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Letters to the Editor

Where are the lower food, drug prices?

So Donald Trump’s pitch for affordability (I’m sure the word sent his billionaire buddies rushing for a dictionary) lasted all of about a week before he labeled it a “Democrat hoax.” A hoax? Really? Americans not heavily invested in crypto would wholeheartedly disagree. As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump didn’t think it was a hoax when he needed votes and made wild promises that absolutely nobody with a functioning BS detector would believe. Like these: “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will make America affordable ...

Endangered species must be protected

As a conservationist, outdoor writer and Pennsylvanian who spends hours in the field, I am alarmed by the current administration’s attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act. This landmark law has prevented the extinction of 99% of the species placed under its protection. In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed four rules that would reinstate weakened 2019-20 regulations. The proposals would: — Remove the “blanket rule” that automatically safeguards threatened species, instead requiring protections to be added ...

Christians don’t hate others

There have been letters in the Mirror praising Charlie Kirk with one comparing Kirk to Jesus Christ, saying Kirk spread the words of Jesus Christ across America. I could not find in my Bible where Jesus Christ spread words of hatred, like Kirk did. Did Kirk not spread words of hatred against Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, gays, etc? The only group he missed was Native Americans. Kirk was a throwback to very dark days in America, where those who Kirk said, if you don’t look, act, talk or think like me, you don’t belong. A letter writer said Sept. 10, 2025, will live in infamy. ...

Community should stand up for hospital

I recently retired from UPMC Altoona as a facility maintenance manager. We recently installed “state of the art” surveillance systems at the Station Medical Facility and, outside of the fact that I believe there needs to be an “armed police presence” during normal working hours, it is an excellence system providing a proactive approach to patient and staff safety. I’ve witnessed our administrators at UPMC Altoona trying to do everything within their authority to provide world class care and safety for patients and staff. It’s my opinion that they are operating with two ...

Climate change remains a concern

In his op-ed of Dec. 8, Josh Hammer seeks to dismiss legitimate concern over climate change. He tells us the tide is changing because recent polling shows “only” 60% (what I call a solid majority) of Americans believe climate change is mostly human-caused. Hammer cites Bill Gates’ Oct. 28 blog post as evidence of a fading consensus. But Gates has not, in fact, changed his mind about climate change being a very serious ongoing issue. Instead, he believes that actions already taken, along with new technologies on the horizon, will limit the damage to an acceptable level. Gates ...

Affordability is not a hoax

Trump constantly repeats blatantly obvious lies knowing that some people will believe anything that’s said often enough; even when it’s not true. This time is different. Everyone knows that affordability is not a “scam” or a “hoax.” Americans get reminded of rising inflation every time they pay their bills or shop for groceries. In addition to not bringing consumer prices down “on day one,” Trump’s economic policies have failed to fulfill his other fake promises. Despite reducing trade with the U.S., China continues to have a record trade surplus with the rest ...