Fighting climate change and winning the war on terrorism are not for the squeamish.

Iraq has shown the limits of U.S. power. We must change America, not the world.

The new Assembly speaker wants an independent look at the state's revenue.

Teens are letting emoticons and other forms of chat-speak slip into their essays and homework.

A state bill wants to create CalPERS-managed portable retirement plans for private-sector employees.

U.S. soldiers hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan are surviving at high rates -- but more have neglected brain injuries.

To survive, Santa Ana's Libreria Martinez needs more than good intentions.

Hunger: A May 9 editorial on donating to relief groups referred to Mercy Corps as a religious charity. It is a secular organization.

Kennedy legacy: In Tim Rutten's May 10 column, poet Arthur Hugh Clough was identified as an American. He was British.

Judea Pearl says early Zionists acted in good faith to coexist peacefully with Palestinians. George E. Bisharat replies that all partition efforts before Israel was established in 1948 treated Palestinians unfairly.

The war there is not an intellectual exercise. It has real, personal consequences.

East Coast snobs with Old World sympathies take cheap shots at a great product.

Its president stands idly by as Mugabe and his thugs ruin Zimbabwe.

The Times endorses state ballot measures.

It turns out people will ignore their self-interest in favor of an equitable deal.

The state Senate can help residents by passing a bill that would end charges for unpublished numbers.

After six decades, the Jewish state's hopes for peace are near death.

The planet is nearing a tipping point on climate change, and it gets much worse, fast.

America failed to heed Walter Reuther's ideas for a social safety net. But we may get a second chance.

Israelis and Palestinians must share the land. Equally.

The meddler and the martyr. That's what Achilles and Odysseus had to deal with.

The Pentagon persists in seeking pricey weapons of little use in low-tech warfare.

L.A. County's cultural life may depend on who fills Yvonne Burke's board seat.

Foreign cartoonists on the U.S. presidential race.

Does it matter if some staples run out, or will the same ingenuity that produced oil refining in the late 19th century and the "green revolution" in the late 20th century save us again in the future?

Pepsi, Apple, Krispy Kreme and other consumer firms profit from Iraq too.

How I got my hands on some marijuana -- the legal (and easy) way.

Misuse of the recall process to settle political scores is no way to get the state out of the mess it's in.

President Bush touts accountability in education. So why is he trying to save the poorly run Reading First?

Frustrated by years of failed peace talks for a two-state solution, some are giving up hope of independence and pushing the idea of a single democratic state with equal rights for all.

How does the emergence of large, formerly poor countries (such as China and India) as major consumers affect the global economy and the environment? Gregory Clark and Gary Gardner debate.

L.A. muralists often see their works ruined -- both by vandals with spray cans and numb skulls with paint rollers.

The Yoo memo is just one example of Bush's hidden laws.

Sure, Clinton is free to press on. Whether that would be responsible of her is another matter.

Election officials in Lake County, Indiana, acknowledge slow tallying of votes but deny any wrongdoing.

Advanced Placement courses, once a model for learning, are mere memory tests now.

Without one, the entire California economy is at risk.

A new venture could expand service across much of the nation and shake up the provider duopoly.

Clinton has campaigned admirably, but simple math and political realities dictate she can't win.

Deputy superintendent Cortines' move to discipline L.A. Unified officials is just what the district needs.

Should governments be taking any action to encourage or discourage use of sensitive commodities? Is a federal gas-tax holiday like the one proposed by John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton the right way to handle a finite resource? Gary Gardner and Gregory Clark debate.

Coppola's film offers lessons in diplomacy that we can't refuse.

Poet Eric Priestly is in a fight with City Hall to remain in the neighborhood he's written about for decades.

Enough about Obama and Wright. This election is about Bush.

Who gets heard by local leaders? A traffic project stalled by wealthy westsiders and poor oversight of a South L.A. hospital gives us a clue.

The importance of pronouncing Ban Ki-moon, Kofi Annan and other names correctly.

A federal shield law allowing journalists to protect their sources benefits the public in the long run.

Now isn't the time to scold Myanmar's shameless regime, only to help the afflicted.

A public hearing provided an opportunity for those interested in the process to provide guidance, or just sound off.

