Opinion Briefs

Jeanetta Roberts

What can be better than a romantic night out in New York City? How about having the night paid for partially by the American taxpayers? The Obama's could surely tell you a little more about those perks. On Saturday, May 30 President Obama made good on his promise to wife and first lady Michelle by taking her to a Broadway show following the 2008 presidential campaign. The President and first lady flew to New York City for dinner at Blue Hill restaurant followed by the Broadway show "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." While Obama claims he understands America's problems during the current recession, we the taxpayer's paid for things such as the first couple's security and traveling expenses. While smaller, more efficient planes were used for traveling rather than the 747 aircraft typically used, there were many other practical options that could have been taken without the couple having to ever leave Washington. On the same night, many other Broadway options were showing not far from the White House. Or, why not save the night for a time when the President was already going to be in the Big Apple? The issue is not the date itself; it's the Hollywood manner in which the night played out. It was definitely not the smartest move to make, spending the American taxpayer's money wastefully during such hard economic times. Perhaps before chastising the American public about their spending habits, he should take a look at himself and his administration and their frivolous spending of our hard earned tax dollars.

Melanie Tilton

Playboy bunnies, Los Angeles socialites, and eight children; oh my! America's addiction to reality TV has hit a new low. Is it really necessary to watch a tattooed cast-off from "Brett Michaels: Bus of Love" make out with more tattooed losers? Or, refer to a television family in conversation as if they were actually next door neighbors? No, it really is not. Yet, the shows keep bringing viewers back to the set to peer into lives of people from around the nation. Good for TV producers and the reality stars with their 15 minutes of fame, not good for the viewing public. Hours are taken away from what could be a productive day to stare at the screen and watch the lives of a family, of frienemies, or co-workers crumble; or if the cast is lucky, limp away with a small shred of dignity. Instead of being sucked into an alternate reality, people should pay attention to the life and the world happening in front of them (and I don't mean on the TV screen). Take time to play with your own children and pay attention to your significant other. Who knows? Maybe your reality is better than the one on TV.

Stephanie Stough

On Saturday, June 13, Six Flags theme-park chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in effort reduce 1.8 billion dollars of debt to 600 million.  Although the 20 operating theme parks in the United States, Mexico and Canada will remain running without "an inch of difference", said Sandra Daniels, a spokesperson for Six Flags to CNN,  it's time Six Flags makes some changes. It's no surprise Six Flags is running itself in almost two billion dollars worth of debt; it's no wonder attendance rates have gone down tremendously. Six Flags St. Louis is a run-down, low maintained, trashy theme park. It's unbelievably noticeable that the park has let itself go. Where is all the lush, green vegetation made the park so beautiful years ago? It was replaced by reckless, untrimmed weeds. Thrill-seekers wouldn't be getting the full experience of riding "The Boss" without admiring and adding to the thousands of chewed pieces of bubble gum on the roof. Not to mention, visitors now have to pay $1 for a one- time-use locker to hold any loose items for each and every single time they want to ride a ride. There's nothing like paying $40 for admission and $15 to park a vehicle on top of paying for multiple one-time-use lockers. So that brings up a good question. If Six Flags hasn't made maintenance a priority and has only added to the amount of money that people spend in their visit, where is that money going?