Op/Ed: The Declaration of Independence — Proof of Our National Identity

By Christopher P. Gerber, Esquire Christopher P. Gerber America is 249 years young.  On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress separated from Great Britain by approving a Resolution proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, declaring “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and...

‘No Kings’ protests show that Americans will stand up for the Constitution

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social It was the ultimate split screen moment that is now so telling about the state of American politics: a parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army on one screen. Millions of Americans participating in the “No Kings” protest, peacefully, on another. And a third featuring a manhunt for a man alleged to have...

Op/Ed: Putting patients first — the value of a physician-led health care team

By Heather Beauparlant, DO, MBA, FAAFP, President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians Heather Beauparlant, DO, MBA, FAAFP In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, two fundamental principles should always guide our decisions: do no harm and put patients’ interests first. As a family physician, I have worked alongside skilled nurse practitioners (NPs) throughout my career, and I have...

Trump tariff plan is nothing short of insane

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social I may not have been the best college student, but I managed to attend enough classes to learn about the negative economic impact of tariffs in the 1890s and 1930s — the tariffs and the resulting freeze to world trade tanked the economy in both eras causing a depression. Despite President Donald Trump claiming the the 1890s were a “golden...

Letter: Throwaway clothing culture is bad for the environment

To The Editor, That $5 t-shirt might be costing the planet a whole lot more. The introduction of micro trends into the fashion industry has changed the way we produce and buy clothing. Clothing manufacturers are keeping up with consumer demands for these low-priced articles of clothing, but at what cost? Throwaway clothing culture has become a huge player in climate change from overflowing landfills,...

Trump, Musk aren’t reforming government, they’re looting it

By Mike McGann, Editor The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social Maybe you saw the headlines: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a number of Chester County agricultural facilities recently and appears to have taken some workers into custody, setting up the potential for local chaos and spoiled crops in the coming weeks. Random, nonsensical firings have occurred across the federal government...

Pay attention: we’re in uncharted territory

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social It is becoming clear what a bizarre time we find ourselves living in: an unelected billionaire rooting through much of our private data for no particular reason, ICE (and fake ICE) agents roaming the Chester County looking for undocumented aliens and just a general state of chaos and Constitution-busting. In a few short weeks, the United States...

Sometimes, the best way to respond is with silence

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social If you read social media, as I do, there is a lot of doom posting about the return of Donald Trump to the White House. And yes, for those of us not in the billionaire class, it is likely going to suck on some level for most of the next four years. Yes, Trump is corrupt, incompetent and wildly immoral. And, of course, a convicted felon. A lot...

With Trump’s economic plans coming into focus, Chester County must prepare for pain

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social If incoming President Donald Trump enacts some of the policies he says he’s going to, we can expect economic pain here in Chester County. A lot. Rounding up millions of immigrants (in some cases without regard to their citizenship or residency status) will devastate multiple local small businesses — crops will go unpicked, building projects...

When life refocuses you on what really matters

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social It’s at times like this when life slaps you in the forehead by surprise and refocuses you on what matters. As you read this, I’m at Paoli Hospital awaiting transfer Monday morning to Lankenau Hospital for quadruple coronary bypass on Wednesday. It is a bit scary (and amazingly all started with a back issue) and it tends to focus you on what...