By exploiting their formidable connections to the artist and patron community, these women were able to help pay for extensive redecoration projects (including the U.S. Embassy's residence in London), fund much-needed restoration, and both purchase and solicit donations for embassies from preeminent artists to build what would become an enduring, important collection.

WSJ: Sending American Artwork Abroad

Republicans should be for massive spending reductions because if the federal government consumes lower amounts of always limited capital, there will be more money left in the private sector to invest in future Microsofts and Intels over the Solyndras that politicians like, there will be more money available to fund much-needed cancer and heart disease cures, and more dollars for exciting transportation innovations.

FORBES: Republicans Don't Need A Reset, They Just Need To Act Like Republicans Again

In December, Kenya hosted a delegation from the International Monetary Fund in hopes of wooing back much-needed aid money.

CNN: Kenyans, independent, still seek some freedoms

This points to two other defects inherent in defined-benefit plans: All the risk is borne by the taxpayers, and the inability to foresee how much more money will be needed to fully fund the plans makes long-term budget-planning extremely problematical for school boards.

FORBES: In the Age of Austerity, Public School Financial Reform Is Very Necessary

It has also put off much-needed structural reform of provincial-government finances, a commitment made by the previous government to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a condition of its loan agreements.

ECONOMIST: Floating or sinking? | The