Today's Opinions

One of the warmest feelings this time of year is sitting down for dinner with family and friends and celebrating the season.

But, not everyone has the means to provide a hearty Christmas dinner. Unemployment, disability, sickness and the infirmities of age are the Grinches that so often rob this time of cheer.

That’s where some true holiday heroes come in.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Chairman Kevin Brady of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Chairman Tom Price of the House Budget Committee, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, are among Republican leaders who support legislation to privatize Medicare by converting it to a “premium support” system.
I urge your newspaper to editorialize against their efforts to change Medicare to a “voucher” plan that will raise the cost of health care for seniors.

I recently attended a Shop Local Kickoff event, featuring state and local proclamations highlighting the importance of shopping local brick and mortar retail stores. The event made me think about my holiday shopping.
This year, I’m challenging myself to make local purchases and encourage everyone else to do the same. I say challenge because I get it – it’s often faster and less expensive to go online. But that route wastes our power to use our purchases to make a difference in our communities.