Opinion: Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Government needed for health reform

By PAUL MURTY | Oct. 22, 2009

While I believe that Neal Wheeler has the kernel of a good idea in his letter to the editor, he becomes increasingly more ignorant as the piece goes on. His idea that the government can't be counted on to fix everyone's problems is very true. The government can't, in fact, fix everything. Perhaps the government has tried too hard in the past to fix all the problems in American society, but this doesn't extend to health care.

Sports

Florida had its Ole Miss game; now it needs an Arkansas

Oct. 22, 2009

It's time to turn back the clocks again.

Opinion

UF should have sent text about threat

Oct. 22, 2009

This past week revealed a disturbing trend at UF, something that the entire Student Body should be concerned about. Apparently it is becoming common practice around campus for students and bystanders to leave suspicious-looking backpacks lying around public areas and for the Gainesville Police Department bomb squad to respond accordingly.

Sports

Picks Column: Mississippi State

Oct. 22, 2009

Kyle Maistri is still fuming about the money he (would have) lost (if we condoned gambling here in the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column but we don't, so he isn't) because of Washington last week. And there are few things that Mike DiFerdinando loves more than Jake Locker and UW football.

Sports

Gators running game needs fixing, but coach is in denial

By CALLOVI< | Oct. 21, 2009

Florida's running game seems to be living by the motto, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Opinion

Fighting could resolve health care issues

Oct. 21, 2009

Amid a thorny nest of substantive issues and thoughtful debate about human agency, America proved last week that our real gift to the world is a bountiful supply of vaguely Asian, dysfunctional families ready to claw their way onto television. Our nation owes you a great deal of gratitude, Heene and Gosselin clans, for too many seem to have forgotten that our country was built on a burning desire to have one's own reality television show.

Opinion

Public option not only solution

By Warren Rhea | Oct. 21, 2009

Joseph Trimboli makes some good points in his letter to the editor, "People entitled to health care," until he says anyone who opposes the public option is either being paid off by the insurance companies or enjoys killing their fellow Americans.

Sports

Rating the SEC at halfway mark

Oct. 20, 2009

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that 90's rock music holds the answers to virtually all of life's most important questions.

Opinion

Loss of control can create obsession

Oct. 20, 2009

Four years ago this week, my mom sent me a Halloween care package. It included Halloween decorations, a haunted house soundtrack for our dorm party and a tin of cookies.

Sports

Addazio should be blamed for game plan, not execution

Oct. 19, 2009

Somewhere between christening Mike DiFerdinando - our often overly optimistic friend and colleague - "Butters," and trying to fit our group dynamics into that of the wildly popular TV show South Park, it occurred to me.

Opinion

Case against marriage equality faulty

Oct. 19, 2009

Maine voters will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to vote on Maine's Question 1, a referendum that, if passed, will reject a state law that legalized gay marriage earlier this year. And through this prism, the refusal of Keith Bardwell, a Louisiana Justice of the Peace in Tangipahoa Parish, to sign an interracial couple's marriage license earlier this month becomes a lot more interesting, and not in a good way.

Opinion

Health care not a right, shouldn’t be mandatory

By Daniel Morris | Oct. 19, 2009

This is in reply to Matthew Christ's column, "Political gain halts health care reform."

Sports

Arkansas game reminiscent of Ole Miss

Oct. 18, 2009

Just like last year, the Gators struggled with an underdog from the Southeastern Conference West at home.

Opinion

Balloon hoax family deserves no attention

By Wade Powell | Oct. 18, 2009

You probably heard about the "balloon boy" and his family. You know, the 6-year-old who was thought to be soaring over Denver last week in a giant helium balloon invented by his father. It turned out he never was in the balloon. In fact, he was safe at home the entire time.

Opinion

Political gain halts health care reform

Oct. 18, 2009

Future scholars will look back on the Great Healthcare Debate of 2009 and scratch their heads out of curiosity and confusion.

Sports

Strained relationship with media limiting coverage of superstar linebacker

Oct. 15, 2009

I really like Brandon Spikes.

Sports

Picks Column: Arkansas

Oct. 15, 2009

This year we decided to invite UF beat writers from some of the major newspapers in Florida to increase the competition level of the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column.

Sports

Be sure to take a moment to soak in unique experiences

Oct. 15, 2009

As reporters, we spend a lot of our time looking down.

Opinion

Giving peace prize for 'intentions' wrong

Oct. 15, 2009

I'm going to go ahead and go on the record right now. I want everyone to know that I absolutely and wholly intend on permanently ridding the world of poverty, genocide, war and any other possible negative affliction.

Sports

Florida may be as dominant as '08

Oct. 15, 2009

It's hard to look at Florida's dominant close to the 2008 season and say the Gators made any mistakes, but apparently they did.