Washington Monthly

Lobbying reform Congress passed legislation banning gift giving, but numerous exceptions to the rule and lax enforcement have meant little actual change. Specific examples of what a legislator or aide can accept from a lobbyist are discussed.

Character Above All.

Closed Doors, Opportunities Lost: The Continuing Costs of Housing Discrimination.

In Defense of Government: The Fall and Rise of Public Trust.

Integrity.

Is the president a waffler?

Pres Clinton has changed his mind about several issues, from taxation to welfare reform to a balanced budget, but many of his changes of mind have been for good reasons. Charges that he is indecisive are analyzed.

Love Thy Neighbor: A Story of War.

Reclaiming our cities, block by block: how a Little Rock program offers hope for countering urban decay.

Arkansas An urban renewal program called Model Blocks renovates small portions of neighborhoods. The results have been excellent for the working poor, as additional police and other services have been included within the program.

Reinventing the corporation.

Corporate responsibility Corporations benefit from the public, so it is fitting that the public should expect something in return from business. The current climate of greed, cynicism and corruption is discussed, along with ways of holding business more accountable.

Steve Forbes, Joe Camel, and the ACLU: government isn't the only threat to our civil liberties. So is the power of money.

American Civil Liberties Union cases The ACLU takes on many good cases, but the organization is wrong in defending unlimited spending for wealthy political candidates and advertising freedom for the cigarette industry. Several specific cases are discussed.

The art of flattery: letters from a CIA director to a president.

Richard Helms; Richard Nixon Helms wrote numerous obsequious notes to Pres Nixon, who was often dissatisfied with the performance of the CIA director. Several excerpts from these letters are presented, along with a discussion of CIA plots and other topics.

The big job boosters that everyone's missing.

Job growth One good way to create job growth would be to exempt companies from capital gains taxes only if they created new jobs. The effects of employment on the stock and bond markets, payroll taxes and employee benefits and other topics are discussed.

The Death of Yugoslavia.

The Frozen Republic: How the Constitution is Paralyzing Democracy.

What 'Pitchfork Pat' (and you) can do for workers.

Pat Buchanan Workers who have pension funds can make a difference by insisting that their funds be invested in corporations that are socially responsible. The role of unions, regulation of shareholder activism and other topics are discussed.

Why higher taxes (on the wealthy) won't slow growth: the proof is in the history.

Believers in supply-side economic theory state that reducing taxes creates a greater incentive to invest and work, but history shows that the wealthiest can pay more in taxes and growth will increase. A summation of economics in the US from 1913 to the present is given.