Before I read Phil Letten’s letter titled Columnist underestimates presidential contender (SN 11/28), I couldn’t be sure who would win the most opulent popularity contest in the U.S.
The Michigan Legislature finally got its wish, as the presidential primaries were bumped up to Jan. 15. Unfortunately for Michigan residents, the headaches that went along with making the switch cost state taxpayers millions of dollars, four of the Democratic candidates won’t appear on the ballot and no presidential candidate set foot in the mitten to campaign.
In response to his letter titled Difference between political bickering, intelligent debating (SN 11/27), I say Nathan Calverley might be new to the bickering that is politics, but anyone who has paid attention to any group of people with differing opinions will find that intelligent debate, petty bickering and everything in between are simply run-of-the-mill occurrences.
Interestingly, Oxford University’s debate society is hosting David Irving, the Holocaust denier, at a forum Monday night along with Nick Griffin, leader of Britain’s far-right British National Party, a radical opponent of all immigration to Britain.
With several regions of the world locked in violent conflict, it is sometimes easy to forget the United Nations is still around. It was created to allow free dialogue between countries in hopes that diplomacy will avert bloodshed. Sixty years after its founding, the organization has only been semi-effective in this endeavor.
Although the U.S. is the only country to require a year of science for undergraduate students, only 28 percent of the U.S. public is scientifically literate, according to a study by MSU political science professor Jon Miller. Still, out of 34 countries, the U.S. ranked second in scientific literacy — after Sweden.
The Michigan Democrats have a challenge ahead of them. Regardless of any infighting surrounding presidential politics, Democrats must unite to fight to make Michigan relevant on the national political stage.
I am writing in response to Nathan Calverley’s letter Difference between political bickering, intelligent debating (SN 11/27). I would certainly agree there exists a certain degeneration of politics in our world today: Mudslinging and swift-boat tactics become very irritating when trying to debate what really matters.
Eric Thieleman made a mistake in his column Conservatives vs. Republicans (SN 11/21) when he said Ron Paul lacks funding in order to be seen as a serious contender in this election.
Taser International, Inc., uses Santa on the front of its Web site saying, “What does Santa bring you when you have been good but the world is getting bad?” Really, is this necessary?
After endless complaints about the problems of the current MSU e-mail system, it appears the plight of students, faculty and staff could be over. Computer science and engineering senior Daniel Fiordalis has created State-Mail.com, a new e-mail service that offers more features than the current e-mail system, including a mailbox-search feature and a chat tool.
They’ve been getting a bad rap lately, but Tasers — when used responsibly and properly — can be extremely effective in terms of keeping someone safe.
I am writing in response to Steve Ross’ letter Rumors regarding student campaign group untrue (SN 11/26).
On Thanksgiving morning at 1:30 a.m. officers of the East Lansing Police Department were called to the scene of a horrible traffic accident on U.S. 127 by the Trowbridge entrance ramp. A drunken driver had lost control of his truck and struck the guardrails on both sides of the expressway, disabling his vehicle in the middle of the road.
Only the people you know really well are complex enough to have emotional problems. Everyone else is either just normal or crazy, and therapy is only for the latter.
In its time — 150 years and counting — the MSU Museum has seen the U.S. Supreme Court rule that people of African descent would never be considered American citizens, and Congress had no authority to end slavery, which also is known as the Dred Scott case.
I rarely follow politics in other states very closely, but there is a particularly interesting and unique race for the Senate developing in Minnesota. The incumbent, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, is facing his first re-election bid since winning the seat of Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone, who died with his wife and daughter in a plane crash 11 days before the 2002 election.
Shame on MSU Students for Hillary Clinton. In a move that is absent of any tact or respect for fellow Democrats and students, members of this group have spread the rumor that MSU Students for Barack Obama forced members to sign pledge cards stating that if Hillary won the Democratic nomination, they would neither support, work for or vote for Clinton.
Ingham County could go smoke-free soon, but only in certain areas. A proposed amendment to the existing smoking ban would prevent secondhand smoke from traveling into nonsmoking areas of restaurants and bars.
I am tired of the word “healthy” being used as a substitute for thin and as a tool to make anyone considered overweight feel guilty. Healthy encompasses the body, mind and soul. Yet, as is apparent from the recent string of articles on obesity, the only thing being mentioned is the body and more specifically how the body looks.