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. Scott Elliott is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He writes about education, city and suburban issues, politics, business, workforce and consumer 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. Sign up en-us edletter@coxohio.com 2009-11-07T08:43:12-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/07/editorial_2nd_regs_on_stripper.html Last week’s election, as it applied to Harrison Twp., brought back into the headlines a sexy statewide flap from 2007 — the one that saw strippers going to Columbus to lobby elected officials. To refresh memories: A Cincinnati-based group of... 15593903@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Law Enforcement and Public Safety 2009-11-07T08:43:12-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/06/editorial_pay_raises_sent_all.html The dust-up in Dayton about managers getting a pay raise — even as the city faces a stunning $15 million to $20 million deficit next year — is much ado about something. Labor contracts — at the city and in... 15594003@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ City of Dayton 2009-11-06T17:45:54-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/06/kevin_riley_a_browns_fan_final.html When the time comes to end a long-term relationship, maybe it’s best to think about how it started. I became a loyal Cleveland Browns fan when I was 9, on Christmas Day of 1971. The Browns were playing the Baltimore... 15589003@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ 2009-11-06T14:26:37-04:00 kriley@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/05/martin_gottlieb_political_ligh.html What were the odds Dayton would elect as mayor a British-raised, home-schooling, earring-wearing, figurine-painting, political novice, stay-at-home dad as mayor? That list is not meant to suggest that those characteristics make Gary Leitzell unfit to be mayor. Most of them... 15563303@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ 2009-11-05T12:40:48-04:00 mgottlieb@daytondailynews.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/05/editorial_voters_offer_lessons.html Kettering City Council candidate Ashley Webb had loads of signs around the city, his supporters gave out leaflets at polling places, and he had backing from Republican Party activists. He was the second-highest vote-getter in his race, defeating an incumbent.... 15570603@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2009-11-05T00:19:38-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/04/editorial_leitzells_first_move.html Gary Leitzell’s education about the work ahead — and efforts to reach out to him — can’t start too soon. His request to start sitting in on the city’s budget discussions is a good sign. Of course, he’ll be welcomed.... 15551203@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ City of Dayton 2009-11-04T17:31:43-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/03/editorial_mclin_couldnt_beat_t.html The mayoral election in Dayton looks like one of those that comes along once a decade or so to put the so-called experts in their place and show just how unpredictable democracy can be. From the beginning, even the experts... 15536903@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ City of Dayton 2009-11-03T23:39:09-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/03/editorial_get_ready_to_be_disa.html The casinos are coming. Voters on Tuesday reversed the decision they made on four earlier occasions and said they’d allow casino gambling in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. The vote was a reflection of just how receptive people have become... 15536803@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2009-11-03T23:36:46-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/03/editorial_ohio_can_end_acornli.html Voter registration has long been a fairly odd, largely American custom. It is all about letting authorities who run elections know where you live, even though the people who give you your driver’s license already know. As do tax and... 15507603@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Elections 2009-11-03T05:58:53-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/02/editorial_climatechange_regs_c.html The debate about climate change has developed civil war elements. People claiming to speak for the Heartland are saying: Whatever impact pending legislation might have on the two coasts — where most of the political support comes from — it... 15478503@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Energy 2009-11-02T07:08:51-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/11/01/editoral_races_arent_too_sexy.html There is no race for president, nor will voters get to choose a governor, a U.S. senator or anyone for statewide office on Tuesday. In what’s officially considered an off-election year — because all the candidate contests involve municipal, township... 15477603@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Elections 2009-11-01T06:35:07-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/10/31/editorial_ohio_cant_blow_chanc.html Republican Sen. Jon Husted, of Kettering, sees a way to get some things he wants by getting behind President Barack Obama’s ideas for education. Specifically, he introduced legislation last month that would lift Ohio’s moratorium on new charter schools. A... 15477703@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Editorials 2009-10-31T06:38:15-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/10/30/editorial_salaried_delphi_reti.html That proverbial crack you often hear about people falling through is claiming a new set of victims: Delphi retirees who were salaried — that is, didn’t belong to a union. They have already been told they will not get life... 15472703@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Auto industry 2009-10-30T11:12:35-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/10/30/martin_gottlieb_progambling_fo.html 2009 ELECTIONS Elections about legalizing casinos ought to be best four out of seven. It’s good enough for baseball. Doesn’t something seem profoundly unfair about the fact that, having lost four times in the last two decades in efforts to... 15472603@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ Elections 2009-10-30T11:04:45-04:00 mgottlieb@daytondailynews.com http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/entries/2009/10/29/2009_election_the_complete_lis.html 2009 ELECTION Here are the candidate and ballot issue recommendations from the Dayton Daily News editorial board for the Nov. 3, 2009 election (X indicates recommended candidates):... 15462903@http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/opinion/ 2009 endorsements 2009-10-29T16:16:35-04:00 edletter@coxohio.com