As of this writing, Donald Trump is consolidating his hostile takeover of the once proud Republican Party.  But what kind of party is it that he's taking over?

For that, I'd like to cite an Army veteran who told Time Magazine:  "I love Donald Trump because he's politically incorrect.  We're going to go with this guy sink or swim, and we're not going to change our views.  It doesn't matter.  It's time for us all to do a totally insane thing, because we've lost it all."  Translation:  He's alienated to the point of insanity and just wants to destroy it all.  Do you?

Trump is also the candidate of White Supremacists.  They've been seen distributing hate literature at his rallies.  There's Jared Taylor, who made robocalls for Trump, who didn't see fit to repudiate his support.  Will you?  Trump was also shockingly slow to disavow the endorsement of David Duke, and then only tepidly.  What is it about Trump that appeals to a Kluxer?

According to Public Policy Polling, 33% of Republicans think that Muslim Americans should not be allowed to practice their religion.  This from a party that whines a lot about Constitutionalism!   Contrary to the Original Intent of the Founding Fathers, Freedom of Religion is to them for Christians only.  This is the same sort of exclusivity that Sharia law holds for Islam.  Cuckoo birds of a feather!

If that weren't bad enough, in another poll by that same organization, 30% of Republicans are in favor of the US bombing the sultanate of Agrabah.  (Are you?)  One wonders what Agrabah did to deserve it.  Especially since they don't exist.  Agrabah is the fictional kingdom in Disney's "Aladdin"!   I guess a large percentage of GOP ignorami thought,  "They sound Muslim.  What the heck-- let's bomb them!"  Doesn't matter whether they're terrorist or not.

I don't know about you, but I'm ashamed for them.

Meanwhile, I can't help but point out an amazing coincidence.  In a previous letter to The Transcript, I suggested that Donald Trump could be found with a dead hooker in his bed and get away with it.  Ten days later, Mr. Humility boasted that he could shoot someone and not lose any voters.  My pride in my own prescience is tempered by my dismay at Trump's growing megalomania.  One of the many character deficiencies in this man that not only are tolerated by his worshipers, but are actually deemed pluses!  That's the kind of party that the GOP has become.  I call on all sane persons of good will to abandon it.  Will you?

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

Dear Parents and Citizens of the Montrose Area School District,

Though many are among the highest paid workers in Susquehanna County, and work only 187 days per year, the union representing the Montrose Area School District teachers has announced an intention to strike on March 29, 2016.

The Board holds the teaching staff in the highest regard, and appreciates the efforts and time they put into educating the children in the district.  The teachers in the Montrose Area School District on average make more money than teachers in other districts in Susquehanna County.  Teachers with 13 years of experience or more in their career make more money than teachers in other more affluent school districts, such as Abington Heights.  The teachers in the Montrose Area School District are among the highest paid in any rural school district in Pennsylvania.  Economic pressures have made it impossible to sustain the benefits growth that has been enjoyed up through the last contract.

The Montrose Area School District is both concerned and frustrated with the Montrose Education Association (MEA) for abandoning negotiations and scheduling a strike.  The Board has made a sustained effort to meet with the MEA representatives as often as possible since formal negotiations began in April of 2015, with the hope that a new contract could be agreed upon prior to the expiration on August 31st, 2015 of the 2011 – 2015 contract.

In its simplest terms, the MEA has been offered a number of proposals, the goal of which would have been to provide more money for salaries by having the teachers participate in a less expensive but high quality health insurance program, and paying a small percentage for their coverage.  Every proposal to work within that budget framework has been rejected by the MEA.  Details of this offer and MEA demands can be found on the district’s website.  (www.masd.info)

Since receiving almost a $1 million bonus for signing gas leases, the District has been forced to spend almost the entire amount to fund the state-mandated pensions.  It is anticipated that once again the signing bonus will be used to fund the pensions, and it is anticipated that for the 3rd year in a row property taxes on Montrose area residents will be raised to the maximum allowed by Act 1 in order to balance the budget.

The union, despite the generous compensation, is apparently showing a willingness to insist on more money at the expense of not just the taxpayers, but also the students of the District as well.  The District is concerned that the current strike notification may not have been put to a vote of the current union membership because in comparison to teachers in surrounding areas, those in the Montrose Area School District with more than 13 years’ experience would appear to be overpaid.  The District also put forth a proposal that would have adjusted the compensation for the newer teachers while leaving the compensation of those already in the highest paid bracket the same.  Again the District is concerned that this proposal may not have been put to a vote of the current union membership.

