Ricki Lake, 1/19/12

Performer

I produced the 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born to educate women about their choices in childbirth, and raise questions about maternity care in the U.S.

Bob Cesca, 1/19/12

Host of The Bob & Chez Show, Media Producer

Should we undermine the most progressive-minded president in at least a generation and will his failure help or hurt the progressive cause? Will his failure pave the way for a more progressive president or a less progressive president? This is the debate on the left.

Marlo Thomas, 1/19/12

Award-winning actress, author, and activist

I will not stand by and see other families destroyed. We must defeat bullying. Parents, teachers, grandparents, and -- most of all -- kids, must band together and stop this epidemic in our schools and on our playgrounds.

David Wild, 1/19/12

TV Writer; Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone; Co-Author, 'Diary of a Player"'

You know you've really got to hand it to Newt Gingrich -- and I don't mean the Republican nomination. Personally, I'd think twice about even asking my wife for an open face sandwich -- much less that whole open marriage thing.

Dennis A. Henigan, 1/19/12

Acting President, Brady Campaign; Author, 'Lethal Logic'

The gun industry is dominated by manufacturers, distributors and retailers who profit so handsomely from high-volume sales to traffickers that they will fight any serious effort to curtail them.

Christy Turlington Burns, 1/19/12

Model, writer, entrepreneur, spokesperson, advocate, and filmmaker

It was not long ago when we stood by in distant and utter shock, praying only as we could for the well being of the Haitian people.

Robert L. Wolke, 1/19/12

Scientist, Journalist, Satirist and Author

Bobbing for apples is one of the silliest games played by humans, and I won't glorify it by describing its rules (if any) here. But it does raise the compelling scientific question, "Why do some fruits float and others don't?"

Roger Martin, 1/19/12

Author, 'Fixing the Game'

Will there continue to be trade-offs between shareholder value maximization and social good? Absolutely. We live in an imperfect world. Does there have to be a trade-off between the two in all instances? Only if we collectively decide to make it so. Let's not.

Abraham H. Foxman, 1/19/12

National Director, Anti-Defamation League

The current system fails more than just immigrants seeking opportunity and fair treatment. It fails all of us by refusing to embrace a future that welcomes diversity and equal access to the American dream.

Molly M. Gill, 1/19/12

Communications Director, Families Against Mandatory Minimums

The last 30 years of sentencing policy may provide an answer. Getting "tough on crime" became popular among the public and politicians alike. We rejected the notion that a criminal could be rehabilitated.

Alan Thicke, 1/19/12

Actor, humorist, and author, 'How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You'

Our goal in this column is always to 'Connect the Generations' by offering Lessons for 30-Somethings from People Who've Been 30 Twice. Nevertheless, even Baby Boomers don't know everything.

Philip Radford and Daryl Hannah, 1/19/12

Faced with a clear choice between Big Oil and all its money, threats, and politicians, and a people powered movement determined to stop this enormous threat to our air, water, food security, and climate, Obama made the right call.

Harvey Karp, 1/19/12

Pediatrician. Author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

In truth, all parents need support. That's why the ancient adage, "It takes a village to raise a child," has stuck over the years. Far from indicating failure, asking for help is actually a sign of courage and strength.

Noah Fitzgerel, 1/19/12

17-year-old Editorials Editor of his high school newspaper

It might seem strange to read, but to a certain extent, it is evident that SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (the PROTECT IP Act) have saved my generation from being portrayed as the paradigm of political disinterest.

Allen Frances, 1/19/12

Professor Emeritus, Duke University

Preventive psychiatry may someday be of significant service in reducing the burden of human suffering -- but only if it can be done really well. And the sad truth is that we don't yet have the necessary tools.

Joe Peyronnin, 1/19/12

NYU Journalism Professor

On the eve of the South Carolina primary the Republican race has been turned on its head by two developments that may have a profound impact on the campaign. The question now is can frontrunner Mitt Romney beat off the surging Newt Gingrich?

Leila Mouri, 1/19/12

Iranian women's rights activist, journalist and Ph.D. candidate, Columbia University

The naked photos of Golshifteh Farahani emerged in the moment when Iranian youth are transforming the political and social language of their country, freeing themselves from any state-imposed discourse towards women in their "public" presence.

Rozanne Gold, 1/19/12

Chef and author

For me, the most interesting thing about vodka is the food that it accompanies: Ergo, the history of the smorgasbord.

John R. Talbott, 1/19/12

Author, "How I Predicted the Global Economic Crisis: The Most Amazing Book You’ll Never Read"

By bastardizing the intent of IRA legislation meant to help working Americans save for retirement, Romney has succeeded in shielding $20 million to $100 million of his staggering personal wealth from all taxes to date, an effective tax rate of 0%.

Jeff Jarvis, 1/19/12

Author, 'Public Parts' and 'What Would Google Do?'

The Internet has helped untold publics to form. Yesterday, the Internet became a public.

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 1/19/12

Consultant, Writer and Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

Bankers are today's Jay Gatsbys. They're shady figures who have adopted a veneer of respectability, yet remain relentlessly, ruthlessly, and sometimes illegally self-interested.

Nancy Huehnergarth, 1/19/12

Co-founder and executive director, New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance

Could Deen's diabetes diagnosis act as a wake up call to those in denial about the relationship between what you eat and your health?

Dan Collins, 1/19/12

New York Editor-at-Large, The Huffington Post

Anything that makes Donald Trump money is a bad idea in my book. Mark this down as a bad week. The city has granted Trump the right to run a golf course in the Bronx that New York City taxpayers are spending at least $184 million to build.

Janet Tavakoli, 1/19/12

President, Tavakoli Structured Finance

If you've Googled gold or silver, you've come across sites that are breathless about the possibility of manipulation of metals prices. The problem with the Internet is that it's new, too new to capture the rich history of the financial markets.