It seems that for some wealthy folks facing terminal illness it makes more sense to die in 2010 than to live to see the new year. People really do make decisions based on tax policy, even life-and-death decisions.

John Podhoretz writes about a crisis within liberalism. Essentially, he expects a primary opponent for President Obama in 2012.

Perhaps part of the problem is the cult of Obama, as he is surrounded by worshipers, for one, and seems unable to understand the need to pivot with circumstances, as Bill Clinton did after 1994.

Phillip Longman writes about the global demographic crisis of a fast-growing population of old folks.

Ireland accepts a European bailout. Hard to believe they were once known as the Celtic Tiger. Perhaps Paradise Lost is a better description. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard believes Portugal is next on the bailout hit parade.

William Voegeli writes about the failure of our political leaders to adequately address the debt and deficit crisis facing the United States.

Paul Krugman continues to believe the crisis is more about the evils of Republicans than the evils of spending money we don't have.

Robert Samuelson, as he does on so many occasions, points out the relentless numbers and the delusions of both Right and Left concerning government spending and taxes. Some politicians are delusional, but most understand the gravity of the problem. They simply are unaware of any way to get around the political facts of life. Simply stated, the entitlement programs, mainly Social Security and Medicare, are the most popular programs in the country. Any effort to substantially cut spending on these programs is political suicide. Without cuts to these programs, we cannot solve the problem unless we are willing to gut defense spending, gut discretionary spending, and substantially raise taxes. Any effort to do all of those things will result in political suicide.

Is single payer health care doomed in Canada?