With such penalty-creep, the issue of punishment without proof of knowledge and intent suddenly becomes highly relevant to the lives of a broad array of individuals in the workplace.

FORBES: "How a Floridian busted for cocaine possession may save future white collar defendants"

"The clearly political intent to fix a final and irreversible end-date for German nuclear energy with such unprecedented haste gives me increasing worry, " Hans-Peter Keitel, head of Germany's BDI business lobby, wrote in an open letter to German business leaders Monday.

WSJ: Germany to Forsake Its Nuclear Reactors

Moreover, if Mr Obama tries to take credit for good news in swing states such as Ohio, Virginia and Florida, he will have to share it with incumbent Republican governors equally intent on reaping the political benefit.

ECONOMIST: The economy