The Adam Miranda case shows that the California death penalty costs too much in time, money and justice.

Silver Lake Reservoir: An article on Tuesday's Op-Ed page said that the Silver Lake Reservoir was drained of its 600,000 gallons of water. The reservoir contained 600 million gallons of water.

Some worry that a proliferation of high-end projects will bury the charm of the storied area's golden past.

Food prices: Is supply really a problem? Is ethanol production contributing to a food shortage? How could the U.S. and the world cope with a more limited food supply? Gregory Clark and Gary Gardner debate.

They're educated, richer and more aggressive toward the West.

The draining of the reservoir has revealed its potential as a new kind of urban park.

Be it a radical minister or a gas-tax gimmick, it all offers a peek behind the posing.

By pushing to dismantle them, Fabian Nuñez is defying the will of California voters.

If Yahoo and Google team up, competitors -- and the public -- would likely be the losers.

The second in an editorial series on California's tax system.

Eight Belles' death at the Kentucky Derby underscores what may be a genetic problem.

Oil, water, food and even arable land all seem to be either spiking in price or otherwise showing signs of peak supply. Is the United States entering a new era of scarcity? Is the world? The Worldwatch Institute’s Gary Gardner debates author and UC Davis economist Gregory Clark.

With $244 billion in the kitty, its socially targeted investing is a big influence.

Too much technology and a desire to play to the critics have produced overblown, overpriced vintages.

Obama's theme of transcending race to "bring together" everyone sounds better in a speech than it plays out in reality.

The ex-Soviet republic and Russia are at odds over a restive region -- and over NATO, and the WTO.

ENDORSEMENTS 2008: A racial separatist running for judge could win if voters don't pay attention.

Facing a budget crunch, it's time California brings some fairness to its spending on schools.

Why can't we stick to our goals? Blame the sloppy engineering of evolution.

L.A. is paying a steep price for Villaraigosa's focus on a real estate-based economy.

If we keep using factory land for housing and stores, what happens to those vital jobs?

Commencement advice you're unlikely to hear elsewhere.

After overestimating the Iraq threat, U.S. intelligence agencies are now dangerously underestimating Syria and Iran.

What's reasonable when scientists start gambling with our very existence?

Corn ethanol is squeezing out greener technologies. We need low-carbon fuel standards instead.

A photographer captures the emptiness and essence of the countless little Main Streets we've left behind.

Cartoonists on the latest controversy over Obama's ex-preacher.

Where does the future of L.A. transportation lie -- light rail, subway, more freeways, smart growth, toll roads or something else? Peter Gordon and Bart Reed debate.

Getting $6 a head -- and a cookie -- to persuade newly sworn citizens to register Republican.

It may not have the production value of 'Extreme Makeover,' but the hard work of helping people has its rewards.

There's a better way to detect racial or ethnic bias among officers.

The stalled development raises concerns about the Community Redevelopment Agency's workings.

Statements by a woman murdered by her boyfriend should be allowed to stand in his conviction.

They provide a service, a snack and a slice of L.A. life. If you agree, place your order here.

Citing mainly additional freeway congestion, the L.A. City Council recently blocked the construction of the massive Las Lomas housing development near Interstate 5. Does this signal a change in the way city planners and leaders evaluate sprawl and its impact on traffic? Bart Reed and Peter Gordon debate.

Pity the poor superdelegate waiting for a clear sign on which Democrat to support.

Our future depends on advocating sustainable population growth, however politically incorrect.

Writing him off as twisted does nothing to promote reconciliation.

Policy debates and high school sports could soon fade to black.

By repudiating his controversial former pastor, Obama did what had to be done.

Violence marred protests last year, but the LAPD insists that it has learned from its mistakes.

Their overuse in the meat and poultry industries may help spawn superbugs.

Torch climb: A photograph published Saturday with an Op-Ed article critical of the Chinese attempt to climb Mt. Everest with the Olympic flame was not a picture of Everest. It was Nuptse, a peak west-southwest of Everest.

Could congestion pricing take hold in Los Angeles similar to the way it has in London? What areas here could be targeted for congestion pricing? Peter Gordon and Bart Reed debate.

