Amitai Etzioni, 12/10/12

GWU Professor

It is morally abhorrent to cut benefits to any current or future seniors before much greater efforts are made to stop large scale raids on the Medicare coffers by nefarious corporations.

Jasmine Stein, 12/10/12

Author

For women it's sometimes feels like once we get to a certain age, we are destined to hand over control of our bodies to another being, along with whatever hopes and dreams we had for ourselves.

Nathaniel Frank, 12/10/12

Author, 'Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America'

The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, actually contains two different kinds of sin. One is an act considered morally wrong because it's hurtful or dangerous. The second kind of sin is a violation against social conventions. Which kind of sin is homosexuality, according to the Bible?

Derek Shearer, 12/06/12

Professor of Diplomacy at Occidental College and former US ambassador

This holiday season, I'm most grateful for President Obama's hard fought win at the polls. I've given the president my fair share of public and private advice. In the spirit of the season, I offer him these gifts.

Sophia Dembling, 12/06/12

Writer, Traveler

You might think that because I am confident speaking in public, enjoy throwing parties, and can talk to just about anyone, I couldn't possibly be an introvert. But I am.

William K. Black, 12/09/12

Assoc. Professor, Univ. of Missouri, Kansas City; Sr. regulator during S&L debacle

The New York Times' slant in describing Monti as a "technocrat" and Correa as a "left-leaning economist" is typical of the dominant media. Monti and Correa both have doctorates in economics from U.S. universities and both have been professors of economics. Why does the New York Times treat Monti reverentially and Correa dismissively?

Kathy Freston, 12/09/12

Health and Wellness Activist, Author

This is empowering news, given that most people think they are a victim of their genes, helpless to stave off some of the most dreaded diseases. We aren't helpless at all; in fact, the power is largely in our hands. It's on our forks, actually.

Harris Silver, 12/10/12

Founder, Citystreets

While I always thought it was preposterous to ask what would Jesus drive, it does seem reasonable to ask what would Jesus listen to, which is what Hillel Tigay asked when he started on a journey to create a modern album of ancient music.

Sheri Meyers, 12/08/12

AUTHOR: “Chatting or Cheating: How to Detect Infidelity, Rebuild Love and Affair-Proof Your Relationship”

Has your online friendship crossed the line? How can you be sure that what you're doing is really innocent and harmless, or if you're slipping down the slippery slope toward emotional sex?

Mark Sandlin, 12/09/12

PC(USA) Minister & co-founder of The Christian Left

A war on worshiping consumerism in the sacred halls of Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy while the world is swallowed up in the darkness of not having enough food to eat - sign me up!

Ingrid Newkirk, 12/10/12

President and co-founder, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

"Surely if I buy organic, humanely raised or free-range, that's all good, isn't it?" Well, actually, no. You are just kidding yourself, and the animals you are trying not to hurt would tell you if they could that your valiant effort is not enough.

Bill Moyers, 12/10/12

Managing Editor, Moyers & Company

This past election, Norquist's group, Americans for Tax Reform, spent nearly $16 million to support his favored candidates; that's according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Where did that money come from, and what did it buy?

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 12/10/12

Writer; host, 'The Breakdown'; Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

This entire Medicare debate's being held under false pretenses. There are only two paths to $600 billion in savings. One's macabre and morbid, and is offered here only as a Swiftian "modest proposal." The other would take a chunk out of corporate profits. Which path do you think the GOP would prefer?

Alison Spiegel, 12/10/12

Associate Blog Editor, The Huffington Post

This year the food world saw a new trend pop up seemingly every day, and with perpetual instagramming, tweeting and blogging, we were able to share, analyze and get over one food trend as soon as the next one arrived. Here are 10 food trends from 2012 and what they say about us.

Michael Brenner, 12/10/12

Senior Fellow, the Center for Transatlantic Relations; Professor of International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh

There is a current of excitement running through the foreign affairs community sparked by the prospect that the United States will cease being a net energy importer within 25 years. How justified is this celebration of a euphoric future?

Dan Rather, 12/10/12

Host, 'Dan Rather Reports'

Caught my old friend Billy Joe Shaver's gig last week at New York's "Hill Country." What a hoot. Shear down-home grit, grin, groan and guzzle, Texas style. Only thing missing was the chicken wire.

Tom Angell, 12/10/12

Founder and Chairman, Marijuana Majority

By giving an analogy about cigarettes, President Clinton is at the very least giving a serious head nod to the idea that "legalization" of other drugs is worth giving some consideration to.

Gordon Brown, 12/09/12

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; UN Special Envoy for Global Education

When Malala Yousafzai was targeted and shot by the Taliban simply for wanting to go to school, the whole world of education was changed forever. So long as there are children denied the chance of school, Malala will be the standard bearer for their rights.

Mayor David Bing, 12/10/12

Mayor, City of Detroit

Recreation centers provide a much-needed -- and safe -- "escape." Most importantly, recreation centers enhance the quality of life for all people -- young and old. And the life lessons learned by participating in activities at recreation centers will have a long-lasting impact. I can attest to that firsthand.

Michael Hogan, 12/09/12

Executive Arts and Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post Media Group

For all its increasingly loony plot twists, Homeland has stayed true to its central characters, Nicholas Brody and Carrie Mathison, allowing them to evolve in mostly believable ways and bringing them together in a mostly swallowable fashion.

Sebastian Seung, 12/10/12

Professor of Computational Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To find better means of fixing the brain, we first need to achieve something more fundamental. We must understand how it works.

Jill Sheffield and Maz Kessler, 12/10/12

She carried a newborn baby on her front, and another, older baby on her back. She told me that she had already been pregnant 11 times, but only had six living children. I was immediately struck by the fact that although we were the same age, I had so many choices that she did not.

Ari Melber, 12/10/12

Attorney & Correspondent for The Nation magazine

Over the past 20 years, and particularly the last four, something radical happened in our democracy. The filibuster has gradually transformed the legislative branch of government from a majoritarian democracy into a body frozen by a "minoritarian" veto.

Andreas Schleicher, 12/10/12

Special Advisor on Education Policy, OECD

The U.S. is now the only country in the industrialised world in which the generation entering the workforce does not have higher college attainment levels than the generation about to leave the workforce.

Zoë Triska, 12/10/12

Associate Books Editor, The Huffington Post

If I have to hear or see "YOLO" one more time, I'm going to rip out my eyes and ear drums (not really, but I'm a big fan of hyperbole).

Robert Kuttner, 12/09/12

Co-founder and co-editor, 'The American Prospect'

It is literally possible to have more money than you know what to do with. Take the case of the private-equity billionaire Peter G. Peterson.

Dr. Peggy Drexler, 12/08/12

Author, research psychologist and gender scholar

As absurd as it might sound to many, it's not easy being a rich kid. Their parents tend to have high expectations. They think their money is their most notable quality. And so they learn to use it -- to buy affection, or friends.

Mohamed A. El-Erian, 12/09/12

CEO and co-CIO, PIMCO

Expectations of a relaxing Sunday in front of the television watching football gave way to frustration and disappointment. In the process, I gained insights on the challenges facing G-20 officials when it comes to managing the global economy.

Leo W. Gerard, 12/10/12

International President, United Steelworkers

Mitch McConnell, the minority leader of the U.S. Senate, has for six years wielded the filibuster as a weapon in his rebellion against a founding principle of the United States of America -- self-governance by majority rule. The majority must seize back control.