Politicians have frequently directed harsh rhetoric toward particular corporate taxpayers that earn high profits. At times, this rhetoric has been accompanied by policy proposals that single out a narrow set of profitable taxpayers for disparate treatment. Perhaps the most notable example is the war against Big Oil.

Lookingat thefacts, one can only conclude that theUnited Statesis a singular nation, and will likely be so for a long, long time.

It isalmost sadistic to threaten thepeople in the hurricane areaswith the re-imposition of a tax that did so much harm to their economy in the 1980s.

The Congressional attack on successful private-equity and oil companies is unjustified and sets a damaging precedent.

In a capital city that is full of shameless political scams, ethanol is perhaps the most egregious.

What had been a trickle of litigation over Vioxx became a flood.

National Journal's People column comments on Peter J. Wallison.