Opinions - The Eastern Echo

March Madness energizes fans

By Jimmy King · Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Sports fans mark their calendars for four sporting events each year: the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Masters and NCAA March Madness.

EA's 'Fallout' could predict our future

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, March 18, 2012

According to an Associated Press article, oil prices are getting bad, despite the release of 30 million barrels from the country’s reserves.

Let ruling on 'Obamacare' be final word, no rehashing

By Neil Weinberg · Sunday, March 18, 2012

Seven days from now, the Supreme Court will hear the first oral arguments in what will likely be a landmark case to decide the fate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Last week, Adam Liptak penned a thoughtful piece in The New York Times that considered one of the three major aspects of the case.

Porn, sexuality... none of your business

By Patrick Seick · Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Moonlite Bunny Ranch is a legal brothel in Nevada and a focal point for controversy. While it was once featured on HBO’s Cathouse, it is also used as an example of our country’s moral decay.

Kony 2012 concerns

By Jimmy King · Wednesday, March 14, 2012

America is in the middle of a presidential election cycle. Issues of vital importance to the country right now are domestic: gas prices, the economy and the jobs market.

Snyder must revive nerdy tendencies to control Michigan

By James Tatum · Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Gov. Rick Snyder took business classes at Kellogg Community College in his teens and left the University of Michigan with both an MBA and a J.D.

Tuition, fees being distributed unfairly

By Silvana Taylor · Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Ever wonder how and where your tuition money is spent each year? It’s important to know which amenities each student pays for despite attending a school with a high number of commuters and nontraditional students.

Point/counterpoint: Limbaugh 'slut' scandal - Leniency = misogyny?

By Patrick Seick · Sunday, March 11, 2012

A few years ago, radio personality Don Imus lit a firestorm of controversy after making several derogatory statements about the Rutger’s Women’s Basketball team – calling them, “nappy-headed hoes.” Soon after the backlash, sponsors pulled their backing, and Imus was fired.

Point/counterpoint: Limbaugh 'slut' scandal - Debate hijacked by the Left

By Neil Weinberg · Sunday, March 11, 2012

By the time you read this, the Rush Limbaugh-Sandra Fluke controversy will be 13 days old. That’s 13 days too long. It is important to know at the outset that Limbaugh’s comments about Ms. Fluke were rude, impolite and indelicate.

State of the City proposes realistic goals

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, March 11, 2012

Wednesday night, March 6th, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing presented his State of the City address. In a city that could best be described as a cross between the post-apocalyptic city of Shady Sands and the remains of a post race-war apocalyptic Jericho-the comic, the Mayor’s address was looked to as a spot of hope as Detroit faces bankruptcy. The Mayor started with a somber tone that recognized the city’s dire straits, stating “There are those who believe the final chapter of our story has been written.

Professor partisan beliefs shared too often in class

By Adam Nannini · Wednesday, March 7, 2012

I regularly walk through the hallways of faculty offices and can’t help but stop to read all of the comics, notes, flyers and assorted materials taped to the doors.

Lions need strategy

By Jimmy King · Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Detroit Lions finished the 2011 NFL regular season 10-6, but fell short in the opening round of the playoffs.

Robotic Romney too fake to support

By James Tatum · Wednesday, March 7, 2012

“I love this state. It seems right here. Trees are the right height,” opined Mitt Romney about his home state.

Drones flying in US airspace soon

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, March 4, 2012

If you’re worried about black helicopters, you might want to trade in your anti-aircraft gun for a good electromagnetic pulse device. An Associated Press article from last week states, “Civilian cousins of the unmanned military aircraft that have tracked and killed terrorists in the Middle East and Asia are in demand by police departments, border patrols, power companies, news organizations and others wanting a bird’s-eye view that’s too impractical or dangerous for conventional planes or helicopters to get.” Besides a possible increase in scrap parts, privacy concerns are a major issue if drones start entering the civilian market.

Linsanity erupts

By Patrick Seick · Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sports, for many people, are life. They are also an interesting microcosm of a larger American society: from Jackie Robinson’s breaking down baseball’s racial barriers to Muhammed Ali’s divisive tirades against American militarism (as particularly exemplified in Vietnam). Fast-forward to 2012 and we have a new focal point for conversation: Linsanity. For those who are unfamiliar with Jeremy Lin, he is the current point guard for the New York Knicks.

International affairs: Cost of doing nothing

By Neil Weinberg · Sunday, March 4, 2012

You’re walking down the typical neighborhood street when you spot two people in the midst of an argument just a stone’s throw from where you are.

Legislators should learn lesson from '60s

By James Tatum · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

February is not only noted as Black History Month, but it has been a month full of victories for the civil rights movement of our time.

Detroit Red Wings are hot

By Jimmy King · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

The Detroit Red Wings are the hottest team in hockey right now. This is an undeniable fact. The Wings are boasting the NHL’s best record, picking up significant accolades along the way. A week ago, the Wings had a record 21-straight wins at home.

Banks not accountable for housing crisis

By Clement Daly · Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012

Earlier this month, the Obama administration brokered a multi-billion-dollar settlement between 49 state attorneys general and five major US banks over widespread fraud in the rush to foreclose on millions of American homeowners after the housing bubble burst. The five banks – Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial – will be granted immunity from future prosecution in exchange for some $6 billion in cash and approximately $25 billion more to be paid over three years to the states and federal government for mortgage modifications. In the mania of the housing boom, the banks issued a flood of mortgages under misleading terms, which were bundled with complex financial instruments and quickly sold off to other investors.

Substandard MEAP scores spur solutions to school reform

By Chris Hoitash · Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012

Education is important. If you’ve bothered to read my ramblings, you probably know I believe that.