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Thompson doesn’t deliver

Letters to the editor

Beverly Crow State College When announcing his re-election campaign, Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) said he takes his “responsibility to be your voice and your vote with a commitment to service, leadership and problem-solving.” That sounds good. But his record tells a different story. As Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Thompson should be leading at a time of real strain in farm country. Instead, he has remained silent after receiving a letter from a bipartisan coalition of 27 agricultural leaders warning that current economic conditions and Trump ...

Only voters can save America’s democracy

Letters to the editor

George Polycranos Port Matilda Americans are understandably proud of our nation as a free society and successful experiment in democracy. We have stumbled before, yet endured—guided by constitutional guardrails and leaders who respected them. In the eyes of the world, we were Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill.” Until now. Donald Trump has reminded us just how fragile our democracy is. Preserving our freedoms requires integrity in government. Trump rudely woke us to the reality that freedom can never be taken for granted. By neutering Congress and staffing his ...

At America’s 250th birthday, Democrats want a different country

Columns

Jack Hughes delivered the gold medal to the U.S. ice hockey team in the winter Olympics, scoring the winning goal in overtime play. In a postgame interview, Hughes exclaimed: “This is all about our country now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong ... I am so proud to be an American today.” Moving indeed. But the question is, how much did Hughes’ effusive patriotic sentiments, his exhortation of love of country, resonate across our nation? We don’t hear much these days of unbridled expressions of national ...

Trump: Insulter in chief

Columns

Each time one thinks President Trump has reached the lowest level possible in insulting his enemies, he finds new depths to plunge. Following a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court, which included three conservative justices he appointed, the president called the justices “fools,” a “disgrace to the nation,” and “unpatriotic.” His critics might say such language is a disgrace to the presidency. Calling people names, especially names that are incendiary in content, wins no arguments and creates opposition instead of a fair hearing for one’s counter arguments. The president ...

Clarifying the UroLift system for men with enlarged prostates

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 79, and for several years, I have been taking finasteride and tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia. (In the past, I underwent a TURP procedure, which I will never go through again.) As we know, within time, these medications will affect your sexual drive and erectile function. My urologist wants to perform a new treatment on me called UroLift, which would increase my sexual drive and improve my erectile dysfunction. I would no longer need to take the above medications. I would like to know your pros and cons with this procedure. — B.M.R. ANSWER: I am ...

Seeking rest and relaxation at last

Columns

Dear Annie: My husband and I are at a full-blown spring break standoff, and the kids are watching it like it’s a sport. He wants to take our two kids skiing. He’s already talking about “fresh powder,” early lift tickets and how this is the perfect chance to make “core memories.” He grew up skiing, and it’s his happy place. I can see how excited he is, and I’m not trying to be the villain who cancels joy. But I want to go somewhere warm. Not “a light jacket” warm, but genuinely warm. Sun. Sand. The kind of weather where you can sit outside with coffee and feel your ...