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Opinion

SNAPping the economy

Letters

The Democrats are now telling us that we need SNAP, not because it helps the poor, but because every dollar of SNAP benefits results in 1.8 dollars in “economic activity”. This is, of course, a completely fabricated number. It is based on such obscure economic ideas such as velocity of money, but that is a very general theory and can’t be accurately applied to any one program. If this was true, then we could fix the whole economy by giving SNAP benefits to everyone in the country, but it is not true, so let’s not do that. Even if it were true, it is not good news. Because ...

What other newspapers are saying: Education, safety not worth compromising

Editorials

Gov. Mike DeWine has legislation on his desk that should not be difficult to reject. State Senate Bill 50 would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during the school year. According to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the law would require permission from a parent or legal guardian and a work permit from a school, but it would allow students (some of whom could be in the eighth grade, based on their age) to work 18 hours a week or three hours a day during the school year, and 40 hours a week when school is not in session. The most surface-level reason to reject the ...

We cut God from governance to our peril

Other Commentaries

I would like to challenge Tim Mannello’s statement about the The Constitution, the Bible and Christian nationalism. Abraham Lincoln’s summary of this nation is a “government of the people, for the people, by the people “. And that comes from John Wycliffe, a Catholic and Christian reformer. Many of the world greatest historians (such as von Ranke, Taine, D’Augibne, and Bancroft) see John Calvin as the ideological “father of America”. It was his ideas that directed the American Revolution. The first pilgrims off of the Mayflower made a covenantal pact (thought of as ...

We hope retention vote rooted in reality

Editorials

In the wake of Lycoming County Judge Nancy Butts losing a retention vote to continue to serve as president judge, our editorial board must wonder the role an unfortunately distorted view of crime and public safety in our region may have played in voters’ decisions. Are our streets safe? Is ...

The people spoke

Letters

The elections around the country on November 4 seem to show that killing the job market, raising grocery prices, kicking people off their healthcare, wasting taxpayer money, and trying to starve 41 million Americans is pretty darn unpopular. Donald Trump will say it was not a referendum on him. But it was a referendum on him and the regime that has been reveling in cruelty and ignoring the needs of the people. It was not a blue wave. It was a blue tsunami. And it required voters from both parties and independents to occur. The people are not happy. JOAN ...

US has lost its Christianity

Letters

After withdrawing funds for the USAID, which is estimated to lead to 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million young children, the Trump administration has now turned toward its own citizens. They have announced it will NOT use the $6 billion available to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As a result, 42 million Americans will suffer hunger, almost half of whom are children. Aside from starving Americans, small businesses will be hurt. About 80% of stores which accept SNAP funds are small businesses. Meanwhile, Trump is giving $20 billion to ...