Guest Author, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorFebruary 9, 2016

Many people have written on the fear of failure. In many places it goes under the heading “fear of losing face.” I have visited several major laboratories and universities in Japan and China and came away with an uncanny feeling that in many instances they are held back by this fear. Just one example will […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2016

What would you think if your neighbors decided one Christmas that instead of getting their daughter a much-wanted hula hoop and their son a long-prized model airplane (that loops the loop), fairness demands that they give their children carbon copies of the same toy? If you’re like me, you’d probably think, “Surely, it must be […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2016

Pity Martin Shkreli’s mother. Don’t you know she just wants to snatch that boy bald? You know Shkreli, right? The 33-year-old brat-turned-hedge-fund-fraudster who bought a cheap generic drug and raised its price to the stratosphere and then rolled his eyes at a congressional committee this week? Yeah, that one. And, if you’ve somehow missed him […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2016

The whole world watched and waited to learn the names of the winners of the $1.5-billion Powerball jackpot last month. Any news, and a lot of non-news speculation, was breaking news. Then we learned something. Publix in Melbourne Beach, Florida, sold one of the winning tickets. It was rewarded $100,000, but, it lost a lot […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2016

If someone could catch the New Hampshire voter enthusiasm, bottle it and release it in the rest of our states, we might be able to solve the voter apathy and negativity that have seemingly handed us one of the most squirrely primary campaigns in my memory. I first became aware of presidential races back in […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2016

It might surprise you to know that Florida has the highest rate of new HIV infections of any state in the United States. In addition, Miami-Dade and Broward counties are ranked first and second, respectively, among U.S. counties for that same ugly statistic. HIV/AIDS may have fallen from the headlines in recent years — and […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 7, 2016

The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that students didn’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance if they brought in a signed letter from their parents. Not everyone is aware of the law and misguided teachers still occasionally force students to stand and say the Pledge. Enter the ACLU and a few non-conformists. Recently, some […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 4, 2016

What do school grades really mean this year? It’s a question I’ve been asked whenever I meet parents, employees, and attend community events. The way the state is calculating school grades for the 2014-2015 school year only, is very different than it has been in years past, or will be in future years. The state has always touted […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 4, 2016

Let me begin by saying I believe everyone in the country should attend a gun-safety class. Whether you support or oppose restrictions on gun ownership, every citizen should attend such a class, be it privately taught, in schools, or some other venue. If you are unfamiliar with the class, let me clear up an important […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 3, 2016

What’s with Republicans when it comes to HIV/AIDS? President Ronald Reagan refused to recognize the reality of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s when it was mysterious and at its peak. Gov. Rick Scott refuses to recognize the reality of the HIV/AIDS crisis today in Florida when the Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) can […]

Guest Author
Alexandra Islas. Image via New College of Florida.

Michael Bass: Take risks and savor the rewards

William Mattox: Debate about mandatory recess exposes folly of ‘uniformity’ in education

Linda Cunningham: Martin Shkreli’s mom ought be snatching him bald

Kevin Cate: How Publix lost the power of Powerball

Ed Moore: Spectator or participant – Campaigns define us as a people

Dr. Hansel Tookes: Lawmakers can save lives by passing needle exchange program

Catherine Durkin Robinson: It’s illegal to force students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance

Jeff Eakins: School grades just one part of whole education picture

Tim Bryce: Education is the key to reducing gun violence

Chris Timmons: Legislature must use common sense, compassion to combat HIV/AIDS