http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns For a better Arizona! Thu, 29 May 2008 20:50:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This column was published on Saturday, May 24 in the East Valley Tribune as "Wright sermonizes about an America many don’t want to know." The column was actually written three weeks earlier--closer to the latest Wright controversy--but as Obama appears the likely Democratic candidate, the issue will continue through the Fall. Popular perception has Tucson's Raza Studies program ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/05/22/getting-wright-wrong/ Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as “Ranked Choice Voting good option for a city election.” On April 10, all four candidates for Tempe City Council received a check from Cox Communications’ Political Action Committee for $390.  With a run-off election slated for May ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/05/21/ranked-choice-voting-good-option-for-a-city-election/ Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as “ASU’s new transit policy not very eco-friendly.” If you’re Arizona State University, how do you celebrate Earth Day? You send out a Parking and Transit newsletter with a top story entitled, “ASU U-Pass expands to include light rail; ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/04/30/asus-new-transit-policy-not-very-eco-friendly/ Published Friday, April 11, 2008 in the Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Sheriff’s popularity is created by an illusion." Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a popular man. A November KAET (Channel 8) poll found that nearly two-thirds of voters had a positive impression of him. People equate his numerous public appearances ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/04/11/sheriff%e2%80%99s-popularity-is-created-by-an-illusion/ Published April 9, 2008 in East Valley Tribune Opinions as "Iraq five years later: Finding a path out." April 9, 2003 turned out to be the climax of the war—the day U.S. troops entered Baghdad and the Saddam Hussein regime fell. However, challenges quickly mounted and a simplistic happy ending eludes ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/04/09/iraq-five-years-later-finding-a-path-out/ Tempe Elementary faces significant budget challenges next year--in part related to the state budget. Now it would have been far worse if the Maintenance and Operations override had failed in November. As is, however, the district has already identified $1.3 million in cuts for this academic year--largely based on declining ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/02/22/kids-face-cuts-in-tempe-larger-classes-no-orchestra-speak-up/ Published Friday, February 22, 2008 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Let’s see where candidates are getting funds." As we approach this year’s city council election we face seven candidates who want to protect neighborhoods, maintain safety, and want quality parks. There’s no bad blood from W-2’s given ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/02/22/where-tempe-city-council-candidates-are-getting-funds/ Endorsements can polarize, so I don't do public ones often-but they can also help people think through important decisions--and our next President is a very important decision.  Today brings news that John Edwards is suspending his campaign, and with McCain's victory in Florida, it's increasingly hard seeing anyone other than Arizona's own John McCain emerging ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/01/30/obama-or-hillary-versus-mccain-i-choose-obama/ Published Saturday, January 5, 2008 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "SE Valley needs to be more bicycle-friendly" It's winter in desert, which means we’re not wilting anymore come mid-afternoon. So when’s the last time you rode a bike? The annual Tour de Tempe was Sunday, October 28. Hundreds ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2008/01/05/tips-to-increase-bicycle-trips-in-se-valley/ Published Wednesday, December 26, 2007 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Christians shouldn’t turn backs on the other Jesus." It’s fitting that recently my path crossed with Jesus. Christmas is a time of charity, of giving to others with special attention to those less fortunate regardless of ethnicity, religion ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/12/26/think-about-jesus/ Abbreviated version published as letter to the Arizona Republic on Saturday, December 22, 2007 as "Robb's logic needs to go step further."  I sometimes explore with my students the origin of news stories—interest groups and think tanks are always trying to get into the news. Much of that work is well-done and ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/12/14/alec-study-on-economic-competitiveness-a-lot-of-hot-air/ Send comments on proposed requirements (before Dec. 10) to highschoolgraduation@azed.gov. (see sources at end for more information) Published Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Youths need open-ended, crtical-thinking exercises." Featured opinion in Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 Tucson Citizen: "Arizona's Big Miscalculation: Overzealous focus on math ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/12/07/proposed-new-high-school-requirements-ignore-teaching/ Published Sunday, November 18, 2007 in Perspective Section of the East Valley Tribune as "Immigration Debate: What is Preferable: Police state or political solution?"   Sen. Hillary Clinton inadvertently stepped into the mire of illegal immigration when she recently appeared to support and then back away from New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/11/18/immigration-debate-what-is-preferable-police-state-or-political-solution/ Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007 in Southeast Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Ray served his country, but VA isn’t serving Ray at all." In the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 1,500,000 military personnel have been deployed. This is the story of one, Ray, but his experience likely speaks for tens if ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/11/14/ray-served-his-country-but-va-isnt-serving-ray-at-all/ Published Friday, September 28, 2007 in East Valley Opinions of the Arizona Republic as "Ok, Kcid, it’s time to eat property tax crow."   Did you receive that cool cartoon in the mail? You know, the one from Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert that includes your 2007 property tax bill. Since April, numerous ... http://www.makedemocracywork.org/columns/2007/09/28/sorry-kcid-you-got-tempe-city-property-taxes-wrong/