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We have a democracy, if we can keep it

"A republic, if you can keep it,” Benjamin Franklin famously responded when asked by a Philadelphia socialite what it was that he and the other Founders had wrought. Her question, and his answer, in the 1787 conversation framed the choice for the emerging new country as being between republic and monarchy. Today, in some quarters, the choice is presented differently: We’re a republic, not a democracy, goes a politically fashionable trope that happens to be both factually inaccurate and philosophically ominous. America’s 250th birthday is as good a time as any to remind ...

Evidence, not outrage, wins convictions

Now that the dust has settled on the alleged child predator video that spread across social media last week, one thing has become clear: the criminal justice system ultimately did what many feared it would not. A Lewistown man is now behind bars facing multiple felony charges, and his preliminary hearing has been continued until Aug. 7 as the case moves through the courts. That is the outcome everyone should want. If the allegations are proven in court, a dangerous individual will be held accountable. The arrest is welcome news for a community that was understandably shaken by the ...

Technological improvement for cards a step toward stewardship

State Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, recently brought a development to the public’s attention: The passage of legislation to use chips to encrypt the debit-style cards used by Pennsylvania’s public assistance programs. Flick notes the upgrade will make theft and fraud committed to steal from recipients’ benefits more difficult and also noted that in the past there have been thousands of instances of the use of the “card skimming” tactic to steal from these accounts. We appreciate Flick’s attention to this issue and we appreciate the efforts of the state ...

State needs to use leverage on tuition costs

Penn State, as reported in Friday’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, is increasing tuition for residents by 2.5% and for out-of-state students by 4%. According to Spotlight PA’s article, the university is set to receive $242.1 million from the state — with the possibility of an additional $4 million from an incentive-based program. All of this in addition to the state’s financial obligations for state-system schools like Commonwealth University’s Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses and Millersville and other universities — colleges that are less autonomous from ...

Leaders need to listen to data center concerns

There’s been smoke outside in the air to end the work week. But there was some real fire indoors at a Tuesday meeting where attendees verbally accosted representatives of a company proposing to build a data center in Oxford Township near EHOVE Career Center. There’s a lot to break down here: 1. We think that, first and foremost, any proposed data center — including this potential build by AVAIO Digital — must first do no harm. That can be direct harm to health — hearing damage caused by data centers’ noise is something people often express worry over — or harm to ...

Social media in need of a learner’s permit

Young people entering the workplace need to learn how to navigate the muddy waters of social media. They need to learn how to use it for marketing and sharing crucial information. They need to know when to court interaction and when to act as background. They need to understand that literacy isn’t just about Jane Austen and that bullying can happen online as well as in the school cafeteria. That becomes a priority as Pennsylvania puts in place new require- ments for schools to teach about the mental, psychological and even physical effects of our digital world. The new laws, ...