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Enjoy Thanksgiving; ditch the negativity

Editorials

A front-page article in the Wall Street Journal’s Nov. 21 edition said middle class U.S. residents are weary — buckling under the financial stress from inflation. Early on, the article made the point that “after nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners thought life would be more affordable by now.” But, the article continued, “costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020, and even though the inflation rate is below its recent 2022 high, certain essentials like coffee, ground beef and car repairs are up markedly this year.” A ...

AP is standing for your right to speak freely

Editorials

The Associated Press is back in a courtroom Monday defending itself and our principles against the White House, continuing to fight for the right of the press and public to speak freely without being targeted by their government based on its preferences. This is not a controversial idea. Yet this foundational American freedom remains under threat. It’s why AP took a stand nine months ago when the government blocked us from covering presidential events because of what we call a body of water. We strongly believe this case could have much wider implications, not only for other news ...

GOP needs to care about suffering

Letters to the Editor

Everyone wants what’s best for themselves and their families. We try to elect candidates who will work to make our lives better. That’s why it’s so hard to understand the greed and cruelty of Trump and elected Republicans focused only on their own self-interests while causing tremendous suffering for so many Americans. The Republican “Big Beautiful Bill” extends another huge tax break for Trump and his fellow billionaires, ballooning our national debt by trillions. It causes children to go hungry withholding SNAP food assistance and closes rural hospitals. ACA health ...

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, ...