Staff members from The Bee's opinion pages have begun this blog as another way to connect with our readers. We want to see what you think about our opinions, and we hope that you participate in this blog by reacting to our postings. You'll see comments from of all The Bee's editorial writers, and then get a chance to respond. You'll also get an early head's up on what editorial topics may appear in upcoming editions. We hope this blog gives you some insight into our thinking. It will be a success if it allows us to better understand our community.

Posted by Jim Boren at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Foreign individuals, banks and governments have always held a part of the U.S. national debt, but until very recently it was less than 20% of the total. That, plus much lower totals overall, made the debt a simpler problem. After all, we owed most of the money to ourselves, or at least to American banks, pension plans and the like.
Now more than half of the nation's debt is held by foreigners. The figure started to rise in the Clinton years, hitting 35% at the end of his second term. It zoomed when George W. Bush took office. Now it's about 52%, according to Treasury Department figures.
Here are some of the bigger chunks: We owe Japanese interests $682.8 billion. China's in for $249.8 billion, and our friends in the OPEC countries hold $67.8 billion.
Those are debts. So what happens when those countries lose confidence in us, say, over out-of-control federal budgets, and call in their notes? What does that do to the U.S. economy?

Posted by Russ Minick at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want to get the family dinner discussion going tonight, bring up the topic of the 5-year ban that Fresno State has levied on the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity after an investigation into the death of one of its members from alcohol poisoning and other alcohol-related violations by the fraternity. The editorial board got into an animated discussion at our weekly meeting and we ended up divided on the subject. The questions surrounding the incident made for an engrossing debate:
* Wouldn't a life ban on the fraternity send a much stronger message about the university's stance on underage drinking?
* How much responsibility can college-age students be expected to have over their peers?
* How much responsibility should the Greek system accept over the behavior of its members?
* Is there an adequate system in place for troubled students to get help?
* Isn't five years enough time for the current fraternity members to be out of college and a fresh group to begin? Why make innocent students pay for the mistakes of their elders?
* What kind of "brothers" could allow such an awful thing happen?
I went for the stronger stand. I see fraternities and sororities as organizations that should help students succeed in college. At their best, they provide a support system that lasts a lifetime. The Greeks have decades of experience with students. They know how to get it right and the Greek system should be first to insist on the toughest sanctions for a group that reflects poorly on them all.

Posted by Gail Marshall at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

California's crusading attorney general has gone underground now that Fresno County residents are asking what happened to two politically sensitive reports that his office has conducted. AG Bill Lockyer has been sitting on one more than two years and the other is well over a year old. In 2003, Lockyer's office began investigating whether the Fresno County Sheriff's Department had unlawfully spied on Peace Fresno activists. The next year, his office began an investigation into Fresno County Sheriff Richard Pierce's involvement as a consultant to a private security firm. Now Lockyer has dug himself into a political hole by failing to reveal the results of these investigations in a timely manner. Lockyer, who is termed out as AG, is contemplating running for state treasurer this year. Voters should remember his inaction as attorney general if he runs for another office.

Posted by Jim Boren at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A new Fresno organization wants to do many things, including halt the community's "brain drain," fixing downtown and making the entire city more livable. You can read the recommendations that Fresno's Creative Economy Council made to City Hall by going to http://www.fresnocec.org/ . The group offered nearly 100 recommendations on fixing Fresno's image. A key goal is attracting more "knowledge workers" to the city.

Posted by Jim Boren at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)