It is the union and not the District which has abandoned the negotiations which began almost a year ago.  The union by its action also walked away from a fact-finding proceeding by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board which was requested by the District as a next step in the negotiations process.  The only conclusion one can surmise by this rush to issue a strike notice is that the MEA does not want a neutral fact finder analyzing their demands and concluding that the District cannot afford them.

The District would not ordinarily discuss salary negotiations in public, but the union’s decision has required this response from the District.

By law, strike or no strike, the teachers are obligated to provide 180 days of instruction to students before June 30th.  The strike, if carried out, therefore promises to disrupt graduation plans and family activities during the month of June, while guaranteeing that the teachers lose no money from engaging in this strike.

The budget process is again underway, and there is no reason to believe (indeed, it is unlikely) that any state or federally mandated programs will receive any additional funds over the prior year.  The fact that the state has been unable to come to some pension reform makes the likelihood of realizing any pension savings in the near future highly unlikely.

The Board is committed to doing everything reasonable to avoid a strike.  We will continue to do everything possible to benefit our students’ educations without exceeding what the community can bear.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend school board meetings, and to review the budget for the 2016-2017 school year when it is presented.  The Board would also like to hear from the public about any programs which the public feels could be eliminated to meet the MEA demands.

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to reach an equitable agreement for both the teachers and the community.  Please refer to the Montrose Area School District website for additional information and updates during the negotiations process. (www.masd.info)

This response to the union strike announcement has been developed by the entire Montrose Area Board of Education and has been unanimously approved.

Sincerely,

Montrose Area School District Board of Education

The lion bared his fangs and unsheathed his claws during CNN's Republican debate. The big cat turned on his attackers and shredded them.

All online polls ranked Trump in first place.  The averages are 72 percent for Trump and 15 percent for Rubio or Cruz. That's a ratio of 5:1 for Trump.

Trump trounced his opponents. The real estate developer, builder, entrepreneur, and hit TV host with the Midas touch has a quality that all the other Republican candidates lacked: He is a force. On stage, his presence dominates; in a discussion, his view prevails; and when he walks into a room, he fills it.

Nevertheless, Trump was predicted to fade and fail, instead he flourished.

Trump declared his candidacy for president last June. His polls hit 4 percent. In July, it went to 15, then to 20 in August. But that was his plateau. September it rose to 25; a new “plateau.”

October it increased to 30. That was his ceiling; thus far and no further. November it was also 30. Maybe it was Trump's ceiling. But, no. December it increased to 35 and in January, it hit 38 exactly double that of Cruz's second place.

February Trump topped out at 39, more than double Cruz's second place.

Then a new way was discovered to belittle Trump's unstoppable rise.

The reasoning goes like this: If Trump garnered 39 percent of the Republican votes, this means that 61 percent didn't vote for him and were against him. Illogical nonsense, but it played for a while with Karl Rove and Charles Krauthammer.

When a candidate drops out, his supporters may be attracted to several other candidates, including Trump. For example, Chris Christie recently withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump. So it's safe to conclude that many of those who cast their ballots for the New Jersey governor will travel to the Trump camp as well as to some others.

Interesting, but Super Tuesday, March 1, showed with some certainty who will take the oath of office on January 20, 2017.

On Super Tuesday, March 1, 12 states and one US territory cast their votes for what essentially has become a three-man race: Trump, Cruz, and Rubio. It is the biggest single day for candidates to amass delegates.

To win the party's nomination, a Republican candidate must accrue 1,236 delegates. Currently, Trump leads with 82 delegates; Cruz has 17 and Rubio trails with 16.

March 1 would show if March does, indeed, come in like a lion and devours the Democrat's donkey for dinner, before going out like a lamb.

Super Tuesday was also the day that voters could sever the partnership between the multinational corporations and Congress.

Here's how it works. The numbers are as staggering as their implications are frightening.

In 2015, there were 11,465 lobbyists in the nation's capital. They had $3.2 billion at their disposal. If we divide that number by the 535 members of Congress, the quotient would be $600 million per congressman.

It's a sweetheart deal. The mega-corps get the legislation that they want and the congressmen get the cash that they want.

And the interests of the American people? They're right below last place.

It won't be easy. Success is not assured. The collaboration between the multinationals and Congress will “not go gentle into that good night.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to play hardball.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA