Looking for answers: Five of the best in current commentary

Today's topics: British election, Philippines, Dakotas, Post Office, Pakistan

1. Lessons for US in Britain's new cooperative politics

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "In one quick swoop, the British political parties resolved the problem posed by the foggy outcome of last week's elections.... For Americans, the quick resolution of the electoral dilemma was informative, both in its speed, compared to the Florida drama in 2000, and in what may become cooperation between competing political parties."

2. One Asian democracy's latest hope for less corrupt government

From USAToday: "Any Americans who hold out the faint hope that our onetime colony the Philippines might yet drag itself out of an unending cycle of poverty, corruption and violence must now bet on the long odds that newly elected President Benigno Aquino III will act against the best interests of his elitist class."

3. Why the Dakota states have fared so well in this recession

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "North and South Dakota have been arguably the most recession-resistant states, and they have the balanced budgets and low unemployment rates to prove it. North Dakota's 4 percent jobless rate is the country's lowest, followed by South Dakota's 4.8 percent."

4. Ending Saturday delivery for the Post Office is only the start of needed reform

From The Los Angeles Times: "Unless we want taxpayers to finance its growing operating deficit, discontinuing Saturday delivery and other changes are necessary for the Postal Service to continue to meet its mandate to provide mail service."

5. To defeat more Pakistani bombers, Pakistan should follow Bangladesh in education

From The New York Times: "Bangladesh began climbing a virtuous spiral by investing in education, of girls in particular.... This focus on education has bolstered its economy, reduced population growth rates, nurtured civil society and dampened fundamentalism."