Americans are in debt and the vultures are circling

August 4, 2021

Americans are now deeper in debt than at any other time in our nation’s history. Especially acute are mounting debts on past-due mortgage payments, student loans and medical bills. In fact, medical debt is one of the most often-mentioned causes of personal bankruptcies in the U.S., and the situation has only gotten worse during the pandemic. So, is it any wonder that criminal minds would turn to scams to exploit those suffering from financial woes? “Do not hang up,” the robocall voice sternly instructs. “Your case has been referred to law enforcement for nonpayment. A ...

Public health officials conceal hospital infection outbreaks

July 31, 2021

Public health officials struggle with telling the truth. They seem to think people don’t deserve to know. At the beginning of COVID-19, they told us we didn’t need masks instead of admitting there was a mask shortage. Last week, health officials announced outbreaks of a hospital infection that’s highly contagious and untreatable by any medication. One-third of patients who get it die within 30 days. You wouldn’t want to be in a hospital overrun with this germ. Here’s the catch: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is hiding which hospitals and nursing ...

What happens when government doesn’t adhere to its own laws?

July 30, 2021

In October of 2020, 14 people were arrested in Michigan and accused of being participants in a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The governor had imposed draconian restrictions on religious, travel and commercial activities as a means, she claimed, to stem the spread of COVID-19. All of her restrictions were eventually found by courts to be unconstitutional under both the Michigan and the U.S. Constitutions. Sixteen plotters were supposedly planning to try the governor in a makeshift court and, if convicted, to impose some sort of punishment. Before the plotters could spring into ...

Ben & Jerry’s takes liberal distorted worldview global

July 29, 2021

Ben & Jerry’s, noted for its ice cream made from “contented cows,” has produced not such contented consumers in many circles following its announcement to stop selling its ice cream in Israel’s West Bank and in East Jerusalem. Although the announcement calls these areas “occupied territories,” more accurate would be to describe their status as “disputed” territories regarding Israel’s sovereignty. These are areas captured by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. Let’s keep in mind that Israel has been in a battle for survival since its founding in 1948. ...

US Constitution says to treat all defendants identically

July 28, 2021

Equal treatment under the law, right? I think every American agrees that when it comes to law enforcement, all citizens should be treated the same way. So, how to explain the disparity in post-arrest treatment between last year’s George Floyd protesters and this year’s detainees from the breach at the U.S. Capitol? Nothing that follows should be construed as condoning the behavior of those who forcibly invaded our most iconic building on Jan. 6, 2021. We were all shocked watching the live TV coverage of the mob, literally, breaking into the Capitol and vandalizing the interior ...

Countdown to Goose Day

July 27, 2021

Nearly every day in the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau office there is some discussion about Goose Day for the coming year. We’re always brainstorming how to improve upon last year’s celebration and draw more out-of-town guests to the area to celebrate with us. But each conversation ultimately comes down to this: We need the community’s help for this quirky and unique holiday to continue to grow. Last year, despite the pandemic, we had a great Goose Day celebration. We saw more new businesses join in on the fun with specials, goose dinners and new events. It’s so ...