Today's Boston Globe articles

1. Health Care Reform: http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/03/20/a_look_at_the_health_care_overhaul_bill/

It looks as if it will pass - at 6:53pm EDT unknown - but altogether the provisions are necessary and good for the nation, esp. in broadening access and (probably) controlling costs.

2. Campaign Finance Law: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/03/21/high_court_ruling_leaves_states_scrambling_to_close_gaps_on_spending_limits/

Once again, the Supreme Court refuses to follow precedent and makes a momentous decision despite legislative opposition. The states rightly are the first to grapple with how to restrict campaign financing from corporations and unions while not infringing upon the First Amendment.

3. International Innovation: http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2010/03/21/retired_brandeis_professor_brings_clean_power_to_african_villages/

This idea seems viable. Certainly, it will help many villages, especially in terms of literacy and self-sufficiency. The major question is whether many villagers are willing to discard traditional beliefs and practices.

4. Vaccination: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/03/21/lifesaving_safe_vaccines/

Finally, the controversy over autism and vaccines is resolved. Vaccines are necessary, but it remains a public health goal to promote them and their usage.

5. American & Haitian History: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/21/how_haiti_saved_america/

A bold and insightful hypothesis, which merits credit. Nonetheless, the author perhaps oversteps by stating how Saint Dominique's (then Haiti's) economy and security drove the French to ally with the Americans. Economics certainly played a large role (if not the most important) in the American Revolution, but Haiti figured little besides acting as a bastion for the French support.

6. Criminal Justice: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/21/swift_and_sure/

Finally! The major reason why criminal justice is so dysfunctional is the timing and uncertainty - a long legal process and the chance to go free and unsupervised undermine the success of controlling criminals.

7. Manners of Address: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/21/hey_guys/

Seriously, dudes. Ha! What an entertaining and knowledgeable read, for guys and...

8. Fairy Tales: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/21/the_dark_forest_of_childhood/

Must fairy tales all be frightening and moralistic, that seek to inculcate the darkness of the world and the need to rely on parents and their values? Sometimes, they are necessary but children and teens are more complicated today, and need fairy tales to suit their personal needs to play and connect with one another.

9. Recycling and Composting: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2010/03/21/the_case_for_mandatory_composting/

Like recycling, composting can work, even through mandates. Unfortunately, the public isn't well-educated about the benefits and how-to of composting.

10. Race (book): http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/03/21/the_race_is_on/

Race will continue to be a part of American life, despite its illogical and discriminatory purposes. Studying the "white" people and how they classified themselves illustrates much about them and how American treats the topic of race.

11. Government Policy: http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/03/21/pursuit_of_happiness/

Governments need to make tough choices - like health care - and some constituent(s) will nonetheless end up unhappy. To promulgate the wide range of ideas without examining the details will be lacking in judgment in chasing the illusion of "happiness".