Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 16,2012

Mayor falls short on promise to hire minority firefighters

Like Captain Ahab, will the Springfield Fire Department ruthlessly pursue its colorless foe?When the top brass of the Springfield Fire Department filed in and took their seats before the alderman to p

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 9,2012

Oil industry profits are good

By Robert L. Bradley, Jr.

The world’s largest energy companies just released their fourth-quarter earnings. Though slightly less than the previous quarter’s gains, the figures were, nonetheless, headline-grabbing.

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 2,2012

The mental effects of abortion

By Jeanne Monahan

I remember well a night many years ago when a dear friend who was adamantly pro-choice came to me, sobbing uncontrollably. With defenses down, she unloaded a heavy burden she had long carried –

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 26,2012

Stopping the rush to war against Iran

By Sheldon Richman

A growing group of individuals and organizations has designated Saturday, Feb. 4, as a “National Day of Action” aimed at preventing a war against Iran. The manifesto is simple: “No W

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 19,2012

Time to fix nuclear waste disposal system

By Dr. Jeffrey Patterson

The year 2011 was a scary year for nuclear reactor sites. The summer floods threatened to encroach on reactors in Nebraska and Iowa, an earthquake and a hurricane happened in quick succession to rattl

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 12,2012

Don’t leave city budget to consultants

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

Last week’s bizarre discussion at the city council committee meeting about the vote to deny employees in civil unions health benefits obscured another important issue raised that night. When Ald

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 5,2012

The 1 percent that used to be

By Nick Capo

Recently I visited Asheville, N.C., and witnessed how the 1 percent used to live. About one million people make the pilgrimage to the Biltmore House each year, and my wife and I now number among them.

Guest Opinion | Thursday, December 29,2011

Resolutions for a compassionate Springfield

By Diane Hughes

With annum’s end here again, it’s time to bring out paper and pen – iPod or -Pad? – to begin another list of good intentions for the new year. For me it’s a challenge&nbs

Guest Opinion | Thursday, December 22,2011

Talking turkey about food regulation

By Stephen McDonnell

As millions of Americans gather around dinner tables this holiday season, there’s no better time to be mindful of where our food comes from and who is ensuring its safety. This is particularly i

Guest Opinion | Thursday, December 15,2011

Now’s the time to get involved in local politics

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

Can it be possible that the good ol’ boy political machine is weakening in Sangamon County? Clearly, some kind of change is underway. The normally disciplined and restrained Republican Party eng