Riff Raff, Opinions/Editorials

Guarding Obama’s welfare state

For most of the past century, the U.S. and continental Europe have followed different paths. Social Democrats often ran European governments, which typically taxed and spent a greater share of their national incomes on social programs, such as public health care. The U.S.

Tue, 11/13/2012 - 6:35pm

Thank you, Raymond

This week we are to remember the military men and women who served this country — especially those who saw combat and those for whom combat was the last thing they saw.

It is my time each year to remember a soldier who not only helped secure my freedoms, but provided me with life.

Sun, 11/11/2012 - 5:11pm

Of elections and heritage

A couple of major events happened last week. The one event everybody knows about is that President Obama was re-elected. The other event that nobody cares about but me is that I turned 55.

Sun, 11/11/2012 - 4:56pm

All thanked up

In this month containing the Thanksgiving holiday, folks on Facebook have taken to listing something each day for which they are thankful.

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 6:40pm

Marijuana perspective

Arkansas’ ongoing debate over the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use – such as it is – leaves me feeling discomforted.

Sun, 11/04/2012 - 5:25pm

The Wal-Mart supplier game is changing

By 2025 anyone born between 1980 and 2000 (Millennial generation) will make up 75% of the U.S. workforce and yes, Vendorville.

Wed, 10/31/2012 - 12:39pm

Crazy luck

Doyle Webb wishes “good luck” to three legislative candidates who have said slavery was a “blessing in disguise,” all Muslims should be deported, that if slavery were really bad Jesus would have condemned it, and that Abraham Lincoln was a “neurotic Northern war criminal.”

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 10:30am

Opportunity cost

I can’t refer to any particular survey or study to verify my hunch, but I’m sure by far that Economics is one of the most popular and in-demand classes on a college campus (yawn).

Sun, 10/28/2012 - 2:17pm

Abandoned principles

My late father taught me that what defines a principle is the willingness to adhere to it even when that adherence hurts. Maybe that’s why the newfound appreciation of the Electoral College among many of my friends on the left has struck me as a weirdly compelling spectacle.

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 9:00pm

Pay equality politics

For me the highlight of the October 16 presidential debate wasn’t the WWF-style verbal histrionics both candidates insisted on practicing throughout the evening.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 1:58pm

McGovern’s libertarian legacy

The venerable former senator and failed presidential candidate George McGovern, who died today (Oct. 21) at 90, is being remembered by many friends and foes alike as the archetypal ultraliberal.

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 9:48am

The Atheist vote

President Barack Obama’s multiple references to Planned Parenthood in the second presidential debate showed how keen he is to sway female voters in swing states.

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 10:07pm

Education questions

Money, balance and priorities may be the three key take-aways from a series on Arkansas' higher education system.

Mon, 10/15/2012 - 11:23pm

Honor every threat

Last Friday night I was walking into the kitchen to get a Triple Double Oreo Neapolitan cookie. The kitchen TV was on CNN.

Sun, 10/14/2012 - 11:57am

Minimizing risk

Arkansas leaders know that the continued competition between our state and others for job prospects will always be a big business slugfest.

Sometimes we’ll win. Often, we’ll lose. Those are the odds we’re facing.

So how do we improve our chances, if indeed, we actually can?

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 1:09pm

Obama’s property grab

The Barack Obama administration tried last week to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that the federal government can deny landowners the use of their property for years – decades if need be – without ever paying compensation.

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 11:07pm

Hit men

During a recent Friday evening event in Northwest Arkansas, a Republican legislator from the area walked up to another Republican legislator. This fella from Northwest Arkansas looked at me-the-media-hack and then with a big smile turned back to the other legislator.

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 4:06pm

Community health

Many people in our community ask me a common question: “How is business?”

Sun, 10/07/2012 - 5:54pm

Obama playing a different game

Every media personality I’ve heard talking about the Oct. 5 presidential debate – from MSNBC to Fox News, from the traditional networks to PBS, and even including statewide bloggers – seem sure that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won, and President Barack Obama lost.

Sun, 10/07/2012 - 5:44pm