No shortage of masks this Halloween

October 10, 2020

At least there will be no shortage of masks. So goes one joke about Halloween 2020. It will be upon us in just a few weeks. And, while it may not seem a priority to many in government at all levels, it needs to be addressed. Halloween rivals Christmas in some ways in popularity among children. Each October, they delight in dressing up and ringing doorbells or knocking on doors, greeting people with, “Trick or treat!” We adults — many of us, anyway — enjoy seeing them. Is that Joey from down the street behind that superhero mask? Is that Susie from school ...

Politics win again

October 9, 2020

Many sectors of the U.S. economy continue a slow but steady recovery from the COVID-19 slowdown. By the end of September, the unemployment rate had dropped to 7.9%, down from 8.4% in August. But as we and many others have warned, some businesses — and their employees — are struggling. In addition, a significant number of companies failed to weather the coronavirus storm. They have closed their doors forever. In the news recently have been airlines. Passenger count is everything for them. With it down drastically, most carriers are struggling. Allowing them to go down ...

We the People need to make term limits a reality

October 8, 2020

We firmly believe in term limits for public office at the state and federal levels and believe such a change will have a very positive impact. “We the People” seem to have lost the power granted to us by our Founding Fathers. Power. Money. Influence. These are what politicians crave. And these are exactly what career politicians gain, sometimes at the heavy expense of “We the People.” Due to campaign finance laws and the enormous task of raising ungodly amounts of money, many incumbents have little to worry about when it comes time for re-election. At the state ...

State better be ready for Election Day

October 5, 2020

A short ballot will greet voters here and across Pennsylvania on Nov. 3. Voters who go to the polls that day, as well as those who choose to make their selections by way of a mail-in or absentee ballot, should have little difficulty navigating the actual process of responsible decision-making. The election’s biggest challenge will rest with the election officials tasked with counting and recording accurately the results of the balloting. Based on the state Supreme Court’s recently ruling, 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 — three days after the election — is the new deadline to receive ...

The viruses among us

October 3, 2020

Mention vaccines these days, and chances are the talk will be about when some protection against COVID-19 can be expected. Another potential killer is about to take the stage, however. Regular influenza — actually multiple viruses that vary in threat level, depending on the year — strikes annually. Fortunately, vaccines against it are available already. Influenza kills thousands of Americans every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu claimed as many as 62,000 lives in this country during the 2019-20 season. That said, COVID-19 is ...

Who should get a COVID vaccine first?

September 30, 2020

Though there is dispute over how soon a COVID-19 vaccine will be available to the general public, we read where it is possible a few million doses may be ready before the end of this year. We emphasize “may” be ready. There is general agreement that a vaccine should go to the most vulnerable among us. That is older people with pre-existing medical conditions. For sure. But if there is any agreement on vaccine rationing — and what will happen will be just that — it ends there. Clearly, specific guidelines for distribution will have to be developed. They ought to ...