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Politicos to hold gov’t accountable

Political leaders often talk as if the right to vote is our most powerful tool for holding government accountable. Voting is important, but its impact is limited by an electoral process that protects incumbents and offers voters few meaningful options. Fortunately, as the Seattle City Council learned recently, there are other ways to hold politicians and governments accountable. Seattle politicians passed a law requiring big companies to pay a special tax for every person on the payroll. This “head tax” was the brainchild of a socialist council member Kshama Sawant. She ...

AG Shapiro failed in Higgins’ case

On April 4, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a press release regarding criminal charges against Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins. In his press release, Shapiro told us all the sordid details of the alleged conduct, which shocked the conscience of everyone. The information provided included, among other things, allegations of years of conduct which allowed drugs to flow freely — including the very drugs that are fueling the worst drug epidemic ever. It also included exposing police officers whose jobs are already tough enough. These officers ...

Redistricting reform starts to show focus

The clock is ticking down on redistricting reform in Pennsylvania, a long-delayed effort to scrap the state’s uber-partisan redrawing of congressional districts. The state House of Representatives and Senate have about a month to agree on a bill outlining a constitution amendment — a redundant, two-step legislative process that will require statewide voter approval, hopefully in time for the redrawing of districts after the 2020 census. The issue is far from resolved in Harrisburg, even though solid majorities of Pennsylvanians tell pollsters that they want to move their state ...

NFL owners have more work to do

It took two years, boycotts by fans, declining TV ratings, growing alarm among advertisers, a drop in the sale of gear and especially a public shaming by President Donald Trump, but the owners of NFL teams have finally decided their players will not be allowed to kneel or make other protests during the playing of the national anthem. The NFL Players Association claims the owners’ decision violates the players’ “free speech rights.” No it doesn’t. Players are perfectly free to protest anywhere, anytime they wish, just not at the start of games for which the owners pay ...

To colleges, students are adults

Across the nation, parents are in the process of either welcoming their college kids home for the summer or making preparations to send them off to college in the fall. Some will be letting go of their children for the first time, excited and anxious about the next chapter of life. Let this be a wake-up call for those parents who believe the school will keep them informed if anything goes wrong with their kids. It probably won’t. Thanks to a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, colleges and universities are under no legal obligation to tell ...

Reaching out can reduce loneliness

Global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) released results from a national survey earlier last month exploring the impact of loneliness in the United States. The survey, conducted in partnership with market research firm, Ipsos, revealed that most American adults are considered lonely. Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent). From the Cigna report we learn the following: - One in four Americans (27 percent) rarely or never feel as though there are people who really understand them. - Two in five Americans sometimes ...