The Sentinel

Ah, it is time for my last article as acting Editor-in-Chief - what to write about, what to write about. Should I write a two thousand word ode to libertarianism, or help to reveal the brutal and barbaric nature of religious fundamentalism in government? Should I dig around to find something else to make The Lantern look stupid, or should I use this last "From The Editor's Desk" to talk about what irritates me most about all of the co-eds at The Ohio State University? After much research and playing around on Google News, I decided that the best way to end my reign (yes, reign) as acting Editor-in-Chief of The Sentinel, would be to reflect on my time and experience here, and try to make some sense of why I spent two years pulling my hair out to print this newspaper.

William F. Buckley is dead, and for some people this means a great deal. For others, it means nothing at all. The purpose of this article is not to give you a biography of the man (look him up on YouTube if you want to see him in action), but instead to try and make sense of his legacy.

If you are reading this article before a class, ask the students sitting around you this question: "What is the greatest problem that industrialized nations face?" You will no doubt get a wide range of answers; the economy, global warming, corporate greed, energy, and the all-time favorite response for non-thinking people…George W.

Many recent editorials have focused on our economy: the downfall of Bear Stearns, the consumer credit crunch, the housing market and the actions of the Fed. Many journalists and editors have jumped at the opportunity to wax political about potential solutions to our economic challenges; by and large, lending themselves to populist government bailouts and short-term fixes.