Opinion - The fundamentals need to be addressed first

The economy is the center of attention. Jobless rates continue to climb. Foreclosures are expected to rise. Governments are frantically trying to balance budgets.

It is a new environment, not so much because of the difficulties experienced over the last few years, but because there is little of a quick recovery.

Quick fixes will not do enough. Some fundamental hard work and objective thinking is needed. The temptation, however, seems to be to get involved in peripheral issues instead of the most basic ones.

Take, for instance, Washington’s look at legalizing marijuana. The idea was just recent...