Opinion, Commentary, Viewpoint | CharlotteObserver.com

Kevin Siers Cartoon »

Minting the Coin

Click on image to enlarge. Updated five times a week.

E-mail Kevin Siers.
View Kevin's archive.

The next, difficult step on gun violence

January 11, 2013

A shooting victim, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, launches a national organization to offset the voice and power of the NRA – and 400,000 people promptly sign up. A Democratic governor, New York’s Andrew Cuomo, proposes bold gun control for his state – with little protest from Republicans.

AIG comes to its senses

Chicago Tribune | January 11, 2013

From an editorial Thursday in the Chicago Tribune: The directors of insurance giant American International Group wisely decided Wednesday not to join a lawsuit that seeks billions of dollars from taxpayers. That’s a relief.

There are no letters to the editor Saturday

January 11, 2013

The Observer Forum takes a hiatus.

Write the Forum, The Buzz

How to send a 'Letter to the Editor' of the Observer.

U.S. fiscal stability tied to education progress | January 10, 2013
Observer Forum: Letters to the editor | January 10, 2013
Shortcomings invited mental health fight | January 9, 2013
Observer Forum: Letters to the editor | January 9, 2013
Transparency a casualty in the war on terror | January 8, 2013
Both parties like clean water; N.C. should fund it | January 8, 2013
Observer Forum: Letters to the editor | January 8, 2013
Cut spending, but not with debt-ceiling knife | January 7, 2013
Observer Forum: Letters to the editor | January 7, 2013
Lawmakers, time to end fight with NCAE | January 7, 2013

More recent editorials, letters to editor

Now get more from The Observer’s Opinion pages on Facebook. At The Charlotte Observer Opinion page, read editorials before they are printed, see Kevin Siers’ cartoons early, give us feedback on important issues of the day and more. Click to visit and "Like" us.

Kevin Siers: You Write The Caption »

The new winner (Jan. 11, 2013)

The winner: "I only swear in private!" -- Ross Levin of Charlotte The runners-up: "I know who my ...

O-pinion »

Ted Nugent shows how not to debate gun control

Both sides in the gun control debate are working overtime to sway public opinion. But former rock...

VIEWPOINT »

Crazies, big coins and silly money talk

By Paul Krugman | The New York Times | January 11, 2013

So, have you heard the one about the trillion-dollar coin? It may sound like a joke. But if we aren’t ready to mint that coin or take some equivalent action, the joke will be on us – and a very sick joke it will be, too.

Choosing Hagel sends wrong message

By Charles Krauthammer | The Washington Post | January 11, 2013

“This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.”

Behind ‘40 acres, mule’ story

By Henry Louis Gates Jr. | The Root | January 11, 2013

We’ve all heard the story of the “40 acres and a mule” promise to former slaves. The promise was the first systematic attempt to provide a form of reparations to newly freed slaves, and it was astonishingly radical for its time. In fact, such a policy would be radical in any country today: the federal government’s massive confiscation of private property – some 400,000 acres – formerly owned by Confederate land owners, and its methodical redistribution to former black slaves.

Laugh Attacks

January 11, 2013

“A political opponent is accusing Governor Chris Christie of praying for Hurricane Sandy. In response, Christie said the only weather-related thing he’s ever prayed for is a Dairy Queen Blizzard.”

The Buzz

January 11, 2013

Charlotte as the new Austin? Our T-shirts would say “Keep Charlotte Starched.”

More: Recent Viewpoint pieces from the Observer

Peter St. Onge»

The question for this day: What is it that we want?