Jim Trageser's Essays, Columns and Commentary

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One of the beauties of self-editing is that I don't have to trot out every dumb thing I ever wrote – and I'm not. What you'll find here is my more recent work, generally positions to which I still subscribe.

North County Times columns

Who will replace Father Joe?, from April 24, 2011
If you re-open, will they come?, from April 17, 2011
Finding a better location, from April 10, 2011
Tri-City should back off Sterling, from April 3, 2011
Medical marijuana situation not so hazy, from March 27, 2011
Big-time athletics mean big-time bills, from March 20, 2011
Charros decision hurts the bottom line, from March 13, 2011
SDSU officials need to condemn bigotry, from March 6, 2011
Forums a positive sign at arts center, from February 27, 2011
Vista Way residents can't claim surprise, from February 20, 2011
Ag usage a must for security, from February 13, 2011
CSUSM prez out of touch, from February 6, 2011
No right to not be offended, from January 30, 2011
Richart may be tip of iceberg, from January 23, 2011
Charros offer much to area, from January 16, 2011
Few come out smelling good in this one, from January 9, 2011
Privacy, anonymity aren't the same thing, from January 2, 2011
Disagree without being a jackass, from December 26, 2010
Rampant BCS greed is ruining bowl system (Sports section), from December 26, 2010
Fix the arts center and skip the minors, from December 19, 2010
Attendance projections all vapor, from December 5, 2010
Parties have no claim to ballot, from November 28, 2010
A vital public function, from November 21, 2010
Put loyalty to students above faculty, from November 14, 2010
Gallo and Diaz share unfair tactic, from November 7, 2010
Anonymous signs part of our freedoms, from October 31, 2010
Fairgrounds a regional treasure, from October 24, 2010
Horse racing suffers from our break with agrarian past (Sports section), from October 24, 2010
Oceanside residents need wallet chains, from October 17, 2010
Oceanside's bonus a tax by any name, from October 10, 2010
'Banned books'? ALA lacks sincerity, from October 3, 2010
Tie public salaries to local incomes, from September 26, 2010
Widening I-5 will be ugly, from September 19, 2010
An apology, and an explanation, from September 12, 2010
Perhaps a touch too ambitious?, from September 5, 2010
Pfeiler's move seems calculated, from August 29, 2010
Voters have right to be heard, from August 22, 2010
Electrical system not working, from August 15, 2010
One win, one mystery in San Marcos, from August 8, 2010
Ballpark idea has many holes, from July 25, 2010
A Tom Sawyer sales pitch, from July 18, 2010
Horn too busy to file forms, from July 11, 2010
Marketing plan key to hotel, from July 4, 2010
Our laws also apply to supes, from June 27, 2010
Parks, rec help police, from June 13, 2010
Obama trumped by judge?, from June 6, 2010
Fighting back best of options, from May 30 2010
Arizona law least of all sins, from May 23, 2010
'Racism' cry just doesn't fly, from May 16, 2010
County's abusive addiction, from May 9, 2010
Escondido smart on downtown, from May 2, 2010
Tri-City mess up to voters, from April 25, 2010
SW County ills may hit Escondido, from April 18, 2010
The many flavors of leadership, from April 11, 2010
DNA belongs to all of us, from April 4, 2010
Crying 'NIMBY' in a crowded county, from March 28, 2010
PUC can set new 'standard', from March 21, 2010
It's time to talk, not fuss, from March 14, 2010
Tri-City, PPH waste our money, from March 7, 2010
Offensive speech is still protected, from February 28, 2010
Budget cuts won't be equitable, from February 21, 2010
Time to get out of the hospital biz, from February 14, 2010
Play nice if you want to annex, from February 7, 2010
Let the pros run arts center, from January 31, 2010
'94 recall still splits VUSD, from January 24, 2010
Time for truth on the Turtle, from January 17, 2010
Escondido needs the big picture, from January 10, 2010
Time for Bishop to leave the scene, from January 3, 2010
ACLU looks silly over checkpoints, from December 27, 2009
City takes right step on arts center, from December 20, 2009
Harvey shows value of good living, from December 13, 2009
San Marcos takes aim at student entertainment, from December 6, 2009
Leading the way to clean campaigning, from November 29, 2009
When the media plays at politics, from November 22, 2009
Stadium will boost everyone, from November 15, 2009
Smoke gets in your eyes, from November 8, 2009
Feds should discourage market speculation, from November 1, 2009
Voters may legalize pot to have final say, from October 25, 2009
Sweating it out at the lodge, from October 18, 2009
Award reasonably senseless, from October 11, 2009
Chargers deal worth exploring, from October 4, 2009
Police not above the law, from September 27, 2009
NCTD shooting requires answers, from September 20, 2009
County defying pot vote, from September 13, 2009
SDG&E's rate hike unearned, from September 6, 2009
Busby's missing apologies, from August 30, 2009
Disabled need own backups, from August 23, 2009
Thoughts about a town hall, from August 16, 2009
Art of spin hits new high, from August 9, 2009
Humans more valuable than pigs, from August 2, 2009
Boy's rights ignored, from July 26, 2009
Will recall backers pay cost?, from July 19, 2009
CCAE needs a real season, from July 12, 2009
Off-campus hangouts are critical, from July 5, 2009
Censure? How about a budget?, from June 28, 2009
Save the kids' Turtle, from June 21, 2009
Palomar lowers its standards, from June 14, 2009
Lawsuit tarnishes Tri-City, from June 7, 2009
Nannifying of three city halls, from May 31, 2009
No logic in license proposal, from May 24, 2009
Keep gov's hands off state assets, from May 17, 2009
Don't levy fight costs on payers, from May 10, 2009
Diaz's gift: Sense of optimism, from May 3, 2009
Recall backers should stop hiding in shadows, from April 26, 2009
No sense of accountability at PPH, from April 19, 2009
American culture in no danger, from April 12, 2009
Politics: Art of the unfair, from April 5, 2009
Cop flier screamed weakness, from March 29, 2009
Library idea has some merit, from March 22, 2009
Shield laws bad news for everyone, from March 15, 2009
Time to reinvent the arts center, from March 8, 2009
Defy the judges; fix prisons, from March 1, 2009
Market the downtown you have, from February 22, 2009
Tax by gallon, not per mile, from February 15, 2009
A safe political respite?, from February 8, 2009
Unions must own Tri-City mess, from February 1, 2009
Base water prices on joint pain, from January 25, 2009
Group home should be welcomed, from January 18, 2009
Local proof public care no panacea, from January 11, 2009
Not driving should be a right, from January 4, 2009
Smoke gets in your eyes – or not, from December 28, 2008
Sanity gets a split decision, from December 21, 2008
Put aircraft crashes into perspective, from December 14, 2008
Don't give up stability for critics' sake, from December 7, 2008
Coach's $1M buyout crossed line, from November 30, 2008
Fallbrook didn't act as censor, from November 16, 2008
Putting their money where their passion is, from November 9, 2008
Thefts insult our rights of free speech, from November 2, 2008
Financial shell game with our money, from October 12, 2008
An appearance of petulance, from October 5, 2008
Time for government to get out of hospital biz, from September 28, 2008
So much for progress in Escondido, from September 21, 2008
Time to abolish state grand juries, from September 14, 2008
SDG&E should pay fines, damages, from September 7, 2008
A chance to make the arts center work right, from August 31, 2008
Pendleton case aside, shield laws remain a bad idea, from August 24, 2008
Unions about salaries, not educational quality, from August 10, 2008
Checkpoints target only the dangerous, from August 3, 2008
Cunningham already got off easy, from July 27, 2008
Public deserves its hearing on saving state beach, from July 20, 2008
Is it time for public energy utility?, from July 13, 2008
Escondido: business friendly? Not, from July 6, 2008
Don't soil paradise for energy, from June 29, 2008
Real focus needed on kids' safety, from May 15, 2008
A fundamental right to opt out, from March 13, 2008
Judge overreaches in banning Navy's sonar use, from January 17, 2008
Government can't, shouldn't outlaw 'hate', from December 20, 2007
Thornhill's view will be missed, from November 11, 2007
Let real experts analyze fire response, from November 1, 2007
State to cities: Do as we say, from October 18, 2007
No reason not to testify, from October 4, 2007
To hide our heads or overreact?, from September 27, 2007
Free speech again under local assault, from September 20, 2007
Indians have legal right to run own affairs, from September 13, 2007
Water issue no mirage, from September 6, 2007
Less park than parkway, from August 30, 2007
Dissenting voices worth a listen, from August 12, 2007
Enforcing the border just the beginning, from August 16, 2007
Carnac would know not to cry racism, from August 9, 2007
Will vote winner still take our all?, from August 2, 2007
Religious tolerance means respecting other faiths, from July 19, 2007
Future of libraries deserves a debate, from July 12, 2007
Time for other half of healing, from June 21, 2007
Waldron's words muddy the waters, from June 14, 2007
