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Opinion

Dispose of all nuclear arsenals

Letters to the Editor

According to my research, currently nine countries are in possession of nuclear weapons. These countries are Russia, U.S., China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. But the U.S. and Israel are determined that Iran will never have one. The obvious reason, of course, is that they would use it against Israel. The common sense, fair solution to Iran is for all nine countries to give up their nuclear arsenal, thus making the entire world a much safer place. To expect Iran not to have a nuclear weapon, when nine other countries have them, would seem to leave ...

Prison plans should shift to ‘Go’ status

Editorials

Although the word “contingent” looms large over the proposed Blair County Prison-replacement project, action on May 12 by the county prison board has moved the project a significant step closer to groundbreaking. The word “contingent” is relevant because the land for the new prison, although selected, has yet to be purchased. If the purchase were to “disintegrate,” it would be a setback guaranteeing anyone’s guess as to what would happen next — and when. However, judging from information released by the county, it seems that the purchase is on track for ...

Theft: Cowardice without character

Letters to the Editor

Minnesota fraud is the visible tip of a much larger fraud iceberg. According to the GAO, federal fraud costs taxpayers between $233 billion and $521 billion annually — sums so enormous they exceed the yearly budgets of multiple Cabinet agencies combined. This is not simple waste or bureaucratic inefficiency; this is deliberate theft from hardworking Americans. The recent decision by the Trump administration to freeze $260 million in federal payments to Minnesota highlights just how serious the problem has become. Federal officials allege that fraudulent social service disbursements in ...

Wealth inequality at concerning levels

Letters to the Editor

Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and higher education, a small percentage of the population continues to accumulate enormous wealth at a historic pace. Hard work should provide stability and opportunity, yet many full-time workers are living paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, large corporations and the wealthiest Americans often benefit from tax loopholes and economic policies that widen the gap ...

Congress must care more about the FAA

Editorials

Most jobs have a level of stress associated with them. That’s a routine part of the work world, no matter what the occupation. However, when measuring and comparing levels of stress, the job of air-traffic controllers stands out as being high up in the degree of most stressful. That’s because of the many lives dependent on flawless, precise performance, even under the most difficult circumstances —and, indeed, almost routinely, there are many difficult situations controllers must navigate on virtually a moment’s notice and with no “window” for second-guessing whatever other ...

Logan, Antis need to enforce codes

Letters to the Editor

Being a resident of Antis Township, I am appalled at the condition of some of the residential properties I drive by almost every day on my trips into Altoona. What I observe are houses that are in total disrepair on their exteriors. The land these homes sit on are often littered with garbage, refuse, trash and rubbish. Most likely, the residents own these properties, but for some reason, they live in squalor. The condition of the exteriors and land surrounding these homes is a good indication that the homes’ interiors reflect the same unhealthy and unsafe conditions. Both Antis and ...