Introduction:

�It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.�
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

The Best of Times?

By many reckonings, it appears to be the best of times in America: We enjoy a robust economy, reinforced by continually advancing technologies. At least one computer in every home, and a personal telephone on almost everyone�s belt. People are buying their 3rd and 4th cars. Our military is the most feared throughout the world. Indeed, in many ways, it seems like the best of times.

Obama's Nebulous Christianity August 24, 2010

Praying In Public Still Wins August 10, 2010

Professor Accused Of Hate Speech Keeps Job After All August 03, 2010

Texas Social Studies Standards Bring Balance, Despite Critics June 01, 2010

Elena Kagan The Luke Warm Nominee May 11, 2010

NEW! A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny: Part 3 Hyperinflation and its Effect on Cultures by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny: Part 2 The Rise of the Central Banks by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Commodity Money and Fiat Money: A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

A New Hidden Tax? The Value Added Tax by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Strategic Update: How Do You Spell Economic R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y? by Mary Miller, Director of Research

Documents

The Many Benefits of Traditional Marriage - The benefits of marriage are most observable within the measurable realms of health, wealth, and (self-reported) sexual fulfillment. In each of these categories, married couples experience immense advantages that cohabitating couples, or individuals who remain single, do not.

Is Homosexuality Genetic? - This site contains a variety of resources on the health dangers of the homosexual lifestyle and evidence that homosexuality is not innate and unchangeable.

The Declaration of Independence -

The Federalist Papers - A definitive review of the Constitution written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

NAFTA -

Related Sites

The American Center for Law and Justice -

Same-Sex Marriage & Domestic Partnerships - Yahoo! Full Coverage

Abortion Rights Debate - Yahoo! Full Coverage

Elian: Sign of America's Decline? -

America's Criminal Class: The Congress of the United States - Capitol Hill Blue

News Sources

NEW! The Importance Of Marriage - If it is true, as we are constantly told, that American law will soon redefine marriage to accommodate same-sex partnerships, the proximate cause for this development will not be that public opinion favors it, although it appears to be moving in that direction. It will be that the most influential Americans, particularly those in law and the media, have been coming increasingly to regard opposition to same-sex marriage as irrational at best and bigoted at worst. They therefore dismiss expressions of that opposition, even when voiced by a majority in a progressive state, as illegitimate...

NEW! Botched Teen Abortion Leads To Abortionist Investigation - The empire of a troubled New Jersey abortionist who headed a four-state abortion ring is slowly crumbling after Maryland began investigating the setup following a teenager's botched abortion. In addition to unveiling the illegality of the setup, the investigation resulted in one raid where police discovered a gruesome display of 35 frozen unborn children preserved in jars. Stephen Chase Brigham is the owner of American Women's Services, which operated 15 abortion facilities in states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. Brigham's operation involved at least two other abortionists, George Shepard, Jr., of Delaware and Nicola I. Riley of Utah, whose Maryland licenses have both been suspended for their role in Brigham's business.

NEW! US Troops Sent To AZ Border - Additional National Guard troops assigned to the Mexican border under President Barack Obama's border security initiative have started reporting to their posts, officials said Monday. More than 30 National Guard members have begun their deployment as part of the administration's border protection plan, according to Special Agent Mario Escalante with US Customs and Border Protection.

So You Want To Homeschool? - The new school year looms, but you've decided that, for the first time, you and your student aren't going to be a part of it. No more brick-and-mortar institution for you guys. Excellent. Making your decision is, in fact, the first step. Don't underestimate the importance of crossing the t's and dotting the i's. Some regions are home-school friendly and encourage parents who are taking responsibility for their children's education. On the other hand, some regions require home-schoolers to toe the line very carefully. You can save yourself a lot of grief simply by being well prepared...

Same-Sex Marriage Put On Hold In California - Gay and lesbian couples must hold off on marrying at least until the end of the year, an appeals court said Monday as it froze a federal judge's decision that had struck down California's ban on same-sex weddings as discriminatory and unconstitutional. A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco issued its ruling without explanation in a short, two-page order that imposed a stay on Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's Aug. 4 decision striking down the voter-approved Proposition 8.