Roofs, not desert, need solar panels most of all, from June 7, 2007
Escondido parking ban supersizes government, from May 31, 2007
Public, not faculty, in charge of MiraCosta, from May 24, 2007
Council should focus on Escondido, from May 17, 2007
All the court's a stage, from May 10, 2007
MiraCosta professors don't earn confidence, from May 3, 2007
Cities too big for single-issue candidates, from April 26, 2007
Time for ACLU to defend free speech, from April 1, 2007
Declaring war on the middle class, from March 29, 2007
Efforts to silence are the true offense, from March 15, 2007
Who needs a design review board when you have a bulldozer?, from March 8, 2007
Diocese honest enough to admit it's about the money, from March 4, 2007
When blaming the victim just isn't enough, from March 1, 2007
Critics' reflex is to blame the cops, from Feb. 22, 2007
Oceanside's past poses risk to Bolts, from Feb. 8, 2007
Waldron anything but pro-life, from Jan. 18, 2007
A lesson worth learning, from Dec. 28, 2006
Christmas spirit lacking on Escondido council, from Dec. 25, 2006
Women warriors as capable as men, from Dec. 21, 2006
Time to take pot back to the polls?, from Dec. 14, 2006
Aiport authority has outlived its purpose, from Dec. 7, 2006
Political peace at the table, please, from Nov. 23, 2006
All parties should be invited to debates, from Nov. 16, 2006
Finding finality an election can't provide, from Nov. 9, 2006
Gaut case should never go to trial, from Oct. 26, 2006
Busby's rhetoric, campaign conflict, from Oct. 19, 2006
A campaign mailer by any other name ..., from Oct. 12, 2006
Waldron already got what she sought, from Oct. 5, 2006
Powerlink needs a new route, from Sept. 28, 2006
Search warrant on Foley a sorry fishing expedition, from Sept. 24, 2006
Cities distracted by federal issues, from Aug. 17, 2006
Lawsuit over Bilbray win a political stunt, from Aug. 10, 2006
Is Bilbray trying to help Busby?, from July 27, 2006
Sister Claire deserves a bit more courtesy, from June 8, 2006
Escondido abandoning its history, from June 1, 2006
Airport 'search' alienated potential allies, from May 25, 2006
It's not about the diploma, from May 18, 2006
Busby missed her best chance, from April 20, 2006
Would Miramar airport help economy?, from February 2, 2006
Term limits likely to be voters' response to pot lawsuit, from January 26, 2006
Bilbray's past may haunt his candidacy, from January 19, 2006
Nudity doesn't equal obscenity, from January 12, 2006
Three hospitals best for inland region, from January 5, 2006
Housing mandate undercuts conservation, from December 29, 2005
Most influential airport expert ignored, from December 22, 2005
State beaches, parks preserved for a reason, from December 18, 2005
Balance is what's lacking in Julian, from December 15, 2005
Supervisors should heed voters, who tend to get last word, from December 11, 2005
Campus investment might not pay off, from December 8, 2005
CSUSM slides back on race, from December 4, 2005
Ask Congress about airport site, from December 1, 2005
Much for which to be thankful, from November 24, 2005
'Hyperlocal' content expensive to provide, from November 20, 2005
Consistency in short supply, from November 17, 2005
Primary challenger horns in on Horn, from November 3, 2005
Conduct code part of CSUSM's responsibility, from October 27, 2005
Underage girls need guidance from parents, from October 20, 2005
Fairness at heart of Prop. 75, from October 13, 2005
No right to privacy when in public, from October 6, 2005
Oceanside poised to blow it again, from September 29, 2005
Who gets to define groups' identities?, from September 22, 2005
School's in, brakes are out, from September 15, 2005
Catholic schools about much more than athletics, from September 8, 2005
Charging 'racism' easier than facing issues, from September 1, 2005
Is free speech just for the rich?, from August 25, 2005
Diploma is meaningless without an education, from August 18, 2005
Airport debate hasn't been held, from August 11, 2005
'Public' had nothing to do with airport study, from August 4, 2005
Unions too top-heavy to compete for worker loyalty, from July 28, 2005
Segregated by choice, from July 21, 2005
Fall from grace the same old story, from July 15, 2005
Greatness wrought by humility, from April 10, 2005
Freedom to deviate needs protection on campus, from April 1, 2005
Nudity the least of our kids' worries, from March 25, 2005
Government more open than media, from March 18, 2005
No one has right to judge parents of the fallen, from March 14, 2005
First Night will be missed, from March 11, 2005
The naked city no more, from March 4, 2005
Street walkers no great safety threat, from February 25, 2005
Public libraries an expensive relic, from February 4, 2005
