Opinions

British swimming pools have begun hosting special Muslim swim sessions during which swimmers — including non-Muslims — are banned from entering the pool if their swimming attire doesn't comply with dress code required by Islamic custom.

Under the rules, men must be covered from the naval to the knees, while women, who swim separately, must be covered from the neck to the ankles, according to the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph newspaper. [Full story »] 

Much has been made of the chance for true, interactive democracy offered by the freewheeling town hall format that lawmakers are using in health care forums across the country.

But what the White House is calling a "town hall meeting" does not quite follow in the tradition of the public-driven forums that sprouted centuries ago in New England.

It's more like a press conference for the public. [Full story »] 

An Oregon City woman - 'Rae' - was recently on the O'reilly Factor defending her rights to walk around naked whenever and wherever she wants without concern for neighbors and passer-by's. [Full story »] 

Imagine my personal alarm when hearing on the news this morning that the White House has vowed to "punch back twice as hard." I couldn't even imagine what the 'talking heads' were referring to. I sat closer to the TV to hear just what was happening to the land of the free. [Full story »] 

Now that Democrats are struggling to win over enough reluctant Republicans to pass a $2 billion extension of a rebate program that gives consumers up to $4,500 to trade in their old gas guzzlers, what are your thoughts on the 'Cash For Clunkers' program? [Full story »] 

It is interesting that, in economic tough times, Gov. Sonny Perdue has decided to furlough teachers.

Aren’t these same teachers the ones responsible for bringing up Georgia’s various test scores to some level above those of a third world country where they stand now? [Full story »] 

Teacher furloughs are bad for Georgia’s students, but with the current economic woes you may think there is no choice. Think again. Last session, DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), and candidate for governor in 2010, co-sponsored HB 356, which allows for the collection of sales tax at the point of sale. Thus allowing local governments to collect their own, as well as the state's sales taxes, instead of the Department of Revenue. Had this bill been allowed out of committee by the Republican leadership it would have brought in an additional 1 billion dollars in revenue without raising taxes or fees. It was not like this was an experimental or untried idea. Alabama has already passed a similar bill which, when implemented, brought them an additional 1 billion dollars without raising taxes. [Full story »]