The Bloomington City Council did the right thing on Monday night, by voting for a one percent sales tax increase.… MORE
Category Archives: Opinion
WJBC Forum: Partnerships
I wanted to spend some time today reflecting on partnerships.… MORE
WJBC Forum: How contradictory can government logic be?
Soccer Fields. Why do we need new Soccer Fields?… MORE
WJBC Forum: Monkey see, monkey do
Tonight the Bloomington City Council may decide to increase the local sales tax rate.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Eclectic collection of thoughts
Today I will share an eclectic collection of thoughts inspired by the people around me and current events.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Constitution and Citizenship Day 2015
Recently, we have all watched, horrified, as refugees from such war-torn countries as Syria and Afghanistan have risked their lives to cross the Mediterranean by boat, many dying in the process.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Alphonse and Gaston come to the Twin Cities
Alphonse and Gaston are two mythical Frenchmen whose politeness gets in the way of everything.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Presidential election process atypical
By Pamela Sweetwood Understandably forums are not to weigh in on candidates but can certainly discuss the process. I’ve done past forums on campaign financing, negative advertisements, and more. This presidential election cycle is so different from the past. On Meet the Press last week, the panelists made it clear there was no point in…… MORE
WJBC Forum: The constitution versus personal decisions
Kim Davis, the Rowan County Kentucky Clerk, has been in the news for her personal decision to not issue marriage licenses for same sex couples.… MORE
WJBC Forum: The Iran nuclear deal
The final show down is approaching over the nuclear deal with Iran, which the Obama Administration has negotiated.… MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…