The Opinion Pages

Editorials

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

By Becky O’Malley
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Message to would-be politicians: watch out for e-mail. The time-hallowed practice of pitching part of your message to Interest Group A and another part to Interest Group B becomes very risky when just one Group A recipient who doesn’t like what your pitch letter promises can quickly forward it to all sorts of others who really don’t like it. -more-

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday February 12, 2008

Reader Commentaries

Bank Busts Began in Berkeley

By Steven Finacom
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Richard Brenneman’s Feb. 1 article on the Reagan-era Savings and Loan crisis details his 1980s research into the failure of a California S&L that made Stockton, in his words, “Ground Zero” of that financial collapse. He compares this to a recent “60 Minutes” piece focusing on Stockton as a present-day epicenter of the current real estate crisis. -more-

Children’s Hospital Campaign Was Deceitful

By Tony Paap
Tuesday February 12, 2008
The campaign by Children’s Hospital to access tax revenues to finance a major construction project, along with the manner in which it was run, was a disservice to the employees and physicians of the hospital, its patients, the hospital’s neighborhood, and the city of Oakland at large. While the campaign’s defeat may itself have marred the reputation of this distinguished hospital, the disservice lies in the fact the campaign was rife with prevarications and inaccuracies. -more-

Readers Weigh In On City Council vs. Marines Controversy

Tuesday February 12, 2008
MARINE RECRUITING -more-

Why Protesters Resisted Marine Recruiters

By Kenneth Thiesen
Tuesday February 12, 2008
The eyes of the world are on Berkeley due to recent actions by courageous demonstrators at the Marine recruiting office and the equally courageous actions of the Berkeley City Council which voted to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Square recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders." -more-

More Letters About the City-Marines Controversy

Tuesday February 12, 2008
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Planet is only printing letters from locals regarding the ruling on the Marine Recruitment Station. Signed letters from non-locals and letters addressed to third parties will be published on our website. Unsigned letters will not be published. -more-

Make Sure Your Valentine’s Roses Are Green

By Gar Smith
Tuesday February 12, 2008
It’s February 14 and you’ve just handed your sweetie a gorgeous bouquet of roses. Tears spring to her eyes and her cheeks begin to flush bright red. But wait: Is this love or just an allergic reaction? -more-