Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist gets hands on BP’s leaked memo

May 26, 2010

As a corporation, British Petroleum is deeply saddened by the recent leaks in our interwebs tube that have pumped out an ever-increasing number of highly sensitive and damaging internal documents into the vital Gulf of Public Opinion. We have prepared the following memo as a “top kill procedure” on the destructive flow of information by piping loads of crap into real leaks of BP’s corporate philosophy:

OPINION | COLUMNS

Driving comes with social responsibility

By Joshua Lee | May 24, 2010

A couple of weeks ago, at the tender age of 19, I finally got my Florida driver's license. After a three-year saga of excuses and missed opportunities, I finally sucked it up and studied hard enough to pass - despite running over a cone and failing my first attempt. While pretty much all college students and young drivers can relate to the experience, I feel like I have a unique view of the whole process.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Student Alliance party refutes departing senators’ attacks

By Keir Lamont | May 24, 2010

Last spring, an extraordinary event occurred in Student Government: Members of the Progress and Orange and Blue parties put aside their differences and created a brand-new party that represents all students, not just the lucky few. This new party, the Student Alliance party, immediately got to work by opposing the new Reitz Union student fee. We felt that in times of great economic hardship, the Unite Party was wrong to pass the buck on to the Student Body.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Communism’s return possible in U.S.

By Bryan Griffin | May 19, 2010

Thomas Jefferson once said, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Problems at home should be priority

By Joshua Lee | May 17, 2010

In recent weeks, we have seen natural disasters and incidents that have irreparably stained many parts of our nation.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Women should veto HB 1143

By Katie Walters | May 17, 2010

Sens. Andy Gardiner and Mike Haridopolos introduced two amendments to a bill in the Florida House of Representatives that would restrict women’s access to abortion. The bill and the two amendments passed in the House and Senate last week. Florida now waits for Gov. Charlie Crist to either sign or veto the bill, which has not yet come to his desk. Once it does, he has 15 days to decide.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Health care should not depend on non-profits

By Nick Miner | May 12, 2010

On Tuesday, the Alligator published an article by Bryan Griffin who argued for a larger role for non-profits in the American health care system. This article was not only full of blatant contradictions but naive in the extreme. Mr. Griffin was arguing that the health care system would perform better in private hands, he just forgot that non-profits are heavily dependent upon the government and are not private enterprise. In his attempt to discredit the new health care laws he actually made an argument for an increased government role.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Government spends efficiently

By Nicholas Mildebrath | May 12, 2010

Debate is important. Especially when it comes to something as vital as health care. But when it comes to debate, as one senator put it, “You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Congress should be more concerned for public’s interest

By Bryan Griffin | May 12, 2010

This week, the director of the Congressional Budget Office announced the health care legislation is going to cost about $115 billion more than expected. This brings the total in health care spending up to about $1 trillion — so far.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Kagan’s experience is not a problem

By DEBORAH SWERDLOW | May 12, 2010

As someone who is fascinated by the U.S. Supreme Court, I’ve been consuming every bit of information about President Obama’s recent nominee, Elena Kagan. Unfortunately, it seems as if the Alligator’s Editorial Board has not consumed even half of that information.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students should know all their rights as apartment renters

By Jessica Martin | May 10, 2010

Students pay anywhere from $200 to $2,000 a month in rent, and what do we get in return? Apartments that are filthy and in disrepair. I had several issues during my tenancy at one particular community. For one, the management was unwilling to repair a broken window. I requested to have it fixed every week for four months, but it never happened. When I returned from winter break there were dead bugs everywhere in my bedroom. That was my breaking point. I learned a lot from that experience and would like to share that knowledge with my fellow students.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Government shouldn’t force health care

By Bryan Griffin | May 10, 2010

During the next month, the Obama administration plans to release a new health care bill of rights, and the buzzword within appears to be “force.” The bill details how government is either forcing people to have coverage or forcing companies to cover them. For a country of free markets, there appears to be a growing number of limitations and rules.

OPINION | COLUMNS

America’s crazies becoming more visible, protesting everything

By Matt Christ | Apr. 20, 2010

I don’t want to scare anyone, but there are crazies walking among us. Even worse, over the past year and a half, they have become more and more visible, showing up at rallies across the nation to protest the government, and just about anything in between that procreates.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Editor looks back on time at Alligator

By CHELSEA KEENAN | Apr. 20, 2010

I’m sure all of you are over those sappy, sentimental goodbye columns. However, you’ll have to suffer through one more because I’m the editor and have control over the paper. Therefore, I can do what I want.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist looks back on college years

Apr. 19, 2010

It’s my final column. Fun!

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist bids farewell to college experiences, memories

By Will Penman | Apr. 19, 2010

Since I graduate in about a week and a half, I think now is a good time to say goodbye. Some things you say goodbye to are things we’ll all need to say goodbye to. Farewell, increasing tuition. Some things you say goodbye to are special to my class. Farewell, Tim Tebow. And some things are more personal goodbyes. Farewell, Professor Shoaf. This is a mix of all of those.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist offers final observations

By Ryan Spencer | Apr. 18, 2010

Ah, my last column of the semester — and my last semester at that. I suppose this is where I get all sentimental in my undergraduate reflection, perhaps mustering enough good will to radiate advice out to some of the younger Gators among us. How quaint that would be, but any knowledge I’d be kicking wouldn’t exactly be worthy of an AAA rating. Plus, I’m not that generous. I guess the matter comes down to just how cliché I’m willing to allow myself to be. Answer: very.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Graduate student questions university’s academic integrity

By JON BOUGHER | Apr. 18, 2010

My thesis partner, Roman Safiullin, and I recently reached a compromise with UF to include video footage shot for our thesis film in post-earthquake Haiti after the recent UF travel ban had been imposed.

OPINION | COLUMNS

US should stay vigilant, fight Marxists

By PAUL MURTY | Apr. 15, 2010

Guess what, folks? The scientists are at it again. No, they’re not doing sciencey things. They’re busy promoting Al Gore’s global warming Ponzi scheme.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Church opposed Westboro visit

By ASA WALKER | Apr. 15, 2010

This weekend Gainesville will be visited by protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. This group is known for their protests of military funerals, contempt for homosexuals and other groups.