Salem-News.com National articles

Morality and Law

Legislative law is nothing unless it is based on true law.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In life and in business compliance with the law is an important part of one's decision making process. The relationship between law, morality, and individual action essentially defines how society functions. Law and morality are not the same.

If moral and legislative laws are two different things, then the possibility arises that they can be in conflict. If the moral and the legislative law come into conflict, then you are faced with a choice of which to follow.

An Oregon Perspective: Taking Back our Economy

Oregon families are still hurting from the damage done by the big Wall Street banks.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The reach of last year’s economic collapse has extended far beyond Wall Street. Because of the bad bets made by the big banks, thousands of Oregonians have lost their homes and hundreds of thousands more have lost their jobs.

It seems obvious that our financial system needs significant reform and increased transparency, but the industry is just as freewheeling and unregulated as it was before crashing our economy.

Tea Party Counterprotesters` Violent Clash with Anti-Immigration Crowd (VIDEO)

Who attacked who at a Florida anti-immigration protest?

(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) - A media group called World Net Daily, sent Salem-News.com a video clip this morning of a violent clash between protesters at an anti-immigration counter protest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The group claims that last Saturday, "Che Guevara supporters with a radical pro-amnesty coalition viciously attacked and bludgeoned tea party protesters at a Florida anti-illegal-immigration rally."

Senators Press Holder to Declassify Key Facts about Patriot Act

“Most members of Congress – and nearly all of the American public -- lack important information about the issue”.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - In anticipation of the upcoming Senate debate over Patriot Act reauthorization, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to declassify key information pertaining to the law’s “business records” provision (Section 215). Today’s letter follows a classified letter that the senators sent Holder in June 2009.

“We appreciate that the Department of Justice has taken action on several of the issues we raised,” wrote the senators. “However, the Department has yet to act on – or respond to – the issue we raised in the first two paragraphs of our letter.”

Veterans Gather in Protest of `Death by Remote Control`

Peace Gathering in Hood River calls for end of Drone Warfare.

(HOOD RIVER, Ore.) - Anti-war Veterans and other activists gathering for a special event Friday in Hood River, Oregon, say the new form of warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq involves death being delivered by remote control from thousands of miles away.

Gordon Sturrock, co-founder of VeteransAgainstTorture.com, believes this death-from-beyond concept removes all signs of humanity from the process. He says for the pro-war set, "it is a new form of justice, It's a trial by Hellfire missile, quick and cheap. No need for expensive time consuming trials. No risk at all to American lives."

Greenscam: Cap & Trade

A review of climate science, economics, and public policy: thoughts from EPA lawyers opposed to Cap & Trade proposals.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Climate change is a big issue for government at the State, Federal, and International levels.

Climate change is a difficult issue because there is broad disagreement as to whether or not it is real, what causes it, and who should pay for mitigating actions. The Oregon Senate, in SB 80, proposed implementing a Cap & Trade program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Oregon. The Federal government is currently considering similar legislation.

The Canadian Comparison: Part 1

There’s an old joke: The definition of a Canadian is an unarmed American with health care.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Over the past few months I have been asked about Canada—about atheism, health care and gun control in particular. None of these issues can be addressed in isolation, so a comparison benchmark is required.

Americans, as the primary readers, understand America best, so America becomes the benchmark.

Veterans Day Thoughts from a Career Air Force Fighter Pilot

I believe you don't need to wear a flight suit or army fatigues to serve our country. The best way we can thank our veterans is to make them proud of us through our own personal commitment, courage, and compassion.

(Atlanta, Ga.) - As we celebrate this Veterans Day to honor our country's heroes and pay respect to their service and sacrifice, it's difficult not to get caught up with the emotions and controversy surrounding the recent massacre at Fort Hood Army base in TX.

What happened was indeed a tragedy and the families and loved ones of those killed or injured will have many challenging days ahead. My heartfelt condolences go out to all of them.

Energy and Water: Check Your Water Footprints at the Door, Please

Whenever we waste energy, we waste water.

(NOVATO, Calif.) - Carbon gets all the press. But more and more scientists are starting to figure out that it takes so much water to create energy, and so much energy to move water, that whenever we talk about the carbon footprint of energy, we really should be talking about its water footprint as well.

Here's why: Except for wind and photovoltaic solar found on rooftops, most power plants big or small do one simple thing: They boil water. That's it.

The Political Depravity of the Founding Fathers

John Bach McMaster (1852—1932) was an American historian, best known for his eight volume History of the People of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War (1883-1913).

(CALGARY, Alberta) - American Exceptionalism is a term that has been considerably bruited about on the Salem-News site over the last couple of weeks. Some readers have been critical of my viewpoint as an outsider who can never understand what it means to believe in AE.

Not having grown up with the mythology, this is true. What no one seems to have noticed, however, is that my viewpoint is an echo of what actual Americans themselves say. My arguments have been built up on the knowledge of American thinkers.