In the Rockies, man's hatred and fear of the species is on display again.

In the Rockies, man's hatred and fear of the species is on display again.

'Grand Theft Auto IV' may be a work of genius, but its purpose is to profit from violence.

Congestion pricing more accurately reflects the cost of commuting.

The trade and political pact is immediately frozen pending Serbia's cooperation with the war crimes tribunal, making the signing in Luxembourg largely symbolic.

Few have doubts the city will have stadiums and other tasks finished in time for the Aug. 8 start, as citizens hope pride overshadows global protests.

Clinton's and McCain's plans for a summer gas-tax suspension won't solve anything.

The country, which is a top U.S. oil supplier, is in the midst of a heated debate over foreign investment.

Within weeks of losing federal protection, about 35 wolves in the northern Rockies have been killed.

Jeremiah Wright: Jonah Goldberg's column on Tuesday identified journalist Joe Klein as a writer for Newsweek. He works for Time magazine.

Are we ever getting a 'subway to the sea'? Why does it seem insurmountably difficult to build a decent rail network for Los Angeles? Bart Reed and Peter Gordon debate.

The Writers Guild has an obligation to judge the actions of members who worked during the strike.

The minister reveals that he's as radical and bigoted as his critics insist.

More droughts, less water -- our future depends on adapting to scarcity.

Beijing's reach isn't big enough to stop local governments from abusing the rights of ordinary citizens.

Western governments should pressure Chad's president to stop using his oil wealth to fund rebels in Darfur.

Converting carpool lanes into toll roads is a smart approach, but the MTA might have taken a better route.

Vaccines protect us all. We can't allow the fears of a few parents to endanger society.

By upholding the Indiana law, the court tarnishes its record of promoting democracy.

Complex drugs: An Op-Ed article on Monday on subsequent versions of biologic drugs stated that worldwide spending on these drugs is estimated to grow to $10 billion by 2010. The figure should have been $105 billion.

The MTA decided recently to charge motorists tolls to drive in some carpool lanes. Is it fair to charge drivers to use taxpayer-funded roads? How will this affect (if at all) freeway transportation in Los Angeles? USC professor Peter Gordon and the Transit Coalition’s Bart Reed debate.

A wheelchair user is praised for protecting the torch in Paris, and a student is vilified online after landing in the middle of a debate over Tibet.

Don't just tally how many doctors were disciplined. Boards need adequate funding and staffing to investigate physician competency.

Cartoonists on the polygamous Mormon sect and the McCain-Bush relationship.

Mayors come and mayors go ... but they usually go sooner than they'd like

What would the ideal U.S. drug policy be? What would you keep and reject from current laws?

When even scientists acknowledge that 25 years of research haven't born any fruit, it's time to stop searching for an AIDS vaccine.

Would softening drug laws alleviate or worsen drug violence in the U.S. and Mexico? Charles "Cully" Stimson and Jacob Sullum debate.

On the anniversary of genocide, remember that the Turkish massacre of Armenians also destroyed a homeland.

The last two presidents and two of the current candidates have either used illegal substances or have had substance abuse problems. Does this show that winners don’t always refuse to use drugs? Jacob Sullum and Charles “Cully” Stimson debate.

Policymakers should respond to fact, not fear, on Special Order 40.

The Writers Guild gains nothing by going after the few who broke ranks during the strike.

Do federal raids of legal local marijuana dispensaries violate state sovereignty? Charles 'Cully' Stimson and Jacob Sullum debate.

Promoting democracy throughout the world has been a driving force in U.S. politics since the country's earliest days.

The U.S. Postal Service honors a Times journalist slain during the East L.A. riots.

What's the difference between drug legalization and decriminalization? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? All week, Reason magazine's Jacob Sullum and attorney Charles 'Cully' Stimson

Cartoonists on the week's explosive issues.

Is tenure the real problem? Why should teachers be shielded from the demands of pleasing their paying customers in a way that other intellectuals are not? Michael Shermer and Greg Lukianoff debate.

If the Guantanamo Bay prison does close, Ft. Leavenworth isn't the place to house them.

