Opinion

opinion Robert B. Engel Published 2:55 p.m. UTC Jul 31, 2018 Amazon’s Prime Day was once again lauded this year as offering some of the best deals of the year in online shopping, but a closer look at the stream of corporate welfare that has helped fuel the rapid growth of Amazon’s flagship subscription service reveals that Prime is a raw deal for consumers and taxpayers alike. Michigan lawmakers must think long and hard before giving another penny to the third-richest company in the world. Analysts say the true value of the Prime package, which includes music and video streaming, books, clothing, food, and, of course, expedited shipping service, is over $780 per year. But members still only pay $119 for their Prime subscription. This seemingly-unbeatable deal for consumers only begins to make sense in light of the fact that Amazon has built its business model with a big assist from government hand-outs. In fact, Amazon has received $41 … [Read more...] about Opinion: Amazon’s Prime deal hurts local communities

opinion Debbie Stabenow Published 2:57 p.m. UTC Jul 31, 2018 I was born in Michigan. I have lived here my whole life. My children and grandchildren are proud Michigan residents. Every decision I make in the United States Senate puts the people of Michigan first. And the decision to oppose Brett Kavanaugh as the next United States Supreme Court justice is no exception. Unfortunately, Judge Kavanaugh’s record and his writings too often have gone against what is best for Michigan families. When confronted with cases that have special interests on one side and people on the other, he has consistently sided with the special interests. That’s certainly true when it comes to health care. Health care isn’t political — it’s personal. Michigan families know what they need: quality, affordable health care, including prescription drugs. And women need to know they will be able to continue making their own reproductive health decisions. Right now, there is a … [Read more...] about Opinion: Kavanaugh the wrong choice for Michigan

Like many college students, I wanted the experience of traveling abroad this summer. I had heard all about the benefits of travel — how mind-opening and life altering it can be — and as someone who was born and raised in Tucson, I had only ever traveled within the U.S. and Mexico. I began to realize the world is so much bigger and, while I love the Southwest, I wanted to expand my understanding of the world. I decided to take a risk. I called a travel tour agency specializing in tours for young people ages 18-35, and I spent roughly $3,200 on a round-trip plane ticket, hotel stay and a guided tour experience.            RELATED: OPINION: Improving your social skills, one concert at a time I settled on a trip to Paris and London, two cities that possess a lot of old world charm and culture and are full of sight-seeing options, exotic food and beverages, beautiful architecture and plenty of history. I was thrilled. My … [Read more...] about OPINION: Paris and London make ideal summer destinations

With summer halfway through its course, Tucson night life is just beginning. A new concert season is upon us, so with that as an excuse, go out with friends and have a great time.  As young adults try to find their place in this world, it is most important for us to go out and try new things, while also living life to the fullest. The phrase “YOLO” — or “You Only Live Once” — became popular in 2011 with pop artist and rapper Drake, and the youth caught on soon after. Even if the phrase means less today than it did in 2011, I think the amount of young people going to concerts, parties, live events and generally being active has increased. I try to do something in the community at least once a week, whether it be seeing a local band perform at a coffee shop or going roller skating with friends.              RELATED: EDITORIAL: Straws suck. Kudos to Starbucks for changing According to … [Read more...] about OPINION: Improving your social skills, one concert at a time

opinion Harry Sayer Contributing Columnist Published 3:17 p.m. UTC Aug 2, 2016 If you haven’t heard yet, UCF’s prestigious student-run newspaper, the Central Florida Future, will be shutting down. The UCF paper that started in 1968 and has run for the 48 years since will put out its final issue Aug. 4th. The paper has been a reliable source of school news, a priceless resource for young student journalists to hone their craft in the hopes of working for a newspaper upon graduation and, more broadly, an integral component of the Nicholson School of Communication, which houses the university's journalism program. It will be an odd and frankly colder landscape once the CFF is no longer around. But I’ll leave the bigger eulogies for people more eloquent than me. While I’ve got the mic, I’d like to talk about a section of the paper that occasionally doesn’t always get touched on: the opinions section. It … [Read more...] about Opinions section promotes open discourse