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Opinion

It’s OK not to be OK with this

Letters to the Editor

I am a proud American who has watched a number of happenings since January 2025. I have been surprised and appalled. Abrupt firing of federal employees, and the elimination of important departments. Withholding funds to states when the monies have already been allocated. Republicans in the House not showing up for work for over six weeks and still getting paid. Withholding food benefits from Americans when there are contingent funds available. Not paying Federal workers, expecting them to show up for work for over six weeks. Tearing down a part of our White House without proper ...

State budget process needs an overhaul

Editorials

Pennsylvania finally has a 2025-26 state budget — a $50.1 billion behemoth approved Nov. 12, the Legislature having missed the constitutionally mandated budget-preparation deadline of June 30 by almost 4.5 months. State taxpayers, who usually are quick to forget the frustrations and hardships tied to budget stalemates like the one just ended, probably already have shifted their attention totally away from what just occurred. They likely will remember even less about the unconscionable, maddening stalemate by the time for them to vote next year. Next year’s elections will decide ...

Who is the real threat to democracy?

Letters to the Editor

U.S. citizens voted Trump in as our 47th President, but the Democrats constantly say that the citizens don’t want Trump and the Republican agenda. They have fought Trump by hook or crook for over 10 years, starting with the Hillary Clinton influenced “Russian Collusion” hoax with the help of the DOJ, FBI, CIA and the main media that ran with it. We had the FBI and the 50+ signatures who claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation. During Biden’s reign, his administration had the Epstein files and did nothing with them. If there was any Trump dirt in them, ...

US leads in medical bankruptcies

Letters to the Editor

Another first for America First: We lead the world in medical bankruptcies, with 66.5 % of our population being affected. Way behind, at 19% is Canada, followed by Australia at 10% and the United Kingdom at a mere 8.2%. Thanks to MAGA’s One Big Beautiful Bill, look for this country’s lead to grow exponentially, which means “in a way that becomes quicker and quicker as something that increases becomes larger.” Jack Troy Huntingdon

Airport’s success is gift to region

Editorials

Count the Altoona-Blair County Airport as an early holiday gift-giver to this region, as well as to potentially many more places far beyond. The gift it has provided ­— this month, well before the placing of traditional holiday gifts under Christmas trees — is the great news about increased passenger numbers already recorded plus predictions that those upbeat numbers will be topped in coming months and, hopefully, beyond. Besides the numbers themselves, though, part of the gift to people who fly into and out of the airport is added confidence that the local air service upon which ...

Fascism: ‘One Ring to rule them all’

Letters to the Editor

What is fascism? Here are some definitions: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. Extremely authoritarian, intolerant or oppressive ideas or behavior, very intolerant or domineering views or practices in a particular area. The world today is leaning to this right-wing form of government. In this country the Supreme Court, the Congress and the Presidency appear to be controlled by corporate and wealthy interests using the above definitions for their own interests at the rest of the country’s disadvantage. The world today ...