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Opinion

Data indicates Americans are less optimistic

Editorials

Gallup released 2025 survey data this month from its National Health and Well-Being Index showing a significant drop in Americans’ optimism for the future. Taken from four quarterly surveys conducted last year, a total of 22,125 respondents were asked to “imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top.” They were then asked to select the number that represents where they presently stand. Slightly over 59% of those in the sample size believed their lives would be prosperous in five years. While this number may not seem disturbing at first, Dan ...

Why exactly did they destroy the border?

Editorials

Why would any president destroy the U.S. Southern border? The Left typically "pounces" on anyone daring to suggest that the Joe Biden administration had green-lighted illegal immigration to gain new constituents for agendas that otherwise were without public support. The Left smears critics of open borders as racist conspiracists spreading the "Great Replacement Theory." Yet for years Democrats and leftists themselves had written triumphalist books with titles like "The Emerging Democratic Majority." And often they crowed that "demography is destiny." A few left-wing globalists ...

Liberty without the strings attached

Editorials

“Freedom has more often been lost in small steps by progressive incrementalism, than it has been by catastrophic upheavals such as violence or war.” — James Madison (1751-1836) Last week, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which covers Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, ruled that the problem of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is so acute and vast and the Fourth Amendment so burdensome and time-consuming that it should cut some constitutional corners. The federal judiciary is supposed to be in the business of protecting the rights of individuals from ...

Editorials

Another exercise in nonpartisan cooperation ended sadly, as Donald Trump undoubtedly planned. Every year, the nation’s governors meet with the president to discuss common concerns. Trump had initially banned two Democratic members of the National Governors Association from attending — governors Jared Polis of Colorado and Wes Moore of Maryland. The association’s chair, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, objected to Trump’s banishing of two members. The governors’ gathering is one of the few cross-party events still held at the national level. “He can invite whomever ...

Work to end all violence, chaos at Belmont Pines

Editorials

Judging by the seemingly never-ending string of alarming police calls to Belmont Pines Hospital in Liberty, that behavioral health facility for youth has begun to resemble ground zero for chaos and mayhem in the Mahoning Valley. In recent weeks, township police have been called at least three times to deal with reported assaults, runaways, vandalism and other turmoil. Over the past year, many other disturbing reports have unfolded. Teens have been arrested after countless reported assaults on staff members. Portions of the residential treatment facility have been severely damaged amid ...

Some things are better left unsaid or unposted

Ed Puskas

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” — George Carlin No, I’m not referring to any actual people with that well-known quote from George Carlin, one of the greatest comedians of our time. And I understand that “our time” refers to people of a certain age, commonly referred to in a disparaging manner as “boomers” by folks whose familiarity with the 20th century is questionable at best. I’ve always found it odd that people who remember when things were different are automatically denigrated as “Boomers” ...