DRUG CARTELS

Mexican drug cartels use Central America, viz., Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for arms trafficking
and money laundering, as well as a transit corridor for drugs coming from Colombia to the US and a hideout for Mexican capos.

THE LYBIAN CONNUNDRUM

What does victory mean in Lybia? When America's role ends in Lybia, will Gadhafi still be in power? Enforcing the no-fly zone and bombing Gadhafi's tanks looks like the start of a war. The US would like regime change in Lybia. The people must win their own democratic freedom. NATO must maintain the no-fly zone (mostly British and French) for the short term. If a civil war ensues, will American boots on the ground be needed to oust Gadhafi, and when he does finally leave, will they be committed for a long stay?

GAS PRICES

High gas prices at the pump attributable in large part to Japan's nuclear crisis, violence in the Middle East, and the conflict in oil-rich Libya should be a spur for US energy independence. Drilling for oil which will help in the long term and increasing the use of natural gas, the development of hybrid vehicles, and battery powered cars, clean coal, nuclear power with the usual heavy oversight, solar power and other renewable energy sources will no doubt help. The Administration should ease drilling moratoriums, reinstate tax incentives for energy exploration and reduce anti-drilling regulatory policies. Drilling in an area north of the Arctic Circle for oil and natural gas could result in the next Prudhoe Bay, which would produce jobs, wages and revenues on a large scale.

NUCLEAR PLANTS

In light of the Japanese nuclear crisis, would it be prudent in the future not to build nuclear reactors so close to large America cities as is the case with the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant just 35 miles north of New York City?

NUCLEAR REACTORS

Subsequent to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, the U.S. wanted to be certain that its nuclear reactors could withstand attacks, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The 104 nuclear reactors in the U.S. have backup systems to the backup to guarantee that a loss of power would not interfere with the cooling of the spent fuel pools. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will also review how and where spent-fuel from the nuclear reactors is and will be stored.

TEACHERS

The teaching profession is critical to our public schools, and excellence based on merit gauged by student progress should be rewarded, and poor performers regardless of seniority should be eliminated.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN

Will the nuclear crisis in Japan revive the concept of having a nuclear repository at Yucca mountain in Nevada for the spent fuel rods from the 104 nuclear power plants in the U.S.?

BULLYING

IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE- STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TO IMPLEMENT LAWS, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES TO CONFRONT BULLYING, BOTH AT SCHOOL AND ONLINE.

ROMNEY CARE

Will "Romney Care" in Massachusetts kill front-runner Mitt Romney's chance for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2012?

Technology

Is technology and the use of computers to perform research reducing the need for highly educated workers?

GADHAFI

Will it take a "no-fly zone" over Libya and destruction of Libya's air defenses to overthrow Gadhafi?

GUNS ON CAMPUS

Would it be wise to allow guns on campus for professors and others over 21? Would this insure that universities will be more secure or would this exacerbate the problem?

CASH HOME PURCHASES

Across the country, cash buyers accounted for 28 percent of all home sales in 2010 with much higher figures for Southern Nevada, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Phoenix, Arizona. Contributing to this trend are tight lending standards, bargain prices, and well funded foreign and domestic buyers who believe home prices are undervalued. Many of these investors are renting out the homes.

SLEEP

More than one-third of Americans regularly sleep less than seven hours a night affecting their ability to concentrate, according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.

TEEN SEX

Fewer teens and young adults are engaging in sexual activity according to a government survey due to a more cautious attitude, the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases, voluntary abstinence, and no time or desire because of a busy schedule.

Gaming

American Indian gaming revenues are higher than Macau and more than double Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Public Sector Employees

Should public sector employees have collective bargaining rights?

Education

In the US, for more than 25 years, spending for education has increased while student performance has not materially improved. Excellent teaching is required for student achievement. The trick is to research and find out what makes for excellent teaching and then to reward and promote it. Are automatic teacher salary increases based on seniority, additional pay for advanced degrees, and reduced class size contributing to advances in student achievement?

Charlie Sheen

Should we laugh at, pity, or pray for Charlie Sheen?

Women

Women have come a long way and long overdue from "Number please" in the thirties to "The meeting will come to order" in today's corporate boardrooms.

Pirates

Should the US take military action against the Somali pirates?