The Daily Gamecock

Opinion

Column: Council needs lesson in elementary etiquette

By Brianne Garbutt | March 20, 2014

As children, people are taught basic rules that can apply to any age group: Don’t hit, clean up your messes and share. You learn these things and other similar edicts because they all fall under the proverbial Golden Rule, the cornerstone of polite society that seems to be forgotten more and more often these days: Treat others as you’d like to be treated. The Columbia City Council members seem to have tossed these rules out the window, according to The State. The story follows a pledge put forth by Mayor Steve Benjamin, a tenet of which urged the council members “to refrain from engaging in name calling, insults, demeaning or inflammatory remarks.” That sounds an a lot like what we learned in kindergarten. The State cites the council elections of 2013 and the strong-mayor referendum that followed as the start of these issues, but isn’t that what a City Council is supposed to do?

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Obamacare has its benefits, and flaws

By Steven Asbill | March 19, 2014

While few would argue that some changes to the U.S. health care system were necessary, most agree that the Affordable Care Act has many negative aspects in addition to its obvious positives. The law has expanded health insurance to roughly 31 million additional Americans, but there are implications of the law that are having a negative effect on all citizens, regardless of their insurance status. If you ask Democrats about the ACA, you might hear about how it provides near-universal access to health insurance for Americans. If you ask Republicans, you’ll likely hear about how the insurance mandate is killing jobs and health care quality.

In Our Opinion: Carolina Ball deserves USC's full participation

By The Daily Gamecock | March 19, 2014

Four fourth-year USC students are rallying together to throw the second annual Carolina Ball, a fundraising event for local causes that they dreamed up after attending the Capitol Ball in Washington. The focus of this year’s ball is Martha Childress, the first-year business student who was tragically paralyzed after a stray bullet struck her in Five Points last fall.

Letter to the Editor: Stronger standards will bolster academic values

By Brian Habing | March 6, 2014

I commend Hunter Dayton for his letter Thursday about the effect that disinterested, lackadaisical, disrespectful and cheating students have on the majority of students who are serious about learning. However, I do not think that the best solution to this is the removal of degree requirements — I believe it is to encourage our faculty to proactively address these issues. I expect my teaching colleagues on campus to take teaching seriously — it is their primary responsibility to the university.

Guest Column: Handling Russia will be Obama's ultimate task

By Charles Jones | March 6, 2014

In one of the many debates that took place during the 2012 presidential race, President Barack Obama told Mitt Romney that “the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.” This was in response to the governor’s remarks that Russia was still one of the United States’ enemies.

Column: Obama's budget forecasts unrealistic financial future

By Ross Abbott | March 6, 2014

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama released his budget for 2015. It included proposed budgets for each of the different departments he oversees (and the government on the whole), as well as projections for these budgets and expenditures over the next ten years.

Column: US should avoid interfering with Russia

By Max Stolarczyk | March 4, 2014

Conflict between Ukraine and Russia continued to escalate Tuesday. Although both sides have stated they don’t want war, neither has shown any sign of acquiescing. Statements released by a Ukrainian parliamentarian have also shown little hope of a peaceful solution or even negotiation.

Criticism of NCAA rule is completely valid

By Chad Brown | March 3, 2014

Over the weekend, the outspoken owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, had a few sharp words for the NBA’s rule requiring players to be at least 19 and a year removed from high school before they can be eligible to play in the league.

Column: Religion is basis, not excuse, for hate

By Ben Crawford | Feb. 28, 2014

Obviously, most people of faith aren’t bigots. But those who decide to take their religious texts literally aren’t misusing faith. On the contrary, they’re the ones who accept all of the tenants of faith without question.