All The Monitor's View
- Raise the minimum wage? An alternative approach.
Apparel giant Gap follows other companies like Costco in seeing the business wisdom of boosting wages without a government mandate.
- Answering Ukraine's bullets
After Ukraine police killed protesters Tuesday, the regime has lost legitimacy. Both the West and Ukrainian people must now find a peaceful way to create a legitimate government.
- Out of Florence, Europe's economic renaissance?
The young mayor of Florence who is tapped to be Italy's next prime minister brings hope to young people that they might start a business with less fear of failure. For the eurozone's third-largest economy, this may be a big spark for recovery.
- North Korea in the docket after UN report
A UN inquiry provides evidence of 'crimes against humanity' in North Korea. By exposing the truth of a dictatorship that tries hard to suppress the truth, the report can help bring down the Kim regime.
- A Christian-Muslim crisis of faith in Africa
With Christians and Muslims killing each other in the Central African Republic, the country needs more than foreign troops. A group of interfaith religious leaders are banding together to make peace real.
- A call to let ex-cons vote
US Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. asked 11 states that now restrict voting for ex-inmates to lift their bans. The reasons are both practical – less recidivism – and an affirmation of the potential for redemption.
- A bit of harmony in a China-Taiwan conclave
In a historic first meeting of official representatives, China and Taiwan appear to warm up ties despite the mainland's claim to the island nation. Is this a new Beijing seeking a peaceful rise?
- Nurturing the impulse to save Syria's millions
Russia worked on its ally Syria to allow UN aid access to the besieged city of Homs. That humanitarian moment should now lead to a UN demand for access to all 9.3 million displaced.
- An Obama role in Islam's divide
With his coming visit to Saudi Arabia and new talks opening with Iran, President Obama can set the stage for reconciling the two Muslim giants over their historic Islamic rivalry.
- Washington's ability to trust, and be trusted
As distrust abounds between the GOP and Obama, and between Americans and government, leaders must relearn the ways that trust can be restored.
- What to watch at the Sochi Olympics
The Sochi Winter Olympics will be about more than skiing, skating, and sledding. Every Olympics can promote peace by putting a spotlight on the host country. Russia has already found the Games can stir change for the better, despite what Putin expects.
- Bad apples or a bad barrel? Pentagon seeks higher officer integrity
Amid new and massive scandals, the US armed services try again to review ethics training for officers. But is that enough?
- A taste of Danish integrity
New surveys rank Denmark as tops in honest government and low corruption, making it a model for others. What can be gleaned from this relative lack of rottenness among the Danes?
- China's moment for greatness
The latest dissident to be jailed, Xu Zhiyong, has released words of insight on how to transform a system now built on a big lie. His courtroom statement speaks of citizenship from the ground up and one based on love.
- Amid Arab gloom, a model for inevitable progress
As the Arab Spring fades, Tunisia blooms again with a rights-packed constitution and a peaceful transfer of power by an Islamist government. The country's startling consensus brings hope that all people are worthy of progress toward civil ideals.
- Obama's trade agenda needs backing
As President Obama negotiates with Europe and Asia on free-trade pacts, he still needs help from Congress to close the deals. America's openness remains its strength. Lawmakers must give him negotiating tools.
- From Congress, a nudge for self-reliance
As President Obama again seeks bipartisan solutions from Congress after his State of the Union speech, he can note one reform nearing passage: Support for states to nudge food stamp recipients into job training and jobs.
- Bridges for Asia's island disputes
As China asserts stronger claims over its coastal seas, the US and others need to be more proactive in engaging Beijing. A joint research trip in the South China Sea hints at one way.
- Ukraine protests: a test for the idea of progress as inevitable
As protests escalate in Ukraine, they must be seen as a plea to save the West's idea of civic rights as irreversible when once obtained. The West cannot let the regime's violence against peaceful demonstrators go unpunished.
- How to piece Syria back together
If direct talks between the Syrian regime and a main opposition group proceed, the goal should be to create a transitional power with legitimacy to hold elections. For now, a vacuum of legitimacy requires foreign pressure for an agreement.