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Letters to the Editor

‘This is who we are’ a sad declaration

As I enter into my ninth decade, I can be grateful for many things. I have seen extraordinary advancements in human rights, health care, science and industry. There are, of course, always setbacks along the way; as the saying goes: “two steps forward, one step back,” but always forward. Optimistically, I always expected this trend would continue for following generations, but now I have serious reservations. For the first time in my good life, I cannot expect continued advancement as a given. Typically, those with “better angels” have been in the majority ensuring often uneven, ...

Foreman served Republicans well

The Blair County Republican chairman has decided to not run for another term. Chairman Jim Foremen has done an excellent job, bringing a sometimes fractured Republican committee together. The time, effort and wisdom Jim has applied as chairman is amazing at the least. I myself have learned many ways of dealing with others in a positive way. I believe Jim moved the marker to a new height here in Blair County; he has put Blair County on the map so to speak. Many of the federal, state, local elected officials can testify to his intense commitment to all candidate’s of the GOP. I ...

Who decides: We the people or the feds?

Free exchange of ideas is a cornerstone of our Republic. In response to the Jan. 8 letter regarding an Article V Convention of the States to propose constitutional amendments, misinformation necessitates correction by examining historical fact. First, it is important to note the word OR in clause 2 of Article V of the Constitution. Either Congress OR the people through their state legislatures can call for a convention, 42 of which have been held using the same guidelines to limit topics and specify language germane to the subject matter. This was the purpose of clause 2, ...

Trump, GOP should reject SALT cap hike

There is an effort by Republicans elected in deep blue states to increase the state and local taxes (SALT) deduction that is currently capped at $10,000. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is publicly supporting the N.Y. Republicans push to include this proposal in the upcoming Trump tax bill. The rest of the Republican party should reject this. The current SALT deduction is an itemized deduction that allows up to $10,000 per year, consisting of property taxes plus state income or sales taxes, but not both. For most taxpayers, they take the standard deduction, and itemized ...

Plant-based eating is healthier, happier

January can find us recovering from holiday indulgences and resolving to be healthier and happier. Eating more plant-based foods is one of the best ways to achieve those resolutions. Since I went vegan 17 years ago, I haven’t experienced it as a restriction at all. It isn’t that I can’t eat meat, dairy products or eggs. I choose not to because more than the tastes of those foods, I value a healthier body, the creativity of making vegan meals, and most of all, living in alignment with my values. Fairness, compassion, abundance, and a flourishing environment: who doesn’t ...

California deserves aid after wildfires

As the tragedy continues to unfold in Los Angeles, Congressional Republicans are declaring that no aid should go to help the victims or to the state because of the politics of California. A few facts: California has a GDP of $4 trillion, yes trillion dollars. They also pay more in taxes than any other state. As such, the way that funds are distributed from one state to another means that California subsidizes most other states. And yes, that means primarily red states with low GDP and low tax receipts. So the politics of California are critical to the survival of many red states. ...