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Oh the inhumanity

Think of the United States of America as that big, beautiful blimp, the Hindenburg airship in 1937, admired by everyone looking up to it everywhere it passed. The whole world admired the innovation and accomplishment it had come to represent. A spark ignited the gases that kept the big, beautiful blimp aloft and it was destroyed along with more than half of the people aboard. The big ugly destructive Republican budget bill is like the spark that stared the fire that destroyed the Hindenburg. The structure is consumed and no longer supports the lives of the people dependent on it. ...

A circular redundancy

It is a given that an investment in equitable education is by far the best economic development tool. Think tanks, corporations, universities and governments proclaim this through countless studies. It is the foundation and surpasses infrastructure, technology, regulations, financing, trade, natural resources, government and inclusivity. It develops human capital, increases earnings and tax revenues, reduces societal costs, creates economic growth and jobs and, most importantly, fosters equitable growth. It is a no-brainer. Why then don’t we do it? Let’s take Pennsylvania as an ...

Getting darker and darker

There are certain un-pleasant aspects of American History that Donald Trump and his followers would like to not dwell on or even teach in school. History includes the good, bad, and ugliness of the past. Trump believes only in teaching the good. He believes ignorance is bliss, but never the less, you can’t ignore the past, and Trump’s immigration policies are racing towards adding to history, especially the ugliness. We should all be aware of how Nazi Germany began rounding up the “Undesirables” in the mid 1930’s. This model eventually morphed into concentration camps ...

Reality star vs. model businessman

It’s no secret that Americans have a soft spot for reality television. We enjoy dramatic personalities, clear heroes and villains, and storylines that keep us guessing. Donald Trump understood this long before he entered politics. For over a decade, he starred in The Apprentice, a TV show that portrayed him as a decisive, successful businessman. That image stuck—and for many, it still defines him. But the problem is that reality TV isn’t reality. It’s scripted, edited, and designed for emotional impact. The Trump that millions saw on television was a carefully produced ...

Opioid use disorder legislation

At a time when local, state and federal lawmakers are working to preserve tax dollars, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to save millions on how it attacks the opioid crisis if it passes House Bill 561 or Senate Bill 872, its identical version in the state Senate. This legislation would allow federal Medicaid dollars to be spent on treating state and county prison inmates who suffer from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) with a combination of medication and therapy treatments. With more federal Medicaid funding we can reduce recidivism and SAVE state and county tax dollars. Counties could tap ...

Political problem

I believe there is a major political problem in the USA. There are people I like to consider blind Republicans and blind Democrats. They vote for their party no matter what. This problem is dividing our country. I have heard so many people criticize politicians but vote for them anyway because they are from their chosen party. Whatever happened to researching and voting for the most qualified person for the job. It is alright to cross party lines to vote for the more qualified person. No one will ever know. Your vote is private. SUE HENNINGER Montoursville Submitted by ...