Editorials

GUEST EDITORIAL: If the data supports it, allow hunting grizzly bears

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 3:16pm

Hunting is not only a fundamental part of Montana’s culture, but also a way to help prevent some of the problems associated with the overpopulation of certain species in certain areas. And nostalgia for the iconic grizzly bears around Yellowstone National Park is not a good enough reason to prevent people from hunting the animals if and when it makes sense from a wildlife management standpoint to do so.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Should theater be held responsible for shooting?

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 2:33pm

If a jury concludes that Cinemark should have foreseen the sort of mass shooting that occurred at its Century 16 Theater in Aurora in 2012, it will send an alarming message to businesses around the country — and especially those that host paid events.

They’ll know they are likely to be held responsible even for tragedies that have no precedent in their sphere of commerce — that are nearly the equivalent of a lightning strike.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Transgender guidelines are controversial, for now

Published on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 1:55pm

Last week the Oregon Department of Education released 15 pages of guidelines regarding transgender students.

Among the recommendations: Oregon students should be able to use the names, pronouns and bathrooms they want. In addition, transgender females should be allowed to play girls sports and transgender boys allowed to wear tuxedos to prom. In general, students should be able to present themselves as the gender of their choosing.

GUEST EDITORIAL: ‘Gap year’ may improve college success

Published on Mon, 05/09/2016 - 3:39pm

About 3.3 million students are expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year. One of President Barack Obama’s daughters is among them. On Sunday, the White House announced Malia will not go directly to college. She is taking a so-called “gap year” after graduation and will attend Harvard University in the fall of 2017.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Cynicism has a place

Published on Tue, 05/03/2016 - 2:58pm

So you think after a few missed predictions, especially on the scale of those listed below, the purveyors of catastrophe and calamity would tamp down their enthusiasm for all things horrible.

But that doesn’t happen.

Instead they double-down on death and mayhem, promising a horrible and dire future for all of us — unless we do as they say.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Be wary

Published on Mon, 05/02/2016 - 4:06pm

President Barack Obama’s decision to send 250 more military advisers to Syria to assist in the fight against ISIS may prove beneficial. Any escalation, however, should make Americans wary.

An increase in military advisers in Vietnam eventually led to full-scale war there. The disastrous Iraq War put an end to American interventionism for the foreseeable future, but mission creep is always a concern, even if it only involves going from 50 to 250 soldiers in this case.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Roger Goodell draws up some pretty nasty plays

Published on Fri, 04/29/2016 - 3:00pm

In his bizarre quest to destroy the reputation of the NFL’s premier quarterback, Commissioner Roger Goodell has drawn up some pretty nasty plays. He transformed Tom Brady’s “general knowledge” of a possible scheme to deflate footballs in a single game into Brady’s active participation in a nefarious scheme — which he then compared to the use of illegal steroids. He imposed an unprecedented punishment for actions he couldn’t prove, and as the biased arbitrator didn’t give an inch when Brady appealed.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Even if grizzlies delisted, many protections would remain

Published on Thu, 04/28/2016 - 3:25pm

One of the sad consequences of the westward settlement of the United States was the near eradication of the grizzly bear. Once an iconic symbol of the American wild, the hulking brown bears were hunted, trapped and deemed fearsome, dangerous predators. In California, they were exterminated completely, remaining only as an image on the state flag and seal.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Kids might gripe at first, but healthy school lunches are best

Published on Wed, 04/27/2016 - 4:45pm

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture handed down stricter standards for school lunches, many feared kids would resist the change, that they might turn up their noses at the healthier food choices and instead come to school with sugary treats and potato chips.

The new standards took effect when students started classes the previous school year. And sadly, there was some of that. Our story about school-lunch changes received several negative comments from readers.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Corps’ action is a cheap bit of extortion

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:28pm

The problem with the American regulatory state is that the regulators have established rules designed to force the compliance of the regulated and to deprive them of due process in an impartial court.

A case heard last month by the U.S. Supreme Court hopefully will build on earlier decisions that make it easier for property owners to challenge agency decisions in federal court.