Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Early voting could mean Obama win

Oct. 26, 2008

In what pundits are calling a year with "strong Democratic tailwinds" (think economic woes, unpopular president, etc.), Sen. John McCain has managed to hold the presidential contest between him and Sen. Barack Obama very close. According to Real Clear Politics, an organization that averages a week's worth of poll results from multiple sources, McCain was in a dead heat with Obama in national and battleground state polls.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Reaganomics can’t save the U.S. now

Oct. 23, 2008

It seems almost quaint, in retrospect.

OPINION | COLUMNS

McCain needs to reinvent his image

Oct. 22, 2008

The growing chants of "start the buses" resonate every time you pick up The New York Times, tune in to MSNBC or check out the latest poll numbers. Much like Clemson's football season, the McCain-Palin campaign is for all intents and purposes a lost cause.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Future relies on innovation

By ANTHONY PAGLINO | Oct. 21, 2008

I am taking the final economics course for my major. I learned curves, graphs, labor and capital, and I have come to a truth about economics. It is incapable of quantifying human factors, such as fear, trust, greed and hope.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Christianity not exclusive to one party

Oct. 21, 2008

I am a Christian. I am also what some might call a liberal, firmly committed to the Democratic Party.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Issues of the Congo should mobilize students

By Carolyn Witte | Oct. 20, 2008

College students pride themselves on being the most optimistic, innovative and take-action demographic in this country. Our generation in particular is said to be more committed to solving social injustices than any generation before us, but it seems as if college students have lost their giddy enthusiasm and unrelenting optimism.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Ayers’ actions undeserving of defense

By Bryan Griffin | Oct. 20, 2008

In a Monday Alligator article, four UF professors and associate professors were mentioned as signing a statement backing Bill Ayers and opposing his "demonization." These four members of UF faculty should be ashamed of themselves, as well as the rest of the people nationwide who signed this disgusting document.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College degrees don’t mean anything

Oct. 20, 2008

The college degree you're working so hard to get doesn't mean jack. Last week, I mentioned a professor at New Mexico University, Marcus Ross, a paleontologist who believes dinosaurs walked the earth more than 65 million years ago but is also a Young Earth creationist. Yeah, doctorates don't mean a damn thing anymore.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Halloween encourages poor decisions

By Danny Wenger | Oct. 20, 2008

In the 2004 comedy "Mean Girls," main character Cady put into words what everyone had been thinking for years: "Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama could escape Bradley Effect

Oct. 19, 2008

On a November morning in 1982, California residents awoke to see a San Francisco Chronicle story about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Bradley with a headline boasting "Bradley Win Projected."

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF students’ concerns aren’t reflected in official decisions

By KEVIN HOMRICH–MICOCCI | Oct. 16, 2008

It seems that the powers that be have lost their concern for the opinions of the UF student population. This year, we have been misrepresented and ignored by many of the different groups within our university.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Compromise shouldn’t breed hatred

By ANDREW WYNN | Oct. 16, 2008

The 2008 presidential election is less than three weeks away, and Sen. Barack Obama is slightly ahead in most national polls.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Novice players should not use acoustic guitars as wingmen

By Collin Binkley | Oct. 15, 2008

There is a growing epidemic saturating college campuses nationwide: the hobby guitarist.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Pacman’ the epitome of wasted talent

Oct. 15, 2008

Wake up, Adam Jones.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Senate represents minority of students

Oct. 14, 2008

Michael Belle

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republicans pulling out all stops to win

Oct. 13, 2008

For those of you who haven't read it already, pick up a copy of George Orwell's "1984." It holds some remarkable insight into the workings of the mind of man when it comes to political and even religious allegiance. The two most important terms in there are "doublespeak" and "doublethink."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Everyone can learn something from SG

By DAVID WINCHESTER | Oct. 9, 2008

Nearly 10 years ago, the Alligator printed a guest column of mine about Student Government teaching me all I needed to know in life. It was my attempt to author a scathing indictment of the corruption and shortsighted nepotism of SG back in my days at UF.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Rays’ story transcends tough times

Oct. 9, 2008

The sky is falling, and I really don't know where to turn.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Joe Six–Pack’ deserves more dignity than the Average Joe

By Susan Holcomb | Oct. 8, 2008

Who is Joe Six-Pack? It's a question I've been mulling over ever since the term came up in last week's vice presidential debate. It's pretty clear what image the phrase is supposed to conjure up in the American psyche: He's the average Joe, the hardworking member of the middle class who kicks back with a beer after a long day of work.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Baby boomers the real ‘Me’ generation

Oct. 8, 2008

It only took hours to work out the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - a deal that increased the national debt by $5 trillion. You, me and our unborn children now owe the world's lenders our own little piece of a $14 trillion debt, give or take a couple hundred billion. Here is the kicker: We didn't borrow a dime.