More Tax Cuts Won't Mean More Hiring

Many conservatives are arguing for another round of cuts in capital gains taxes and other taxes on capital. But these cuts might not spur businesses to add workers. A cruel joke about politics: "It's not that Mr. X lacks principles. It's that he does not understand the principles he has." I …

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Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Sweden's Health Care Pays Off

The people of Avesta, Sweden look much better cared for than their US or UK counterparts. In 24 hours, haven't spotted a single obese person. More casual Swedish empiricism: The people of this industrial town look much better cared for than their US or UK counterparts. I haven't seen a single …

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Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

What Swedes Really Think About Their Health Care

Even affluent Swedes find it shocking a society could abandon a seventh of its population with no guarantee of care. But as Sweden shifts to the right, changes could be ahead. The audience at the conference is about half Swedish, half not. The Swedish attendees are as you would expect drawn from …

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Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Sweden's Strong-Handed Urban Planning

Avesta in Sweden, a steel-making town of 15,000 inhabitants, doesn't look much like its American equivalents. The conference I am attending in Sweden does not directly address Swedish issues, so I cannot satisfy those readers who have asked for comprehensive comments on the current state of the …

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Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Thought From Engelsberg

Was Shiite Islam the first ideology when it emerged more than a thousand years ago, promising that justice could be achieved if only the right rulers were installed? The Engelsberg conference takes place in an elegant manor house adjoining the largely shuttered steelworks which made the fortune of …

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Written by David Frum on Thursday June 9, 2011

Pawlenty's Blue-Collar Blues

Pawlenty supporters cite his blue-collar origins as reason to hope he can reach more voters. After his economic speech Tuesday those hopes are unlikely to be realized. Tim Pawlenty supporters cite their man's blue-collar origins as reason to hope that he can reach voters unreachable by say Mitt …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday June 8, 2011

Apple's Spaceship Headquarters

When Malaysia and Dubai erected the world's tallest buildings, it didn't prove that the U.S. had been overtaken. It proved that skyscrapers had gone out of style. When Malaysia and Dubai erected the world's tallest buildings, it didn't prove that the U.S. had been overtaken. It proved that …

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Written by David Frum on Wednesday June 8, 2011

Is GOP's Default Talk Slowing Recovery?

In the D.C. Examiner Michael Barone accuses Obama of harming business confidence and weakening the recovery. If that's right, what about the GOP's default threat? Michael Barone is one of the smartest and most even-tempered observers in Washington. In today's D.C. Examiner he offers his …

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Written by David Frum on Monday June 6, 2011