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A real catastrophe in the making

It is doubtful the late Sen. Everett Dirksen, R-Ill., would have foreseen a time when a bit of sarcasm attributed to him would become obsolete. Sometime during the 1960s, it is said, Dirksen warned against apathy regarding the national debt by commenting, “A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon, you’re talking real money.” But the B-word means nothing in Washington, these days. Now, it’s a trillion here, a trillion there ... and still, no one seems to be worried. A few people are. They warn that the national debt is a millstone around the necks of our children ...

Praying for a peaceful election

Unless the Nov. 3 presidential election is decided decisively, one way or the other, there is a distinct possibility of civil unrest in some of the nation’s cities. Both federal law enforcement officials and their counterparts in some states recognize that and are taking steps to be prepared for it. And unfortunately, because of COVID-19, it is likely the potential for violence will be longer than a night or two after Nov. 3. In some states, mail-in ballots arriving a week or more after Election Day are to be counted, in compliance with those states’ laws. Regardless of one’s ...

Turning to violence over politics is un-American

If the authorities are correct in their allegations against a group accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the 13 men ought to be viewed with a mixture of horror, disgust. Real Americans do not attempt to change either society or government by force. Those who do so, no matter how foolish and, well, stupid they appear should be punished regardless of their ideology. Regardless of how you view her method of governing, Whitmer is absolutely right in describing those involved in the Michigan plot as “domestic terrorists.” State and federal authorities ...

High-tech weapon deployed in fight against child abuse

Among the very worst evils in our world is sexual abuse of children. But many of the predators engaged in it have an enemy powerful enough to strike fear in them. Operating far enough under the radar that we doubt many people have heard of it, an organization in Boca Raton, Florida, has a worldwide reach against those who victimize children. It is the Child Rescue Coalition. An Associated Press story last week revealed some of the good being done by the CRC. Datelined Lyon, France, the story was about police in that country arresting 61 people on suspicion of involvement in a child ...

Bureaucracy has no place in vaccine availability

When will we have an effective, safe, vaccine against COVID-19? That depends. Federal public health officials who are in the know and without any political agendas have said deliveries of vaccine can be expected sometime in January. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts a vaccine could be approved by the end of the year, but points out it will take time to distribute. Dr. Moncef Slaoui, described by The Associated Press as “leading the government’s vaccine effort,” elaborated on Friday. He said researchers may know as early as later this month whether one ...

Voters are front line against election errors

Well, so much for questions about whether enormous mistakes may occur in handling presidential election ballots. One already has. It was reported last week that nearly 50,000 — 50,000! ­— voters in Franklin County, Ohio, received incorrect mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 election. The county is home to Ohio’s capital, Columbus. Franklin County election officials mailed out about 240,000 ballots. But, they said, someone made a mistake in changing the setting on a machine used to insert ballots into envelopes. As a result, nearly 50,000 people received ballots including the ...