opinion

Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.

The Liars' Stage: The Fabricators and Plagiarists of the News World
The latest liar to strut and fret his hour upon the stage is Claas Relotius. Joining the ranks of disgraced former journalists like Janet Cooke, Stephen Glass, and Jayson Blair, Relotius has achieved the ultimate in fallacies and falsehoods. But why? Why don’t these men and women choose to instead go the fiction route rather than to risk (and fail) at the task of preserving the truth? At a time when TIME magazine has named journalists as the Persons of the Year for 2018, it is somewhat ironic that the news media now cover a non-journalist.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
America the land of the Oppressed?
I am a millennial living in modern day America. Where many of my young peers are liberal. According to them, I should have a fierce hatred for my country, I am oppressed because of my womanhood. No, that is not where the calamity lies. The calamity comes when someone like me, questions her fellow Americans who believe that America was never great. I believe we can still be happy in this country if we so chose to be. Do not let one voice speak for all, the liberals and the media would have the American people believe, that their policies and own agenda, is this country's only hope for a better future. When in truth all they care about is how your votes will benefit said agenda. These things are able to happen, however, because we live in freedom not oppression.
By Jillian Weiss7 years ago in The Swamp
Modernizing Emergency Services
Whilst this essay is about England, the principles can be applied to any nation. A consultation paper on local plans to transfer responsibility for clearing road traffic accidents, from police to the fire brigade, has drawn heavy criticism from the local Fire Brigade union chief.
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
Toys
So this is Christmas. A time of year when children everywhere wait in anticipation for Santa to deliver toys and games to every boy and girl. When we really think about though the kinds of toys that actually are beneath the Christmas tree, they have very little in common to the toys of yesteryear. Ever notice how toys today have evolved in a way that children are less likely to develop a creative passion using their imagination in interacting with their toys? When we look back to a time long since past, children were more inclined through toys and games in developing creativity, imagination, and actually interacting with other children.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
How to Stop Politicians Lying! Guillotines and Localism?
If I were to describe to you all the feelings that I experience when I watch the UK Conservative party lie to parliament, I would say it is like a burning volcanic eruption inside my rib cage, moving upwards towards my epiglottis. Then, when the Tories are prevented from being called dishonest by the out of touch parliamentary rules, my head explodes and I scream uncontrollably for the return of the guillotine.
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp
Baby, It's Politically Correct Outside
BRYCE ON POLITICS Attacking Holiday Programming Click for AUDIO VERSION. 'Tis the season, not for Christmas or any other religious holiday, but for political correctness. It appears the holidays have triggered a wave of criticism over audio/video classics as heard and seen for years over our airwaves. This is just another example of political correctness running amok.
By Tim Bryce7 years ago in The Swamp
Markle Fans Crossing a Line
How far are you willing to go to defend somebody you never met but your idolize because they're famous? That's a question we should all ask ourselves when we read something online about somebody we look up to but don't necessarily agree with. Are you willing to tear down other people or even go so far as threatening another person because they have an opinion that differs from yours?
By CC King7 years ago in The Swamp
Permanent Exit for the Former Milquetoast-in-Chief
Aside from the dry bromides, empty promises, and stale platitudes, the now deceased former President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush stood for weakness. He may’ve been a decorated Navy veteran but somehow he lost the nerve in later years. When it came to running for office, he sought to be a people pleaser and stretched himself too thin in appeasing everyone.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Image and Truth
Image and truth. Do political distortions win elections? There is a very old fable; about truth going about the world naked and unadorned; and was shunned by all. Yet parable went about in fine clothes and with misleading words and everyone loved them. So the idea that image is more popular than truth is a very old one. What has changed is the professionalism of the image makers and the deliberate use of image to mislead voters.
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
What to Do About Illegal Immigration?
BRYCE ON IMMIGRATION —Let's try something else, such as education. Click for AUDIO VERSION. Last Sunday (November 25th) a group from the "Caravan," a group of Central American migrants marching to the U.S. border, breached the border and tried to elude Homeland Security officers. In the process, some hurled rocks and bottles at U.S. officials who, in turn, shot tear gas at the crowd to break it up. No lethal force was used and about 50 people were apprehended after illegally crossing the border. All will likely be deported.
By Tim Bryce7 years ago in The Swamp
What I Would Do if I Were President
"I'm no leader. I do what I have to do. Sometimes, people come with me." —Edgar Friendly, from the movie Demolition Man There is more to this quote from one of my all-time favourite films, but it is rather beside the point and has a curse word. But it does pretty much describe me as a leader.
By Johann Hollar7 years ago in The Swamp
You've Been Throttled!
Net neutrality is still a hot topic even though it has been some time since the repeal. We get on the internet for entertainment, to socialize with friends, family or long-time online acquaintances.
By Bonnie Simpson7 years ago in The Swamp