Are quality newspapers disappearing – and if they are, does it matter?

It is a disturbing prospect, but prognosis may not be as bad as it seems.

Do our newspaper opinion writers serve us well?

Is adequate regard being given by local columnists to facts, fairness and balance?

Where have all the women gone?

It has become common for facilities, products and services to be described as available for "ladies" and "men". Those who recall a former era know that adult humans were classified as "ladies" and "gentlemen" on the one hand and "men and "women" on the other.

What has happened?

What to do about graffiti

British street artist Banksy has become an international phenomenon. But much of the unsolicited street decoration from spray cans and textas is a blight on the environment.

For more than 50 years, perhaps since invention of the aerosol paint can and the texta pen, graffiti has become an urban blight. British street artist Banksy has become an international phenomenon. But much of the unsolicited street decoration from spray cans and textas is a blight on the environment. What can we do about it?

Another decade of the Global War on Drugs?

In Vienna this week a United Nations conference is deliberating global drug strategy for the next decade. What will they decide?

To speak of a war on drugs, like a war on terror or a war on cancer, is to use a metaphor; but to extend the metaphor to ask if we are winning the war on drugs, the answer is no. What should we be doing instead and why aren't we? In Vienna this week a United Nations conference is deliberating global drug strategy for the next decade. What will they decide?

Should uninsured bushfire victims receive donated or government money to rebuild their homes?

Is it fair for government or donated money to rebuild uninsured homes, given that it leaves little incentive for homeowners to insure their homes in future?

Close to 2000 homes have been destroyed by the Victorian bushfires, and fires are still burning. It is suspected that while many of these homes were insured against fire, a large minority were not. Is it fair for government or donated money to rebuild uninsured homes, given that it leaves little incentive for homeowners to insure their homes in future? And when it comes to that, why is property insurance in Victoria so darned expensive anyway?

Evidence and guilt

While DNA evidence may be sufficient to establish innocence, it is not sufficient by itself to establish guilt.

A multilingual Australia?

The Rudd government has launched a modest initiative to encourage increased study of foreign languages at school. The government program is vital, but may not be sufficient.

The Australian government has now launched a $62 million program to encourage school students to learn a second language. Funding for the program was provided in the 2008-9 federal budget.

The Long Term Homelessness Problem

The cost to the state of establishing permanently homeless people in homes may be less than the cost of leaving them on the streets. Most recently, a pilot program in Los Angeles has reported tentative success.

Why do people vote Republican (or, in Australia, for the Liberal Party)?

In a long essay at EDGE, moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt asks, "What makes people vote Republican?" He puts it down to differing moral values systems.

Is it me, is it my parents, or is Society to blame?

A longstanding debate: how much does genetic inheritance shape us and how much does environment?

What will history make of George W Bush’s presidency

"The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones" (Shakespeare)

With the departure of George W Bush from the world stage, many, including the man himself, are thinking about how history will eventually see him.