erik Leipoldt http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/we_need_a_society_which_cares_not_kills/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:48:21 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_the_suburban_spies/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_real_story_of_the_suburban_spies/#When:02:37:49Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/window_pic1.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Anyone who thinks that the Russian spies posing as PTA Moms and BBQ Dads were goofballs is wrong. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_the_suburban_spies/" title="Permalink to 'The real story of the suburban spies'">Read more...</a></div> George Friedman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_real_story_of_the_suburban_spies/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:37:49 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tales_of_two_men_in_red/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/tales_of_two_men_in_red/#When:00:42:31Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/hugo-chavez20100711.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Hugo Ch&aacute;vez and an outspoken cardinal are feuding over the future of democracy in Venezuela. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tales_of_two_men_in_red/" title="Permalink to 'Tales of two men in red'">Read more...</a></div> Pedro José Izquierdo http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/tales_of_two_men_in_red/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:42:31 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_existence_enough_dont_donor-conceived_kids_have_rights/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/is_existence_enough_dont_donor-conceived_kids_have_rights/#When:23:10:25Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/trauma_thumb.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />For whose benefit are these children created? Their own? Or their parents? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_existence_enough_dont_donor-conceived_kids_have_rights/" title="Permalink to 'Is existence enough? Don’t donor-conceived kids have rights?'">Read more...</a></div> Margaret Somerville http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/is_existence_enough_dont_donor-conceived_kids_have_rights/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:10:25 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/grave_doubts_about_newman_are_nonsense/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/grave_doubts_about_newman_are_nonsense/#When:22:42:34Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/newman_0828.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Suggestions that Cardinal Newman was a repressed homosexual are absurd. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/grave_doubts_about_newman_are_nonsense/" title="Permalink to 'Grave doubts about Newman are nonsense'">Read more...</a></div> Jack Valero http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/grave_doubts_about_newman_are_nonsense/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:42:34 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/viva_espana_we_told_you_so/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/viva_espana_we_told_you_so/#When:02:23:35Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/Spains-captain-Iker-Casil-006_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Spain heads home with the World Cup and Italy, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, France and England with long to-do lists. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/viva_espana_we_told_you_so/" title="Permalink to 'Viva Espana! (We told you so)'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Coren http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/viva_espana_we_told_you_so/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:23:35 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_wrong_with_african_soccer/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/whats_wrong_with_african_soccer/#When:19:59:53Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/sowetosoccer1.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />African stars excel in Europe. Why not at home? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_wrong_with_african_soccer/" title="Permalink to 'What’s wrong with African soccer?'">Read more...</a></div> Martyn Drakard http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/whats_wrong_with_african_soccer/ Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:59:53 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/get_a_job_son/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/get_a_job_son/#When:00:53:12Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/hard-hat0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />As questions about the economy go deeper, vocational education is getting a fresh look. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/get_a_job_son/" title="Permalink to 'Get a job, son'">Read more...</a></div> Kevin Ryan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/get_a_job_son/ Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:53:12 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/john_rawls_and_the_triumph_of_tolerance/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/john_rawls_and_the_triumph_of_tolerance/#When:06:06:07Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/tolerance100.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The patron saint of political pluralism has had a subtle but damaging influence upon public policy. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/john_rawls_and_the_triumph_of_tolerance/" title="Permalink to 'John Rawls and the triumph of tolerance'">Read more...</a></div> Thaddeus Kozinski http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/john_rawls_and_the_triumph_of_tolerance/ Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:06:07 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dark_side_of_american_exceptionalism/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_dark_side_of_american_exceptionalism/#When:20:54:17Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/alcatrazcell2_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why is 1 in 18 men in the world&rsquo;s richest nation on probation, on parole or in jail? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dark_side_of_american_exceptionalism/" title="Permalink to 'The dark side of American exceptionalism'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Cook http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dark_side_of_american_exceptionalism/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:54:17 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/dispatch_from_death_row/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/dispatch_from_death_row/#When:20:34:55Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/dean_thumb.gif" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />A first-hand account of what it's like to wait for the California gas chamber for 25 years. