Opinion

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

No way to rationalize political ignorance

June 3, 2009

Recently, I read a letter to the editor of my hometown newspaper. The author had worked himself into a tizzy over President Barack Obama and the entire democratic leadership in Washington and their push for universal health care. He declared that any attempt at a universal health care system was an attempt at socialism and should be protested with equal zeal as one would protest Stalin's Red Army coming down the road.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

GOP efforts to block Sotomayor reflect tired politics

By NEIL W. BLACKMON | June 3, 2009

Perhaps you've been too immersed in one more summer of undergraduate bliss before facing that life-defining LSAT or MCAT this fall. Or perhaps you've been debating the merits of Kobe Bryant's legacy if he fails to win a title without Shaq, or why all Hollywood seems to do now is remake old films instead of write new ones, to notice. If so, you are missing a show far more embarrassing than Kris Allen winning American Idol. This show is the hapless efforts of conservative activists to paint President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as a liberal ideologue unfit for service. With figures such as Rush Limbaugh admitting the chances of stopping her nomination are minimal, the question must be asked: Why the rabid opposition in the first place?

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

First Date

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 1, 2009

Chalk it up to jealousy or downright lunacy, but much fuss has been made over President Barack Obama's weekend jaunt to the Big Apple with his wife.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Controversial abortion doctor killed by radical

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 1, 2009

For Dr. George Tiller, even the sanctity of his house of worship could not protect him from those who vehemently opposed his life's work.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Eco-awareness hitting the mainstream

June 1, 2009

In these heady times of global awareness and eco-knowledge, it seems the bad eco-news comes at you from every angle. Nobody is safe from the onslaught of negative press if even Google is under eco-scrutiny. A researcher this year claimed that a single Google search is worse for the environment than driving a car, mostly because of the way Google's "cloud computing" uses clusters of servers together at once to achieve superfast results for every single search.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Guest columnist exhibits clear lack of maturity

By Megan Mount | June 1, 2009

In Thursday's guest column, Matthew Meltzer's use of trite warnings and sweeping generalizations served to demonstrate his estimation that if he is not ready for marriage in his 20s, no one else can be.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

U.S. justice system needs overhaul

By ERIC CHIANESE | June 1, 2009

Lately, and between reading entries on the Rotten Library, I have turned my attention to the criminal justice system.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida legislators guilty of self-interest

By Joe Eagleton | May 27, 2009

The Florida Legislature's 2009 session may be over, but it should not be quickly forgotten.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF budget must include stimulus money

By Bret Seferian | May 27, 2009

I know many of us are breathing a sigh of relief because the worst of the budget cuts facing the University of Florida a few months ago have not come to pass. Unfortunately, 67 people are still facing the possible loss of their jobs ­- many of them are the underappreciated staffers who keep the school running.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Gators must use caution when leaving bars

By The Alligator Editoral Board | May 27, 2009

Let's face it, a summer spent in good ol' Gainesville is sure to include a healthy dose of partying from time to time.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Post-graduation marriage a bad idea

By MATTEW MELTZER | May 27, 2009

Not long ago, I had a friend, who was recently married, pull me aside in a men's room when I had brought a date to have dinner with him and his wife. The desperation in his eyes told me all I needed to know. "Please tell me you're going to sleep with this girl," he told me, "because I can't. My life is over. Look at me, look me in the eyes: Don't. Ever. Get. Married. You got that? Ever. Don't get me wrong, she's great, but she's ALWAYS THERE."

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ginnie Springs needs to go green

By Laurie Heinitz | May 27, 2009

I camped at Ginnie Springs two weekends ago and, overall, I was satisfied with my experience.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF budget cuts reflect sound course of action for students

By Jordan Johnson | May 27, 2009

During Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting, I voted to approve President Bernie Machen's budget cut plan because it puts UF in the best financial position going forward and serves the interests of the entire student body as well as it can during these trying economic times.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Loan Sharks

By The Alligator Editorial Board | May 27, 2009

From scrambling retirement nest eggs to making housing foreclosures more prevalent than Starbucks on a Seattle street corner, the economic downturn has been a real, well, bitch. The latest to feel the wrath of the recession's iron fist? Student loan forgivingness programs.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Gallow humor holds significant place in America's history

By ERIC CHIANESE | May 25, 2009

An employee is leisurely stocking shelves in the supermarket one day when a man with a gun busts in. The criminal shoots the stock boy and then flees the scene. Another employee rushes to the aid of our hero, eager to console him. The stock boy looks up at his friend and meekly says, 'cleanup in aisle 7.'

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Chicago youth faced with violence epidemic

By The Alligator Editorial Board | May 25, 2009

Shockingly put on the back-burner by most of the national media, the rough and tumble streets of Chicago continue to claim the lives of innocent city youth.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

U.S. ideology does not include torture

May 25, 2009

Typically, I like the game of politics. I like the strategy and the plotting. I like a good fight.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cash for Clunkers bill is a mistake

By Claude Geiner | May 25, 2009

The United States Congress is making a critical mistake by introducing the so-called "cash for clunkers" bill, which seeks to restrict the sale of two major replacement parts: the engine and transmission.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Automotive Absurdity

By The Alligator Editorial Board | May 25, 2009

The word peculiar comes to mind when conjuring imagery of the sights and sounds found around the UF campus.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Twitter or /the next big thing/ may not wow users overnight

By Joshua Lee | May 25, 2009

Like you, I'm pretty hip to what's happening in the world.