Chad Mohammed - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama charts middle ground on deficit

By Chad Mohammed | Apr. 13, 2011

On the heels of an 11th-hour deal late Friday night that averted a government shutdown, the real debate has only now begun. Debate over the debt ceiling will be heating up; if we stay on the current course, the U.S. will reach the maximum borrowing limit of $14.31 trillion by mid-May. Additionally, the fiscal budget for 2011-2012 will be taking place. The reality of the situation is that the only remedy would be major cuts, coupled with tax increases. However, many on the right say we only have a spending problem and not a revenue problem, and many on the left refuse to cut spending in favor of only raising taxes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Local elections important for students

By Chad Mohammed | Apr. 6, 2011

“All politics are local.” This time-tested adage never has been truer. On Tuesday, the runoff elections for Districts 2 and 3 will take place. Running in District 2, which encompasses the northwest section of the city, is incumbent Lauren Poe. Running in District 3 is Susan Bottcher. District 3 spans the southwestern sector of the city from the western half of campus all the way to I-75.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Scott for cronies, not average Floridian

By Chad Mohammed | Mar. 30, 2011

I seem to be in fair company with writing this article, as a recent poll showed that Gov. Rick Scott has an approval rating of just 32 percent. On an assortment of issues from education funding to reductions in state workers’ salaries, the governor simply is in the wrong.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republicans suppress voters, voices

By Chad Mohammed | Mar. 16, 2011

The saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it” does not only apply to exercise and health.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gerrymandering a lingering problem

By Chad Mohammed | Mar. 2, 2011

It’s a weird day in political La-La Land when the Tea Party members and Democrats agree on an issue.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Collective bargaining under pressure

By Chad Mohammed | Feb. 23, 2011

The year 2011 certainly has been the year of the protestor, from Cairo to Yemen to — Wisconsin? In the past three weeks, Madison, Wis. has been the epicenter of a larger political schism in the works since November. As newly elected governors reveal their budgets, many Wisconsin Democrats and workers feel that the governors’ budgets focus more on excising the ability of unions to collectively bargain, a right that ironically originated in their own state.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gov. Rick Scott cares only for himself

By Chad Mohammed | Feb. 16, 2011

Last week, Gov. Rick Scott presented his budget for the 2012 fiscal year, proclaiming, “This was the budget you asked for.” The proposed budget is $5 billion leaner than budgets of years past, as Scott promised. However, the governor cut from areas most critical to the state’s well-being.

OPINION | COLUMNS

President walking Egyptian tightrope

By Chad Mohammed | Feb. 9, 2011

What began in Tunisia as a modest protest against the lack of socioeconomic mobility has spread quickly throughout the entire Arab world, from Morocco in the West to Yemen in the East. However, the seeds of dissent flourished most in the 80 million-strong country of Egypt.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bombs more important than our brains

By Chad Mohammed | Feb. 2, 2011

In 107 days, the federal government spent as much money on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as it did on education. Granted, a large share of education funding comes from state and local sources, but if the Republicans have their way, even less money will go towards education.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Every American wants to “win the future”

By Chad Mohammed | Jan. 26, 2011

Hours before President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the National Assessment of Educational Progress published an assessment of science proficiency among the country’s fourth-, eighth- and twelfth-graders. The results were disconcerting: Only 34 percent of the fourth-graders, 30 percent of the eighth-graders and 21 percent of the 12th-graders studied qualified as proficient. This might be the “Sputnik moment” the president described in his speech that night.