http://naplesnews.com/news/opinion/guest_columns/naplesnews.com Stories: Guest Columnsen-usopinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/04/fourth-celebration-feels-flattened-america-losing-/We ran a column this week by Arnold Rosenthal that was first printed in a March edition of The Banner. Rosenthal called last week and said the issue of America’s dependence on oil worried him, and he pointed out that no major politician has a plan to fix the situation. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/04/fourth-celebration-feels-flattened-america-losing-/opinion/columnistshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/02/guest-commentary-governors-immigrant-grandfather-l/Each year, the Fourth of July offers a unique opportunity for Americans to pause and consider the history left to us by our nation’s founders and the legacy we each have from our own ancestors. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:17:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/02/guest-commentary-governors-immigrant-grandfather-l/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/28/guest-commentary-collier-gop-active-and-growing/The Republican Party in Collier County has long represented the majority of this county’s citizens. We are proud that our excellent local outreach efforts are resulting in hundreds of citizens registering Republican monthly. In fact, we will soon celebrate our 100,000th Republican registrant! Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:55:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/28/guest-commentary-collier-gop-active-and-growing/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/28/guest-commentary-collier-county-office-furniture-p/At a May meeting of the Collier County Commission, D.M. Tidwell cited what he believed were a number of deficiencies in county practices for purchasing office furniture. Speaking on behalf of a Marco Island office supply firm that now employs him, Tidwell claimed the county purchasing department paid excessive prices for office furniture, refused to consider his employer’s competitive bid, wasted money for outside design services, etc. The claims were reported on by the media. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/28/guest-commentary-collier-county-office-furniture-p/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/24/guest-commentary-dispelling-common-myths-about-off/There has been a tremendous amount of discussion, and a great deal of misinformation, recently about drilling for oil off the coast of Florida. Citizens of Southwest Florida need to know the facts so that they can decide what is best for our energy future. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:16:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/24/guest-commentary-dispelling-common-myths-about-off/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/22/guest-commentary-we-need-proper-traffic-light-timi/Red-light cameras are a revenue-producing move. That does not equal safety. Traffic safety is about addressing and solving the traffic problems to the benefit of the taxpayers and motorists of Collier County, not the dollar benefit to government. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:06:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/22/guest-commentary-we-need-proper-traffic-light-timi/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-facts-pronounce-progress-success-/Recent press reports have suggested that activity at Ave Maria has been far slower than anticipated. Unfortunately, the numbers cited failed to acknowledge that while we originally projected the town to open in 2006, the complicated nature of the project and lengthy permitting time frames pushed back our opening until mid-2007. As such, the numbers shown don’t quite tell the entire story. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-facts-pronounce-progress-success-/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-legal-immigration-reform-answer-i/In order to understand the issues surrounding illegal immigration, it is important to be aware that legal immigration has been made virtually impossible by successive governments, and that is where attention needs to be focused. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-legal-immigration-reform-answer-i/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-democrats-lets-get-together-and-m/As Americans, we know we prosper when our economy is solvent and competitive with other world economies. We look to our leaders to solve our national, state and county economic problems and to create solutions that do not bankrupt our families, our institutions, our communities or our government. As Americans, we want solutions that broaden, not diminish our opportunities. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-democrats-lets-get-together-and-m/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-red-light-cameras-have-more-minus/The guest commentary by Kevin Rambosk ("Red-light cameras can help make our roads safer") is "snake oil" at its best, and all of my Republican friends in Collier County should not be fooled. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-red-light-cameras-have-more-minus/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-should-we-drill-out-gulf-you-can-/America badly needs a plan for energy independence. For 48 years, OPEC has held us over a barrel, while siphoning our petrodollars to jihadists. It’s insane that while our brave military fights for freedoms in Muslim nations, we fuel diseased Wahhabi education and terrorism by buying foreign oil. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/21/guest-commentary-should-we-drill-out-gulf-you-can-/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/20/guest-commentary-alligator-alley-proposal-should-b/When Collier County founder and pioneer Barron Gift Collier completed the Tamiami Trail in 1928, it was considered an amazing feat of engineering. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:03:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/20/guest-commentary-alligator-alley-proposal-should-b/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/19/guest-commentary-collier-school-boards-problem-not/Collier County School Board member Kathleen Curatolo’s proposal to increase the board’s composition from five to seven members is based on the erroneous premise that the board’s main deficiency is its small size, thereby suggesting that bigger would necessarily be better. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:34:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/19/guest-commentary-collier-school-boards-problem-not/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/15/guest-commentary-red-light-cameras-can-help-make-o/Traffic safety is about taking a comprehensive, common-sense approach to keeping our roads safe for our Collier County residents and visitors. Safety on the roads is one of the most important missions of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and it is a goal that we strive for daily through education and enforcement efforts. Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:13:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/15/guest-commentary-red-light-cameras-can-help-make-o/opinion/guest_columnshttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/dads-day-kids-need-dads-set-them-straight/Get this: Dads are essential to kids. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, kids who grow up without dads are more likely to grow up poor, drop out of school, end up in jail and encounter numerous other struggles in life than kids who grow up with dads. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:53:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/dads-day-kids-need-dads-set-them-straight/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-indigent-care-taxes-finances-we-c/The Naples Daily News ran an editorial and article about the care of the medically indigent in Collier County. No story is more important to NCH Healthcare System, in terms of both the patients we serve and the constraints that serving them places on our finances. Let me explain. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:50:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-indigent-care-taxes-finances-we-c/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-dont-give-freedom-catch-red-light/I have read with great concern the June 6 column by Daily News editorial board member Kim Pokarney, "What’s wrong with using cameras to catch red-light runners?" Well, Pokarney thinks that there is nothing wrong with this plan. But she is very wrong. We need to guard our freedoms when we still can do it. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:12:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-dont-give-freedom-catch-red-light/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-green-cars-mean-red-ink-auto-indu/It is an environmentalist mantra that going green creates jobs and economic growth. "Green is green." Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:49:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-green-cars-mean-red-ink-auto-indu/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-we-could-use-candidate-stassen-no/In the midst of this tumultuous and tough election year, it may be an appropriate time to recall a singular politician who really stood for the word "relentless." Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:45:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/14/guest-commentary-we-could-use-candidate-stassen-no/opinion/perspectivehttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/13/guest-commentary-clear-out-help-our-homeless-child/It is sad to say, but there are more than 500 homeless children here in Collier County. When I heard about all the homeless kids, I just knew I had to do something to help. Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:10:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/13/guest-commentary-clear-out-help-our-homeless-child/opinion/guest_columns