Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Personal responsibility is the solution

By Travis Hornsby | Dec. 4, 2011

I am tired of a lack of personal responsibility in America. It is never my fault. It's always the person standing next to me. There are thousands of people around the world angry at the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, saying everyone's troubles will be solved if we just tax them more and spread the wealth around. The 99 percent does more to keep itself stuck in that category than the 1 percent ever could. Instead of focusing attention on how much better (you think) our lives would be if only we could hit Billy Donovan and Will Muschamp with 90-percent tax rates, we should focus instead on what we can do with personal finance and consumer decisions that empower us, the 99 percent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

US needs to question education philosophy

By Akansha Mishra | Dec. 1, 2011

Finland, one of the world's most industrialized countries, has another honor to add to the list: excellent education reform.

OPINION | COLUMNS

For society's sake, embrace your inner skeptic

By Justin Hayes | Nov. 29, 2011

While I have tried religion in the past, something has always led me away from faith and toward reason. I found the burden of proof is not on the atheists to prove that God does not exist; it is on the theists to prove the existence of a deity. I just have not been presented with any convincing evidence.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Regis' retirement marks end of an era

By Sami Main | Nov. 28, 2011

It's the end of an era, folks.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Expansion talk must end before it begins

By Travis Hornsby | Nov. 27, 2011

The most dangerous part of the increased cost of attendance at UF is coming from fees that are carelessly foisted on the Student Body and even more carelessly spent on our behalf. There is talk that our fees should go to a renovated and expanded Reitz Union. This talk must end before it begins again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We should appreciate those holiday meals

By Sami Main | Nov. 21, 2011

I spend an awful large amount of time looking at food blogs. Like, a whole lot of time. If you looked at my Google Reader feed, it's pretty much mostly food blogs at this point.

OPINION | COLUMNS

City ordinances too strict for development

By Travis Hornsby | Nov. 20, 2011

We are often implored to look local after graduation to find employment. Gainesville has an entrepreneurial culture and is trying to become a center for start-ups, especially in the tech industry. Unfortunately, the policies of the local government will be sure to stunt Gainesville's growth for the foreseeable future. Gainesville is obsessed with collecting large tax revenues, regulating everything and taking profits from brick-and-mortar businesses to give to imaginary ones.

OPINION | COLUMNS

CHOICES is a program worth funding

By Suzette Cook | Nov. 16, 2011

CHOICES saved my life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Free market health care not a bad thing

By David Masten | Nov. 15, 2011

Why is health care so dang expensive? It concerns me to see that the default solution to any problem is more government regulation. Congress seems to love passing more laws, but it never thinks that maybe its mountains of legislation are the source of the problem.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tight deadlines always pay off in the end

By Sami Main | Nov. 14, 2011

Don't even talk to me about deadlines. At this point, I'm a deadline professional. Without them, I'd be lost. I've relied on major deadlines for most of my education.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Planning for retirement should start now

By Travis Hornsby | Nov. 13, 2011

After talking to people in my classes, I find that few know very much about something called a 401(k). How we use it will determine who among us are millionaires at retirement and who will live in poverty. Our grandparents got pensions and worked for the same employer for 30 years. We will be given the option to use one of the most powerful financial tools ever created for retirement, but some will succeed wildly and some will fail miserably. When you go out and get a job after graduation, funding a 401(k) should be near the top of your priority list.

OPINION | COLUMNS

People should combat public displays of affection

By C.R. Skambis | Nov. 13, 2011

This past Tuesday, I witnessed a couple on a Route 36 bus "first-basing it" while a guy sitting across from them stared intently, jostling his naughty bits.

OPINION | COLUMNS

People don't take sexual harassment seriously

By Alex Guilmartin | Nov. 9, 2011

Two weeks ago, I wrote a column about Herman Cain. My point was simple: Cain is not really a viable contender. We all know it, and humoring another GOP sideshow is just allowing for more eccentric antics that distract from what should be a serious discussion about the person who will likely become the next president of the U.S.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Everyone needs a strong support system

By Nicholas Butler | Nov. 8, 2011

Sometimes, life can suck.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Greeting cards part of American culture

By Sami Main | Nov. 7, 2011

My mom has worked in Hallmark stores for as long as I can remember. By this point, I've learned almost as much about the company as she has.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don't lose sight of yourself as you transition to adulthood

By Sara Solano | Nov. 6, 2011

The sirens blared, the horns honked and the whistles ... whistled.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Arab women's rights movement needs support

By Akansha Mishra | Nov. 3, 2011

A longing for political liberty has fueled many of the recent uprisings in Arab and North African countries. First the efforts of protesters in Tunisia to oust President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali caused a massive chain reaction. Neighboring countries gazed at the willful power of their peers across the border and quickly developed their own anti-government demonstrations. Not long after, government opposition from other countries, including non-Arab countries, began to show their faces through similar protests. In particular, a resonating voice screamed across the world: If Tunisia can do it, so can we. Social media echoed this spirit via audio and video clips and live on our computers, televisions and cellphones.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Focus should be on culture of education

By Alex Guilmartin | Nov. 2, 2011

There's been a lot of talk about education lately, both in the Alligator and on campus.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Should the 1 percent control more than 40 percent of the wealth?

By Sami Main | Nov. 2, 2011

The wealthy abuse their power

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama is no better than Che Guevara

By Dave Schneider | Nov. 1, 2011

In yesterday's paper, the Alligator re-published a column by Dartmouth College student Alesy Iturrey condemning Ernesto "Che" Guevara and the widespread use of his image.