Joe R. Parzych: Fewer terms, fresh ideas needed in Congress

I think it’s time for fewer terms, young blood and fresh ideas in Congress, including politics. I think it’s time to clean house of corruption and the mess of both the Democratic and Republican parties. It’s about time we hear the unenrolled politicians’ voices and they come out to run against the two-party system.

Jessica Duplin: Grateful to live in Massachusetts with elected officials who care about people

I am writing to express my gratitude to the offices of Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, as well as state Reps. Katherine Clark, Bill Keating, and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern for taking the time to meet with me this week to discuss the passage of the Safe Step Act, investment in headache/pain research through the NIH, and robust funding for headache care for our veterans.

Judith Davidov: How could this happen?

In 1975-76, I was a Fulbright scholar in Germany, teaching for a year at a German university. It was close enough in time to the Holocaust to stir feelings of fear (some professors still dressed up in SS uniforms on weekends).

Bob Williford: Living in ‘Mean Times’

I had decided the times we live in now would be remembered as “The (2nd) Dark Ages.” But every day, as news stories about executive orders to suffocate another government agency surface, there’s always the civics lesson disclaimer that “only Congress can abolish a government agency,” followed by the phrase “but in the meantime … ” firings and funding stops effectively make it impossible for agencies to provide needed services to citizens.

My Turn: My missing security, peace and belonging

By MARGOT FLECK

My Turn: Forgotten foes — The return of preventable infections

By DR. JULIA FISCHER

My Turn: Racist history of US must be taught, but in all its complexity

By WALLIS REID

My Turn: The threat to constitutional rule

By CARL DOERNER

Dr. Joseph Viadero: Franklin County Y launches 2025 annual campaign

Today, Franklin County’s Y launches its 2025 Annual Campaign with the goal of raising $160,000. The Y has made great strides toward becoming a true anchor institution in Franklin County. We continue to earn the trust of members of all age groups by upgrading our offerings, improving our facilities, and creating an inclusive, diverse community.

Julia Duncan: Delighted with USAID purge

The Recorder’s March 11 story “Rubio says purge of USAID is complete, made my day. What’s the big deal? People get fired every day everywhere for all sorts of reasons. The only people upset about radical leftists losing their jobs are radical leftists. The rest of us are deliriously happy over current events.

Tom Peabody: Trump delivering for you

To all my Democratic friends, please ease up on yourselves over Donald Trump being president. Reading the Recorder makes it obvious that you all seem to be in a state of despair over what he is doing. It should be more obvious to you that this is what our country is all about and what the majority of patriotic Americans want.

Pushback: The government’s fake war against waste, fraud, and abuse

By AL NORMAN

Like a dog chasing its tail, our federal government has been chasing “waste, fraud and abuse” for decades.

Linda Clark: No to the school budget

Once again the schools are looking for more money. Let me remind the public (taxpayers) that the 2024-25 school budget was handed to them. They created six new principal positions to the tune of $600,000 and purchased two new transportation vehicles, while paying the church over $20,000 each school year to park in their lot.

My Turn: A triumph for the arts

By LEE WICKS

Michael Moore: All Starbucks, really?

With all of the events and turmoil in the U.S. at the moment, the paper’s devoting space to articles on the opening of a corporate coffee shop, even detailing what was served first [“Starbucks pours its first cup,” Recorder, March 14].

David Kempf: Trump’s opposition dumb

Donald J. Trump is so blessed to have the dumbest opposition. 

Jeremy Williams: It’s an ugly world, it’s a beautiful world

The contrast between good and evil is just a mindset away. It is true, it can be a very ugly world. As is also true, it can be a very beautiful world. It’s all about our mindset.

My Turn: A duty to call out demeaning immigrants and the rule of law

By DAVID E. SULLIVAN

The following was excerpted from a talk given by Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan at the Northampton St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at the Hotel Northampton on Monday, March 17.

My Turn: Playing with the truth not funny now

By LOUISE DOUD

Conor Power: Trump is amazing (in a bad way)

In less than a month, President Donald Trump has changed our country from the defender of the free world and democracy into a pariah nation aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s despicable regime. Trump has alienated and demeaned our neighbors and threatened our allies in Europe. He is intent on extorting Ukraine’s minerals and rights while blaming Ukraine for starting the war, all because his ego was damaged when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not perform an illegal act for him.