Schools Are Safe

Why is it that when rare instances of tragedy arise, people what to make sweeping changes, that will likely not deter the events from happening again? The freak “storm” of school shootings throughout the country in the past several weeks is no doubt tragic, confusing, disheartening, and an eye opener; yet it seems as though the public reaction takes the events as though the are a common occurrence nationwide. Of course, there are isolated events each year, but on the whole, this is not something that happens all the time, and thus society does not need to drastically change scholastic security as though it does. This by no means indicates that I hope that school officials ignore the events of the past weeks, or that security is schools is not important, yet security is most schools is exactly where it needs to be. I agree with the DM Register Editorial Boards’ stance against the proposed legislation in Wisconsin (“Arm teachers? Think again”, DM Register 10/6/06). Allowing teachers to carry guns is simply asking for trouble. No one can argue that many junior high and high school students are easily of apt strength to wrestle a gun away from their teacher if they truly wanted to. Having guns in schools is like having them in courtrooms, why put them where they simply aren’t needed. Have trust in your school officials that they are doing everything in their power to keep children safe. After all, school officials have more important tasks to tend to: teaching.

Nation of Hypocrites

I can’t help but wonder if Maureen Ogle’s new book (“Iowan’s book taps barrel of beer facts”, DM Register 10/3/06) about beer will chronicle the hypocrisy with which the culture of the US treats alcohol. Parents are embarrassed, feel guilty, and/or are general angry when their children are caught in possession of alcohol as minors, yet most seem to think in the end that its ok, turn their backs, and let the behavior continue. Culture loves to put on a front that we are against drinking while underage, yet when it comes down to it, the behavior is still glorified in movies and on television, and most parents dismiss the behavior as a “phase” in life. This attitude society has developed has lead to one of the most dangerous generation of drinkers: a recent study found that 70% of the students at the University of Iowa could be classified as binge drinkers, and I am sure the number is quite high at Iowa’s other college’s and universities. Even if the behavior is merely a “phase” and changes in later years, binge drinking (and drinking at a young age in general) have well documented detrimental effects to the body for the rest of a person’s life. If we as a society truly want to stop underage drinking (and it could easily be done with a little effort), we need to do something about it. Otherwise, we need to quit faking like we care.

Look A Little Harder

I am perplexed as to exactly what Mr. Wickman wants to be improved in his letter ("Unsafe at any speed", DM Register 10/3/06). He wonders why there is “no improvement for the on-ramp to I-80 east from I-35 north.” First I am going to assume that he means I-235 northbound to I-80 eastbound, given that the I-35 southbound to I-80 eastbound clover leaf has plenty of visibility. However if he would pay more attention when he travels he would discover that the I-235 northbound on-ramp to I-80 eastbound does not need to merge, it expands traffic from 2 lanes to three, thus visibility does not have to be at its greatest. Pay more attention before you criticize the DOT for the already difficult tasks they have to perform.

Carbon Tax Can Be Reality

There is a better idea out there than maintaining gas prices at $3/gallon (“Boost price of gas back to $3 a gallon”, DM Register 10/3/06). The basis of the argument is that it appeared as though this was the apex at which people decided to find alternative means of transportation. The first fault is that you shouldn’t set gas at that level; it should be above that level. Our dependence upon oil is not the central issue here either; it’s the damage that CO₂ does to our environment. Luckily a solution exists that will help remediate both of those problems. Sweden has implemented what is called a Carbon tax, placing a $100 per ton tax on oil, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, petrol, and aviation fuel used in domestic travel. This may not be the exact solution to the US’s dilemma; however it could easily be replicated. A tax should be instated that drastically increases the price of gas, like about $5, (Sweden’s was at $5.80 in March). The offset is to do away with income tax. This puts more money in people’s pocket, and hopefully forces them to make more environmentally friendly decisions about where they spend it. The billions generated can go back into funding the creation of energy/fuel efficient public transportation, and energy research. Society has been making a huge mistake for nearly 100 years, and its time to do something about it.

