Gastonia, NC Correspondent-The continual hand-wringing over Christmas in the schools is getting quite tiresome. It’s not as if there are any punishments handed out for failing to participate in the rituals, and no one’s forcing a non-observant child to dress in swaddling clothes and lay in a manger. I have one child in elementary school … Continue reading A judge in Texas recently ordered a school to restore a Charlie Brown Christmas decorative display that had been ordered taken down by the school principal and local school district. Should schools be allowed to incorporate Christmas-related displays during the holidays?
Society
Is the War on Terrorism the New Normal?
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-It appears that the War on Terrorism is here to stay, at least until ISIS and other related terrorist organizations, cells, lone wolf operatives and fanatics involved in domestic and international terrorism are put out of commission. Whether the War on Terrorism will reach the goal of eradicating terrorism in anyone’s lifetime … Continue reading Is the War on Terrorism the New Normal?
Will the Middle Class Become a Thing of the Past in the United States?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent-Much hand wringing has been done over the fact that the middle class in America seems to be shrinking. The richest one percent widens its income gap over the rest of us. A few lucky or hard-working or entrepreneurial souls claw their way toward the top from poverty or the depths of the … Continue reading Will the Middle Class Become a Thing of the Past in the United States?
Have Professional Sports Become Too Big an Influence in Our Society?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-It seems that we are forever debating whether this thing or that thing has “too much influence” on our lives or the lives of our children. This is a passive-aggressive way of life that leaves us limp noodles, ready to be blown whatever way pop culture and prevailing wisdom blows us. Here’s a … Continue reading Have Professional Sports Become Too Big an Influence in Our Society?
Should Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Fed-Ex/UPS or another large US-based company acquire the United States Postal Service?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-Efficiency experts, business mavens, delivery brain trusts and thousands of others have for years been kicking around the idea of privatizing the United States Postal Service (USPS). Proponents point to things like charter schools, which in some instances have far outstripped the performance of their traditional public school counterparts. The reason any business … Continue reading Should Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Fed-Ex/UPS or another large US-based company acquire the United States Postal Service?
A recent Time magazine article indicated a growing number of people using satirical websites, blogs, etc. as their news source. What, if anything, is wrong with this? How should this be addressed?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent-An article in last week’s Time magazine examining the way that the fringe elements of both parties get their fake news, conspiracy theories and outright parody thinly disguised as news was a sobering read. The writers found people on both sides of the political fence who had strongly held beliefs that were based … Continue reading A recent Time magazine article indicated a growing number of people using satirical websites, blogs, etc. as their news source. What, if anything, is wrong with this? How should this be addressed?
A number of protests across the country in the wake of recent elections have impacted communities and interstate commerce. At what point do your rights to peaceful protest end and enforcement of anti-rioting laws come in effect? Should peaceful protest be allowed to disrupt use of public roads and thereby impede commerce?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent-Peace is the absence of conflict. Not necessarily the absence of violent conflict, just conflict in general. If someone attempting to operate their business by selling goods from a storefront or transporting those goods to consumers via public roads is prevented from doing so by protestors blocking sidewalks or roads, then a conflict … Continue reading A number of protests across the country in the wake of recent elections have impacted communities and interstate commerce. At what point do your rights to peaceful protest end and enforcement of anti-rioting laws come in effect? Should peaceful protest be allowed to disrupt use of public roads and thereby impede commerce?
Do police body cameras help or hurt law enforcement efforts?
Owatonna, MN Correspondent- Proponents of transparency in government rightly cheer the widening use of police body cameras to document police interactions with citizens. Anything that encourages open and honest government is a positive development. Unfortunately, it seems that law enforcement officials are uncomfortable with complete honesty. Many resist this new tool for community policing by … Continue reading Do police body cameras help or hurt law enforcement efforts?
Anti-bullying legislation has been passed in a number or states and has been instituted in schools to prevent bullying of students. Should these laws be extended outside of school premises and provide protection from bullying through the internet and social media?
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Protection from bullying should not only be instituted in schools but it should extend beyond school grounds as well as into internet and social media occurrences (cyberbullying). Far too many young people and others have been repeatedly bullied in and outside of school and through the internet, which has caused family tragedies … Continue reading Anti-bullying legislation has been passed in a number or states and has been instituted in schools to prevent bullying of students. Should these laws be extended outside of school premises and provide protection from bullying through the internet and social media?
In 2013, over 17 million American households were confronted with hunger and lack of nutritionally affordable food. The high cost of fruit and vegetables has put lower income Americans out of the market for these foods. Much of it is simply discarded by grocery stores for cosmetic reasons. Should grocery stores be allowed to continue this practice?
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-Current prohibitively high costs of produce have canceled out access to its consumption by millions of low to moderate income Americans. Many simply cannot afford to purchase fruit or vegetables and have to rely on less nutritious and lower cost produce type products through canned goods and other sources. With large grocery … Continue reading In 2013, over 17 million American households were confronted with hunger and lack of nutritionally affordable food. The high cost of fruit and vegetables has put lower income Americans out of the market for these foods. Much of it is simply discarded by grocery stores for cosmetic reasons. Should grocery stores be allowed to continue this practice?
