Archive By Section - Columnists
Will Durst: Congress has cried ‘ruin’ too many times
And now let us speak of the current lame-duck session of the 112th Congress. Daily we witness the death throes of the final assemblage of this particular group of elected representatives on Capitol Hill, and of course they're spending these last precious moments together marshaling all their skills to put the American ship in order. Hahahahahaha.
David Shribman: Which Obama will we see next?
Let's step back a century. William Howard Taft was in the White House. He came into office literally as the progressive's progressive, having been Theodore Roosevelt's hand-selected successor.
Kathryn Lopez: Pope’s tweets show progress
Where people are, the Word of God must be," a priest from Washington state, in the holy city for a conference on the Church in America, told an Italian media outlet.
An opportunity for CLWA, Valencia Water Co. and the SCV
It is a watershed moment in the public management of the Santa Clarita Valley's water supply - the Castaic Lake Water Agency is acquiring Valencia Water Co., a purchase that will not only expand local control of our valley's water resources but also will result in financial benefits for local ratepayers.
David Hegg: Intent and life’s purpose
I like to read biographies of those who have made significant contributions to the history of our world, and I'm certainly not alone in this.
Bob Kellar: Santa Clarita celebrates 25 years of cityhood
It is truly an honor to continue the tradition of a responsive, professional local government working for the benefit of our residents.
Tim Myers: ‘Quasi-celebrity’ status of politics is a distraction
The local political cognizanti know the name Lynn Haueter. The former special education teacher turned political operative formed one-half of the controversial husband-and-wife duo with Bob Haueter, former local representative for Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita.
Susan Stamper Brown: Helping charities, voluntary wealth redistribution
With Great Depression-like poverty and homelessness on the rise during this Christmas season 2012, organizations like the Salvation Army are working overtime to make up for the increase worsened by a bloated federal government well on its way to becoming a victim of its own gluttonous appetite.
Betty Arenson: Democrats redefine ‘compromise’
Democrats have blared for a decade that the Bush tax cuts are for the wealthy. Now they panic that expiration of those dangerous Bush tax cuts will gravely harm the middle class. Which message is the truth? Call it ambiguity, hypocrisy or blatant lies; the scorners sow and reap a host of prudent observations and sapient questions.
Cher Gilmore: It’s up to us to act on global warming
The failure of the latest Doha climate talks - which our President didn't even attend and whose efforts the U.S. consistently blocked - clearly shows that we cannot count on our government to take the lead in stopping global warming. This, in spite of the fact that the U.S. is second only to China in annual CO2 emissions, and we know without question that global warming is real, deadly, and human-caused.
Byron York: Obama ups bid as GOP looks for way out of crisis
It's possible to have a strong hand and still overplay it. As Republicans see things, that's what President Obama is doing in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations.
Gary Horton: Free speech, free minds
This past Sunday, a stalwart Republican gal from our church stopped by the coffee counter where I was chugging caffeine and inquired, "Where did my Full Speed To Port column go in the Signal?" As a staunch right-winger, she pretty much hates most of it, but nonetheless missed its publication for whatever enjoyable Wednesday frustration it had long been providing.
Jim Mullen: I’ve been dreaming of a lottery windfall
I won! I won! I won the lottery! Seven dollars on a $10 ticket. I'm taking it as a lump sum, not that they even asked my preference. Now I'm cleaning the living room so it won't look like a pigsty when the photographers arrive. I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of this moment. I am the original guy who never wins anything, but finally, all those years of buying lottery tickets each ...
Tom Purcell: Surviving, understanding the fiscal cliff
I'm not sure I have the energy to keep up." "Ah, yes, you speak of the latest self-created crisis in our government, what some refer to as the 'fiscal cliff.' If Congress and the president don't agree to new terms on spending and taxes, the Budget Control Act of 2011 will automatically go into effect." "And then the sky will fall?" "It won't be pretty. A number of tax breaks, such as the Bush tax ...
Kevin Buck: Tax policies should return to Clinton era
The 2012 election is now in the history books, and since history is written by the winners, the reality-based community victories will be recorded in textbooks for generations to come (Texas excepted).
Articles by Section - Columnists
Danny Tyree: Cyborg-bugs and robo-rats
Salon.com recently ran excerpts of Emily Anthes's book "Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up To Biotech's Brave New Beasts," and I may never look at national security the same way again.
Jonathan Kraut: Signs of spring
As warmer weather approaches, there are some tips that I might offer to help you save your hard-earned money, precious resources, and make your home and family safer.
Richard Hood: Confession: It was I who cut down the tree
I cannot tell a lie. It was I who chopped down the tree.
Susan Stamper Brown: Camps, clinics and selective ignorance
In a cold and snowy day in January a few years ago, I took a guided tour through the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany.
Phil Kerpen: Repeal the mandate tax
With more than 2,000 pages of legislative text and more than 20,000 pages of regulations so far, most Americans can't possibly know all the details of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
David Hegg: The Value of Valuing Something
About 10 years ago I officiated a wedding for two young people entering into marriage for the first time. It was a big deal, with a proper venue, pictures, and lots of family and friends in attendance. But for me it was very different from any I had done before.
Rick Jensen: Politicians in both parties need some class
Republican Mike Gmoser, the country prosecutor in Butler County, Ohio, wasted taxpayers' time and money by charging Pennsylvania's winter-predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, with "misrepresentation of early spring."
Peter Funt: Taken in by April Fools
he calendar says Monday is April 1, but lately it seems that foolishness occurs year-round.
Tim Myers: Should the Santa Clarita City Council be elected by district?
On Nov. 3, 1987, a now-remarkable 25 percent to 30 percent of eligible voters in the area midwifed the city of Santa Clarita into existence, voting nearly 67 percent to 33 percent in favor of the formation of the city.
Marsha McLean: Live from City Hall
A strong retail environment is one of the foundations of a healthy economy and a strong community.
Scott Wilk: Teacher firing reform needed
As a father of two, I believe no one - particularly a child - should live in fear in his or her school or neighborhood. So one of my top priorities as your assemblyman is public safety.
Joe Gandelman: Sample some popular political whines
The phone rings in a big warehouse in Oriskiny Falls, N.Y.
Jason Stanford: Turning Texas into a battleground state
Those of us who worked for the late Ann Richards used to run our plans by her. The former Texas governor did not suffer fools, gladly or otherwise, and if your plan had flaws, she'd let you know in great detail.
Michael Stafford: The Cult of Self
According to the Bible, the ancient Israelites strayed from worship of God into idolatry. Today, America has done the same - except rather than placing a golden calf upon an altar, we have erected a mirror.
Will Durst: The GOP autopsy
Normally you don't expect to see the words "Republicans" and "introspection" right next to each other. Like "supermodel" and "barbecue." "Physicist" and "polka." "Gazelle" and "ophthalmology." You catch my drift.
