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

Guest AuthorDecember 10, 2013

America is a nation that loves heroes. The recent death of South African leader Nelson Mandela spawned an outpouring of tributes from President Obama to the average American on the street. Mandela first led a decades-long fight to end apartheid in South Africa and then headed that nation in its democratic infancy with wisdom and […]

Guest AuthorDecember 9, 2013

I have always admired the name of the state’s ambitious higher education financial aid program, “Bright Futures.” It says much about the intent of the state of Florida. The program was designed to help the state’s “best and brightest” high school seniors. But the name also connotes the state’s intent to create a future that […]

Guest AuthorDecember 9, 2013

On Dec. 14, President Obama will mark the one-year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Here’s what the nation should agree to — no parent should ever have to endure the tragedy of burying his or her child. And that’s where the agreement will end. Obama will use this opportunity to insult gun owners, […]

Guest AuthorDecember 9, 2013

There have been recent media stories questioning the quality of virtual education. Most recently, under the headline “Cyber Schools Flunk, but the Money Keeps Flowing,” Politico reported on the poor performance of students taking online courses from various providers in a variety of states. I cannot attest to the accuracy of the reporting, nor am […]

Guest AuthorDecember 8, 2013

We live in a time in which incessant polling, ubiquitous social media, and 24-hour news outlets register every ripple in public opinion. And for some elected officials, each such ripple, however small, feels like a groundswell as they drift along with no anchor of core principles other than an unremitting desire to please, so they […]

Guest AuthorDecember 8, 2013

You couldn’t attend college in the ‘80s without developing a strong distaste for South Africa’s apartheid and immense respect for the political prisoner, Nelson Mandela. Our Washington, D.C, campus frequently erupted with protests calling for the university to divest from companies doing business in the white-minority led country. Groups of students from Howard University made […]

Guest AuthorDecember 5, 2013

Dear Peter, First, a word of thanks. Those of us who are veterans of the opinion website Florida Voices were pleased when you picked up the remnants of that failed experiment, created Context Florida and made it work. You offer us modest payment for our opinions, and it’s a great platform for an assortment of […]

Guest AuthorDecember 5, 2013

“To change is to learn and to learn is to change.” That was the advice often given to me by my mentor in life, Lew Treen, a war veteran, semi-pro baseball player, high school principal and coach. One of the most important principles I’ve learned is that you should never stop learning. Sometimes the answers […]

Guest AuthorDecember 4, 2013

I get a kick out of these periodic threats by states or regions to secede from the United States. Sometimes they’re boastful efforts by the likes of Texas, which has a great business economy, low taxes and dismal results to show for it — horrible on education, health care and the environment, so bad it […]

Guest AuthorDecember 4, 2013

It is always dangerous to discuss politics or religion on the Internet. When you combine the two, you can get in real trouble. As in the case with Rush Limbaugh’s recent anti-Pope tirade. It was based on either an amateur mistake or a false premise. Regardless, Limbaugh put false words into the Pope’s mouth seemingly […]

Guest Author

Steve Kurlander: America needs some homegrown heroes like Mandela

Ed Moore: Let’s keep a bright focus on ‘Bright Futures’ program

Henry Kelley: Expect gun control talk at Sandy Hook anniversary

Julie Young: Making virtual schools sustainable and accountable

Mac Stipanovich: Leadership memo from Edmund Burke: Get grit

Andrew Skerritt: For my generation, Mandela was our Dr. King

Cary McMullen: An open letter to Peter Schorsch

Bob Porter: Continuing your education prepares you for opportunities

Mark O’Brien: It’s time to downsize the United States

Alex Patton: Rush Limbaugh owes the Pope an apology