Inquirer Sunday Currents http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents RSS Feed for Inq Currents en-us Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:21:17 GMT Editorial: Letting big money in http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Editorial__Letting_big_money_in.html Supreme Court watchers are growing anxious about an imminent legal ruling that could open the floodgates of money in politics like never before. Editorial: Counting on Karzai http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Editorial__Counting_on_Karzai.html Elections can be messy. But in the end, sometimes even messy results must be accepted. Take the 2000 U.S. presidential contest, for example. Letters: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Letters_.html Health-care bill would erode freedom How many uninsured Americans have cell phones, cable TV, and maybe even season tickets to their favorite team? How many take a vacation rather than buy insurance? Letters: Help give our veterans a lift in war against ALS http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Letters__Help_give_our_veterans_a_lift_in_war_against_ALS.html Many readers may recall that Veterans Affairs mistakenly sent a letter to thousands of veterans earlier this year informing them that they had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). A big mistake? Yes, one for which the VA has apologized. But what readers probably don't know is the fact that veterans are approximately twice as likely to die from Lou Gehrig's Disease as the general public. The power of independent voters http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_The_power_of_independent_voters.html James Oliphant, Peter Nicholas, and Christi Parsons write for the Los Angeles Times Even before voters went to the polls last week, moderate congressional Democrats were anxious. Would the swing voters who coalesced around Barack Obama almost exactly one year ago stay with the Democrats or defect to the Republicans? An FDA for financial products http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_An_FDA_for_financial_products.html Mark Zandi is chief economist at Moody's Economy.com One of the more contentious debates in Washington today concerns a plan to regulate consumer financial services. Worldview: Afghan women need help to sustain their fragile gains http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Worldview__Afghan_women_need_help_to_sustain_their_fragile_gains.html HERAT, Afghanistan - I came to this city of clean, tree-lined streets, near the Iranian border, to write about Afghan women. Half Empty: Mayor Nutter's feelings hurt? http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Half_Empty__Mayor_Nutter_s_feelings_hurt_.html The following is a partial transcript of Mayor Nutter's most recent session with his psychiatrist. P: You look tired. A wild rumpus for mother and sons http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_A_wild_rumpus_for_mother_and_sons.html Jennifer Baldino Bonett lives in South Philadelphia Max of Where the Wild Things Are has his wolf suit. My 3-year-old son has his SpongeBob PJs, Superman cape, and fireman's hat. Like the boy from Maurice Sendak's imagination, my son does tempt me to call him "Wild Thing," whether he's jumping on the couch or crushing his brother's block tower. Head Strong: Here's a hard truth for the hard right http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20091108_Head_Strong__Here_s_a_hard_truth_for_the_hard_right.html Who is Dede Scozzafava? If you believe Rush Limbaugh, she's a "liberal woman." Columnist Michelle Malkin called her a "radical leftist." There's "nothing Republican" about her, according to the New York Post editorial board.