Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Column: As times progress, society goes in reverse

Jason Darensburg | November 14

Whatever happened to the Space Age? I never thought I’d grow old in an era where everything is actually worse than it was in the good old days. Civilization has seemingly gone several steps backwards spiritually, socially and technologically since the 1970s. I grew up expecting to take my summer vacations on Mars, and here it is 2014 and we’re living in a country that currently lacks even a high-speed rail system. The aging space shuttle fleet was decommissioned a few years ago, following numerous catastrophic failures, yet America is supposed to be the wealthiest, most technologically advanced nation on earth. What went wrong?

Opinion

Letter: Religion not the only answer to fear of death

November 13

Editor, From an early age I learned life is not certain. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us.

Opinion

Letter: Administrative barriers derail path to degree

November 13

Editor, The reason for writing is to let you know about the lousy experiences I have had from departments at the college where you sign up for programs and then through advisements where we are asked to sign papers which we do not want to sign. The advisement office told me I had to finish classes before fall which I think they and I knew just couldn’t be accomplished in that given amount of time.

Opinion

Letter: Israeli PM's threat ignored by media

November 13

Editor, It is no secret that the “special relationship” between the United States and Israel has been strained as of late.

Opinion

Abortion is an abomination in the eyes of nature

November 12

Editor, In my early 20s I didn’t care about the subject of abortion. I figured it was a woman’s right. The first president I voted for was President Bill Clinton, who was a major supporter of abortion. As I matured in my own education, I began to oppose legalized abortion more and more.

Opinion

Much at stake in heated Land Commissioner race

Adeline Murthy | November 11

The Land Commissioner is one of the most important public offices, but most voters are only faintly aware of how the management of state lands impacts wildlife and ecosystem function. The State Land Office manages 13 million subsurface acres and 9 million surface acres of public trust land for the benefit of New Mexico’s public schools and hospitals. In the 2012-13 fiscal years alone, UNM received $8.9 million from the State Land Office.

Opinion

Incarceration companies turn profit for imprisonment

November 11

Editor, If you haven’t already heard, this week marks the second annual “Free the Prisoners” week here at UNM. A collaborative effort between a variety of student and community organizations, Free the Prisoners week draws attention to the plague of issues related to the Prison Industrial Complex as it criminalizes our communities locally and internationally.

Opinion

Republican wins owe more to 'six-year itch' than will of the people

November 10

On Friday the Daily Lobo reprinted an article by Michael Reagan originally called “Riding the Wave.” This article overlooks the actual landscape from which Republicans were able to benefit simply because they were not the party of the president. There is a term among political scientists called the “six-year itch,” which in essence predicts that in the second term of a presidency, the president’s party will likely suffer defeats during midterm elections. Mr. Reagan should be quite aware of this, given that his father suffered the very same problem in his second term, losing eight seats in the Senate and five seats in the House, as well as the fact that previous Democratic majorities with which Obama entered office were based upon gains made during midterms in George W. Bush’s second term.

Opinion

Legal cannibis would be healthy for the economy

November 7

Editor, Now that the voters have spoken, I hope New Mexico small government Republicans rethink their lockstep support for the 80-year failed big government federal prohibition on the cannabis plant.

Opinion

Institution of marriage stifles true happiness

November 5

Editor, Do I ever know myself or the other person or the future well enough to know for sure we both will do well with only each other romantically until death?

Opinion

Thanksgiving supports factory food horror

November 5

Editor, As we approach the holiday season, I would like to remind everyone whether they are spending the holidays with friends or family that this joyous time is not joyous for everyone, for some it is a nightmare.

Opinion

Dr Peg's Prescription: Voting in elections correlates with good health

Peggy Spencer and M.D. | November 4

Would you like to know who and what to vote for? Well, that I can’t tell you. How you vote is up to you. I am not about to take a political stance in a health column. The reason I am writing about it at all is that I believe voting is good for your health, and I am not the only one.

Opinion

All endangered species have equal importance

Will Brewer | November 4

We’ve all heard about endangered species that exist globally. Majestic creatures like the humpback whale, Bengal tiger, and Mexican wolf are all species that represent pure wildness for many, and galvanize public support and money for their survival.

Opinion

The world is not a welcoming place for kids

Jason Darensburg | October 31

My wife and I recently celebrated our 31st anniversary. With each passing year we’re more convinced we made the right decision by not having kids. We decided long ago that we didn’t want to bring children into this world because we could see a looming disaster on the horizon. The future looked pretty bleak at the time, and things have only gotten worse since we tied the knot back in 1983: overpopulation, pollution, economic meltdown, disease, endless war, religious strife — how can anyone turn a blind eye to it?

Opinion

State auditor candidate scarily unscrupulous

October 30

Editor,On Nov. 4, we have the opportunity to elect our next state auditor. It may not be the sexiest office or the most publicized.

Opinion

Scamming landlords crush students with lifelong debt

October 29

You would think that feudalism is a thing of the past, when land-owning lords rented out to peasants who did all the work and the landlords just sat back rubbing their fat bellies while counting out their money. You would be wrong.Today there is a resurgence of feudalism in all but name, and it is right here in the U.S. of A., and it is people who to this day call themselves “landlords.” The only difference is they rent out apartments and houses and parking lots, and where they are making their killing is around college campuses.For one thing, they serve a transient population of students who would rather not take the landlord to court because they are going to leave sometime soon, and they are young and are looking forward, however illusorily, to a materially successful future after graduation.

Opinion

Paying federal taxes supports the murder of innocents

October 29

When would it be right for an enemy nation to murder your family?If never, how can it be right for the United States to murder the families of people in our enemy nations?Would I, as an openly gay man, fight to be accepted into the mafia? Would I, as an openly gay man, fight to be accepted into a violent street gang? Would I, as an openly gay man, fight to be accepted into a band of drug dealers or bank robbers?

Opinion

Martinez did not help expand New Mexico Medicaid

October 28

Editor,In honoring Gov. Susana Martinez with this year's UNM Presidential Award of Distinction, UNM President Bob Frank sites her "critical contributions to the health and well-being of New Mexicans." Specifically, the governor is being recognized for her efforts to expand health care coverage under federal guidelines.

Opinion

Editorial cartoon shows Daily Lobo's immaturity

October 28

Editor,Monday’s “editorial” cartoon, Our Lady of Marijuana, is possibly your worst yet.

Opinion

Conservation efforts continue after zoo tragedy

October 28

Dec. 18, 2013, was a remarkable day for Albuquerque BioPark. Ten years of effort was rewarded when the local zoo became one of two in the nation to have a Tasmanian devil exhibit – four animals arrived from Australia as part of a Tasmanian devil ambassador program, with the goal to aid in the survival of the species.