JACKSON OPINION

Local Columns, Blogs, Editorials, Letters and Guest Columns

JACKSON — Recently, I received a phone call at my place of business from an agency that wanted to sell me an ad in its trivia magazine that is featured at several local restaurants. When I met with the representative from the company, I found myself wondering if I wanted to use the company to help promote myself. It wasn't... Full story »

JACKSON — Didn't state Sen. Mike Nofs spend a lot of money on the TV. talking about state Rep. Martin Griffin spending money for Cobo Center in Detroit? Well, in the Nov. 18 newspaper it said that he voted for $9.4 million for the regional authority for the Cobo Center. What is the difference? Nofs should take a lesson from... Full story »

JACKSON — The city of Jackson seems to be cutting budgets for the police and the fire departments, so can someone please tell me why and how we can afford to waste money on a new "artsy" bus stop on the corner of Mechanic Street and Armory Court? I have noticed  there are lights on this beautiful wait station, and... Full story »

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — The Dahlem Conservancy board and staff acknowledge and thank sponsors of the second annual benefit breakfast, "Celebrating the Gifts of Nature — For This and Future Generations," held on Nov. 11.  The generosity of the following individuals and businesses is greatly appreciated: John Crist, CP Federal Credit Union; Ron Ellison, American Title Insurance; Stephen Hogwood, McDonald's;... Full story »

VANDERCOOK LAKE — In difficult times, it takes guts to take on controversial issues. As a mother and special education paraprofessional, I've seen the costs of health-care coverage continually rise over recent years and my out-of-pocket expenses follow. Health care as we know it isn't working, and doing nothing to fix the problem is no longer an option. Despite the... Full story »

HORTON — When receiving e-mails from U.S. Rep Mark Schauer, no one has the ability to send a reply because your e-mail will be kicked back. I believe this is unacceptable. Obviously, he does not want to know what the people who elected him really feel about the issues in Washington. This is my reply to his e-mail that I... Full story »

BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP — U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's explanation of why he had to vote for the health-care reform bill in his Nov. 17 column is not logical and lacks sound judgment. A 2,000-page bill that will lead to many thousands of pages of regulations is not a bill that is "needed." A bill that raises taxes by more than $500... Full story »

LEONI TOWNSHIP — I was not surprised that the Nov. 18 editorial put down U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer for his vote in favor of the House health-care bill. However, I found it very disturbing that there was not an ounce of compassion, or mention of, the people in this congressional district who are dying for lack of health insurance. If... Full story »

ACKSON —  I read U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's puff piece on the Nov. 17 opinion page, and I attended his last-minute town hall. Schauer has not explained how taxing medical devices (knee replacements, hip replacements, artificial limbs, syringes, hypodermic needles, surgical instruments, wheelchairs, ECG devices) will lower the cost of health care. Section 552 of the House bill reads, "There... Full story »

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — The Nov. 18 editorial about the health-care bill is the statement of a fanatic neo-con who would say anything, including lies, to advance his or her political agenda. Or maybe, the editorial board was just paid by an insurance or drug company lobbyist to drone out its version of things. All capitalist nations in the world (except... Full story »

PARMA — A couple of lines from U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's Nov. 17 column stood out to me: "Doing nothing is simply not an option," and "The status quo is simply unsustainable." These imply that opponents of the Affordable Health Care for America Act want to do nothing to reform our health-care insurance policies. While I have heard some say... Full story »

Indications are that Jackson Community College is not far from reaching a five-year contract with its full-time faculty. Considering what has been going on lately, an end to this labor standoff couldn’t come soon enough. The latest episode involves an offer from the faculty union to the college’s trustees. Faculty wanted a question-and-answer session with trustees about the status of... Full story »

I am amazed at the profound disconnect between the long-term education funding debates and the immediate reality of not enough supplies, outdated computers, inadequate software, overcrowded classrooms and the leaking roofs in many Michigan schools. Of course we need to plan for the future, but allowing our children to be lost as collateral damage in the war of political ideologies... Full story »

Jackson was once home to astronauts and the Michigan Space and Science Center. Its schools have been partners with NASA. Full story »