Mike Dingman

Last weekend I learned an awful lot about the concept of “free speech.” On Friday, national media noticed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had taken a seat rather than standing for the national anthem. When they asked Kaepernick about it, they found out that he had been doing the same thing for the previous … Continue reading Kaepernick sits for anthem, tests our free-speech convictions

For the last couple of weeks, people all across the globe have been glued to their televisions watching the greatest athletes in the world vie for the ultimate award in their sport – the Olympic gold medal. America has a love affair with our Olympic athletes. Tommy Moe won a gold and a silver medal … Continue reading Gabby Douglas did nothing wrong; bullies, back off

Alaska’s controversial crime bill passed through both houses of the Legislature,  was signed by the governor and is now beginning to be implemented by the courts. Love it or hate it, SB 91 is now law. The law is sweeping reform in sentencing and classification of crimes that will lead to many prisoners being released … Continue reading Alaska criminal justice reform will fall short without treatment for addicts

In Alaska, you can register to vote three months before your 18th birthday. The day I became eligible, I filed my voter registration and proudly marked the “R” under party affiliation. Back then, I was young and without the benefit of life experience. Even though I grew up poor in my formative years, I was … Continue reading GOP has become home to misguided opportunists, zealous lemmings

Words cannot express how happy I am that people are running around town hunting Pokemon. There is a long-running joke about people not watching the news because it depresses them; lately, that sentiment has taken on a whole new level of seriousness. Today, most people cannot escape the news, even if they shut it off, because we are smacked in … Continue reading After the past week, we could use ‘Pokemon Go’

America just finished celebrating its independence with a long weekend filled with barbecues, fireworks and parades. Americans all across this great and diverse land were celebrating their freedom — but what does that really mean anymore? Far too often now, Americans are freely and without much question giving up their freedom for a sense of security and not … Continue reading Why ‘If you have nothing to hide’ are the 6 most dangerous words in the English language

In a surprising change of events, the Republicans have a clear nominee more than a month ahead of the convention and a Democrat contender is promising a contested convention. It wasn’t long ago that we were discussing not if there would be a contested Republican convention, but what kinds of fights there would be on … Continue reading 2016 presidential campaign has brought out some of the worst in America

I feel like I’ve seen this movie before, and I didn’t like the plot last time either. Once again, the Alaska Legislature is looking head-on at a government shutdown. Lawmakers have now passed the 90-day voter-imposed deadline as well as the 121-day deadline they think they are entitled to — because what do voters know — and … Continue reading Lack of leadership got Alaska here, and it’s not going to save us now

The American electorate is fed up, and isn’t going to take it anymore. At least, that’s what the primary elections in both major parties would lead one to assume. This presidential election season, it may turn out that the primaries in both parties are far more interesting than the presidential election in November. We have … Continue reading Political outsiders ride wave of voter frustration this primary season

OPINION: Welcoming felons back into society adds to our common strength.

OPINION: One way to improve Alaska's corrections department is simple: Improve the morale of frontline officers by understanding what circumstances they face every day.

OPINION: Alaska's corrections officers have one of the toughest jobs in the state, and the last thing they need is a leader like Dean Williams.

OPINION: Neither the average Alaskan voter nor the lawmakers they elect have fully recognized Alaska's fiscal challenge.

OPINION: Anchorage voters favor an enhanced quality of life, but show little interest in paying for it.

OPINION: It's all ugly politics over a Supreme Court nominee who's ready, willing and able.