opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Sales tax unfairly burdens Americans

By BRIAN MILLER | July 22, 2009

One hundred years ago on July 17, 1909, Sen. William E. Borah (R-Idaho) wrote, " The income tax is the fairest and most equitable of the taxes. It is the one tax which approaches us in the hour of prosperity and departs in the hour of adversity. Certainly, it will be conceded by all that the great expense of government is in the protection of property and wealth. There is no possible argument founded in law or in morals why these protected interests should not bear their proportionate burden of government."

Opinion

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editoral Board | July 22, 2009

Things are not looking good at the Department of Darts & Laurels right now. The weekend hasn't even started yet (and it won't until this white space has been filled), and a deadly mixture of beer and Mario Kart Wii (we call it Beerio Kart) has already destroyed our apartments, bodies and minds.

Opinion

Community colleges need support

By The Michigan Daily | July 22, 2009

Community colleges are colleges, too.

Sports

Shredding potential suspects in robbery of Tebow's unanimous All-SEC pick

July 22, 2009

HOOVER, Ala. - A few weeks ago, which of these would you have thought Tim Tebow had the best chance of becoming?

Opinion

Congress should take time to pass bills

By RAINDOGGATOR | July 22, 2009

In response Matthew Christ's Tuesday column

Opinion

Machen/s ‘threat/ ludicrous

By Allen DeLaney | July 20, 2009

UF President Bernie Machen has asked the city of Jacksonville to cut down the number of alcohol vendor licenses it issues, curb the ability of private businesses with legally obtained liquor licenses to serve and create more safety zones for students… and foot the bill for all of it.

Opinion

Doctors shouldn/t work for drug companies

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 20, 2009

Ritalin. Concerta. Vyvanse. Adderall. The Editorial Board is willing to bet that you know at least one person who has been prescribed one of them.

Opinion

America lacks vision after moonwalk

July 20, 2009

Walter Cronkite died Friday evening. He was 92. I think it/s fitting that the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moonwalk Monday is so close to Cronkite/s death. Out of all the clips of Cronkite/s broadcasts shown over the past few days, the veteran journalist seems least inhibited during the now famed broadcast of the lunar landing. Cronkite had even remarked that the Apollo 11 landing was the high point in his career because he was certain it would be the most important event of his lifetime. Unfortunately, it seems he was correct.

Opinion

Moments of clarity make dreams fun

By ERIC CHIANESE | July 20, 2009

Dreams are probably one of my favorite things in the world. And, boy, have I had some doozies.

Opinion

Deletion of e-books has Orwellian implications

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 20, 2009

In George Orwell/s "1984," the three slogans of the ruling party are "War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery" and "Ignorance is Strength." Amazon.com might as well change its slogan to "Downloading is Deletion" after this weekend.

Sports

Obsessive fan culture led to Andrews video incident

By ADAM BERRY | July 19, 2009

There's a thin line between admiration and objectification.

Opinion

Student Body president questions Machen’s meddling

By Jordan Johnson | July 15, 2009

This fall many UF students will take the hour-and-a-half trek up to Jacksonville for the yearly tradition of the UF-Georgia football game. But if President Machen has his way, students will find a very different situation awaiting them in Jacksonville.

Opinion

Best health care reform strategy is unclear

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 15, 2009

The wide-sweeping health insurance reform that President Barack Obama has promised is finally on its way to being delivered, and the Editorial Board is not sure how to feel about it.

Sports

Tebow will take one of two ESPYs

July 15, 2009

There are three events that consistently mark the middle of July on my calendar - the release of the annual update to EA Sports' NCAA Football game (which my colleague Adam Berry so generously opined on in Tuesday's paper), my birthday (today, time to do it big) and the always-interesting ESPY Awards.

Opinion

Alligator editorial fails to justify Sotomayor support with facts

By Benjamin Camenker | July 15, 2009

Tuesday's editorial regarding Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was filled with much of the same "empathy" we expect Sotomayor to rule with, but little fact.

Sports

Top UF Athletes: Best of the Rest

By ADAM BERRY | July 15, 2009

I don't envy David Letterman. Putting together a top 10 list can be fairly difficult.

Opinion

Columnist ignored Obama critics

By Hubbard Harvey | July 15, 2009

Soon-to-be-former Gov. Sarah Palin has been kicked around mercilessly by those who oppose her political views. Everything from her family to her wardrobe has been endlessly criticized.

Opinion

Politics without Palin lacks hilarity

By ERIC CHIANESE | July 13, 2009

So I refuse to be the only one who doesn/t give my two cents about this Palin resignation.

Opinion

Population issues must be addressed

By THORAYA OBAID | July 13, 2009

None of the crises we face today - whether it is the food crisis, the water crisis, the financial crisis or the crisis of climate change - can be managed unless greater attention is paid to population issues.

Opinion

Race doesn/t affect Sotomayor/s decisions

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 13, 2009

When a judge is nominated for the Supreme Court, the nitpicking invariably begins.