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We should vote on ideas, not physical likeness

Editorials

MS NOW commentator Ali Velshi was not alone in complaining that women are “underrepresented” in Congress. It is true that women account for 51% of the U.S. population but only 29% of the House members. To which I say, “So what.” Basing the notion of fair representation on racial, gender or ethnic identity needs to be put in a folder — a paper folder stored in a dusty steel file cabinet. Most of us have additional identities — as electricians, teachers, environmentalists, grandparents, bus drivers, stock investors, union members. Who would represent me under this ...

Trusting God in a time like this

Editorials

As I have begun my summer 3-mile power-walking workouts on a commercial street in Reynoldsburg, where I pass a Waffle House and a Tim Hortons, I noticed two large billboard signs taking aim at President Donald Trump and the economy. Both signs depict Trump in a petulant manner, with one asking why our vacations are so expensive this year. The other asks why grocery prices are so high. These questions are aimed at the mostly working-class population in this area that lives in nearby apartment complexes, and it’s pretty obvious that the sponsors of these messages are not Trump ...

Orchids & onions

Editorials

ORCHID: To Mary Ann Franklin, the compassionate grand dame of Warren, for her years of devoted and selfless community service to the city. Franklin, at a spry 99 years young, rightly received a key to the city and a proclamation of honor last week from Mayor Doug Franklin (no relation to Mary Ann). Over the years, she has worked tirelessly in instilling pride in the city, beautifying urban areas with community gardens, reinvigorating Quinby Park to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, serving on city boards and advocating strongly for Juneteenth observances in the community ...

A word from the other side

Editorials

President Trump and Vice President Vance spent most of last week trying to convince Americans the “Memo of Understanding” (MOU) with Iran is a good deal for the United States and world peace. That’s not what Iran believes. Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has hailed the MOU as a major “victory” for Tehran. The “greater jihad” would now begin, he promised, according to a speech aired by Iranian state media last week. You read that correctly. The greater Jihad. To some this might sound like the same ...

Taking a deeper dive into Trump Reflecting Pool mess

David Skolnick

There are two variations on an old saying about the Mahoning Valley and news. One is “All roads lead to the Mahoning Valley,” and the other is “There’s always a Valley connection.” While it’s certainly not the case, it does happen considerably more times than you’d expect — and rarely is it good news. The latest, of course, is the controversial project by President Donald Trump to the iconic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which ended up turning it green because of algae blooms. The federal government gave two no-bid contracts for this project. The smaller of ...

Democratic Socialists on the rise

Editorials

The story of the year in American politics so far, after Donald Trump ’s falling popularity, is the rise of the Democratic Socialists. Their influence bears watching as the next generation tries to fulfill Bernie Sanders’s goal of taking over the Democratic Party. Avowed Democratic Socialists of America candidate Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic nomination for mayor of Washington, D.C., last week, and it wasn’t close. The 38-year-old won 53.5%-35.9% over mainstream black Democrat Kenyan McDuffie, and she did better in some upscale white areas than in the city’s black ...