Pierce Out of Jail

WARNING TO NBA: Pierre Pierce is out of jail and looking for a way into "the league". Although some of your teams apparently see some kind of upper-level "talent" in Pierre Pierce it would be wise to divert your attention elsewhere. He has proven that if given a second chance, he can blow that one too. As a University of Iowa student and Iowa Hawkeye Basketball fan I saw the best and worst out of Pierce. Sadly, at best he is a ball-hog who dribbles too much and finds himself with nowhere to go once under the hoop. At worst, he is registered on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry with multiple convictions under his belt. I attempted to give Pierce the benefit of the doubt in the past. I tried to defend his play when he continually made horrible decisions on the court. I tried to consider the fact he was possibly the victim of a girl "crying wolf" for attention during his first run in with the law. Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I now know that I gave Pierce far too much benefit of the doubt. Hawkeyes Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford made the same mistakes in judgement with Pierce and must now deal with a stain upon is national reputation for years to come. If you are considering bringing Pierre Pierce to your team, don't. He will only ruin the reputation of your club the way he has with Iowa Basketball. Maybe people can change, but it appears Pierce can't.

E-Tickets

Note: This posting was published in the Des Moines Register Opinion Section.

It appears as though the only people that will be affected by the new e-tickets at The University of Iowa ("U of I curbs football ticket transfers", DM Register 9/30/06) will be drunken students. As a student and avid sports fan I don’t comprehend the concept of going to only three games because of being to drunk to attend the rest as Jansen stated. I agree that the new system has its flaws, but if you don’t really want to go to the games, don’t buy tickets, it’s that simple. The university has the right to sell tickets in a matter that ensures that all tickets sold will actually be used by someone. If Iowa was merely interested in the financial aspect of selling tickets, they would not have made the new stipulations, because as it was tickets were sold, but often the ticket holder simply never showed up to the game. This new process will make it difficult for someone who makes a last minute decision to go (or not to go) to the game, but that’s life, put down your beer and get to the game.

A Divided Heaven

Kevin Costner will be back in Dyersville, Iowa for the first time since shooting the film “Field of Dreams” ("Costner returns to Dyersville", DM Register 9/2/06) on August 11th. If I had to guess as to the reason he’s been absent I would have to point the finger and the property owners and the mess that they have created. What many people don’t know is that the field is divided. One group of people own left and center field; another group owns right field and the infield. The families got along fine during filming, but as the movie predicted “build it and they will come”. As the visitors started appearing the differing property owners saw their own dollars rolling in. There are now two separate driveways, bathrooms, concessions, and souvenir booths. What many people, including myself, consider to be sacred ground, is being ruined by greed. My only hope is that Kevin Costner’s appearance will shed light on someone’s eyes that this isn’t the way it should be.

The Whole Picture

Note: This blog was published in the Opinions Section of the Daily Iowan on June 12th, 2006

I hope that the Daily Iowan doesn't truly agree with the guest opinion taken from the Washington Post that was printed in Thursday's paper ("Katrina's Unlearned Lessons", Washington Post 6/7/06). Who ever authored that editorial decided to only look at a few facts out of thousands of pages of findings since the tragedies in the gulf coast. For some reason the authors want to pin all the blame on the Corps of Engineers, simply because they admitted fault. It is true that several of the most severe breaches were not caused by overtopping like the Corp originally thought, but by failure in structural integrity. But to blame that all on the Corp would be a gross misunderstanding of the big picture. On numerous occasions the Corps has attempted to get funding that would improve the strength of the canals and floodwalls in and around New Orleans, but when they did not receive as much as need (which has happened time and time again) the walls were simply made taller; not exactly improving upon strength. Before I would blame the Corps of Engineers I would blame the authors of the editorial, they are just has resposible for what happened in the Gulf Coast. Their opinions cleary show that the are a part of the taxpayers that have continually shot down efforts to restructure, redesign, and fortify the systems that help protect those areas, simply because the price tag was too large. How about now? Now that millions have been forced from their homes, now that towns have been washed off the map? There are things that must be learned from this experience that need to be applied to what we do in the future. Continuing to blame one party, or questioning their involvement, as we move further helps no one.