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/dispatch_from_death_row/" title="Permalink to 'Dispatch from death row'">Read more...</a></div> Dean Carter http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/dispatch_from_death_row/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:34:55 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/goliath_as_david/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/goliath_as_david/#When:03:05:38Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/david-and-goliath-3.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The arrival of General Petraeus to take charge of the war against the Taliban highlights enduring tensions in the US over the role of the military in political life. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/goliath_as_david/" title="Permalink to 'Goliath and David in Afghanistan'">Read more...</a></div> Godfrey Hodgson http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/goliath_as_david/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:05:38 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_hillary_pushing_gay_rights_upon_africa/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/why_is_hillary_pushing_gay_rights_upon_africa/#When:07:59:46Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/HillaryClintonapplauding1_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Let the Secretary of State lavish praise on her LGBT employees. But she mustn't expect to be applauded in Kenya.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_hillary_pushing_gay_rights_upon_africa/" title="Permalink to 'Why is Hillary pushing gay rights upon Africa?'">Read more...</a></div> Martyn Drakard http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_hillary_pushing_gay_rights_upon_africa/ Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:59:46 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/when_china_rules_the_world/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/when_china_rules_the_world/#When:05:56:39Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/41bbJCGUehL._SL500_AA300___thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Perhaps, but not before its poverty and corruption disappear and who knows how many decades that will take? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/when_china_rules_the_world/" title="Permalink to 'When China Rules the World'">Read more...</a></div> Constance Kong http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/when_china_rules_the_world/ Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:56:39 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_the_supreme_court_supreme/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/why_is_the_supreme_court_supreme/#When:03:50:52Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/kaganhearingconfirmation.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Because the US Constitution says so. And that&rsquo;s the way it should be, even if its decisions aren&rsquo;t always to our liking. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_the_supreme_court_supreme/" title="Permalink to 'Why Is the Supreme Court supreme?'">Read more...</a></div> Thomas C. Reeves http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/why_is_the_supreme_court_supreme/ Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:50:52 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/twilight_moms_and_perpetual_adolescence/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/twilight_moms_and_perpetual_adolescence/#When:03:24:11Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/twi-moms.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why are grown women going gaga over a teenage vampire-themed romance? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/twilight_moms_and_perpetual_adolescence/" title="Permalink to 'Twilight moms and perpetual adolescence'">Read more...</a></div> Carolyn Moynihan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/twilight_moms_and_perpetual_adolescence/ Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:24:11 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_30-year_war_in_afghanistan/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_30-year_war_in_afghanistan/#When:01:38:30Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/talibanoption2.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Is it worthwhile getting American troops to fight in Afghanistan instead of arming the Taliban's allies?&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_30-year_war_in_afghanistan/" title="Permalink to 'The 30-Year War in Afghanistan'">Read more...</a></div> George Friedman http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_30-year_war_in_afghanistan/ Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:38:30 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/smashing_trashing_looting_just_another_g8_summit/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/smashing_trashing_looting_just_another_g8_summit/#When:01:08:40Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/torontoprotest0.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Don't ask Toronto police for lessons on how to control violent protesters. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/smashing_trashing_looting_just_another_g8_summit/" title="Permalink to 'Smashing, trashing, looting: just another G8 summit'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Coren http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/smashing_trashing_looting_just_another_g8_summit/ Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:08:40 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_other_story_about_same-sex_parenting/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_other_story_about_same-sex_parenting/#When:05:00:52Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/rainbow-girl.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Research showing the risks of lesbian and gay parenting is ignored in the race to make a political case. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_other_story_about_same-sex_parenting/" title="Permalink to 'The other story about same-sex parenting'">Read more...</a></div> Walter R Schumm http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_other_story_about_same-sex_parenting/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:00:52 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/all_that_jazz/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/all_that_jazz/#When:02:55:03Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/jazz_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />We are drifting away from America's only original contribution to Western music. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/all_that_jazz/" title="Permalink to 'Farewell to all that jazz'">Read more...</a></div> Thomas C. Reeves http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/all_that_jazz/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:55:03 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_rat_is_a_pig_is_a_dog_is_a_boy/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/a_rat_is_a_pig_is_a_dog_is_a_boy/#When:16:34:30Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/a-rat-is-a-pig-is-a-dog-is-a-boy_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />An American bioethics writer defends "human exceptionalism" against the sometimes sinister agenda of the animal liberation movement. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_rat_is_a_pig_is_a_dog_is_a_boy/" title="Permalink to 'A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy'">Read more...</a></div> Bill Muehlenberg http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/a_rat_is_a_pig_is_a_dog_is_a_boy/ Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:34:30 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/rewriting_the_script/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/rewriting_the_script/#When:06:02:09Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/popejoan1.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Why do blockbusters have to distort the history of Christianity? Why not bring its heroes to Hollywood? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/rewriting_the_script/" title="Permalink to 'Rewriting the script'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Cook http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/rewriting_the_script/ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:02:09 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dream_of_an_austere_and_frugal_britain/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_dream_of_an_austere_and_frugal_britain/#When:03:51:23Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/household-budget.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />How are Britain's voters going to weather the new government's tough budget if they can't darn socks or make a casserole? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dream_of_an_austere_and_frugal_britain/" title="Permalink to 'The dream of an austere and frugal Britain'">Read more...</a></div> Joanna Bogle http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_dream_of_an_austere_and_frugal_britain/ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:51:23 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_cross_in_the_dock/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/the_cross_in_the_dock/#When:02:58:22Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/The_Hill_of_Crosses0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />What happens to Lithuania&rsquo;s famous Hill of Crosses if the European Court of Human Rights succeeds in banning religious symbols?&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_cross_in_the_dock/" title="Permalink to 'The Cross in the dock'">Read more...</a></div> Sigitas Tamkevičius http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/the_cross_in_the_dock/ Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:58:22 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/judge_rebukes_totalitarian_secularism/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/judge_rebukes_totalitarian_secularism/#When:22:25:53Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/hammer.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />The Inquisition makes a good match for the Quebec Ministry of Education. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/judge_rebukes_totalitarian_secularism/" title="Permalink to 'Judge rebukes ‘totalitarian’ secularism'">Read more...</a></div> Barbara Kay http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/judge_rebukes_totalitarian_secularism/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:25:53 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ethical_spill-overs/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/ethical_spill-overs/#When:06:04:29Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/Story_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />If the worst case scenario is an unprecedented catastrophe, is it worthwhile even starting? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ethical_spill-overs/" title="Permalink to 'Ethical spill-overs'">Read more...</a></div> Antonino Vaccaro http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/ethical_spill-overs/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:04:29 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/out_of_shadows_into_truth/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/out_of_shadows_into_truth/#When:05:03:36Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/stories/cardinal_newman_0.png" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />With Cardinal Newman's beatification looming, competing biographers paint very different pictures of the great Victorian author.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/out_of_shadows_into_truth/" title="Permalink to 'Out of shadows into truth'">Read more...</a></div> Jack Carrigan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/out_of_shadows_into_truth/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:03:36 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fatal_attraction_democracy_and_the_welfare_state/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/fatal_attraction_democracy_and_the_welfare_state/#When:05:01:15Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/dollar-euro22_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Expansive and expensive welfare programs have brought European social democracies to the verge of catastrophe. Will democracy hamper economic reform? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fatal_attraction_democracy_and_the_welfare_state/" title="Permalink to 'Fatal attraction: democracy and the welfare state'">Read more...</a></div> Samuel Gregg http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/fatal_attraction_democracy_and_the_welfare_state/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:01:15 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bps_creaky_ethical_machinery/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/bps_creaky_ethical_machinery/#When:06:13:18Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/thumbnails/hayward0.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Management attitudes behind the Deepwater Horizon disaster suggest another problem the company needs to address. <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bps_creaky_ethical_machinery/" title="Permalink to 'BP’s creaky ethical machinery'">Read more...</a></div> Carolyn Moynihan http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/bps_creaky_ethical_machinery/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:13:18 GMT Articles http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/liar_liar_brain_on_fire/ http://www.mercatornet.com/site/liar_liar_brain_on_fire/#When:06:26:35Z <div style="clear:both;"><img src="http://www.mercatornet.com/images/good_to_read/fmri_0_thumb.jpg" width="120" height="120" alt="thumbnail" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" />Can brain scans literally read your mind? <a href="http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/liar_liar_brain_on_fire/" title="Permalink to 'Liar, liar, brain on fire!'">Read more...</a></div> Michael Cook http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/liar_liar_brain_on_fire/ Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:26:35 GMT Articles