A New Jersey high school student recently started a controversy over a conservative-leaning government textbook. Should elementary and secondary schools be making more of an effort at ideological diversity, or should they be striving for material that is as non-ideological as possible?

Looking at long-term trends, the ocean, and climate change for clues.

The Ben Stein documentary ‘Expelled’ posits a conspiracy to keep ‘intelligent design’ out of the classroom. Even if that case is exaggerated, is there an argument for considering some alternative theories that seem far-fetched?

Conservation alone won't cut it -- California needs desalination.

Do universities have a customer-service responsibility to their students to rein in expression that makes students uncomfortable? Greg Lukianoff and Michael Shermer debate.

A lack of bullet-proof protection against piracy isn't stopping studios from making more of their TV shows available online for free.

Students complain about indoctrination by professors. Professors complain about vendettas, surreptitious taping and smear campaigns from students and ideologues. Who is right? All week, Michael Shermer and Greg Lukianoff debate academic freedom.

A brief letter from David Baltimore and Seth Berkley

Do we need to focus more on reining in consumption, and are consumers too shielded from the real cost of delivering water? Lester Snow and Mindy McIntyre debate.

Creating a reliable funding stream would save schools from budget cuts.

Is there any hope for desalination as a way to get water to a thirsty California? Mindy McIntyre and Lester Snow debate.

Debates over symbolic gestures rob those who are victims of gang violence and their families.

My family fled the capital days before the Americans arrived and went to stay with relatives in Diyala province. We did not have exact directions to my cousin's house. But he was a tribal sheik, so I thought he would be easy to find.

Can California continue to grow given its endangered water resources? Should we be trying harder to limit or control growth, and if so, how? Lester Snow and Mindy McIntyre debate.

A California librarian did the right thing by calling the police on a patron reportedly viewing child porn.

Is the proposed peripheral canal around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta a water giveaway to wealthy Southern Californians, a necessary step to stabilizing the environment around the Delta or something else? Mindy McIntyre and Lester Snow debate.

What Martin Luther King might have said in response to a Times editorial ridiculing a murder moratorium.

Last fall, solving the state's water crisis was a hot political issue. Now we've had a rainy winter, and some of that interest seems to have flagged. What does that say about the political climate regarding water reform? All week, California Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow and Mindy McIntyre of the Planning and Conservation League debate state water policy.

The days of supplies for almost every project must end. California must build smart.

Outlawing payday lenders limits consumer choice.

Do cartoonists have something against the Clintons?

The U.S. should focus its funds on providing treatment to people in need.

A photo of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s room hours after he was shot.

An S & P managing director explains.

Spending public money to shore up real estate prices won't make housing more affordable

Oaths aren't mere McCarthy-era tools of oppression -- they've been around for centuries.

What you think you know about them is likely wrong -- and that's dangerous.

While record labels have embraced downloading, studios are pushing to stop bootlegging.

The cowardice and intolerance of slapping a Darwin fish on your car bumper.

An L.A. Unified grad gives some gratitude during a hard time for schools.

As factions battle in Basra, the U.S. must remember that not everyone who opposes Maliki is a 'terrorist.'

Choosing a party nominee is not a strictly democratic process. Choosing a president isn't either.

Why is Clinton fighting so hard? Because history shows it works.

Sexual assaults are frequent, and frequently ignored, in the armed services.

The two presidents have their similarities, but history will probably judge them very differently.

Cartoonists abandon the cerebral realms for a more satisfying punchline.

The ruling party is corrupting the country's secular character.

A Turkish American takes Justice and Development Party leaders to task.

Should lenders and debt holders be required to renegotiate mortgages for borrowers in default? How much money should they be required to lose in order to do this? How do they provide this relief without punishing the vast majority of mortgagees who are still paying their bills? Paul Leonard and Christopher Thornberg debate.

The coverage, only the latest bad publicity, is making people feel their huge Olympic effort is unappreciated.

Rigorous standards ensure their high quality, but misapprehension about generics remains.

Thoughtful evaluations would do better job of measuring teacher success.

Do government efforts to curtail payday lending help the poor or merely reduce their financial options? Christopher Thornberg and Paul Leonard debate.

