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Cutting Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy exists to serve itself, rather than the taxpaying public. Bureaucrats can wield licenses, permits, deadlines and other forms of red tape like precision weapons. Their zeal in doing so has bogged down our economic diversification and growth for far too long. But a plan presented by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., could speed things back up, at least for one sector. The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 is meant to eliminate some of the time and hoops that stall energy projects of all kinds. “The United States of America is blessed with ...

Education

A new school year is just around the corner in West Virginia. As teachers and administrators prepare, it is worth taking a look at how well we’ve been doing for our students. According to WalletHub’s “States with the Best and Worst School Systems (2024),” the answer is not so great. Overall performance put West Virginia at 46th on the list. For those who were bracing for our usual dead last, that number might be a relief, but the scant improvement is not enough. Two bright spots in WalletHub’s report are that the Mountain State ranks first for the lowest dropout rate; and ...

Confusing

At the time when Congress launched the Medicare Advantage program concept several decades ago, the theory in place was insurers would make Medicare more efficient, have an incentive to keep patients healthier and probably save money for the government in the process. Those at the forefront of promoting the concept at that time probably never in their wildest dreams anticipated that one day a major, well-respected national newspaper would have on its front page the headline “Medicare paid $50 billion to insurers for untreated ills.” Yet that was the headline in the July 9 edition ...

Having a Voice

For a brief moment on Sunday following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election in November, Sen. Joe Manchin considered switching parties back to Democrat to explore running for office. That changed a short while later as support coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris, but don’t expect Manchin, I-W.Va., to sit on the sidelines and simply toe the line for any nominee the Democrats put forth. “I am not running for office,” Manchin said Monday on CBS, comments he reiterated several times through the day. What Manchin said he would like to ...

Sad Day

Hopefully, this country has witnessed its last assassination attempt on a political leader or officeholder although, judging from the mood of the United States now and possibly well into the future, that might be too much wishful thinking for which to feel confident and comfortable. Last weekend’s assassination attempt directed at former President Donald Trump, now the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, should cause people of this country to remain anxiety-ridden, albeit vigilant, over what might lie ahead leading up to the Nov. 5 general election. And, concern cannot be limited ...

Boos & Applause

Applause to all the firefighters, from three different counties, and other emergency responders who worked for hours at the site of the industrial yard fire in Elkins Monday. The Elkins Fire Department and a host of other emergency personnel from throughout the area spent most of the day Monday battling the blaze at the building, which is owned by Hamer Pellet Fuel. Additional fire departments from Coalton, Belington and Beverly assisted at the scene, while the Buckhannon Fire Department covered the station for the EFD. The Randolph County Emergency Squad, Elkins City Police, and ...