Columns – Page 239

Yes It Is, It’s True: Death stories ain’t what they used to be

March 27, 2015

"Those are people who died, died. They were all my friends, and they died." — Jim Carroll Band Ink-stained wretches from a bygone era will tell you one of the first jobs they learned working at a newspaper was writing obituaries. That's changed a lot over the years. These days...

Columns

Army Bob: Be careful about promises of social justice

March 26, 2015

by Robert M. Traxler The presidential election circus is rapidly descending upon us, heaven help us all. The “social justice” movement will be a hotly debated issue for the next twenty months. Who can be against social justice? It sounds like a wonderful concept and it is an intoxicating theory....

Democracy Tree: Aramark — World’s most ethical company?

March 25, 2015

by Amy Kerr Hardin Aramark, the scandal-plagued private food vendor hired by Michigan to serve prison food was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. This is the fifth time Aramark has taken the honor, and this time it occurred on the heels of news...

Contrast Netanyahu’s leadership with President Obama’s

March 24, 2015

by Ranger Rick When comparing leaders, the stark contrast in leadership and ability between the President of the United States – President Barack Obama and Israel’s Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu is vast and evident. You would expect the President of the United States to be staid and dignified in bearing, manner,...

Monday Moan: School board learns unintended consequences rule

March 22, 2015

By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net In the social sciences, unintended consequences are outcomes that are not the ones intended by a purposeful action. The term was popularised in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton. (Wikipedia) “Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice — Lewis Carroll Things do seem to be...

Yes It Is, It’s True: Tales of Title IX and reaction of resistance

March 20, 2015

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear… Title IX is one of those landmark government actions that ranks right up there with the Civil Rights Act of 1965, the Volstead Act and the Open Meetings Act. Some legislative pieces in U.S. history have changed our lives. Though...

Columns

Army Bob: Illegal aliens issue is all about votes, not fairness

March 19, 2015

by Robert M. Traxler Democrats want amnesty for illegal aliens; Republicans want to make it easier for skilled people to immigrate. Ever wonder what is behind the two parties’ motivation? Is it to help the downtrodden and the needy and to spread the American dream to millions of immigrants? No....

Democracy Tree: Michigan has a big transparency problem

March 19, 2015

by Amy Kerr Hardin As we wrap up National Sunshine Week, that annual event where elected officials give lip service to the concept of governmental transparency, Michigan leaders can hardly claim to be walking on sunshine. However, they are taking some tentative steps in the right direction. On July 1,...

Ranger Rick: You can’t hide your lying eyes, Hillary Clinton

March 17, 2015

Forget your political associations and history, just use your judgment in observing and interpreting body language – it’s pretty simple. Just think of your child when he or she is lying to you. Hillary Clinton, for all her political acumen, is a neophyte compared to her husband. He could look...

Monday Moan: Wayland should reject early college proposal

March 15, 2015

By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net The Wayland school board will conduct itsr second of three March board meetings focusing on the 2015-16 budget – in this case, a 6 p.m. work session tonight at the Administration offices. Last week, readers will recall, I urged the board to focusing on some very...

Category: Columns