This week the United States Congress is debating a bill that would prohibit abortions on the basis of the sex of the unborn child.

Pull two cents out of your pocket or purse. What is a cent or penny worth? It is only 1/100th of a dollar. But what are your “two cents” really worth?

We might hear someone say “That’s not worth two cents!” in describing some item they regard as almost worthless. This idiomatic expression is also illustrated when one offers an opinion when it wasn’t requested. We say, “Here’s my two cents’ worth.”

Some politicians claim the U.S. economy is rising from the ashes even while Europe’s financial situation melts down.  However, numerous analysts believe more turmoil remains for the United States.   In Europe, Britain gives wise financial advice but continues to “borrow” endlessly without fixing its own financial problems.  According to one financial analyst, “The entire [British] tax system needs to be replaced with something coherent.”  In fact, he notes that “…the optimal size of government is closer to a third” (The Telegraph, May 17, 2012).

A little more than two generations ago, on January 20, 1961, in his only inaugural address, United States President John F. Kennedy called on his audience to support him in advancing the ideals of freedom and common prosperity. A little more than 50 years later, how have the U.S. and other Western nations fared in achieving President Kennedy’s goal?

Noted economic historian Niall Ferguson observed in a recent interview that the only real solution to Europe’s financial crisis is a full fiscal union—a true United States of Europe—that would be unquestionably under the leadership of the financial powerhouse, Germany.   Ferguson believes Europe could limp along for a while with Greece falling into step with EU demands and Germany digging deeper into its wealthy pockets.    However, he states that while “I am not a federalist… the costs of the single currency disintegrating are really so high and would impact so many people, that t