What a difference fifty years can make, in two generations we can see great change.

During the 1960’S, one of the great political subjects of the time was, “ old enough to fight, old enough to vote”. Rally after rally, it became one of the key issues of the time for all students to change the law and reduce the voting age from 21 to 18. This was a movement that insisted that those who could be drafted to serve in the armed forces, and fight in Vietnam, should have the right to vote. This movement culminated in the adoption of the 26th amendment to the constitution in 1971.

Today, we have another student movement taking form, that to restrict gun rights, and raise the age to purchase long guns, from 18, to 21. Yes, today we have students working to restrict and remove their own rights! Not expand them. After the tragedy of the Florida, Parkland high school shooting, many groups, including some of the surviving students have taken up the call to attack gun rights, including those organizations that are seen as an impediment to this agenda, as well as any corporate entity doing business with them. At first I found this “ ban everything “ approach to probably be solely emotional, as it is being promoted as key to the exclusion of all other ideas. But I think this approach says more about our current culture, than even political ideology.

Students today are rallying on campuses nationwide, for “safe spaces”, so that they can be protected from ideas and opinions they do not agree with. There are even polls showing students do not support free speech, if it does not agree with their opinions, and they protest, and shout down conservative speakers time after time.

I think we need to examine, and think about what is different now than fifty years ago, why do students now avoid debate rather than debating “truth to power”, and now demand safe spaces to risk exposure to others views? Why is the avoidance of responsibility to protect oneself now seen as the cure-all to random violence? Why does it take the Lewisburg School district organizing a student walkout on March 14, for our local students to protest? I guess they do not have the backbone to protest as their grandparents did, and risk the discipline they would have been subject to outside their safe spaces. One could almost be forgiven for assuming that our local students are being enabled as pawns.

Editorial submitted by Jeff Thompson, chair of UCRC “It Matters” initiative

UCRC considers policy and legislation to be an important aspect of our responsibility to the county’s registered Republicans.  This Tuesday voters will be asked to approve or disapprove an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?

There are many opinions about the question.  We suggest you thoughtfully consider the following opinion.

While few if any municipalities take advantage of alternative methods of raising tax revenues by other means than property taxes, this act would allow for all funding to be raised by other ways.

As the nature of our Economy changes, as do the demographics of our population, with a larger percentage of senior citizens less able to keep up with property tax increases, it is imperative that municipalities be permitted to consider other revenue streams in the future. Allowing local flexibility to consider what works best allows citizens a much greater voice in this process and to take advantage of opportunities that may be unique to their location. While the entrenched thinking of current legislators may that this change is but a bit of window dressing, voters can change that view as well.

Please consider supporting this amendment and then work with legislators to bring about meaningful changes.