Archive for the ‘Opinion/Viewpoint’ Category
December 24th, 2009
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Author: A recipe for screwing up a $35 million boat dock.
by John Branston
The Riverfront Development Corporation has posted “the truth about Beale Street Landing” on its website. I have not been a fan of this project since it was conceived. I thought it was grandiose, would take several years to complete, cost more than advertised, and overshadow faster and cheaper riverfront improvements. Now that it is under way, I hope it is a success. Memphis has the greatest riverfront in America. I have walked it hundreds of times, floated the river in…
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A physician’s thoughts on what Santa should bring us in the formof health-care reform.
by Jim Bailey
Americans deserve a health-care system that embodies fundamental American values. What would such a system look like? The answer, surprisingly, could be very close to home — in the “HealthCARE” principles advocated by a local group called the Healthy Memphis Common Table. The group was incorporated here in early 2000, when concerned consumers, providers, and health-care leaders began meeting monthly to discuss ways to fix our region’s broken health-care system. This group saw as its first purpose the identification of…
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Now that he’s a public stud muffin, Tiger Woods — and golf — will never be the same.
by Marty Aussenberg
Look, we knew Tiger Woods wasn’t perfect. If you listened to him or watched him on the golf course, it became obvious that he’s got an anger-management problem. There are hundreds of professional golfers who, unlike Tiger, seem able to avoid dropping the F bomb, not to mention throwing their clubs, when they hit a poor shot. And, in spite of the fact that he stands on the shoulders of athletes who’ve paved the way for him, from Muhammad Ali…
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Why Gore and Frist fell short — and why Obama just might.
by A.C. Kleinheider
Conventional wisdom says former senator Bill Frist is not a political player anymore. After a stillborn run for president and a decision to forego the governor’s race, Frist has rejoined Nashville’s Belle Meade Country Club and all but sworn off elective politics. As a senator, he was competent but not outstanding. As a majority leader, he was underwhelming. As a potential presidential candidate, he was a disaster. But now, as a former politician, his advocacy on the big issues of…
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Give thanks for old friends — and turning 40.
by Frank Murtaugh
This is a story of thanks. Meant for a week during which being thankful registers a little deeper. (Or at least we pay closer attention to those for whom we’re grateful.) It’s a story of six old teammates of mine: Gabby, Cheese, Frog, Tim, Mike, and Audie. Together as Northfield Marauders, we played for Vermont’s 1985 Division III state runner-up soccer team. And quite honestly, that’s where the sports connection ends. Three months of a unified goal. (A time in…
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Give thanks for old friends — and turning 40.
by Frank Murtaugh
This is a story of thanks. Meant for a week during which being thankful registers a little deeper. (Or at least we pay closer attention to those for whom we’re grateful.) It’s a story of six old teammates of mine: Gabby, Cheese, Frog, Tim, Mike, and Audie. Together as Northfield Marauders, we played for Vermont’s 1985 Division III state runner-up soccer team. And quite honestly, that’s where the sports connection ends. Three months of a unified goal. (A time in…
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In the debate on health-care reform, misinformation is the GOP’s primary weapon.
by Joe Conason
Within hours after the House of Representatives approved health-care reform by a narrow margin, Republicans predicted retribution at the polls next fall. They promised to make every Democrat regret that historic vote as the first step toward the reversal of power in Washington. And as the current debate has proved, they aren’t going to let honesty become an obstacle. For a preview of coming attractions, simply turn on Fox News or any right-wing radio talker, where the falsehoods of the…
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It was 20 years ago today … sort of.
by Kenneth Neill
Confession, they say, is good for the soul. Since we’re likely to be outed anyway by long-time readers, here’s the deal: This week’s Flyer doesn’t exactly coincide with the newspaper’s actual 20th anniversary. Nope, the first-ever issue of this newspaper didn’t hit the streets in November 1989, but nine months earlier, on February 15th. Alas, February 2009 did not seem a particularly good time for a 20-year celebration. The economy was in the toilet, and our spirits weren’t far behind.…
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Providing a paper trail protects voters’ rights; it’s also the law.
by Gerard Stranch
In 2008, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Nashville passed the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act (TVCA), joining the growing national trend of 26 other states requiring voter-verifiable paper ballots and “optical scan” machines to read them for all Tennessee elections. At last, Tennessee voters would have a “paper trail,” a concrete record to check the accuracy of a vote count in case of computer glitches, recounts, and allegations of fraud. Since then, a few election officials have done their best to…
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If the voting machine system aint broke, dont spend taxpayer money to fix it.
by Holden, Rich
In 2008, the Tennessee state legislature passed what is known as the Voter Confidence Act. The act assumes that voters will become more confident in election outcomes if our state converts all counties to using paper ballots rather than the electronically counted results we use in Shelby County today. The act also directs the counties to use optical scanning systems to tally the votes on the paper ballots. It seems to clearly call for purchasing optical scanning devices, certified by…
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