Steve Chapman is a columnist and editorial writer for the Chicago Tribune.
Steve Chapman
Latest from Steve Chapman
The Real Meaning of the "Redskins" Debate
Should Congress care about the name of a professional sports team?
The Return of Illegal Immigration
A massive and costly federal scheme failed to work. Who could have seen that one coming?
Nullification Is Not the Answer to Gun Control
Gun rights advocates need to drop their misguided embrace of nullification.
The Misery of Obama's Second Term
The president is now at odds with Congress and the public.
Did Obama Just Get Lucky on Syria?
The Russian escape route may save Obama from waging an unpopular war.
War in Syria: The Endless Quest for Credibility
Our global standing won't suffer if we refuse to bomb Syria.
The Cost of Symbolism in Syria
If Assad does not respond as hoped, Obama will face unhappy choices about his credibility and much more.
Market Forces Lead to Better Treatment for Farm Animals
On the farm, making room for humanely-raised pigs.
The Vanishing Case for U.S. Aid to Egypt
What do we really gain from subsidizing the country?
Drug Warriors in Retreat
At least when it comes to low-level, nonviolent drug offenders, both parties have lost their appetite for locking the cell and tossing the key.
Shedding Light on Stop and Frisk
Why is Bloomberg afraid to equip New York City police with body cameras?
Don't Boycott the Olympics
Refusing to participate in the Olympics will accomplish nothing of value.
The Case Against Nepotism in Politics
From Kennedy to Bush to Cheney, it's time to stop rewarding the children of famous politicians.
The Case for Janet Yellen for Fed Chair
There is a powerful case to be made for Yellen for head of the Federal Reserve based strictly on how she's done her job.
Resisting the Surveillance State
Limiting surveillance to individuals who are actually being investigated is not a radical idea.
Military Brass Refuse to Address Sexual Assault, and That's a Problem
Sexual assault needs to be addressed, but they don't want to hear it.
Obama and the Power of No
For now, at least, Obama is carrying out a foreign policy that errs on the side of caution, patience, restraint and economy.
Double Jeopardy for George Zimmerman?
The Department of Justice wants to waste more money trying him for a federal hate crime.
Illinois Politicians Don't Understand Concealed Carry
Hint: Chicago is NOT an example of gun control working.
The Pentagon's New Policy on Gitmo Hunger-Strikers Is Appalling
The Pentagon has wonderful news for the inmates at Guantanamo who are refusing to eat.
Gay Marriage Is Not a Threat to Freedom
The right to marry a person of the same sex fits perfectly within Thomas Jefferson's conception of freedom.
The Voting Rights Act Was Made for a Simpler Time
That day is gone, and fortunately, it's not coming back.
No, the NSA Leaks Aren't Putting Americans at Risk
It shouldn't be impossible to give Americans some sense of how the disclosures will help the terrorists.
Car Buyers Get Hijacked by Crony Capitalism
Bad auto laws keep costs high and stifle competition... even in Texas.
Why Women Should Be Able to Buy Birth Control Without Seeing a Doctor
There is no obvious explanation why something used safely over half a century by hundreds of millions of women should remain so restricted.
The Executive Branch Is Growing More Powerful at Democracy's Expense
We still have a democracy in America. It's just not connected to anything.
The Real Problem With the NSA's Indiscriminate Spying
Innocent people should not be punished in the pursuit of the guilty.
How Immigration Reform Will Harm U.S. Citizens
E-verify means new restrictions on both immigrants and citizens.
Can We Really Do Better In Syria Than We Did in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya?
A lot could go wrong if the U.S. gets involved in Syria's civil war.
Why Government Shouldn't Lower the BAC Bar for Drunk Driving
It's a utopian goal requiring excessive compulsion in the pursuit of unattainable perfection.
Obama Is Not Nixon
Equating the two is like concluding that babies are like poisonous snakes because some of them have rattles.
It's Time to Face Facts About Illegal Immigration
Efforts to make life miserable for those who are not supposed to be here have not made them leave.
Democrats Are Holding Energy—and Prosperity—Captive
If American gas companies can get a better return selling abroad, who is the government to stop them?
Surveillance Cameras Are Not All That
Cameras were a big help in Boston, but that doesn't mean they are generally a good idea.
America Needs to Stay Out of Syria
Advocates of intervention think we couldn't make the problems of Syria worse. We could.
Why Government Bureaucrats Rarely Get in Trouble for Doing Nothing
Making life slightly better for travelers may not be enough to overcome the bureaucratic imperative: When in doubt, do nothing.
The Cost of More Security Is a Reduced Tolerance for the Risks That Make Life Great
As we grow more secure, our tolerance for any remaining risk, or even any potential risk, gets smaller.
The United States of America Did Torture, Actually
Few Americans realize what cruelties have been inflicted in their name.
It's Time to End the U.S. Embargo of Cuba
The U.S. government has been tireless in pursuing a policy that does not look better with time
Science, Sex, and Birth Control
We don't have a pro-science party and an anti-science party. We have two anti-science parties.
