One reason stores put a worker at the self-checkout aisle is to stop thievery. The thievery that doesn’t get stopped raises losses and prices the rest of us pay to cover the loss to thieves.
The Countryman
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: Finding the truth will take time
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry may have been the most forthcoming official so far. On Wednesday, he said in the Sun Journal, “We should never be afraid to challenge ourselves. Can we do better? Was there anything we missed?” He added, “We need to answer those questions.”
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: Rot at the heart of college sports
Big money so dazzled the chairman of the University of Oregon Board of Trustees that he didn’t even interrupt his golf game while holding a Zoom meeting to OK the shift to the Big 10.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: A long view of the Supreme Court rulings
Supreme Court Justices are basically the only high federal employees with no code of ethics.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: The timelines that separate us
While there are divisions of class and economics and education in this country, scenes are now playing out that represent a division of time, between the past and the future.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: The Will Rogers curse
“I am a member of no organized political party,” Will Rogers said, “I am a Democrat.” Rogers, whose humor eased the load for millions of folks during the Depression, was born into Oklahoma’s Cherokee nation. On stage, he tossed out zingers and subtle barbs while twirling a lariat. The irony of a lasso-swinging Indian wasn’t […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion, Perspective
Divided by religion; divided from religion
The vote in the Maine Senate on a bill to require all public school students to be vaccinated against a series of diseases may have revealed a hardening line between religious and non-religious Mainers. On Thursday, the Senate voted 18-17 to restore to the bill a religious exemption to the requirement. Four Democrats joined the 14 Republicans […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion, Perspective
Bob Neal: You’re getting warmer
On three key topics, the weight of public opinion and the actions of our elected leaders are out of sync. Global warming, immigration and background checks for gun buyers. In all three cases, public opinion favors governmental action. In all three cases, our elected officials, especially Congress, sit on their hands. Many of us just […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
In praise of dead armadillos
“There’s nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow stripe and dead armadillos.” Even if you’re not aware of the pith of Jim Hightower, you’ll recognize that the above quote didn’t come from around here. I’ll bet that most readers of the Sun Journal have not seen an armadillo, dead or alive, in […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion, Perspective
Homer Simpson is in charge. Do’h!
Dope slapping his own forehead and groaning “D’oh!” have made Homer Simpson a symbol for our time. His “Do’h!” seems to sum up “What was I thinking?” Lots of people in public life should be dope slapping themselves and groaning, “What was I thinking?” It’s a natural when a person goes tone deaf. Consider these […]