Posts that deal broadly with the physical, mental, and intellectual health of communities.

Moving a Sofa – or a Nation

There is a long-running debate in America between those with a libertarian outlook, who believe it is every man for himself, and the rest of us. Neal Barkus cuts through the debate about individual versus collective rights at a moment’s notice by asking how important our objective really is. Is it moving a sofa or moving a nation? If our objective is hugely important – maybe existential – we know the answer. We have demonstrated time and again that the collective approach is the only way. After all, we are in this together.

What About Our Public Schools?

The HOPE Scholarship program in West Virginia was created to provide parents opposed to public education a financial crutch to either home school or to send their kids to private schools. Jim Bauman argues that the high price tag of HOPE is paid out at the expense of improving our public schools. He wonders is public education a priority of our Republican dominated government or is the destruction of public education a goal?

Our Homes Are Burning

A recent fire in Bolivar in a multi-unit home for elderly and disabled people has upturned their lives. The fire started in one unit and spread along the roof to others, making the building unlivable. Jenny Thacker considers the possibility that this building fire and many others predating building codes could have been caused by faulty construction. She wants legislators to focus more on fire prevention in our older homes, as well as to better support local fire fighting and rescue.