In 1960, self-appointed Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro nationalized all American-owned businesses without providing compensation, increased trade with the Soviet Union, and levied taxes on all American imports. In response, the United States promptly ended diplomatic relations with the island nation and imposed a trade embargo that still stands today. It is estimated that this … Read more
Since its enactment in 2010, the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” has not been a runaway success. Public opinion has moved from disapproval to lukewarm support: monthly Kaiser Health tracking polls show that 40 percent of American adults viewed Obamacare unfavorably in July 2015, down from 53 percent in July of 2014, but … Read more
“It was a good result for the PAP, but an excellent result for Singapore.” So spoke Lee Hsien Long, Singapore’s prime minister, upon the victory of his People’s Action Party in the recent September 2015 elections. Lee’s words are indubitably optimistic, and justifiably so—the PAP won almost 70 percent of the vote. Context is particularly … Read more