Jimmy Carter: Can’t afford to be president today

WILKES-BARRE TIMES-LEADER: …“I couldn’t possibly do it, because I have very little money,” the 90-year-old said at a press conference during a recent visit to Wilkes-Barre. “And now it takes $200 million if you want any chance to get the Democratic or Republican nomination.”… “When I ran against Gerald Ford, who was the incumbent president, […]

Apple iPhone boom as China switches on

FINANCIAL TIMES: Explosive iPhone sales among the middle class in China and other emerging economies propelled Apple ahead of Wall Street’s forecasts for the fifth successive quarter, as it pledged to return another $70bn to shareholders… “I’ve never seen as many people coming into the middle class as they are in China and that’s where […]

The GOP estate-tax folly

In 2013, 2,596,993 Americans died, but there were only 4,687 taxable estate returns filed, reports the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. That’s 0.18 percent of deaths. The number is so low because much wealth is exempted from the tax. In 2015, the exemption is $5.43 million for individuals and $10.86 million for married couples.

If Greece Falls, No One Wants Their Prints on the Murder Weapon

NEWSMAX / REUTERS: “We’re going bust.” “No, you’re not.” “You’re strangling us.” “No we’re not.” “You owe us for World War Two.” “We gave already.” The game of chicken between Greece and its international creditors is turning into a vicious blame game as Athens lurches closer to bankruptcy with no cash-for-reform agreement in sight… Eurozone […]

GOP, Pentagon tussle over East Coast shield

POLITICO: The Pentagon has repeatedly said it doesn’t need — nor can it afford — a third anti-missile battery on American territory to defend against a possible attack from North Korea or Iran. But that hasn’t stopped congressional Republicans, ideologically predisposed to a more comprehensive missile shield than Democrats, from pushing for one on the […]

Michael Botticelli Is a Drug Czar Who Knows Addiction Firsthand

He wants police officers nationwide to be trained to use naloxone, a nasal spray or injection that can almost instantly resuscitate people who overdose on opiates; better education for prescribers of painkillers and other drugs so that they can recognize signs of abuse or addiction; and the distributionof clean syringes for intravenous drug users to stem the spread of infectious diseases like H.I.V. and hepatitis C.