Bob Scroggins’ Feb. 21 Letter to the Editor is a perfect example as to why a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. As a pharmacist who is qualified to speak about drugs, I could rip apart this inaccurate letter, sentence by sentence. For example, the dramatic opening of the woman literally ripping her eyeballs out – what does that have to do with Big Pharma? You wrote “Some 30 years ago depression, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep, were accepted as part of life.” First, antidepressants and anxiolytics have been around for about 70 years. As for “an accepted way of life,” how do you think people handled their mental conditions back then? They self-medicated with everything from booze to street drugs – or they committed suicide. As for the kid who took 2 Zoloft tablets and then went around stabbing people, antidepressants can take 3 weeks to enter the central nervous system. So, you cannot blame it on Zoloft. You also wrote, “at least 36 school shootings and acts of violence have been committed by students taking or withdrawing from psychotropic meds, resulting in 80 killed and 172 wounded.” How do you know this? You never cited the source. Reckless words.

Years ago, depression and other mental illnesses had a stigma, making people ashamed and afraid to tell their doctors. So they went untreated. I have been taking an antidepressant for about 3 years now. Let me tell you that it changed my life for the better within several weeks. I do not roam Susky County with a hunting knife searching for victims. In other words, depression, bipolar disease, anxiety, all have a biochemical basis – and it is one you know nothing about.

You have done a bad thing, Bob. If just one person goes off their medication because of your irresponsible missive, then you should be held accountable. You committed a disservice to the community with your uninformed prattle. Psychotropic drugs have saved countless lives. Bob, when you are sitting on the toilet banging out your next Letter to the Editor, pick a topic you know something about. Stop practicing medical terrorism!

Sincerely,
Dr. Ron Gasbarro
New Milford, PA

The recently released Federal budget makes the same mistake that the Reagan and W. Administrations made: Combining large tax cuts for the rich with huge increases in spending, particularly on the military. The result in the first two instances were record deficits and a Stock Market crash. Anyone who thinks it will be different this time is fooling themselves.

The increase in military spending is particularly unnecessary. We already spend more on our military than the next six countries combined. Any more will not make us more secure. Especially given the long-established reality that the Pentagon wastes, and flat-out throws away, money better than anyone. To cite just one example, the F-35 plane that costs an obscene $100 million apiece (bad cost overrun) when they're not even as good as the F-16. Why do we do it? Corporate welfare. Oh well, it's better than poor people getting anything. (Like food stamps.)

The most fervent supporters of the current Commander-in-Chief are evangelical Protestants. They happily overlook the abundant evidence he's a reprobate (paying off a porn star mistress, for one) and cherish the delusion that he's a True Man of God. His mere pretense is sufficient. For them, I'd like to suggest that any military spending at all is unnecessary. The military itself is unneeded. Instead, let's have a Faith-Based Defense. Trust in God. With God on our side, our defense is sure. Anyone who rejects this idea simply does not really believe in God. So prove you do by shutting down the Pentagon.

Sincerely,
Stephen Van Eck
Rushville, PA

It’s Time for the Governors Across the United States to Step Up to the Plate

As a result of the continued decline in milk prices being paid to dairy farmers all across the United States, and because of the lack of appropriate action being taken by the US Congress to correct these inequities facing the majority of dairy farmers, the Progressive Agriculture Organization (Pro-Ag) is urging all 48 Governors in the continental US to declare a state of emergency in the rural areas of their individual states.

Pro-Ag is urging the Governors to work with all state and Federal elected, or appointed officials to take immediate action to correct the inequities facing the majority of dairy farmers.

In a letter to the Governors, Pro-Ag lists the number of dairy farmers in state, along with the approximate amount of milk being produced in that state.

Pro-Ag also illustrates the total dollar losses to the dairy farmers.

According to Arden Tewksbury, Manager of Pro-Ag, we use a multiplier of five on the losses being experienced by dairy farmers to determine the extreme loss to the rural economy across the US.

For instance, in Pennsylvania there are approximately 6500 dairy farmers and they produce nearly 10 billion pounds of milk each year.  Pennsylvania dairy farmers are losing $500 million dollars annually in lost revenue, and the rural area in Pennsylvania is losing $2.5 billion dollars annually.

Working with officials of the Economic Research Service (a division of the USDA), we have determined the real national average cost of producing milk to be $21.87 per cwt. (hundredweight).  Using the weighted average prices paid to dairy farmers in all ten Federal Orders, for 2015 the price was $16.70, 2016 $15.38, and 2017 $16.96, and the average for the three years was $16.35.

The latest pounds of milk being produced in the US is approximately 212 billion pounds.  Using a $5 per cwt. loss means the underpayment to dairy farmers is at least $10.6 billion dollars per year.

Equally important, the loss to the rural economy is at least $53 billion dollars.  However, since we started this project, new figures illustrate that dairy farmers are now currently losing $6 dollars per cwt., and if this continues, the dairy farmers’ underpayment could reach $13 billion dollars, along with the rural loss reaching $63 billion dollars per year.  This is totally unacceptable!

Pro-Ag can be reached at 570-833-5776.

Sincerely,
Andrew Tewksbury
Meshoppen, PA

We Recently Celebrated is World Thinking Day, and the Girl Scouts in my community as well as many others talked about the IMPACT of Girl Scouts on the world. As a 14 year old Cadette Girl Scout, one of the things that has impacted me the most was Camp Archbald.

My first time away from home without parents was a trip to camp. When I was ten, I attended Camp Archbald for 5 days of resident camp. That week at camp brought me out of my shell. It was the first time I had met new people, and I enjoyed it so much. For the 5 days I was there, I enjoyed many activities that I would not have otherwise tried. I looked up to older Scouts, counselors, and CITS. I heard many girls talk about how they want to be counselors one day, but if Camp closes, this can unfortunately not happen. 

The weekend after I attended resident camp, I also attended Troop Adventure Camp with 3 other girls from my troop. This weekend is one of my fondest memories with these three girls. We encouraged each other to climb the tower and spent time on the lake just enjoying the view and being together. 

Also, for the past 3 years, I have helped adults in my service unit plan a Community Adventure Camp. This May will be our 4th annual camp, and this, too has changed me. In the few times I have been to Community Camp, I have seen amazing things. I watch younger girls enjoy nature, which is an uncommon occurrence in our generation. At camp, we can be ourselves and be free to learn about what we want to. Helping to plan camp made me and other girls in my troop realize how good it feels to give back to our community and we enjoy seeing how happy our camp makes girls. If camp closes, girls cannot enjoy camp like we have, which would be upsetting because it changed many of us for the better. 

I enjoy camp experiences a lot, and I look forward to attending them. Due to the distance between where I live and Camp Small Valley, I would most likely not be able to attend events if Camp Archbald were to close. Many girls who enjoy camp in my area would have to drive two and a half hours even for a small day program.

Girl Scouts of all ages enjoy saying “RAH RAH for Archbald,” but if Camp has to close the future generations cannot celebrate the history of Scouts in our area, as Camp Archbald is the second oldest camp in the whole country. 

Sincerely,
Katelyn Ainey
Cadette Girl Scout Troop 50683