Guest Opinion | Thursday, March 22,2012

Boycott cynicism and fear

One recent evening, I participated in a discussion about crime and punishment with a large group of civic-minded professionals. In such discussions, people’s thoughts inevitably explore matters

Guest Opinion | Thursday, March 15,2012

Keystone pipeline can bring prosperity to Illinois

By Larry T. Shedwill Jr.

The Obama administration recently announced its decision to reject construction of Keystone XL – a planned, state-of-the-art petroleum pipeline to carry crude oil from the oil sands of Canada to

Guest Opinion | Thursday, March 8,2012

Window panes and the state’s fiscal pain

By Roy L. French

I was a painter in my younger days. With my dad, uncle and brother, we maintained many of the buildings in the Sangamon Valley back in the forties. I started when I was 17, making 50 cents an hour and

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 23,2012

Democracy requires tough love

By Marianne Hill

Any improvement in democracy in the U.S. since 1750 is largely the result of various kicks in the pants that “we the people” have delivered to our leaders. It began with George Washington

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 16,2012

Mayor falls short on promise to hire minority firefighters

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

Like Captain Ahab, will the Springfield Fire Department ruthlessly pursue its colorless foe?When the top brass of the Springfield Fire Department filed in and took their seats before the alderman to p

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 9,2012

Oil industry profits are good

By Robert L. Bradley, Jr.

The world’s largest energy companies just released their fourth-quarter earnings. Though slightly less than the previous quarter’s gains, the figures were, nonetheless, headline-grabbing.

Guest Opinion | Thursday, February 2,2012

The mental effects of abortion

By Jeanne Monahan

I remember well a night many years ago when a dear friend who was adamantly pro-choice came to me, sobbing uncontrollably. With defenses down, she unloaded a heavy burden she had long carried –

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 26,2012

Stopping the rush to war against Iran

By Sheldon Richman

A growing group of individuals and organizations has designated Saturday, Feb. 4, as a “National Day of Action” aimed at preventing a war against Iran. The manifesto is simple: “No W

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 19,2012

Time to fix nuclear waste disposal system

By Dr. Jeffrey Patterson

The year 2011 was a scary year for nuclear reactor sites. The summer floods threatened to encroach on reactors in Nebraska and Iowa, an earthquake and a hurricane happened in quick succession to rattl

Guest Opinion | Thursday, January 12,2012

Don’t leave city budget to consultants

By Sheila Stocks-Smith

Last week’s bizarre discussion at the city council committee meeting about the vote to deny employees in civil unions health benefits obscured another important issue raised that night. When Ald