Judging by the reaction to Obama's speech, you'd think Americans had never uttered a word about race.

According to recent polls, barely 25% of Americans favor a bailout for people in danger of foreclosure, and a mere 20% favor a foreclosure moratorium. Is the majority wrong to oppose assistance? Are politicians right to promote plans like these in spite of public opinion? Are the polls themselves wrong? Paul Leonard and Chris Thornberg debate.

A member of the Justice and Development Party says his country deserves advanced democracy.

Cartoonists mix politics and religion.

What kind of military does the U.S. need -- one optimized for big wars against a nation like China, or built for smaller wars like Iraq and Afghanistan? Phillip Carter and Lawrence J. Korb discuss.

Royalty costs are skyrocketing; ad revenues aren't; but Jango.com sees success.

Does Congress have a duty to ensure military contracts go to domestic firms? Lawrence J. Korb and Phillip Carter debate.

What the candidate should have said about race.

To some, they're outrageous; to others, they're truth.

Should evidence gleaned via torture be admissible against defendants being held at Guantanamo? Phillip Carter and Lawrence J. Korb discuss.

Feminism is going strong even though the 'Bitch' author has left the spotlight.

Was Adm. Fallon a heroic check on a warmongering administration or an errant officer who couldn’t keep his opinions to himself? Should military brass have the power to control their message, or should they fall in line with their civilian commanders? Lawrence J. Korb and Phillip Carter discuss.

Claiming that male infidelity has roots in nature ignores important findings about the females of the species.

Generally, should Congress keep its nose out of military business in all but the most extreme cases, or should it instead exercise stronger oversight? All week, Phillip Carter and Lawrence J. Korb debate.

Spitzer's problem isn't that he patronized a profession he prosecuted; it's that he flouted the law in a way that risked his governorship.

Cartoonists on the Spitzer prostitution scandal.

A few years ago, conservatives were beginning to think the Republican ascendancy would be indefinite. Are we entering a period of Democratic ascendancy, and if so, how long will it last? Rick Perlstein and Jasmyne Cannick discuss.

More medical training for Americans would mean better care here, and around the world.

Is the American left now a movement of economic issues and nationalism, of identity politics and social justice, or something else? How do the New Democrats fit into the contemporary left? Jasmyne Cannick and Rick Perlstein discuss.

Given Iraq, are Democrats now positioned to campaign as the national-security party? Rick Perlstein and Jasmyne Cannick discuss.

Among mammals, expecting monogamy tends to run against the grain of nature.

Mexican American war vets and Eastside teachers did more for Mexican Americans than a small protest.

Thanks to the state's budget quagmire, we have to choose between helping needy kids or saving for a rainy day.

Maybe appearing on 'The Colbert Report' to plug a book wasn't really a sellout.

Despite the toxic misogyny aimed at her, Clinton has good reason to stay in the race.

Some cartoonists focused on wars that didn't involve Clinton and Obama.

Remembering his days as a part of the game cult created by Gary Gygax.

Travel to the U.S. has nearly recovered to its pre-9/11 level.

Overreaching medical journal denounces 'poaching' of medical professionals

It's 3 a.m., the phone is ringing and the crisis is you. So what's your answer?

Jonah Goldberg resurrects Red-baiting techniques against Obama and Clinton, says a reader.

Do conservatives believe in citizens' freedom from government snoops and bluenoses, or only in corporations' freedom from regulation? W. James Antle III and Matthew Continetti continue their debate.

Why so many frauds? We love tell-alls, and careless publishers love money.

Blaming rape survivors for their clothes or habits betrays a fear of female independence.

Is interventionism an organic plank of conservatism, or is it the cancer that's destroying it? Matthew Continetti and W. James Antle III continue their debate.

A Beverly Hills company bets on the future of advertiser-supported mobile content

We've seen the rage. She should now go gentle into the political night.

A University of Virginia student explains why campus assault is underreported and rarely prosecuted.

Obama and his party had better dump their discomfort with overt symbols of patriotism.

The threat posed by synthetic bugs is microscopic. So why are U.S. officials making such a big deal?

Outsized and shamelessly phony, the Hollywood sign is an ideal L.A. icon, but it's not our only landmark.

