Glenn Mollette

EDITORIAL: America’s Crumbling Bridges, Can We Save Ourselves?

EDITORIAL - The Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh's Frick Park collapsed last Friday morning, January 28th with several vehicles, including a Port Authority bus, on the span at the time. The bridge that collapsed is known as the Fern Hollow Bridge, used by an estimated 14,500 vehicles daily. (From Pittsburgh Action 4)

Ten people were injured. No one was killed when the bridge buckled at 6:39 a.m., officials said, though four people were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. President Biden who was ironically visiting the area warned that the country might not be so lucky next time. “We don't need headlines saying that someone was killed when the next bridge collapses,” Biden said. (Washington Post)

EDITORIAL: America Needs Thanksgiving

EDITORIAL - America has been through a tough time. A national election separated friends and family, divided churches, and took over our media. We’ve been intoxicated with poisonous rhetoric and toxic street gatherings that led to more division, injuries, and even death.

Americans horrifically viewed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and said we aren’t going to take that anymore.

EDITORIAL: Go to Work and Grow Your Financial Security

EDITORIAL - Working a job that pays you money is your best assurance for financial security. In 2021 manufacturers, construction, transportation companies, any entity that sells products, drivers and almost all employers are begging for workers.

Many Americans were assisted by the large unemployment payout of the pandemic. This was initially helpful. Many people such as restaurant workers and others had lost their jobs. The flush of cash from the Government kept families fed and financially stable. There has been a downside to this as now manufacturing has slowed down so much that trucks and cars have often been delayed from service because of the stall in manufacturing parts.

EDITORIAL: Graduation and Your Destination

EDITORIAL - Families across America are celebrating high school and college graduations. American young adults are now faced with going to work or pursuing more education. Employers across America are looking for workers. Colleges are looking for students. Will you spend $25,000 to $60,000 per year to go to school? Or, will you go to work and earn $25,000 to $60,000 or more?

Some of America’s graduates will find jobs working for state or federal government entities. One acquaintance went to work for her state government and retired by the time she was 46. With a full state retirement benefit, she started a part-time business that seems to do well. She did not have one day of a college education. She started out at an entry-level job but worked hard, showed up, and received several promotions that provided her with a good income and a very good government retirement.

EDITORIAL: Your House and Building Financial Security

EDITORIAL - As we approach Memorial Day, give thanks for our soldiers who gave and are giving sacrificially for our freedom. One of the freedoms we enjoy is the freedom to own a house. The greatest asset of most people is the roof over their heads. Your house may be worth more than all of your cash, savings accounts and in some cases retirement funds combined.

If your house is paid for then congratulations to you. You have achieved a beautiful piece of the American dream. When I was 26 years old, I bought a house on a land contract. The house cost $80,000. Interest rates were 17% back then and a man sold it to me for no money down and 10% interest rate. The rate then was good and it was good for him. He was using the sale to fund his retirement for 20 years at about $800 per month.