Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 10/4/13

Oct. 3, 2013

Welcome, October! Even though the government is shut down, we’re still turnt up.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Stop denying it: Reversing climate change is imperative

Oct. 2, 2013

We’ve been talking about some serious issues in this country lately — the government shutdown, what to do about the National Security Agency and how to make gun possession safer.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Conservative group Generation Opportunity releases false, creepy anti-Obamacare ads

Oct. 2, 2013

Just in time for Halloween, conservative group Generation Opportunity released a terrifying pair of video ads aimed to scare college students into opting out of Obamacare.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Crossfire’ makes mockery of news ethics

Oct. 1, 2013

From 1982 to 2005, CNN’s well-known political debate program “Crossfire” was a centerpiece of American politics and media. The program featured two co-hosts, one liberal and one conservative, debating against each other and with one or two newsmaking guests — individuals of recent political importance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pale Blue Dot in danger of extinction from countries with nothing to lose

Oct. 1, 2013

Some years ago, a photograph of our planet was taken from a spacecraft hovering at the edge of the solar system. A faint, bluish speck, known as Earth, can be seen in the picture. Astronomer Carl Sagan commented on the “pale blue dot.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Wake up: Another system is rigged

Oct. 1, 2013

On Sept. 5, 2012, then-Senate-candidate Elizabeth Warren, during a speech at the Democratic National Convention, told attentive audience members and people watching at home an inconvenient truth. She said the people of the American middle class feel like “the game is rigged against them,” and the truth was that they were right: “The system is rigged.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Get it together, Congress: We don't have time to be shutting the government down

Oct. 1, 2013

The late poet and novelist Charles Bukowski has a quote that perfectly sums up our thoughts on Congress’ impasse regarding the continuing resolution.

OPINION | COLUMNS

To Obamacare and beyond: What we’ve learned in the health care debate so far

Sep. 30, 2013

Today is the day many have been dreading — the first day of the enrollment process for the Affordable Care Act. The hallmark legislation of the Obama Administration takes its first steps as we speak.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: NCAA athletes shouldn’t get salaries

Sep. 30, 2013

There is a very political debate within the world of sports centered on the relationship between the National Collegiate Athletic Association and student athletes and the fact that players, though they may be worth thousands of dollars, often live well below the poverty line while coaches, universities and the NCAA reap millions of dollars in profits off their backs.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Studying, living abroad can expand students' horizons

Sep. 30, 2013

During my junior summer in Gainesville, I started feeling a thirst for something other than college life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Like it or not, Obamacare is here to stay

Sep. 29, 2013

Despite dozens of attempts to repeal it, key provisions of the Affordable Care Act — commonly known as Obamacare — go into effect Tuesday.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: I support the Swamp Party: Here’s why

Sep. 29, 2013

Once, I was an uninformed student.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Big Tobacco should not be allowed to recruit on campus

Sep. 29, 2013

Big Tobacco wants to increase cigarette sales in Florida, and they’re looking for Gators to help them do it.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Research SG candidates and vote

By Christina Bonarrigo | Sep. 29, 2013

Dear Gators,

OPINION | COLUMNS

Reality TV — looking at you, Duck Dynasty — is glorifying redneck stereotypes

Sep. 29, 2013

Attention TV fanatics of America: the Kardashians have been officially dethroned by a new family of reality royals. The fellas of “Duck Dynasty” made history in August when their season 4 premiere became the most-watched reality telecast of all time. They had 11.8 million viewers, topping even the popular competition show “America’s Got Talent.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Investments in HIV/AIDS drugs and research is paying off

Sep. 29, 2013

Good news, folks! We have news that will cheer you up, even in the midst of an impending government shutdown. We’ll make a bold claim and say this news is even more heartwarming and inspiring than the bunny that adopted a group of piglets.

OPINION | COLUMNS