Schools chief has budget myopia, from January 28, 2005
Evolution respects and honors God's handiwork, from January 27, 2005
Red-light cameras are not enough, from January 21, 2005
The distinct odor of hypocrisy, from January 15, 2005
Crackdown due in school zones, from January 7, 2005
Feinstein asked to explain claim, from January 2, 2005
Christmas is one faith's gift to the world, from December 25, 2004
Illegal immigrants haven't earned driver's licenses, from December 18, 2004
Old Rolodex stirs memories, from December 10, 2004
Closed minds afflict left and right, from December 3, 2004
Right to drive vs. right to live, from November 27, 2004
Technology has little to do with security, from November 19, 2004
The ghosts of elections past haunt current pols, from October 29, 2004
Bersin's critics fight real reform, from October 22, 2004
Palomar burning its reserves, from October 15, 2004
Flap in Oceanside raises deeper questions, from October 8, 2004
When do Indians get treated fairly?, from October 1, 2004
Stem cell initiative financiers meet little scrutiny, from September 24, 2004
Moore hardly censored, from September 17, 2004
No such thing as an 'assault' rifle, from September 13, 2004
Letter-writers launch vitriolic campaign, from August 31, 2004
Harmon's all wet on TransNet, from August 6, 2004
Are they anti-war or anti-Bush?, from July 30, 2004
When fear doesn't have a chance: Reflections on a fire, from July 18, 2004
If these folks are not heroes, who is?, from July 16, 2004
Peace is possible in Escondido, from July 9, 2004
Only clueless make Nazi comparisons, from July 2, 2004
How dare they do their job?, from June 25, 2004
Stem cell opponents ought to be heard, from June 20, 2004
Only city can heal DBA rift, from June 18, 2004
Cruisers ought to respect rights of merchants, from June 11, 2004
Don't trash the dump, from June 4, 2004
Good design is good business, from May 28, 2004
Time to move beyond our autos, from May 21, 2004
Just who does Palomar professor think he is?, from May 14, 2004
Water agencies should show some discipline, from May 7, 2004
Blame politics, not technology, for voting debacle, from May 5, 2004
Students should suggest, not protest, from April 30, 2004
Manning amplifies Tillman's heroism, from April 27, 2004
Serious discussion needed on drunken driving, from April 23, 2004
Who's afraid of tests?, from April 16, 2004
Dumping rights in an ashtray from April 9, 2004
ACLU on wrong side against Scouts, from April 2, 2004
Builders want it both ways, from March 26, 2004
Let voters decide on gay marriage, from March 12, 2004
Where is the outrage from feminists?, from March 5, 2004
Migrants can't get even a dog's life, from February 27, 2004
No shame in being a scab, from February 20, 2004
Quality of life is the issue, from February 13, 2004
Killers are not victims, from February 9, 2004
Unions cut their own throats, from February 6, 2004
Grace under the greatest pressure, from January 30, 2004
No crisis in voting machines, from January 26, 2003
Car tax harms the poor, too, from January 16, 2004
Defying vows not an act of heroism, from January 15, 2004
Unions on the wrong track, from January 8, 2004
Voting fix is bigger headache, from January 1, 2004
The annual playoff song is all played out, from December 28, 2003
Never an excuse for terrorism, from December 26, 2003
Save our quality of life, from December 19, 2003
Boycott has wrong target, from December 12, 2003
Sprinter opponents hide behind the poor, from December 5, 2003
Another worry for strikers, from December 3, 2003
Let's put humans first, from November 7, 2003
Strikers betray the cause, from October 31, 2003
Fire on the mountain, October 29, 2003
Who says we need a new airport?, from October 14, 2003
Rev. Clyde will be missed, August 12, 2003
Hey, kid, want a loan?, from March 21, 2003
No debate needed, from March 14, 2003
Perils of the public schools, from March 7, 2003
A serious effort can fix traffic, from February 28, 2003
War on faith continues, from February 21, 2003
Student protests miss mark, from February 14, 2003
First make the streets safe, from February 7, 2003
A touch of Mexico in Escondido, from Jaunary 31, 2003
Antiwar protests don't convince, from January 24, 2003
ACLU on the wrong side again, from January 17, 2003
Eminent domain abused, from January 10, 2003
I won't conserve water, from January 3, 2003
Much ado about a plaque, from December 27, 2002
Troupe did himself in, from December 20, 2002
Campaign promises die quickly, from December 13, 2002
Insanity in San Marcos, from December 6, 2002
Some people give all year long, from November 29, 2002
Why not test our kids, from November 22, 2002
