New Financing Instruments for State and Local Capital Facilities

Municipal bonds traditionally have been classified into two general types: term bonds, paid off in a lump sum at the end of the term of the loan, and serial bonds, retired in annual installments. Beginning in the late 1970s, however, a number of new fiscal instruments have been devised to meet the changing needs of the municipal bond market. While these new financing techniques are not a panacea, their careful application may uncover some real opportunities for meeting the needs of local government for expanded capital facilities.     

王国维美学与20世纪中国美学

王国维美学对20世纪中国美学有重要的影响和启示.在社会变革的历史关头,主流美学占据主导地位,不等于非主流美学没有自己的一定地位,它们都在发生影响,只是影响的范围、程度有别.把20世纪中国美学的开山大师与其后的美学家比照,我们就会发现美学在中国发展中的起伏轨迹,尤其是非主流美学家命运的悲剧性,这种悲剧性是学科本身的必然的悲剧性.     

The Malaise of Federalism: Comparative Reflections on Commonwealth–State Relations

The High Court's decision in the ‘Work Choices’ case expanding further the scope of the Commonwealth's enumerated powers is the latest reminder of the highly centralised nature of Australian federalism. The division of powers traditionally forming the essence of a federal system has become increasingly difficult to discern and the roles and responsibilities of the two levels of government have become entangled. While for a good part of Australia's history divided jurisdiction was deplored as an obstacle to progress in government, today the decay of the system is most likely to be lamented. Discussion of options for reform presupposes an understanding of the forces that have led to the present condition. This article examines the Australian experience in a broader comparative and historical perspective and suggests that those forces are endemic and substantial.     

The other crisis of Canadian federalism

Abstract. This article examines ‘the other crisis’ of Canadian federalism, which is identified as a declining capacity for the effective use of government authority for the attainment of public goals. Central to this crisis is the negative impact of competitive big governments at both levels on the effective functioning of the federal system. In one sense the crisis is simply a particular version of the widespread crisis in government capacity characteristic of all big governments in the modern era. In another sense it is argued that contemporary Canadian federalism makes a distinct contribution to the growth of the governments whose competitive tendencies it cannot effectively restrain or channel. In sum, escape from the destructive spiral of interaction between collectivism and federalism is unlikely without an intellectual and political transformation of the frames of reference which motivate and control political behaviour. Sommaire. L'auteur de cet article étudie l'autre crise du fédéralisme canadien, identifiée comme étant l'impuissance croissante du gouvemement d'utiliser son autorité dans l'atteinte d'objectifs publics. L'impact négatif de la concurrence entre des gros gouvernements, aux deux niveaux, sur le système fédéral lui même est au coeur de la crise acluelle. En un sens, la crise est simplement une version particulière de l'impuissance générale des gouvernements, caractéristique de tous les gros gouvernements de l'époque moderne. Dans une autrc optique, l'auteur soutient que le fédéralisme canadien contribue manifestement à la croissance des gouvernements dont il ne peut ni réduire ni canaliser les tendances compétitives, de façon efficace. En conclusion, il y a peu de chance d'échapper à la spirale destructice de l'interaction entre le collectivisme et le fédéralisme, sans une transformation intellectuelle et politique des cadres de reference qui motivent et régissent le comportement politique.     

Analytical and Essential Marxism

Analytical Marxism involves the attempt to reconstruct Marxist theory and to refocus Marxist politics in the light of contemporary intellectual developments – especially in analytical philosophy and economic theory—and historical events – above all, the failures of Communist regimes. In order to assess this reconstruction it is necessary to bear in mind a conception of the overall Marxist project. By this standard of comparison it remains to be seen whether Analytical Marxism can effect the required kind of connection between its theory and its practice.     

Back to first principles: a new model for the regulation of drug promotion

The US Food and Drug Administration''s (‘FDA’ or the ‘Agency’) current regulatory framework for drug promotion, by significantly restricting the ability of drug manufacturers to communicate important, accurate, up-to-date scientific information about their products that is truthful and non-misleading, runs afoul of the First Amendment and actually runs counter to the Agency''s public health mission. Our article proposes a New Model that represents an initial proposal for a modern, sustainable regulatory framework that comprehensively addresses drug promotion while protecting the public health, protecting manufacturers’ First Amendment rights, establishing clear and understandable rules, and maintaining the integrity of the FDA approval process. The New Model would create three categories of manufacturer communications—(1) Scientific Exchange and Other Exempt Communications, (2) Non-Core Communications, and (3) Core Communications—that would be regulated consistent with the First Amendment and according to the strength of the government''s interest in regulating the specific communications included within each category. The New Model should address the FDA''s concerns related to off-label speech while protecting drug manufacturers’ freedom to engage in truthful and non-misleading communications about their products.