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Focuses on the effect of United States capitalism and technology on the world during the 1990s. The arguments about how society should be organized; The effect of technology on democracy; How the World Wide Web is a result of capitalism.

Offers theories as to why Americans seem ready to re-elect President Bill Clinton in 1996 despite the distrust and ambivalence he arouses in so many voters. View that Clinton has tricked the public; Possibility that Americans are too cynical about politics to care about their officials' moral stature; The solid economy; Clinton as defender of the nation against the Republican Congress; The role of Clinton campaign guru Dick Morris; Other theories.

States that there is bipartisan agreement that Medicare will need to be trimmed, but questions how much to trim and how to do it. Assessment and debate of the most radical change in the Medicare system since its creation in 1965; Total cost which is rising at an unsustainable pace; Why one way to get the necessary billions is to make Medicare beneficiaries pay more; Difference between managed care and managed competition.

Points out the different cultures that exist in Washington D.C. and San, Francisco, California, both which cross Highway 50. The political culture in Washington D.C.; The entrepreneurial culture in San Francisco; The highway as the only similarity between the two.

Deals with the results of presidential elections from 1976 to 1996, mentioning the fact that the Republican and Democratic parties have won three times apiece. The fact that neither side can claim historical validation; Why the 1996 election results are a particularly bitter pill for the Republicans to swallow.

Presents the opinions of the author about U.S. President George W. Bush's tax-cut bill. Features of the bill, including a general income-tax-rate cut and a tax break for dividends; Observation that the bill is an intellectual and political victory for Bush; Opinion that the bill shifts the tax burden from the rich to the middle class; Effects of September 11th on the U.S. economy; Reasons Bush plans to eliminate double taxation of dividends; Opinion of the author that Bush's plan does not make sense.

Provides the perspective of noted journalist Michael Kinsley on living with Parkinson's disease. His view on ways to deal with a diagnosis of a chronic disease; Opinion that if you fool yourself skillfully enough, you can banish thoughts of the disease but retain a liberating sense of urgency; Outlook on stem-cell research.

Discusses 'spin' in media and its effect on social conditions in the United States. Spin as describing a reality that best suits one's purposes; Effect of spin on the 2000 U.S. presidential election and politics; Idea that lawyers use spin when defending clients; Examples of spin in marketing.

Takes a look at important international events which occurred from 1989 to 1998, as viewed from the pages of the magazine `Time.' Includes globalization of capitalism and technology; Emergence of cyberspace; Death of Princess Diana of Wales.

Suggests that the most significant political story of 1998 is not that United States President Bill Clinton had a sexual relationship with a 22-year-old White House intern, but that most citizens do not seem to care. Observations of Sally Quinn and William Bennett; Why Kenneth Starr's report backfired so badly; Libertarian views; The opposition to impeachment.

In this article the author comments on the U.S. systems of Medicare and Social Security. He is of the opinion that future benefits that will be paid out by these entities are not in the jeopardy they are widely thought to be in. Other topics examined include the assets accumulated by older Americans and the inheritance their descendants are likely to acquire.

The author suggests that when producers need a narrative voice that resonates authority, they hire James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman. He discusses the narrative voices of the men chosen to play God in film and audio versions of the Bible. Called the voice of God (VOG), the hidden narrator requires vocal characteristics that resonate dignity and power. Until his death in 1985, Alexander Scourby monopolized the role in films, commercials and recordings.

An essay is presented on the legacy of U.S. President George W. Bush. It offers a perspective on Bush's successes and failures as a U.S. President. Bush abandoned the promises and goals that got him elected, the author states. Bush's use of U.S. troops for the purpose of nation-building is also discussed.

The author presents arguments about the cost of oil and how it affects consumers in the U.S. Particular attention is given to why the author believes an increase in the cost of petroleum may have positive benefits. The author argues that American consumers were able to adjust to the high cost of gas and how a revised energy tax proposal would lower the payroll tax.

This essay discusses the long-term costs of an economic stimulus package that is being designed to deal with the recession in the U.S. economy in 2008. The risks of inflation posed by the proposal to increase government spending on infrastructure as a strategy to encourage countercyclical spending are considered. The problem of inflation is presented as a threat that accompanies such countercyclical spending.

The article presents an essay on the availability of information during the 2008 U.S. presidential election and the effect of information overload on political writers. The author notes the variety of Internet based sources of information including newspaper websites, blogs and aggregators and discusses how writers are expected to keep up with all the information.

