Naomi Klein and Tom Rielly, 12/ 8/11

As a culture we have been far too willing to gamble with things that are precious and irreplaceable.

Sen. Kay R. Hagan, 12/ 8/11

U.S. Senator from North Carolina

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to protect consumers. But Republicans are planning to filibuster the confirmation of Richard Cordray as the director of the CFPB, effectively neutralizing the bureau's power to protect consumers.

Ben Affleck, Cindy McCain and Anthony W. Gambino, 12/ 7/11

The Congolese people deserve a future where their basic rights are respected, including the right to know that their leaders reflect their electoral will. This right hangs in the balance.

Alec Baldwin, 12/ 8/11

Actor

Today, the New York Post features a cover story on me deactivating my Twitter account (social media being a tad less exciting to me just now). Really? The cover of the paper? About that?

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, 12/ 8/11

Writer; Speaker; Author, 'The Best of Everything After 50'

I had the great opportunity to interview Diane von Furstenberg, Ginny Hilfiger, and a few other fashion-forward experts who gave me guidelines (no rules, please!) on what to wear and to avoid once I turned 50. Here's their master list of "must haves."

Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., 12/ 8/11

Expert in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and author

The holidays are often a time when folks complain of feeling down or blue. These feelings are real, but most of the time, they are mild and temporary -- not true symptoms of clinical depression.

William J. Astore, 12/ 8/11

Retired lieutenant colonel (USAF)

Here's an American fact: the 99 percent are far too remote from our wars of choice and those who fight them. To reclaim the latter, we must end the former. And that's a war of necessity that has to be fought -- and won.

Bernard-Henri Lévy, 12/ 8/11

French philosopher; Writer

Blandine Barret-Kriegel's book, La République et le prince moderne [The Republic and the Modern Prince] was just published in France and is an important book and in many ways a timely one, given the current ideological and political situation.

Robert Scheer, 12/ 8/11

Editor, Truthdig.com; Author, 'The Great American Stickup'

The driving faith of the GOP has become the notion that the toxic mixture of moral hypocrisy and unfettered greed is a formula for victory. Newt Gingrich could be their man.

George Goehl, 12/ 8/11

Executive Director, National People’s Action

If any bank represents the need to have a regulator in place that protects people on consumer financial issues, it's Bank of America. America's bank has become a symbol for all that is wrong with the financial sector.

Frances Beinecke, 12/ 8/11

President, Natural Resources Defense Council

Once again Congress is facing hard deadlines for must-pass legislation. And once again, GOP leaders are holding up the process with anti-environmental riders.

Lucas Kavner, 12/ 8/11

Culture Reporter, Huffington Post

If gay soldiers are allowed to serve openly in the military, there must be a mandatory Secret Santa for students of all religious backgrounds, with no cap on prices for presents, so that the richest students become the most popular children of all!

Jim Sleeper, 12/ 8/11

Political Science Lecturer, Yale University

You really can't get more egg on your face than Barack Obama's neoliberal Beltway apologists have after his big speech in Kansas. That's because a portion of the speech reads as if the president were channeling the pundits' nemesis, Drew Westen.

Larry Strauss, 12/ 8/11

Veteran high school English teacher, basketball coach, novelist

The lockdown model of education with oppressive rules and blindly inflexible enforcement is a failure. Let's find a way to replace punishment with inspiration, dispassionate control with tough love.

Chris Weigant, 12/ 7/11

Political Writer and Blogger at ChrisWeigant.com

One month out, I have no idea what will happen in Iowa. Neither does anyone else, really. But I certainly can see the possibility of a big Ron Paul surge, especially if he places either first or second in Iowa. That alone would shake the race up considerably.

Nicole Moore, 12/ 8/11

Founder and Editor of theHotness.com

Though historically being called "uppity" by whites was considered fighting words, if Michelle Obama is considered "uppity" especially by Rush Limbaugh and his NASCAR groupies then please sign me up.

Cara Santa Maria, 12/ 7/11

Science Correspondent, Huffington Post; Editor, Talk Nerdy to Me

The DSM is the go-to manual for diagnostic criteria of a wide range of mental disorders, but some question it's validity and reliability.

Jesse Kornbluth, 12/ 8/11

Editor of HeadButler.com

Books change over time, and over 170 years, A Christmas Carol has changed more than most. The story is a slow starter. There's a lot of extraneous description. So this former English major hacked 15,000 words out of Charles Dickens' immortal novel.

Charles Orgbon, 12/ 8/11

16-year-old sophomore at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia

Since elementary school, we've been told the common cliché: "You are the future." However, many young people are changing the conversation and asking: How about right this moment?

Doug Bandow, 12/ 7/11

Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute

Religious repression typically occurs in authoritarian regimes. But it appears that European democracies are not immune from the virus. Unfortunately, Hungary has adopted legislation which undermines this most basic liberty.

Richard B. Woodward, 12/ 8/11

Arts Critic in New York

Novels and memoirs about the damages of childhood beg to become tear-jerking orgies. What kept me reading was Torres' dry-eyed control over his material. Edited with obsessive care, he hasn't allowed that to happen.

Wendell Potter, 12/ 8/11

Analyst, Center for Public Integrity; Former insurance company executive; Author

Two reports were published this week, both of which show that, by many measures, health care has gone from bad to worse since Perry became governor 11 years ago this month.

Gregory C. Pappas, 12/ 8/11

President, The Pappas Group; Publisher, Greek America Magazine; Founder, Greek America Foundation

Greece's brilliant marketers have resorted to adding the "visit Greece" slogan on seven million placemats that will grace the tables of thousands of diners up and down the Northeast corridor of the United States. Dumfounded describes my initial reaction.

Barbra Streisand, 12/ 7/11

Singer; Actress; Director; Composer; Activist

Women have made enormous strides. We've had women explore the depths of outer space, a woman has run for president of the United States, and a woman has served as speaker of the house. Yet a boys club still exists in the medical sciences.