Free Republic

Sometimes you read something that might make you exclaim, "Just plain... nuts." Such was probably the case when most normal people saw a column by Joe Mathews published in the Ventura County Star on Thursday, "California should abolish parenthood, in the name of equity."

Room for rent: No drugs, drama or pets. Must be mellow and employed. Living with housemates is not exactly ideal, but it’s a choice many people are making to get through tough times. Job losses and other financial constraints are forcing people to reduce living expenses in a big way. For some, that might mean downsizing from a house to an apartment — or just a room. Some people have had to move home with the folks. Others are able to remain in their homes, but only by bringing in boarders to help cover costs. Living on your own in...

Thanks a lot, Democrats As a good liberal, I am very pleased with what is happening in Sacramento. The crisis is the right ticket to ensure we get our taxes raised, as well as higher gasoline, electricity and water rates. That is why we voted in all those Democrats, and that is why we voted yes on propositions for a $20 billion high-speed train and $6 billion for stem-cell research. As a result of all the new taxes, we will get all those polluting corporations to move elsewhere. Good riddance! We don’t need them because the government will take care...

This country is constantly made great by people who are kind, generous and good-hearted. If there are angry, greedy or stingy people in Ventura County, they should try to hide that as best they can. Love our country, lift it up and make it a better place. Love our president, lift him up in your prayers and help him be the best he can be. This country will continue to become great if people will see the good in each other, even the good in others who are different. Take the toxic anger and hate in your heart and give...

The Ventura County Star said it has terminated contracts with two freelance columnists after finding evidence of plagiarism in their work. Jim Woodard, who wrote weekly columns on new businesses and real estate, used material from other sources, including the Wall Street Journal, without attribution, the Star said in a story published on April 2. The Star said it found a total of four suspected incidents of plagiarism since early November in Woodard's real estate column in the Sunday homes section. In a Feb. 20 story, the Star said it found evidence of plagiarism in two columns by David Burroughs,...