REGULATORS CIRCLING

Reza Marashi, 05/23/12

Research Director, National Iranian American Council

There is only one way to break a 34-year-old deadlock: break the rules. America and Iran must talk to each other and trade compromises of equal value in order to break down the hostility and misperceptions that paralyze our relations.

Robert Reich, 05/22/12

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Beyond Outrage'

Bain Capital and JPMorgan are parts of the same problem -- a particular kind of capitalism that uses other peoples' money to make big bets which, if they go wrong, can wreak havoc on the economy. The president should be leading the charge against both.

Norman Lear, 05/22/12

Founder, People for the American Way

The charges against flame retardant manufacturers have to be hogwash! Just another cheap shot against Big Business. How can so many people, and Americans no less, knowingly turn out a product capable of doing such dastardly harm? Impossible!

Kerry Kennedy, 05/22/12

President, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights

Let's not remember Mary for her despair, but let's take inspiration from her determination to heal the woundedness in herself and in those she loved.

Laura Rossi Totten, 05/22/12

Blogger, My So-Called Sensory Life

Why is it that as soon as we become mothers, we are expected to leave our cosmos at the bar and settle for reruns of Sex and the City?

B.J. Epstein, 05/22/12

Lecturer in literature and translation, University of East Anglia

Many view children's literature as beneath them. But, wait, here's a sneaky little problem: what about all the 'grownups' who read and enjoy Rowling's work and other children's books? Shouldn't we explore why these works appeals to adults who are apparently supposed to know better?

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, 05/22/12

Former Governor of Michigan, Faculty at UC Berkeley, Host of "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm" on Current TV

It is an affront to our democracy that you need a specific identification to vote for a candidate, but not to finance one. Why is it so easy to buy a government, but becoming so hard to vote for one?

David Katz, M.D., 05/22/12

Director, Yale Prevention Research Center

There is an intrinsic problem with measuring the quality of a system by how well it conforms to what you already believe. Such a system gets bonus points for agreeing with you -- even when you are wrong.

Van Jones and Roger Kim, 05/22/12

Central to the move towards localized clean energy is a little-known policy called "net metering." Today, there are over 100,000 rooftop solar energy systems in California and net metering is the policy responsible for 99% of them.

Keli Goff, 05/22/12

Author, Commentator and Contributing Editor, TheLoop21.com

For some, the battle over birth control happens to align with a much bigger, long-term culture war. Not a culture war over religious freedom, as some would have you believe, but a war over the browning of America.

Ralph Gomory, 05/22/12

Research Prof. NYU, Pres. Emeritus, Alfred P Sloan Foundation, Former IBM SVP Science-Tech

People talk a great deal about free trade. But for better or for worse the real world that we live in is more a mercantilist world than it is a free markets and free trade world.

Cheryl Saban Ph.D., 05/22/12

Author and advocate for women and children

Getting more women into Congress is worth the fight. Taking this opportunity, even though it's dressed in overalls, and looks like work, is still an opportunity. This is not just a woman's issue.

Deborah Dugan, 05/22/12

CEO, (RED)

It is going to require a renewed commitment by the public and private sectors to excite and activate people around the world to bring an end to HIV/AIDS. The (RED)RUSH TO ZERO campaign is the kind of aggressive action that is needed to make this goal a reality.

Felice Shapiro, 05/22/12

Founder/Publisher www.betterafter50.com

It's important for us to go public with our outrage when women are not appropriately recognized for our accomplishments. Let's make it loud and clear that attempting to sideline a woman with superficial comments about her hair and her style won't work.

Diane Russell, 05/22/12

State Representative, Maine House of Representatives

Thanks to a dramatic shift in technological innovation, the government can easily track, monitor and surveil its citizens. Who knew that Big Brother would show up as a "friend" you "liked?"

Crystal Bell, 05/21/12

Associate Editor, HuffPost Entertainment

The battle for eternal Mirror Ball glory on "Dancing With the Stars" has never been this evenly matched heading in to the finals, but after tonight's performances, I know who I'm placing my bets on.

Paul Kleinman, 05/21/12

Author

I provide a guide to self-diagnosis that starts at the top of your head and moves all the way down to the bottom of your feet. Finally, all hypochondriacs can have the ability to diagnose all of their visible life-threatening symptoms without the use of an Internet connection!

Newton N. Minow, 05/22/12

Attorney; former chairman, FCC

Simply put, the LBJ I knew hungered for power, and knew he knew how to use it. The Kennedy I knew grudgingly but genuinely admired LBJ's ability. Robert Caro's book reminded me of a sad conversation I had with LBJ during the time he was languishing in the vice presidency.

Joe Kort, Ph.D., 05/22/12

Psychotherapist, sexologist, and relationship therapist; founder, Center for Relationship and Sexual Health

With the passing of Whitney Houston and now Donna Summer, I've been thinking about why divas are so important to the gay community. Although not every gay boy or man worships divas, a good many do. Why is that? There are many theories.

Joan Blades, 05/22/12

Co-Creator, Living Room Conversations

Political leaders and the media are failing us on so many levels. But there is hope. Quietly, and without fanfare, groups and individuals are reaching out to each other. I've been involved with one such effort, called "Living Room Conversations."

Michael B. Keegan, 05/22/12

President, People For the American Way

Let's have a conversation about whether or not Romney's success in making money for investors through his position at Bain qualifies him to be president. Making money for investors doesn't mean that you know how to make the economy work for all Americans.

Josh Sugarmann, 05/22/12

Executive director, Violence Policy Center

Each day, how many motor vehicles do you see or actually use? You probably couldn't keep track. Now, how about guns. How many do you see or actually use during the same period? For most people, not that many. If any at all. And yet, in 10 states gun deaths actually outpace motor vehicle deaths.

Ryan Calo and John Villasenor, 05/22/12

Unmanned aerial vehicles, often called "drones," are coming to American skies. We've identified 10 commonly held myths related to the technology and legal framework involved in drones and their use.

Raffi Cavoukian, 05/22/12

Troubadour, Author

The environmental movement failed to change the way we look at the world and our place in it. Nature became "the environment": a reductionist term devoid of relationship. And environmentalism itself became divisive.