An essay is presented on the phrase "spread the wealth" spoken by 2008 U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama at a political rally, and the opposing candidate McCain's accusation that it sounded subversive. The author comments on the cultural and political background of similar phrases that reference wealth redistribution and discusses the current relevance of the notion behind Obama's phrase.

An essay is presented on the kind of leadership qualities needed in the next U.S. president. The author discusses the concepts of peace and prosperity and how these were enjoyed by Americans over the last 10 years. He suggests that September 11, 2001 cost Americans the security of peace and with the 2008 financial crisis, prosperity seems uncertain. He explores the qualities of greatness that history has shown us in American leaders and suggests they're usually appreciated in retrospect.

An essay is presented about the state of the U.S. economy. The author suggests citizens of the U.S. should not base their financial security on property prices. He suggests the repercussions of the mortgage crisis occurred after financial institutions made it easy to obtain a mortgage, and this was the catalyst which set off the other financial hardships the economy is facing.

An essay is presented on Alaska's fiscal record under the leadership of Governor and 2008 U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, showing how Alaska's taxation and spending conflict with a fiscal conservative approach. It is noted that Palin's revamping of the windfall-profits tax to increase Alaska's share conflicts with the U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain's stand against a windfall-profits tax.

The editorial states that life stories of U.S. presidential candidates are critical to the candidate's success and that a history of facing adversity may be particularly beneficial. The author gives several examples to support this, including 2008 presidential candidate John McCain's time spent as a Vietnamese prisoner of war (POW) and 2008 vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden losing his wife and daughter in an automobile accident.

The author presents an essay that analyzes the potential practice of applying affirmative action to U.S. social classes. It is argued that the act of labeling individuals based on their race would be detrimental to society, and would foster resentment among U.S. citizens. The example of social class affirmative action as it appeared in China under the rule of Mao Zedong is also presented.

An essay is presented on the topic of reinventing capitalism and the range of people who object to the idea. It focuses on Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman, and his appeal for corporations to help end global poverty. The author relates his experience of establishing a website to get public feedback on Gates' speech. An analysis, by the author, of Gates' speech and the range of arguments against creative capitalism is presented.

An essay is presented that explores the division of the U.S. Democratic party before the 2008 presidential election. The author contends that voters who supported Senator Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee should focus on helping the party and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to win the presidency. Instead, the author contends they are not supporting Obama out of feelings of disappointment and betrayal because their candidate lost the nomination.

The author discusses his views on the price of oil and the causes behind it. Mentioned and dismissed as causes for the rising price of oil are market price speculators and Saudi Arabia. Instead, the author cites the deflated price of gasoline and oil prior to and just after September 11, 2001. The author suggests that the U.S. government should have raised the cost of gas before it was forced to by others entities, like the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

An essay is presented that discusses the practice of taking statements or events out of context in order to discredit political opponents during an election. The author reports that 2008 U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have pledged not to use this tactic against each other, but the author wonders if they will keep that promise if it appears to be the only way to get elected.

The author reflects on the critics of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama who criticize Obama for his friendships and links with former radicals. A special focus is given to Obama's connections with two former members of the radical group Weather Underground, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. The histories of Ayers and Dohrn are presented. The author presents his opinion that Obama's relationships with these men should not be held against him.

This article focuses on banning genetic discrimination. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to outlaw genetic discrimination from employers and insurance companies and U.S. President George W. Bush is prepared to sign a bill passed by the U.S. Senate on the matter. The author believes that the ban is positive, but outlawing discrimination on the basis of talent should not occur.

This article explains the reasons for putting neurologist Nicholas Schiff on the "Time" magazine list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Schiff pioneered the application of deep brain stimulation, a form of neurosurgery used primarily on patients with Parkinson's disease, to a patient with brain damage. Potential applications of this treatment are described including help for people with severe head trauma.

This article focuses on writers and editors of publications. The author believes that writers' work is often over-edited by editors. He gives his personal opinions on editors and their actions and explains his reasoning behind his beliefs. He explains that the internet offers an unedited venue for writers.

This article focuses on how the economy is discussed by the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates. The author argues that the candidates, Senator John McCain, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Senator Barack Obama, address the concerns about the economy, but are not discussing the root of the economic problems in their discourse.