The Fed chairman is caught between a credit crisis and rising inflation.

Views of the presidential race from Texas and Ohio.

You know how ladies, when they don't get what they want, can go a little crazy? Am I right, fellas? Right now, they're pretty upset about losing their first chance at a female president. This would have empowered little girls, shattered sexist beliefs about female incompetence and forced men around the world to view a woman as an agent of power instead of a sex object -- all of which, it turns out, are important to women even though they buy Star magazine. Ladies are complicated.

William F. Buckley shaped a movement for the right, which then left him behind.

With intelligence, style and wit, William F. Buckley Jr. uniquely shaped our political dialogue.

L.A.'s crime plague is a complex social ill that requires more than just beefed-up law enforcement.

The Clinton-Obama debate over requiring individuals to buy insurance obscures more important discussions on universal healthcare.

As global starvation worsens, the U.S. plans to devote vast amounts of grain to producing ethanol.

As the latest recall shows, food safety has taken a back seat to industry profits.

A blogger explores the attitudes and foibles of a new minority group.

In the extinction of the Carolina parakeet is a parable on the relationship of man and nature.

Giving you a raw deal on healthcare is what those firms are supposed to do.

Californians who want to live in hazardous areas shouldn't count on the rest of us to pay the price.

A labor-environmental alliance threatens to sink efforts to decrease pollution at the L.A. and Long Beach facilities.

John Sherffius wins the first big honor of the cartoonists' award season.

It will be tough getting used to life without Hillary Clinton, a candidate so perfect that few could identify with her.

A state bill wants to create CalPERS-managed portable retirement plans for private-sector employees.

U.S. soldiers hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan are surviving at high rates -- but more have neglected brain injuries.

To survive, Santa Ana's Libreria Martinez needs more than good intentions.

Hunger: A May 9 editorial on donating to relief groups referred to Mercy Corps as a religious charity. It is a secular organization.

The Times endorses state ballot measures.

The state Senate can help residents by passing a bill that would end charges for unpublished numbers.

The Pentagon persists in seeking pricey weapons of little use in low-tech warfare.

Misuse of the recall process to settle political scores is no way to get the state out of the mess it's in.

President Bush touts accountability in education. So why is he trying to save the poorly run Reading First?

A new venture could expand service across much of the nation and shake up the provider duopoly.

Clinton has campaigned admirably, but simple math and political realities dictate she can't win.

Deputy superintendent Cortines' move to discipline L.A. Unified officials is just what the district needs.

A federal shield law allowing journalists to protect their sources benefits the public in the long run.

Now isn't the time to scold Myanmar's shameless regime, only to help the afflicted.

The Adam Miranda case shows that the California death penalty costs too much in time, money and justice.

If Yahoo and Google team up, competitors -- and the public -- would likely be the losers.

The second in an editorial series on California's tax system.

Eight Belles' death at the Kentucky Derby underscores what may be a genetic problem.

The ex-Soviet republic and Russia are at odds over a restive region -- and over NATO, and the WTO.

ENDORSEMENTS 2008: A racial separatist running for judge could win if voters don't pay attention.

Facing a budget crunch, it's time California brings some fairness to its spending on schools.

Corn ethanol is squeezing out greener technologies. We need low-carbon fuel standards instead.

The stalled development raises concerns about the Community Redevelopment Agency's workings.

Statements by a woman murdered by her boyfriend should be allowed to stand in his conviction.

They provide a service, a snack and a slice of L.A. life. If you agree, place your order here.

Pity the poor superdelegate waiting for a clear sign on which Democrat to support.

By repudiating his controversial former pastor, Obama did what had to be done.

Violence marred protests last year, but the LAPD insists that it has learned from its mistakes.

Their overuse in the meat and poultry industries may help spawn superbugs.

Clinton's and McCain's plans for a summer gas-tax suspension won't solve anything.

The country, which is a top U.S. oil supplier, is in the midst of a heated debate over foreign investment.

Within weeks of losing federal protection, about 35 wolves in the northern Rockies have been killed.

Converting carpool lanes into toll roads is a smart approach, but the MTA might have taken a better route.

