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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Central Point man arrested after road rage leads to threats, gunfire Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Asphalt plant opponents frustrated during appeal Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Central Point man arrested after road rage leads to threats, gunfire Medford man gets three-year prison sentence for robbery, assault Emergency services Clemency still sought for husband killer Politics and Elections Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Council members in Gold Hill dodge voter recall Bill Pullman campaigns for Oregon GMO labeling law Two races set for Ashland council positions Five to compete for three City Council seats Education Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Safe haven: Art program provides a place for youth to express themselves Sacred Heart School gets new principal Medford School District considers gifted land for new school Loan default rate threatens Umpqua student aid Environment Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month Deadly deer virus may be spreading Talent earns Bee City USA designation Those without senior water rights left high and dry State news Nation - World Obituaries Ted E. 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Ashland Hill Climb Business Latest Stories Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Hotel occupancy, room rates up in Southern Oregon Blog: If you've got the time, BLS has a tome for you Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Ashland's Paddington Station takes top national prize Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out People In Business People in business Transportation Agriculture Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Our View: A vote for common sense in Gold Hill Catherine Rampell: Tech firms' poor record of diversity Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Granlund cartoon: School dress codes Letters to the Editor, Aug. 26 Editorials Our View: A vote for common sense in Gold Hill Our View: It's not the gear; it's how the gear is used Other Views: NCAA must maintain academic integrity Our View: Marijuana sales — a taxing problem Our View: Water law has outlived its purpose Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 26 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 25 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 22 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 21 Guest Opinions The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council Lifestyle Latest stories What does 'natural' really mean? Fielding labels in search for a good egg The focus is on hospitality at Jaxon Vineyards Community blog: Not So Many (un)Happy Returns! Community blog: Silky stew or quick saute is summer's symphony Food What does 'natural' really mean? Fielding labels in search for a good egg The focus is on hospitality at Jaxon Vineyards Community blog: Silky stew or quick saute is summer's symphony Community blog: Onion pickles can wait for home-canning lull Home and Garden An August checklist for your garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Health Healthy Aging: Iron girls galore Community blog:Here�s How To Leave Despair For Resilience Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample Community blog:Doing laundry... Healthy Aging: An udderly unlikely vacation find Hiking Faith Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Shayla Brooke Grether and Jesse Levi Tanner Grange Co-Op garden helps feed the hungry Medford woman graduates with honors Century Club Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories From business professor to artist Gypsy Soul performs at EdenVale Winery The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Alan Berman Trio at the Imperial The Beach Boys at Britt Theater Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music Gypsy Soul performs at EdenVale Winery The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Alan Berman Trio at the Imperial The Beach Boys at Britt Matisyahu and Dub Trio play Britt Community Events From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Nature Walks in Lithia Park ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum Dining NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries India Palace Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Get Up & Go: Wednesday, Aug. 27 ... Medford man gets three-year prison sentence for robbery, assault ... 10 things to know for Tuesday ... Get Up & Go: Wednesday, Aug. 27 ... Medford man gets three-year prison sentence for robbery, assault ... 10 things to know for Tuesday ... Mark L. Hopkins: Some things make little sense By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now MailTribune.com By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now Posted Aug. 25, 2014 @ 9:12 am By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now Posted Aug. 25, 2014 @ 9:12 am » Social News Our newspapers and TV newscasts are full of conflicts, both statistical and otherwise, some of which make no sense at all. For instance: Congress is suffering through a depth of unpopularity unparalleled in history. A recent survey listed the approval level of Congress as being just less than 9 percent. A follow-up question asked those being polled if they planned to vote for their incumbent representatives in the next election, and 71 percent of them said yes. Presumably, there are serious problems in Congress, but they are being caused by someone else’s representatives. For most of the past 60 years we have allowed international students to come to our universities to be educated at the highest levels. Our immigration laws say that when they have completed their academic programs they must leave the country within 60 days. Presumably, we are willing to educate the best and brightest of our neighbor countries but want to insure that they do not stay to work in the U.S. Evidently, we are protecting the job market for Americans. A notable goal for sure. This despite the fact that our unemployment problem is at the lower qualification levels. We still have difficulty filling jobs at the higher-education levels. Virtually all of these internationals would have stayed and added their expertise to our economy. Instead, they were forced to go home and develop the economies of their home countries. The result is more competition for our business and industry in the international marketplace. Do you wonder where our automobile and textile industries went? When the Affordable Health Care Act (aka Obamacare) was before Congress in 2009, not one Republican voted for it. The Republican-dominated House of Representatives has had multiple votes to repeal it. Virtually every Republican running for election in the 2014 mid-term elections seems to be running against Obamacare and President Obama as opposed to their Democratic opposition. It is safe to say that Republicans hate Obamacare. Or is it? In a recent poll of both Democrats and Republicans who have enrolled in Obamacare more than 85 percent of the Democrats said they are satisfied with their new coverage and 78 percent of the Republicans enrolled said the same thing. Let me restate that. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans who are actually enrolled are pleased with their new coverage. Is it possible that all Republicans don’t hate the law? Is it possible that Obamacare is and has been a political football used for the benefit of some, not so obscure, political game plan? Is it possible that if Congress and the presidency were both in the hands of the Republicans there still wouldn’t be enough votes to repeal Obamacare? Yes, some things make little sense. Dr. Mark L. Hopkins writes for More Content Now and Scripps Newspapers. He is past president of colleges and universities in four states and currently serves as executive director of a higher-education consulting service. Contact him at [email protected]. By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now MailTribune.com By Mark L. 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