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Letters to the Editor

Homelessness can’t be solved by laws

As a clinical social worker with 40 years’ experience in Altoona, I see that homeless individuals cannot thrive in a capitalist oligarchy in which society is stratified by class. Because of serious mentally ill behaviors, they cannot navigate a complex society due to impairments in occupational, social and reality testing. The recent Altoona City Council meeting exists in this societal context of a class society in which it punishes by ordinance those who do not conform to the materialistic ideology of a clean town, rights of property owners and the only investments that middle ...

District deserves better representation

Here in Pennsylvania’s 13th District, everyday necessities are becoming less affordable. Many families are feeling the strain of rising health Insurance, food and electricity costs. Catering to the wealthy, our representative in Washington, John Joyce, is voting in ways that many constituents believe work against their interests. His record includes votes that raise health care costs, reduce food assistance for struggling families and restrict voting access. Farmers, rural hospital workers and working families have good reason to worry. Joyce has not held a town hall where ...

Green gardening leads to healthy space

As many of us start working in our gardens and yards, shaking off the winter, why not think about how that activity could benefit the plants and animals around us? Here are three things to try. 1.) Wait to rake. Almost all beneficial bugs like lady bugs, mantises, bees, and ground beetles rely on leaves and other detritus to survive cold temperatures and build strength for the spring. Wait to clean up until the temperature is consistently above 50. These bugs will thank you by controlling damaging insects later on. Birds and other critters also rely on insects for food and the ...

SAVE America Act ensures integrity

American elections belong to American citizens. The right to vote is a sacred privilege of citizenship, and our laws must ensure that only citizens choose our leaders. The SAVE America Act would strengthen confidence in Pennsylvania’s elections by closing loopholes in existing law. It would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot. These are simple, common-sense protections that honest voters can support, regardless of party. This bill should not be allowed to die in the Senate. There is more than one way to move it ...

Only voters can save America’s democracy

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 administration with underqualified ...

Congress should protect our troops

“Thank you for your service” is often heard from politicians who lack respect for U.S. troops and American honor. Now, as a new Mideast war places our soldiers, sailors and airmen in harm’s way, the Republican Congress shirks the Constitutional duty to declare war or halt what may be an illegal military action by our Executive branch to support Israel. Our ally Israel previously demonstrated willingness to commit war crimes against a helpless civilian population in Gaza, destroying civilian infrastructure, killing tens of thousands of children and subjecting civilians to siege ...