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Opinion

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Our view: Poor decisions drive budget

Sarasota's new city commissioners knew they had some tough going ahead of them following the spending and promises of previous commissions. Residents also had a hint, electing at least two new commissioners bent on reining in spending and government scope.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By George Rauch
  • July 14, 2011
Market Watch: Debt causes direction of market to stay questionable

Right now, even though the market has sold off recently, we remain in what is technically called a bull market. Under current economic circumstances, it's amazing the market is not at half of its current value of 12,250 points.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2011
Our View: The cusp of revitalization

At long last, Publix Super Markets Inc. has unveiled its plans to redevelop and revitalize the Avenue of the Flowers shopping center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2011
Our View: What about the taxpayer?

As is all too common, an important party has not been at the table in the negotiations between the Manatee County School District and the Manatee Education Association.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • July 13, 2011
My View: Teacher lawsuit instructive

There is much to be learned from the lawsuit filed by the statewide teachers union and joined by others, including an entitlement mentality.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2011
Our View: Sell Payne Park

The city of Sarasota is working diligently on a marketing and spending plan to get people to Payne Park, an underutilized city facility. In fact, the city is looking at many ways to attract people to the park, which since its opening four years ago has been a disappointment.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2011
Our View: Re-think new house taxes

Building a new house in Manatee County will get a little more expensive beginning Oct. 1, thanks to the County Commission breezily approving a new impact fee schedule with nary a peep.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • July 6, 2011
My View: Sarasota County got Benderson right

The Sarasota County Commission was right to eliminate the Benderson's affordable housing provision. But there is a bigger issue involved.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 6, 2011
Our View: Trolley folly

Prioritizing is never easy, particularly so for politicians when, for every government service, there is some sort of constituency, or special interest, wanting that service. That's true whether it is tennis courts, community rooms or kayak access.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By George Rauch
  • July 6, 2011
My View: Debt causes direction of market to stay questionable

Right now, even though the market has sold off recently, we remain in what is technically called a bull market.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Kalahar
  • By Dean Kalahar
  • July 6, 2011
My View: Reality check for schools

To add insult to injury, schools spent their financial windfall in hard cash, while homeowners watched the equity of their property plummet as the housing bubble burst.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Ringing any bells? A dismal 12% of high school seniors have a good grasp of American history. Fewer than one in four attain the minimum basic standard, according to tests from the U.S. Department of Education.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 29, 2011
OUR VIEW: The crisis of our founding roots

Despite naysayers in some of the highest offices in the land, the story of America may be the most compelling national story ever told in the history of the world, the story of men who fought and died for a universal desire - freedom - and then embodied that desire in a set of guiding principles that continues to this day.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Merrill
  • By David Merrill
  • June 23, 2011
My View: More money is no answer

Rod Thomson's recent editorial, "Reforms, Not Money, Working," was spot-on. His argument that money hasn't led to increased test scores in our educational system is true both at the international level and at our local level.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Thomson
  • By Rod Thomson
  • June 23, 2011
My View: Setting the vote straight

There are some issues that have been so badly reported, where the bias is so entrenched and the media agenda so intertwined in news stories, that it is difficult to unravel things enough to make a cogent argument. Everyone's mind appears already made up with insufficient information.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2011
Our View: Keep cutting, maintain reserves

As local governments work through their annual budget seasons, they all face the same thing: the fifth year of declining revenues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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