Archive By Section - Columnists
Here's hoping for some change
Today we have a new president-elect and a new direction. In our own uniquely American way, we have had quite an amazing bloodless revolution for change in our government. The opposing parties, instead of shooting it out at each other to kill every last rival, praised each other in genuinely heartfelt and eloquent concession and victory speeches meant to heal rifts and bring our country back together. What an incredible process we have.
Power pole giants need to be stopped
As giant power lines come marching through the north end of our valley, and even those who lobby consistently for more and more growth cry foul at the loss of their views and damage to their neighborhoods, maybe it is time to look at the bigger picture.
Voting - a cathartic experience
On Monday morning, syndicated columnist Reg Henry predicted, in his humorously folksy fashion, a tidy victory for Barack Obama.
A bad call, calling us to reconsider
For a moment, let's all suppose we're all young soccer moms. And let's suppose that we've got four kids, three at home - one is a newborn with profound disabilities.
‘Swiftboating’ comes to Senate District 19 race
When it comes to political campaigns, informed voters pay attention to the media - but herein lies the problem. How do voters know if certain patterns of persuasion/fallacies are being used by pundits in the media and politics to sway their opinions?
Belcaro vs. Edison: People over profits
I'm usually not one for conspiracies, but the evidence shows that Southern California Edison and the California Public Utilities Commission are in cahoots to destroy the visual landscape of Santa Clarita Valley.
Heart of the West: Thanks to those who made it happen
Happy last day of August to the Santa Clarita Valley. I hope everyone is enjoying the official "last" weekend of summer, although school has been in session in the SCV for a few weeks. A special Happy Birthday wish to my husband, Keith, who celebrates his "double nickle" birthday today!
Welcome to county regulation
Question: How can one get approval for a 110-student private school in a converted six-bedroom house in Castaic in four to five months without notifying the neighbors or the quisling town council?
Let’s all go to the river
The Santa Clara River is a part of of Santa Clarita in more ways than one. While providing a home to many species of plants and animals, the river also annually brings together thousands of volunteers who dedicate their time to ridding it of trash and debris. This year marks the 14th annual Santa Clarita River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo. This event will be held on Sept. 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. It ...
Whistle while you work (or at least hum a nice tune)
As a kid I often wondered, "If it's called 'Labor Day,' how come everyone gets to be off work?"
Aiding our students
As much as I appreciate and respect my third graders' responses when I ask them about their future careers and they provide me with ... firefighter, police officer, teacher, professional basketball player, veterinarian, movie star and president, I know that their minds will likely change several times throughout their school years.
Steps to saving our national ship from distress
America's in crisis. With an out-of-control national budget deficit, plummeting support from many countries, a U.S. dollar with Third World-country clout, a war on terrorism that is costly and seemingly endless, a government that has at its core pork-barrel spending - is it any wonder we are in the mess we're in?
Say thanks on Labor Day
Labor Day is more than 110 years old, yet it's especially relevant today. The U.S. Department of Labor's Web page says it best: "The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. "It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to ...
A tax plan for a better America?
"It's a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today, and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise revenues in the long run is to cut tax rates now."
A cold wife and a food court rendezvous
Son announces big loss in third quarter My 5-year-old son posted a big loss in the fiscal third quarter, despite an effort to clean up more than two dozen gold coins from his pirate ship play set during a routine vacuum cleanup in the living room earlier this month. The boy claims Mommy rolled right over the coins with the vacuum. Mommy denies the accusation. "I opened up the vacuum bag and didn't find one ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Steven and Cokie Roberts: Voting reform
"Obama's proposed voting commission under partisan fire from both sides."
Alice Khosravy: California is at bottom for business
Just a few short days ago the lanterns fell, bringing an end to Chinese New Year season for 2013.
Joe Gandelman: America’s poop deck politics
It's the ultimate stomach turner: how Carnival's 893-foot-long cruise ship Triumph, along with its 4,200 passengers, was stranded due to a fuel engine leak for five days with no food, little water and few working bathrooms.
Kevin Bayona: China's rise is challenge to U.S.
The start of the 21st century has brought with it an avalanche of international problems such as war, economic recession, nuclear proliferation, and rising global competitors. Although all these issues merit individual attention and consideration, I think the unrelenting rise of China presents the largest and most significant global challenge to the United States.
Gary Horton: Life can be a sound track by the B-52’s
It's sometime in the late 1980s and our family and friends are piled inside our Ford cruiser van heading off to a family ski trip to Lake Tahoe - or to a Boy Scout boating trip at Lake Mead - or some other fun teen-friendly vacation destination.
Kevin Buck: Straw men live in glass houses
Webster's dictionary has several different definitions for the word socialism. The one conservative fear and loathe the most is:
Tom Purcell: A nail in the coffin of Americans' rights
oy, do I feel sorry for smokers these days.
David Hegg: Ethically Speaking
Sometimes it turns out that famous clichés are just plain wrong, or at least wrong in enough important situations to make them suspect. One with which I particularly disagree is "Familiarity breeds contempt." I know what it is supposed to identify, and I flatly disagree. Familiarity, with the right people, in the right way, and for the right reasons, actually breeds contentment.
Steve and Cokie Roberts: Fixing Fox and the GOP
Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News Channel, is a very smart man. And he knows how to count, a skill that has apparently eluded many of his fellow conservatives.
Edward Headington: In honor of Presidents' Day 2013
Presidents' Day is a time set aside to celebrate the legacies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and also remember all of the Presidents of the United States (POTUS) that have made our nation great.
Steve Lunetta: The case against Democrats
A friend of mine recently sent me one of those political emails that screams for fact-checking. You know the ones I mean - "Obama is really a space alien and we have proof!" or "Hilary Clinton Smokes Pot with Harry Reid."
