Friday, January 2, 2026

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Opinion | 1000

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COMMENTARY

Dealing with gas

Gas prices are higher than they've ever been in the United States, and everyone knows it. Major respected news organizations report on rising gas prices constantly - as if inflation, high oil prices and dubious trade partners are novel concepts. People want answers to questions like, "Why do I have to pay so much more to fill the tank of my Ford Explorer?" "I voted, now why won't the government fix the problem?" or "Why are oil companies so inherently evil?" But I'm tired of hearing about it. America has lived in a world of false security, with artificially cheap gas, for far too long.

COMMENTARY

Smoking bans not based on scientific findings

Dr. Michael Siegel, a well-known advocate of smoking bans, openly condemns Richard Carmona, the surgeon general, for misrepresenting the scientific conclusions in his own 2006 report. Smoking ban advocates must be required to produce the evidence, yet the scientific evidence does not prove casual contact with secondhand smoke results in health damage.

COMMENTARY

Perceived rights

An issue that raised its mangy head a year ago during midterm elections is starting to creep slowly back into the news.

COMMENTARY

East Lansing recognizes students' housing needs

The city of East Lansing would like to address some of the concerns expressed by The State News in its editorial, "Redevelopments are hurting students" (SN 5/24). First, the city understands student housing, particularly housing that is safe and high quality, is critical.

COMMENTARY

Right-to-die cause needs attention

Jack Kevorkian will leave jail on parole today and step into a world like the one he left eight years ago - when he was convicted of second-degree murder. Assisted-suicide advocates are still pushing to pass laws in states that make physician-assisted suicide legal.

COMMENTARY

Columnist does not speak for all fraternities

One of my favorite op-ed battles to date has to include the ongoing literary gems debating the greek system and what they call the "college" experience in "Elitist and proud" (SN 5/25), and "Fraternity stereotypes reaffirmed by columnist" (SN 5/29). Both sides have proven themselves highly amusing, to say the very least.

COMMENTARY

Children do not mimic ideology of their parents

The amount of assumptions and contradictions underlying each misconception that Isaac DeVille spews onto the paper in his article, "Liberal family life" (SN 5/29), is despicable. Who is he to assume that all children blindly accept the political allegiance of their parents?

COMMENTARY

Court makes pay discrimination easy

There is the assumption among many people that if you work hard, show effort and are loyal, you will be successful in whatever field they go into. Unfortunately, this assumption is often countered with factual knowledge of wage inequities, which still exist. In addition to the egregious problem of employment discrimination, the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Youthful and blue

While everyone else is focusing on Bush's incompetence and the red-state/blue-state standoff, a more significant and quiet revolution is under way among younger voters.

COMMENTARY

Literary inferno

A man in Kansas City, Mo. fired up the grill Sunday and set aflame his book collection. During the past 10 years, Tom Wayne ran a used book store, Prospero's Books, and during that time accumulated thousands of books. Recently, when he attempted to clear out some of his collection he found he could not even give the books away.

COMMENTARY

Blood donation ban reveals prejudice

There is something unsettling about pervasive stereotypes in American culture. They get into minds and stay there despite contrary evidence and logic. Although many ethnic and racial stereotypes have become largely unacceptable in this modern age, those regarding the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community somehow seep into our culture and are viewed as having legitimacy. This was most recently made apparent by the Food and Drug Administration's reaffirmation last week to ban gay men from donating blood. The policy was enacted in 1983 with the intention of preventing the spread of HIV through blood transfusions.

COMMENTARY

Democrats must work together to gain power

Drew Winter's column "Despite Dems' status, progress still lacking" (SN 5/25), while relevant, was a sad excuse for an op-ed and was equally as unproductive. Winter basically says we shouldn't support minorities and women in politics.

COMMENTARY

Prolonged military stays show Bush's hypocrisy

It seems ironic that the president who orders and requires America's military servicemen to serve in combat zones was, himself, part of a plan that gave him an extra month's vacation and early release from his military "obligation" when the country was engrossed in the unpopular Vietnam War. "223 days 'til MSU," (SN 5/29), deals with Mathew Brady's inability to return stateside and begin a productive life in a civilian setting at MSU because of military requirements.

COMMENTARY

Bills could alleviate student apathy

Voting - most consider it a hassle and, for some, a waste of time. With a 50.7 percent turnout for the midterm election, getting voters is a problem Each time elections roll around, citizens everywhere can be found making excuses for why they will not be voting. "It's too difficult to get to the polls," "my vote won't make a difference," or "I don't have the time to register." All of these are reasons given for why people don't vote. However, the state legislature is working to remove the last reason from the list. Registering to vote can be a time-consuming process that the average student doesn't have time for between classes, work and other extracurricular activities.

COMMENTARY

Liberal family life

For a very long time, most Democrats have been content enough to keep that John F. Kennedy book on its shelf without taking any real political action.