Why is religion in decline in countries where ordinary people enjoy a better standard of living? It seems that there is less fear and uncertainty in people's daily lives. Consequently there is less need for religion to help people cope with the feeling that they have little control over their lives.

We can think of the welfare standards in terms of criminal law. Democrats presume that recipients are "innocent until proven guilty." Republicans are more skeptical of recipients, and presume that each is "guilty."

Politicians love to tell us rags-to-riches stories. Democrats do; Republicans do. Independents probably do, too. Our president has one. So does our first lady. These tales ostensibly emphasize the American dream, and indeed they do -- but what of the generation in rags?

Regressive Republicans pretend they're about opportunity. In reality they're back at what they've been doing for years -- promoting Social Darwinism.

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has taken to accusing President Barack Obama of trying to turn the United States into a Eu...

The bill could be perceived by some as essentially un-Jewish. However, in order to reach a proper conclusion in this debate, what needs to be determined is an authentic Jewish perspective on wealth redistribution and charity in general.