http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ This is the blog of the Dayton Daily News editorial page. Regular contributors include the journalists who work on the two-page section labeled "Opinions" in the paper. But the blog is also a forum for readers. We comment on subjects that are being written about in the newspaper, but other subjects are fair game, too. Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton. Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues. Quick news updates by e-mail Start your workday informed by signing up for our e-mail local news headlines and breaking news alerts. More info. en-us edletter@coxohio.com 2011-09-10T02:10:55-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/09/10/editorial_gates_blunt_nato_cri.html With American air power — its use and non-use — at the center of discussion about the Libyan war, outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates issued an angry indictment of this country’s European allies in that war. He was making... 17392705@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Wright Patterson Air Force Base 2011-09-10T02:10:55-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/08/10/editorial_feds_should_ride_ohi.html In the 1990s, first some states and then the federal government, got aggressive about “welfare reform.” The idea was that able-bodied people should receive “welfare” — typically money given to single mothers — for only a limited time. The welfare... 17392703@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Ohio government 2011-08-10T02:05:36-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/25/editorial_great_lakes_need_ohi.html It’s almost never good to have politicians mediating scientific debates. But, of course, it happens all the time — on matters from abortion to air pollution. After heated debate this week, the Ohio House of Representatives passed legislation designed to... 17393467@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2011-06-25T06:07:25-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/25/guest_column_nutrition_program.html This commentary was written by Tina Osso, of Hamilton, executive director of Shared Harvest Food Bank. At a time when more than 1.8 million Ohioans are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, we cannot let our attention be transfixed... 17393463@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ 2011-06-25T00:00:15-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/24/editorial_racino_critics_putti.html Gov. John Kasich and the Republican legislature are rushing to pass legislation allowing slot machines at Ohio’s race tracks, including at Lebanon Raceway and at Beulah Park outside Columbus, which wants to move to Dayton. They want a law passed... 17393400@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2011-06-24T06:07:06-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/22/editorial_walmart_won_women_di.html Wal-Mart’s win at the U.S. Supreme Court this week was bigger than the loss handed to the women who were suing the company. In a unanimous decision, the court said that lawyers didn’t have the goods to bring a class-action... 17393280@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Civil Rights 2011-06-22T06:04:20-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/20/paul_leonard_consolidating_gov.html This commentary was written by Paul R. Leonard, a former Ohio lieutenant governor and mayor of Dayton. He was chair of the State and Local Government Commission during his tenure as lieutenant governor. I admit it. I am a “regionalist.”... 17393211@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Guest Columns 2011-06-20T17:25:45-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/19/editorial_dayton_cant_be_after.html The Dayton region has to keep a sharp eye on the casino situation, now that Gov. John Kasich has cut deals with the two gaming companies that are building four casinos in Ohio. The region’s interests could easily be an... 17393099@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ City of Dayton 2011-06-19T06:05:47-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/18/editorial_richard_allen_school.html Richard Allen Schools have problems beyond the fact that the state auditor is doing a “special” audit, triggered by the fact that $90,000 in state money may have been misspent, an allegation Richard Allen officials strongly dispute. The problems go... 17393066@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2011-06-18T06:04:03-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/16/editorial_big_lebron_win_unite.html It’s a measure of just how tightly the LeBron James/Miami Heat story has gripped Ohioans that even Gov. John Kasich has joined the crowd. Once upon a time, Gov. Kasich — then just a candidate — didn’t think Mr. James... 17393020@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Ohio politics 2011-06-16T16:04:15-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/16/martin_gottlieb_golfing_throug.html If you were John Boehner, and you were playing golf with the president, and he was bringing Joe Biden, whom would you bring? Of course: John Kasich. Boehner surely wanted to spare himself the thankless task of picking a golf... 17393016@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Locals in national affairs 2011-06-16T15:57:11-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/14/editorial_culture_laws_on_pens.html Maybe the problems that ail some public employees receiving disability pensions are contagious. Some places sure seem to have more than their share of police and firefighters getting a disability pension. Dayton ranks highest among Ohio’s six largest cities for... 17392839@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ City of Dayton 2011-06-14T06:01:25-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/11/editorial_theres_better_way_to.html The debate about how to pay teachers — what the law on that will be — is at a pivotal moment. Senate Bill 5, the law that would limit public employees’ collective-bargaining rights in an effort to save money and... 17392676@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2011-06-11T06:07:54-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/10/editorial_tweaking_of_constitu.html History in the making? Ohio voters will have a chance next year to call for a state constitutional convention. That sounds like something that could be really big.... 17392702@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Ohio government 2011-06-10T17:59:22-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2011/06/10/martin_gottlieb_pay_cut_for_le.html Legislative salaries have always been a great target for people looking for a cheap political point, one they hope resonates with the public. You’ve heard the pitches: How can we pay the politicians so much when the country is doing... 17392689@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Ohio government 2011-06-10T16:19:33-05:00 edletter@coxohio.com