Rady will be missed on council, from November 15, 2002
Einer defined class, from November 8, 2002
Breaking the age barrier, from November 1, 2002
Politics in their genes, from October 25, 2002
What's 80 percent of a jerk?, from October 18, 2002
In search of the long view, from October 11, 2002
Prop. 52, for lazy voters, from October 4, 2002
Grinches give away Christmas, from September 27, 2002
Jury deserves our thanks, from September 20, 2002
Anger, too, can help heal, from September 13, 2002
Third party: If not now, when? from September 6, 2002
Just say no to this one, from August 30, 2002
There's no right to exploit, from August 23, 2002
Building the wrong way, from August 16, 2002
Issa is right about checkpoints, from August 9, 2002
Still separate and unequal, from August 2, 2002
Beware, the ocean is coming, from July 26, 2002
Teachers' demands don't add up, from July 19, 2002
Our kids can't ride bikes anymore, from July 12, 2002
Water will limit our growth, from July 5, 2002
We don't need the Chargers, from June 28, 2002
Arts center key to downtown, from June 21, 2002
Descent into the tar pits, from June 14, 2002
Don't ban books, read them, from June 7, 2002
We treat humans worse than dogs, from May 31, 2002
Critics step out of line, from May 24, 2002
The best art outside of Balboa Park, from May 17, 2002
Lessons learned at Palomar, from May 10, 2002
Our own media circus, from May 3, 2002
North County farmland - going, going ... gone?, from April 28, 2002
Latino pols have a way to go, from April 26, 2002
Council gambles with kids' lives, from April 19, 2002
Use gas tax to beef up rail, from April 12, 2002
Catholics targets of PC police,
from the Nov. 30, 1997 edition of the North County Times.
No protesters deserve torture,
from the Nov. 19, 1997 edition of the North County Times.
If media become activists, who will watch the watchdogs?
from the Nov. 9, 1997 edition of the North County Times
A reality check on abortion,
from the Aug. 11, 1997 edition of the North County Times.
The message: Don't challenge bureaucracy,
from the July 13, 1997 edition of the North County Times.
Freedom a noisy pursuit,
from the March 16, 1997 edition of the North County Times.
Get loggers out of our national forests,
from the Sept. 1, 1996 edition of the North County Times.
What would Tom Metzger think about black relation?
from the Aug. 25, 1996 edition of the North County Times.
Can gays hurt marriage any more than straights have?
from the June 2, 1996 edition of the North County Times.

Commentary and essays

McCarthy still provides convenient cover
from March 2003.
Yes, peaceniks, our soldiers do serve in your name, too
from March 2003.
It's time to address ethical dilemmas of human cloning
from the Winter 2002 edition of Turbula.
West's anti-Semitism is applied evenly to Jews, Arabs
from the June 14, 2002 edition of the American Reporter.
The Left becoming as anti-Semitic as the Right
from the April 10, 2002 edition of the American Reporter.
Killing Andrea Yates will only compound tragedy
from the March 2, 2002 edition of the American Reporter.
We have met the enemy's stock portfolio, and it is ours
from the May 3, 2001 edition of the American Reporter.
Media's bruised egos behind campaign finance 'reform'
from the Nov. 18, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.
Is the West's truce with Jews coming to an end?
from the Oct. 23, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.
Time to stop casting public participation as censorship,
from the Oct. 14, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.
Judge hides from technology in MP3.com decision,
from the Sept. 8, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.
Time to slow down to save our children,
from the Aug. 10, 2000 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Despite differences, abortion foes should support Bradley,
from the March 5, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.
Pinochet and the White Man's Burden,
from the Nov. 3, 1999 edition of the American Reporter.
Who do you want to bomb today?
from the Dec. 22, 1998 edition of the American Reporter.
The Left's surrender on issues of human value,
from the July 13, 1998 edition of the American Reporter.
Anti-abortion movement not to blame for clinic violence,
from the Jan. 26, 1994 edition of The Southern Cross.
More Catholic-bashing from these United States,
from the Sept. 22, 1994 edition of The Southern Cross.
The voice of the liberal, pro-feminist anti-abortionists is 'lost' in the debate,
from the April 16, 1992 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
No freedom in death,
from the September, 1989 edition of the Ocean Beach Observer.