Rose Nolen

I think I went off the fiscal cliff shortly after 9/11, and I don’t think I ever got back on. The two big wars were enough to keep me struggling just to keep my feet on the ground.

Missouri legislators reject right-to-work laws that prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of their employment.

It can be hard to be happy in any kind of relationship, including a marriage, shared workplace or friendship, if there are no shared values or respect for diversity.

One of the most wonderful things about Christmas is the way it fills the heart with joy and thanksgiving. People don’t just wish their own Christmases to be filled with joy, but they wish joy for everyone.

This election season I’m getting the opportunity to observe how much our lives have changed over the past few years. It’s been a long time since the country has been split on the basis of political parties.

In ordinary times, people of goodwill would certainly put the operation of good government ahead of whatever role they might play in their political party. But these are not ordinary times.

Political affiliation shouldn't be used to determine whether an individual is qualified to work at a government agency. 

We've come too far as a country to go back to the days when women and minorities were treated as second-class citizens.

It's important to appreciate others for the gifts he or she has been given, even if there is no money involved. 

Meeting individuals for the first time, you can never be sure what you’re walking into. Some people are lucky, while others struggle, but you can learn something from each person you meet.

It’s disturbing, really, to discover how much time and energy men in public office are using to rake over women’s health issues. I think they actually believe that they are doing the right thing. In their own, ridiculously pitiful way, I think they are trying to protect women from themselves.

This convention seasons brings out a host of people claiming to have ideas on how to fix this country. Unfortunately, most of those ideas are not very good.

Everyone, even Todd Akin, is entitled to an opinion. Even if that opinion is off-based.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Citizens United opened the door for unlimited political contributions by corporations and now wealthy citizens are influencing elections. Additionally, new voter ID laws are restricting minorities' access to the polls. If nothing is done, American democracy will crumble.

We get to decide who and what is important in our lives. We get to move stuff around in our schedules. We get to say yes or no.

There are many forms of violence, and most of them do not involve guns.

Freedom is considered a core value of American life, but what happens when individuals start using those freedoms to harm others? Rose Nolen offers her take on the complexity of freedom in America.

Campaign funding may be the main factor in determining the 2012 election, but Americans haven't yet allowed it to decide the outcome.

Time is of the essence. We need to quit playing electronic games, turn off the computers and the televisions and go back to school.

A recent Supreme Court ruling allowing unrestricted independent political expenditures from corporations is just the latest example of the country's surrender to the power of money.