Monday, December 30, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Time to consider all budget factors

If you have been paying any attention to the news lately, you are well aware the U.S. is in a budget crisis. Because of these economic woes, we must cut collective bargaining rights, pensions and health care benefits to public workers, or so we hear. Those greedy teachers, staffers and police officers are destroying the country, right?

COMMENTARY

Book burning and bloodletting

Protests in Afghanistan quickly turned violent as protesters stormed a U.N. compound, killing at least seven U.N. workers and allegedly beheading two of them.

COMMENTARY

The power of the US legislature

There has been a long tradition of historians arguing over the justifications for expansive executive power. Among the main reasons is the idea that during the uncertainty of an emergency, a chief magistrate must carry out certain necessary actions to preserve the nation.

COMMENTARY

When it comes to Libya, US actions morally justifiable

The past few days have been really shocking to me. Before NATO — backed by a United Nations resolution — began airstrikes March 19, I read news reports of the slaughter Muammar Gaddafi committed against his own people in Libya. I naturally expected Americans to be disgusted by such inhumanity on the part of a tyrannical dictator.

COMMENTARY

The benefits of high-speed rail

High-speed rail has been criticized as a progressive delusion and a waste of taxpayer money. Conservatives have treated it like communism — a concept that seems utopian, but when implemented only will hurt us further. These are all conservative horror stories, perpetuated by their delusions of economic “truths;” the reality is much more ambiguous than they wish to admit.

COMMENTARY

First Amendment still protects lies

Should lying be protected by the First Amendment? Claiming a military honor one actually did not receive is perhaps one of the lowest lies a person can tell, but does that make it criminal?

COMMENTARY

2013 conference ahead of schedule, anticipates success

MSU has a long, unique history of collaboration among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. Through the Campus Planning Coalition, leaders of the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, ASMSU and the Registered Student Organization, or RSO, LBGTA groups come together to discuss group events on campus and also to plan large-scale, campus-wide events such as Pride Week.

COMMENTARY

US involvement in Libya saves lives

The American involvement in the international intervention in Libya is drawing a lot of negative attention. A Gallup Poll conducted last monday found only 47 percent of Americans approve of the military role the U.S. is playing in the campaign; 37 percent flat out disapprove.

COMMENTARY

The reasons behind coalition action

In the editorial Coalition should diversify protest methods 3/11_), The State News editorial board criticizes the Coalition Against Sexual Violence for the manner in which it engages in activism against sexual violence.