Schools: Local control without local voters?
There’s a lot of talk in Little Rock about ending the state takeover of the school district and returning it to local control. If that’s to happen, these numbers must be improved: 2.78; .71; 4.51; and...
View ArticleReturn of the Democrats?
The last eight years have been really bad for Arkansas Democrats. The last few months have been a little better.
View ArticleLooking on the bright side in 2016
This presidential election is producing two major party nominees with extremely high unfavorable ratings. You’re probably either a big fan of either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, or you dislike...
View ArticleNot paid by the hour
State legislators last year were given a raise to about $40,000. This year, they’re certainly putting in their hours.
View ArticlePresidential race not life or death choice
The first line of an actual recent obituary reads, “Faced with the prospect of voting for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, Mary Anne Noland of Richmond (Virginia) chose, instead, to pass into...
View ArticleTwo governors
No two individuals are alike. This past week was a reminder of how that’s the case with Gov. Asa Hutchinson and his predecessor, Gov. Mike Beebe.
View ArticleCasinos among best bets to make the ballot
Where Arkansans practice pure democracy — we make the laws rather than elected officials doing it — is in the ballot issues. This year, those led by citizens could be a lot more interesting than those...
View ArticleFixing the state’s life-and-death department
The quickest route to saving the state millions of dollars may be the $119,000 extra it’s spending on one of its new employees.
View ArticleSchool changed by two sisters and a cup of coffee
Pea Ridge High School senior Tyler Cope, 17, was a waitress. Now, she’s a certified nursing assistant making $11 an hour. More importantly, she’s well on her way to a good-paying future in nursing....
View ArticleGovernor a Trump supporter, not surrogate
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday was in “a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do” mode, and seemed comfortable with it.
View ArticleGovernor a Trump supporter, not surrogate
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday was in “a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do” mode, and seemed comfortable with it.
View ArticleFiddling around, ignoring problems
You know the story about Nero fiddling while Rome burned? It didn’t actually happen, but it illustrates a point about leaders crazily ignoring a problem. These days, no illustration is needed. The...
View ArticlePromises made, but better unkept?
Presidential candidates can’t possibly keep all their campaign promises, and few would even want to try. But what would happen if Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually did keep their promises?...
View ArticleOne of us for president?
What would happen if the president were an average person, not a member of the country’s political and wealthy elite? Matthew O’Connor would like to give Americans a chance to find out.
View ArticleSpend less to tax less
Lt. Governor Tim Griffin is pushing an idea: Cut spending first and then cut taxes. It’s so crazy it just might work, which is why he wants to try it in Arkansas and why, hopefully, someone will try...
View ArticleSpend less to tax less
Lt. Governor Tim Griffin is pushing an idea: Cut spending first and then cut taxes. It’s so crazy it just might work, which is why he wants to try it in Arkansas and why, hopefully, someone will try...
View ArticleHere’s some good news: schools connected
Ready for some good news? Do you remember a few years ago when Arkansas’ public schools had inadequate internet connections, and there was a big controversy, and it seemed like this was going to be...
View ArticleDon’t be a reptile this election
You’re not a reptile, so don’t let yourself be treated like one this election cycle.
View ArticleIt’s been a good year — for liberals only
After four days of watching the Republican National Convention and a day of watching the Democrats, one thing is clear: Regardless of who wins in November, it’s been a lot better year for liberals...
View ArticleMedical weed: What images do you see?
Unless Arkansas somehow becomes competitive in the presidential race, which it probably won’t, the state’s airwaves won’t be crammed with political advertising by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump....
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