Currently browsing: Opinion

Opinions are like Belly Buttons…

By Beth Britton | September 24, 2008 |

I am finding recently that a lot of opinions are being tossed about. With this being an Election year it seems everyone has something to say. Everyone thinks what they have to say is the truth. Everyone thinks what they have to say is important. So I say to everyone, you are right.

We all have a constitutional right to say what is on our minds. Our country was founded on that belief. However, more and more it seems that what someone has to say is not always welcome. In some cases even its forbidden, or even chastised. Who are we to slap a hand or remove a blog, or delete a comment that someone has posted just because its what they perceive to be as right, whether we agree with it or not!

It’s a delicate time we are living in. You must be careful what you say to someone. You must always be politically correct. You must always be conscious of someone’s feelings.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues, News, Opinion | No Comments

Mr. & Mrs. Middle Class: You’ve been punked!

By Tom Paine | September 24, 2008 |

You are being told that we must pony up for Wall Street’s mistakes over the past 20 years. You are being told that if you do not it will only cost you more in the long run. You are being told that if you do not do so, the world as we know it will cease to exist. That part, at least, is correct.

For the past twenty years, beginning with the Reagan administration, economic war has been waged on you, the middle class. The champions of the “free market” demanded that all fetters, all regulations, be removed from the market. It was claimed that regulations were bad, that they prevented the market from operating “efficiently”, that the “freer” the market, the more we would all benefit. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Events, Issues, Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

All eyes on the South as historic Presidential Debates draw near

By Turner McCullough Jr. | September 24, 2008 |

With two presidential debates being staged in the South, southern universities are being given unprecedented national exposure. The October 7 Presidential Debate will mark Belmont University and Tennessee’s elevation onto the presidential election stage.

The evening of September 26 will be a busy one with two important political events in Montgomery County. The Women For Obama 19th Amendment Anniversary House Party will be followed by the 1st Presidential Debate Watch Party.

This year’s Presidential Debate at the University of Mississippi marks an historic development in U.S. presidential elections political history. This is the first time for the staging of a presidential debate in the state of Mississippi.

Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will appear live to debate issues of concern to the American public in Ole Miss’ Gertrude C. Ford Center in Oxford, Mississippi. The debate will be moderated by Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of The NewsHour on PBS. This debate will focus on foreign policy and national security. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

The magnitude and meaning of the proposed bailout: What $700 billion for Wall Street means on Main Street

September 24, 2008 |

Northampton, MA (9.23.08) ~~ The plan proposed by President Bush and Secretary Paulson for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street is difficult for most people to comprehend. National Priorities Project, a non-partisan organization that offers research and analysis of federal spending priorities, is offering an analysis of what $700 billion means to taxpayers.

“It is extremely difficult for most of us to get our minds around what this extraordinary amount of money means.  We hear every day about spending cuts to infrastructure and social services. Now the current Administration is proposing to spend more than what is currently allocated for the U.S. War in Iraq on this Wall Street bailout.  It is critically important that we urge our elected representatives to take a close and careful look at the trade offs involved in their decisions.”

~~ Jo Comerford, Executive Director of National Priorities Project.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Belmont University hosts pre-Presidential Debate Symposiums

By Turner McCullough Jr. | September 23, 2008 |

As a lead-up to the launch of the 2008 Presidential Debates, Nashville’s Belmont University hosts a series of political discussions. Following is a listing of Belmont calendar events preceding the September 26 Presidential Debate.

Why Should We Vote?
Wed., September 24, 10 a.m., WHB 309
Complaints are everywhere heard bemoaning the low rate of voter turnout in the United States. Is our turnout rate really that low? Answering that question requires us to ask why, in the first place, we should vote. Join us as we ponder this with Dr. Nathan Griffith of the Department of Political Science.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

In the best interests of our children …

September 23, 2008 |

In his most recent platform statement, Ward 8 City Council candidate David Cutting addresses issues the affect the safety and quality of life for our children.

What can we do, as a city, for our most important asset, the children? If elected city councilor, I would work for the following issues, each of which will eventually be without cost to our taxpayers.

• Foster Care: We need more foster care homes here in Clarksville, to keep at-risk children near their families, and to keep the state and federal monies paid to their caregivers here in Clarksville, rather than remote cities and counties. I will lobby the state to repeal the prohibition against DCS workers and their spouses being foster parents, and, if successful, will care for two foster children in my home. (Please note my wife is a DCS social worker.) I will also use my office to promote volunteerism for foster care.

• Speed Bumps: The Clarksville City Council recently erred in requiring underground utilities and sidewalks in new subdivisions, at developer expense, without also requiring speed humps. We do not need the speed bumps that ruin our vehicles’ alignment, but we do need the humps to enforce 20 mph speed limits designed to save our children’s lives.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Dems line up to endorse Tim Barnes Senate bid

September 23, 2008 |

The Senate Democratic Caucus is throwing its support behind  Attorney Tim Barnes in the race for the District 22 Senator to represent Montgomery, Cheatham, and Houston Counties.

Caucus Chair  Senator Joe Haynes, in endorsing Barnes, called Barnes ” a good neighbor” and offered high praise for his character and the issues to which Barnes intends to support:

“Tim is coming to Nashville to help us face the challenges before us. He’s a problem solver, and he’s committed to working to continue balancing the state budget without new taxes, to expanding access to education so Tennesseans of all ages can get the skills they need to be successful in today’s economy, and to providing the high quality and affordable health care that everyone needs and deserves. Across this state, voters are responding to the message of common sense solutions and hard work that our candidates are taking to them.”

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

U.S. Market Meltdown: Three times is enemy action

September 23, 2008 |

James Bond’s wealthy nemesis may have had an obsession with gold, but he judged, quite correctly, that if people keep putting your plans awry, that was likely their intent.

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is Enemy Action.” — Auric Goldfinger, Ian Fleming’s James Bond

In 1982, the same year John McCain entered the Senate, a bill was put forward that would substantially deregulate the Savings and Loan industry. The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act was an initiative of the Reagan administration, and was largely authored by lobbyists for the S&L industry — including John McCain’s warm-up speaker at the convention, Fred Thompson. The official description of the bill was “An act to revitalize the housing industry by strengthening the financial stability of home mortgage lending institutions and ensuring the availability of home mortgage loans.” Considering where things stand in 2008, that may sound dubious. It should. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, Opinion, Politics | No Comments