Friday, August 28, 2026

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Frugal habits will ease impact of banking crisis

The economy of the United States took a stunning body blow Monday when storied Wall Street firms Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch both failed in different ways — Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. was forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch & Co. sold itself for pennies on the dollar to Bank of America Corp. — even as American International Group Inc. and Washington Mutual teetered on the brink of collapse.

COMMENTARY

Tactful use of new technology a must

Technology has gone too far. For more than a century, that’s been the cry of the luddites of the world. Yet even as modern society rejects the call to arms, it still seems to have struck enough of a chord to become a prevailing theme in our popular culture. The Fox network alone has two primetime shows centering around the theme.

COMMENTARY

Obama helped, hurt by hip-hop

The relationship between politics and hip-hop has been an unsteady one to say the least. You can draw parallels between it and a family reunion — politics being the well-to-do success story families rave about, while hip-hop settles into a role of the talented yet troubled youth whose potential is squandered by several character flaws.

COMMENTARY

Politicians not always consistent

Misdeeds in a politician’s private life can be bothersome, but not as bothersome as when that politician is hypocritical about them. For example, I don’t believe I have a double standard when I say I’m angrier with the typical Republican when he or she has a sex scandal than when the typical Democrat does.

COMMENTARY

Informed voting is key to election

The second biggest cliché charging political pep talks (behind unqualified belches to vote) is preaching that citizens “get informed.” The only difference in the following argument is that I’m not asking. I’m telling.

COMMENTARY

Students should contribute to political discussions in class

In response to the letter Classroom not forum for professors’ political ideas (SN 9/9), the writer incorrectly assumes that healthy political debate between students and professors will negatively affect their grade in the class and should be somehow disallowed due to the university’s position receiving taxpayer money.

COMMENTARY

Changes sparked by terrorist attacks linger today

For many people, today’s morning sun brought with it a sense of dread and loss — the same sense it has brought every year for seven years. Odds are good that most Americans will pause at some point today and reflect on where they were when they heard the news that fateful day the nation was attacked.

COMMENTARY

VP's gender not a political platform

The Republican Party is commencing its campaign smokescreen, only this year it wears lipstick and high heels. This isn’t me stereotyping or belittling Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at all.

COMMENTARY

Classroom not forum for professors' political ideas

The topic of Republican presidential nominee John McCain came up in my American studies class today. I found it amazing that in a class with absolutely no political background my teacher still found it appropriate to reserve the last half-hour to explain to us why McCain’s vice presidential pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was racist, and why her supporters were chasing a dream of white, 1950s America.

COMMENTARY

Election coverage leads to fatigue

I think I’m already sick of this presidential election. Turning on the TV two months before election day, I’m already finding the airwaves swamped with political ads. Newspaper headlines are dominated by what the campaigns are doing — with The State News as guilty as the rest.

COMMENTARY

Facebook could be valuable for campus safety

The issue of campus security is consistently on the minds of university administrators, bringing up the question of how to most efficiently alert students. Last year, MSU initiated a system that would alert students of emergencies via text message. Now they are looking for additional ways to bring emergencies to the immediate attention of students.

COMMENTARY

E.L. bikers deserve more respect from city, motorists

I never thought that, at age 42, I’d turn into one of those radical bicyclist demonstrators, but I think I’m ready. The last few weeks of bicycling in this town, combined with East Lansing City Council’s frustrating answers to my questions about the lack of bike lanes, have sent me over the edge.