Breaking News

Letters to the editor

Where would we rather live?

Ken Manno Boalsburg I trust that by now most people of voting age have seen the Trump campaign ad on television that talks of immigrants to the United States who have raped and murdered and who knows what else. The ad charges, or at least suggests, that these very bad people came into the United States during the Biden Administration, and that Kamala Harris, as vice president, is responsible. Maybe so. Maybe not. But allowing the premise to stand, it also begs the question of what happened during Donald Trump’s four years as president of the United States? Are we to believe that ...

Candidate scorecard

Brian Dempsey State College It’s time to vote for our president. Thank God we live in a free country where we have that right. Here’s my scorecard: Taxes — Trump plans huge tax breaks for the top 1% of earners. That’s the failed supply side approach that helps the rich. Harris proposes restoring some taxes on top earners. Most economists agree that Trump’s plan will result in much larger national debt that will be passed on to our kids and grandkids. Invasion of the Capitol — Trump encouraged the Jan. 6th mob, was unhappy that VP Pence “didn’t have the ...

MAGA = Authoritarianism

Michelle Newman State College Donald Trump, JD Vance and MAGA colleagues give new meaning to MAGA: Make Authoritarianism Great Again. Authoritarians suppress freedoms and civil rights, ensuring that power is removed from the people (and their representatives) and concentrated in their hands. Trump/Vance epitomize authoritarianism. Authoritarians politicize independent agencies, such as the Justice Department, and concentrate power in the executive (President). This is specified in Project 2025, written by Trump’s former advisors, and endorsed by MAGA clone Vance. Plans ...

Judging character

Connie Schulz State College Last week, retired 76-year-old Judge John M. Cleland of McKean County, Pa., broke his decades long practice of not taking sides in politics. His intelligence and evenhandedness had helped him win three elections to 10-year terms in a ruby red part of the state. Cleland is an expert judge not only of legal matters, but of character. His belief in the critical importance of character inspired him to deliver an eloquent and stirring speech that broke with his long tradition of neutrality. He told a bipartisan audience that the 2024 election is not about ...

Leaders must face challenges

Meghan Sandonato Lewisburg Some people tend to ignore problems until it is too late. Of course, it’s easier to do this if you know that you won’t have to pay a price. Hurricanes Helene and Milton are shocking reminders of the human and financial cost of extreme weather events. Scientists warn that we’ll see more devastating hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and floods if we don’t act now. When I hear people say they don’t “believe” in climate change, I usually just roll my eyes. But when someone running for president does it, it makes me angry. At 78 years old, ...

Casey fights for disabled persons

Adam Maguire Lewisburg I strongly support Senator Bob Casey and encourage my fellow Pennsylvanians to vote for him in the upcoming election. Senator Casey has consistently worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect, particularly regarding fair compensation for their work. The Department of Labor estimates that 100,000 people in the United States are paid a subminimum wage. A 2020 US Commission on Civil Rights report found that in 2017-2018, the average wage of a person with a disability working under such certificates was only $3.34 ...