Opinion

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Gun control groups distort facts, ignore Constitution

By August Lee | Jan. 25, 2011

I commend Sarah Poser for a balanced article on the allowing guns on campus in the Monday issue of the Alligator. However, Brian Malte’s quote, “The more outrage there is, the more the gun lobby starts to retreat.” The gun lobby is composed of the NRA and Second Amendment supporters. And, “Without a lot of protest, there is a chance the gun lobby could shove it through,” Malte said.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Coffee consumers pay for ambiance

By Laura Ellermeyer | Jan. 24, 2011

There are few things on which I regularly spend an exorbitant amount of money. These items include gasoline, sushi, phone accessories and Starbucks coffee. I cannot recall when or where, but some blessed person once introduced me to those deliciously handcrafted beverages, and I have been hooked — and thus shelling out the big bucks — ever since. I’m such a sucker for their overpriced products that they took pity and issued me a fancy gold card with my name on it that may as well scream, “I have spent a ridiculous amount of money here and am powerless to stop.”

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tucson tragedy not conservatives’ fault

By Anthony Garcia | Jan. 24, 2011

Matthew Christ should be ashamed of himself, but instinct tells me he is probably rather proud. In the space of three sentences in yesterday’s guest column, he managed to label the Tucson shooter as ideologically conservative and try to weasel away from the fallout.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Up in Smoke

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 24, 2011

Welcome back to Gainesville, coach.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Progressive programs overrated by left

By John Brandli | Jan. 24, 2011

In Monday’s guest column, Mr. Christ claims progressive ideas have fared well in every intellectual arena, boasting of such stallions as higher educational standards, social safety net programs and business regulations.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Blend of political views necessary

By Nicolas Sayavedra | Jan. 23, 2011

Bob Minchin claims “liberalism is an emotive ideology. By nature, it relies more on feelings than intellect.”

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Hail to the Tweet: Social media connects public to White House

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 23, 2011

We got a little preview of the State of the Union address this weekend, but for now we’re more intrigued that the White House is embracing technology in the lead-up to the speech Tuesday night. 

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Parties overlook immigration solution

By Zack Smith | Jan. 23, 2011

“Give [us] your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” For more than a century, these words have been America’s call to the world, and the world has answered eagerly.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

School on Crutches

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 23, 2011

Maybe a little struggling does the mind good.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Liberalism stands test of time in US

Jan. 23, 2011

Regarding Bob Minchin’s Friday column, a few things need to be cleared up. 

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Columnist fails to examine valid opposing opinions

By Howard Moore | Jan. 23, 2011

I’m guessing that Bob Minchin is one of those closed-minded individuals who thinks   “The Colbert Report” is conservative.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Attack on cab drivers hurts free market

By Bill Roberts | Jan. 20, 2011

UF Student Senate President Ben Meyers’ committee to curb free enterprise shows just how far today’s young leaders have gone in rejecting the American free-market system.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Right misses point on teen pregnancy

By Khalil H. Quinan | Jan. 20, 2011

Facts don’t faze the right in teen pregnancy debate.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 20, 2011

Four-day weeks just aren’t conducive to getting work done.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Liberals seek return of unfair doctrine

By Bob Minchin | Jan. 20, 2011

To no one’s surprise, Democrats called this week for reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine in the wake of the Tucson massacre.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Taking more classes not “burdensome”

By Brett Wager | Jan. 19, 2011

Ben Meyers’ wildly unfounded castigation of block tuition as an impediment to students’ ability to obtain a “complete education” is a dreadfully poor and specious evaluation. Meyers rants about how we want our UF graduates to be diverse, well-rounded and engaged citizens of the world, suggesting that this can somehow only be accomplished by means of a course load of 12 or fewer credits a semester. This offensive insinuation that one extra class a semester would indisputably cripple the average student embarrassingly underestimates the tenacity, ambition and work ethic of the Gator Nation. Simply taking a course load that will allow students to actually graduate on time should not be characterized by our SG officials as a “burdensome” challenge. Block tuition rewards the overachievers, incentivizes the slow movers and continues to allow the flexibility for students to learn at their own pace on their own dime.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Students should form tuition opinions

By Michela Martinazzi | Jan. 19, 2011

I was really glad to see the Ben Meyers column in Wednesday’s paper. I believe it helped remind the student body that despite the Board of Trustees delaying block tuition, it still has an imminent deadline. Logically, this topic should have generated a larger reaction than it has in the past few months. However, when I talk to my friends and fellow students about block tuition, what I find is that they just don’t know all the details regarding it. At the same time, I can’t blame them, as the administration has been equally vague in disclosing various aspects concerning the issue.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Only Human: Abortion debate leaves dignity behind

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 19, 2011

As the day draws closer to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, a lot of words will be thrown around. Some, such as “crazy,” “insensitive” and “irrational,” will cast broad strokes on vast groups of people. Others, such as “religious fanatic,” “Nazi,” and “baby-killer” will raise both eyebrows and ugly sentiment.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Republicans can tone down rhethoric

By Chad Mohammed | Jan. 19, 2011

Over the past couple of years, hot button issues such as immigration and health care reform coupled with a harsh economic climate led to a caustic political environment unseen since the Vietnam War. This dialogue finally received scrutiny due to the tragedy in Tucson, even though the incident seems to be an isolated event rather than a result of deep political rhetoric. It is still worth asking: Will anything change or will it be business as usual for this Congress?

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Tutoring service customers don’t deserve academic stigma

By Matt Hintze | Jan. 18, 2011

“There is no cheat sheet for life…”.