Vaccines protect us all. We can't allow the fears of a few parents to endanger society.

By upholding the Indiana law, the court tarnishes its record of promoting democracy.

The Times reluctantly endorses the three incumbents.

Forget the gossipy stuff. Here are10 topics we'd like to hear the presidential candidates' views on.

BPA is just one of many. California joins the movement to identify and counter them.

Mayors come and mayors go ... but they usually go sooner than they'd like

Congress should extend unemployment benefits before more economists say we're in a recession.

Bush's Earth Day gift to California? A draft regulation that would limit the states' ability to set tailpipe emissions rules.

Not quite, but recent niceties stir faint hope.

The Democratic race is beginning to erode party unity and solidify voter resentment.

Three African nations bar the 'Ship of Shame' from delivering its deadly cargo to Zimbabwe.

A 1983 report warning of a decline in U.S. education provides a blueprint for schools today.

The Writers Guild gains nothing by going after the few who broke ranks during the strike.

More police, fewer city workers. L.A.'s mayor is being realistic with the city's new budget.

Proving job discrimination is tough, thanks to the Supreme Court. Lawmakers aim to change that.

Texas officials face tough decisions.

The U.S. Postal Service honors a Times journalist slain during the East L.A. riots.

He reached out not just to the American faithful but to members of other religions and victims of the church's sexual abuse scandal.

The editorial board picks candidates for Los Angeles Superior Court.

Workers, who often don't know how much of their money goes to fees, deserve this House bill.

Supervisors must reach out to the healthcare community for advice on how to reopen the South L.A. hospital.

We should distinguish between who candidates know and who helps shape their views.

In order to make informed choices, consumers need labels that list ingredients' countries of origin.

The Supreme Court didn't end capital punishment, but it may have started the U.S. down that road.

Hunger: A Thursday editorial on rising food prices identified the president of the World Bank as Robert H. Zoellick. He is Robert B. Zoellick.

Skyrocketing food prices are destabilizing governments. Long-term solutions are needed.

Because the Legislature wouldn't fix the inmate medical system, the state is facing a $7-billion bill.

Spending $50,000 to dig up a jersey from the Yankees' new stadium is so silly it's human.

Louisiana wants to execute a child rapist. The crime is heinous, but the death penalty is too harsh.

As studios and actors' unions get down to bargaining, L.A. doesn't need a sequel to the writers' strike.

A pair of Ecuadorean activists go up against the corporation over a toxic pollution clean-up.

During his visit to the U.S., the pope will need all of his religious and political skills.

A TAXING DILEMMA: We need to resolve two competing beliefs about the state's budget.

The Assembly speaker unjustly made the MTA head the fall guy when the region came up short on bond money.

Even the president is getting on board with helping sub-prime borrowers with their loans.

Tonight's address should set goals and benchmarks for budgeting and anti-gang programs.

Enough with immunity from traffic tickets and tolls. Most public workers should be treated like anyone else.

Using anecdotes to illustrate their agendas has become an occupational hazard for politicans.

Congress complains about the cost of war, but there better reasons than money to leave Iraq.

The mayor is right to ask DHS to focus on crime-fighting instead of workplace raids.

The FAA and the airlines are both to blame for massive cancellations. Both must do their jobs better.

Grand jury transcripts underscore just how low Michael Carona dragged the O.C. Sheriff's Department.

Although it has good ideas, the Senate's response to the home-loan crisis ignores the big problem.

Establishing real rule of law for the country will require more than reinstating ousted judges.

The myths surrounding it may hinder real action on criminal deportations.

Al Qaeda in Iraq is weakened. Do U.S. forces really need to stay to counter Iranian influence?

The city is the perfect forum for protests against China's policies during the relay for the Olympics.

The Supreme Court will consider whether putting them in a park means giving other religions a place in the sun too.

Are they hiding their true policies? If so, they could be buying a lot of trouble.

FARC is losing ground and hostage negotiations are on. Congress should approve a trade deal with the country.

The days of supplies for almost every project must end. California must build smart.

Cortines has the expertise to help Supt. Brewer reform and strengthen L.A. Unified.

The country needs a consistent -- and fair -- way to count who doesn't graduate.