TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Recent Stories

1. 

   RIC LLEWELLYN: Anti-cop dogma permeates conversation about Silva's death

   By Ric Llewellyn

   Friday, May 31 2013 09:00 PM

   When is bigotry justified? (I'll give you a moment to think it over.) Most of us would say, "Never." We all recognize the most reprehensible expressions of bigotry and cry out against them. If we can we march, donate, vote and volunteer. We resist bigotry.

   As long as it is socially acceptable. Take the cops. Specifically, consider the actions of the various law enforcement agencies involved so far in the David Silva incident.

   There are very few voices resisting the bigotry that has flared against law enforcement. That is not to say we should ignore Silva's death in custody. No stone should be left unturned to determine what happened. We ought to question whether our law enforcement entities are taking the responsibility of...

   Read More

2. RIC LLEWELLYN: Let's propose our own solutions to immigration reform

   In 2006 there was a big bipartisan push for "comprehensive immigration reform." Remember? In the Senate a few Republican stalwarts joined with Democrat icons to finally solve the American immigration problem. At first, it seemed like the...
3. 

   RIC LLEWELLYN: 'Party first' is bad for the valley

   I was surprised when I read that Fran Florez would drop her bid for the 16th Senate District seat. It wasn't that she would not compete. I was utterly amazed by the REASON she gave for dropping out. Her comments should be a wakeup call...
4. 

   RIC LLEWELLYN: Let's be honest about cost of shiny blue recycling bins

   A couple of weeks ago as I was returning home from work, I rolled onto the block and noticed a shiny new blue trash can sitting in the driveway. "We don't do curbside recycling," I thought. I know. There are lots of things to be...

5. RIC LLEWELLYN: Next senator should be force for ideological compromise

   Michael Rubio quit the California Senate. That won't be the end of the story, but maybe it should be. It's fair to review his voting record. Project Vote Smart provides insight into how he represented the 16th Senate District. Some of the...

6. RIC LLEWELLYN: Why do we need immigration reform?

   Why do we need "comprehensive immigration reform?" Why do we need any immigration reform? Seriously, what is the need we have as a nation that drives changing our current laws on immigration and naturalization? Maybe we are trying to solve...

7. RIC LLEWELLYN: Is it a gun problem or a violence problem?

   I agree with Robert Price. This gun control stuff is tricky business. He and I would probably find that we have some disagreements on the issue. But we would agree that the NRA isn't much for negotiating the Second Amendment. We would agree...

9. RIC LLEWELLYN: Act for the good of the union -- in its entirety

   By RIC LLEWELLYN Contributing columnist Have you ever read The Federalist? It is a volume of 85 essays addressing an array of topics regarding the United States Constitution. Written and published in 1787 and 1788, the essays speak to the...

10. RIC LLEWELLYN: What does 'save the schools' really mean?

    No matter what we do, there's never enough money for schools. Do you remember these headlines from The Californian? Nov. 3, 2012 -- "Schools face harsh reality if Prop. 30 fails." Nov. 7, 2012 -- "State voters approve Prop. 30." Nov. 7,...

11. RIC LLEWELLYN: It takes running a marathon to reach goals

    I want to be an Ironman. Ironman is a triathlon that begins with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and finishes with a 26.2-mile run. Some people want to be fighter pilots, welders, teachers or entrepreneurs. In its own way...

12. RIC LLEWELLYN: Why women should vote for Romney

    I am a man. Should that make a difference? Should being a man disqualify me from talking about birth control and abortion? Do women think I don't have anything useful to say just because I am a man? Don't cite the crackpots when it comes to...

13. RIC LLEWELLYN: Let's change workings of Electoral College

    Kern County is a good place to live if you are politically conservative. Maybe a little frustrating if you are politically progressive.We have a presidential election coming up in a few weeks. Many of us in Kern County are committed to...

14. RIC LLEWELLYN: Dog owners, don't skip obedience training

    Dog owners need to take their dog owning responsibility a little more seriously. It's not like having kids ... well, yes, it is like having kids. If you don't nurture them, socialize them, set boundaries for them and teach them how to...