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Musk’s worthy DOGE spotlight and potential fiscal path forward

Last Wednesday night, the world’s wealthiest man announced that his sojourn in the nation’s capital is almost over. “As my scheduled time as a special government employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President (Donald Trump) for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Elon Musk posted to X, the social media platform he owns. While Musk was quick to add that “the (Department of Government Efficiency) mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk’s departure will represent the effective end of DOGE as we ...

Honor veterans every day

It happens twice a year with predictable precision. In May, flags appear along streets and in cemeteries, fluttering in the late spring breeze. In November, parades form, speeches echo, and “Thank you for your service” returns to the national script. Memorial Day and Veterans Day give us a ritual—a way to say thank you, to remember. But for millions of veterans, service did not follow a holiday schedule. Their sacrifice did not pause between commemorations. The question is simple: should our gratitude be limited to two dates on a calendar? Memorial Day and Veterans Day have ...

Trump, Senate should work on big tax bill

In the past week, as never before, President Donald Trump showed mastery of the legislative process. On Tuesday, when his gargantuan tax bill was stalled, he went to Capitol Hill to deliver a double-barreled message. To the fiscal hawks, he said not to “f---around with Medicaid.” To blue-state Republicans, he warned against holding out for further increases in caps on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Again and again, to advance his One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump capitalized on his acolytes’ love and fear. Opposing the bill would be “ the ultimate betrayal,” the White ...

Finding your path

As high schools across the area prepare for commencement, graduates are realizing a new chapter of their lives is about to begin. They will not be alone. As seniors walk across the stage, they’ll be cheered on by loved ones in the audience who have been supporting them along the way. They, too, will be navigating a new stage of their lives. For the graduates entering a new era of independence and the parents who got them there, we offer some words of advice. To our high school graduates: Congratulations! High school is done. You’ve made it. Now comes the looming question: ...

AI can’t cure loneliness epidemic

Mark Zuckerberg is right that our nation is beset by an epidemic of loneliness. People of every age now too often find themselves isolated from family, with too few friends and little to keep them company but the screens in their hands, on their desks and on their walls. But to Meta’s chief executive, every problem in the world is a nail and more technology is the hammer. Even by Zuckerberg’s standards, his recent comments about AI and loneliness were striking for their deep misunderstanding of what humanity really needs, which is genuine care, intimacy and love from other human ...

Best adventures are closer than you think

Summer approaches as school doors close across Mifflin County. Families face a familiar question with new economic dimensions: Where to vacation? Gas prices hover near $4 per gallon. Airfares have increased 30% since 2023. Hotel rates in popular destinations exceed pre-pandemic levels by 25%. These financial realities transform vacation planning from exciting to anxiety-inducing for many households. Enter the staycation — a vacation spent exploring attractions near home without expensive travel costs. This approach offers more than budget relief; it provides opportunities to ...