National: What role should debates have in political campaigning? That’s the question being raised by this Republican presidential primary season. Comment.

Viewpoints: Any improvement in democracy in the U.S. since 1750 is largely the result of various kicks in the pants that “we the people” have delivered to our leaders. It began with George Washington and his cohorts who, as we’d say today, kicked some British butt to get us going. The tradition continued with workers, women and Blacks who put it all on the line for safe working conditions, fair pay, the right to vote and other civil rights. Comment.

Viewpoints: This month saw some special mileage chalked up, about which there should be no scrimping on the hosannas. Jan. 8 marked the 100th anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. And a more determined commitment in the struggle for equality and dignity for people of color would be difficult to come by. It seems altogether fitting, one would dare say perhaps providentially so, that Nelson Mandela was able to witness the march past this significant mile-post. Comment.

Viewpoints: What we really need, as Nobel Prize-winning economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz point out in recent columns, is to get over the current obsession with debt reduction and instead focus on investing in our material and human infrastructure. Comment.

Caribbean: “Oh what a tangled web se weave, Comment.

Viewpoints: Congress is considering a proposal that portends to offer commonsense rules to affect how Federal agencies analyze costs and benefits. Instead it will be disastrous to taxpayers, small and mid-sized businesses and the country as a whole. Comment.

Viewpoints: The bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar company that received a federal loan guarantee, has made the front page because of charges of cronyism. But among the biggest risks to taxpayers, who underwrite federal loan guarantees, isn’t renewable energy. It is nuclear power. Comment.

Belize: When Belize opposition leader Dean Barrow and his United Democratic Party (UDP) took over the government in February of 2008 after 10 years of People’s United Party (PUP) rule, the country was broke and indebted to several international financial institutions to the tune of billions of dollars. Comments (3).

Viewpoints: If small business owners decided to stop paying our fair share of taxes, we’d be sent to jail. Big business tax dodgers want Congress to reward them with a tax holiday. Comment.

Viewpoints: What will your children breathe? Environmental issues are on the rise. Parents are advised to heed the call to embrace the green revolution. Comment.