Belleville News Democrat: Opinion http://www.bnd.com/editorial/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Belleville News Democrat en-us Copyright 2008 Belleville News Democrat Opinion 60 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:02:11 CST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys support@Belleville.com City signs and the times http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/550409.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/550409.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:17 CST The Edwards-ville City Council says enforcing its sign ordinance is good government, but how exactly does ordering a business to replace a perfectly good sign improve the well-being of the community? Get serious about crime http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/549079.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/549079.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:12 CST The crime statistics for 2007 are out, and the numbers should be setting off alarm bells in St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties. Serious crime is up significantly in all three counties. Life of the grand old party http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/547717.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/547717.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:14 CST St. Clair County Republicans know what it's like to throw a party when nobody comes. No confidence in assessor http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/546765.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/546765.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:18 CST It's bad enough that St. Clair County incorrectly assessed Lyndall and Ramona Kleeman's property, and that county workers never caught the mistake in almost two decades. But Assessor Gordon Bush's refusal to reimburse the Kleemans for some of their overpayments -- even though state law clearly requires it -- is inexcusable. Commentary: A case of elections withdrawal http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/546617.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/546617.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:58 CST What's an addict to do? A dozen days since the election and I'm still in the grip of incessant compulsion. Good medicine for Illinois http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/545316.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/545316.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:13 CST The future health and well-being of Illinoisans is now in the hands of the Illinois Supreme Court. Commentary: Where's the love? I never knew Detroit was a dirty word http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/545556.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/545556.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:46 CST After living in Michigan most of my life, I never knew Detroit was a dirty word. Economic crisis: State needs to act now http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/543745.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/543745.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:36 CST From tech to steel to the insurance industry, business leaders are cutting costs so they can survive the economic crisis. But Illinois' political leaders have no plan to deal with its own dire situation -- and no sense of urgency to develop one, either. Commentary: Two sides to cheap gas http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/544713.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/544713.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:52 CST The recent plunge in gas prices has the feeling of a return to normalcy. It’s anything but. Free speech prevails http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/543723.html http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/543723.html Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:13 CST Chalk one up for the right of free speech. This week, St. Clair County Circuit Judge Michael J. O'Malley threw out a libel lawsuit filed by a developer against two of its critics.