Guest Opinion | Thursday, October 6,2011

Democracy isn’t kind to pension funds

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates despised democracy, considering it weak and inherently corrupt, a governance form driven by the will of the many when, in his view, only an elite few are wise an

Guest Opinion | Thursday, September 29,2011

Pull the plug on Hunter Dam

By Don Hanrahan

In December 2008, federal and state regulators told city officials (for the third time) that Hunter Dam was a turkey. They demanded yet more information about the supposed need and the claimed insuffi

Guest Opinion | Thursday, September 22,2011

Maximus to the rescue: The backstory

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Springfield City Council approved a $50,000 contract with Maximus, Inc., “to perform a review of a fiscally-sustainable staffing level for the city.” During debat

Guest Opinion | Thursday, September 15,2011

Mayor Houston’s politics and promises

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

I watched with fascination the two recent nationally televised Republican debates. No, I am not a Republican nor is my allegiance to President Obama slipping. Perhaps I am drawn to these debates becau

Guest Opinion | Thursday, September 8,2011

Gravel pits won’t get the job done

By Reg Davis

Considering the Hunter Lake issue, I would like to bring up some points I believe other people may want to think about. [See also commentary by Reg Davis, “Say yes to Hunter Lake,” publish

Guest Opinion | Thursday, September 1,2011

How to make Democrats Medicare heroes

By Douglas E. Schoen

The debt ceiling debate didn’t end well for the Democrats. Faced with unified tea party delegates in the House, they were forced to cede huge cuts in federal spending without an iota of revenue

Guest Opinion | Thursday, August 25,2011

Avoiding the wrong lesson about Fukushima

By Pam Solo and Grant Smith

The reactor disaster in Fukushima is so fresh in our memories that it may seem incomprehensible to think that the history of that tragic (and still unfolding) event in Japan could ever be rewritten an

Guest Opinion | Thursday, August 18,2011

When state, not adoption, goes wrong

By Toni Hoy

Regarding your Aug. 11 cover story, “When adoption goes wrong: Giving up custody to get kids the mental health care they need,” by Patrick Yeagle: A better title for this article would be

Guest Opinion | Thursday, August 11,2011

Stop bullying on campus

By Glenn Rosenberg

Bullying is something that many associate with elementary school; however, it is a form of harassment that can continue well past high school into college. Bullying most often occurs where adult super

Guest Opinion | Thursday, August 4,2011

Good news for women’s health and pocketbooks

By Cindy Pearson and Lois Uttley

U. S. health insurance companies must offer women free birth control and other preventive health care services under Obama administration rules released this week. The rules from the Health and Human