The ballots have been cast and the votes have been counted.
Another Election Day is over.
And regardless of the outcome — maybe your favored candidate won, or maybe that candidate didn’t; maybe you supported an issue that didn’t pass, or are upset that an issue you didn’t support received the majority of votes — it’s time to focus our attention on what’s really at stake: the future of this nation.
It’s time to move forward. It’s time to rally together and start working as a team, united in our efforts to make this country great.
It’s a message we hope each of our elected leaders takes to heart. We hope they waste no time getting back to work on the issues that need immediate attention as we all work together for a better country.
In Washington, that means focusing on the economy. Creating jobs and bringing down the unemployment rate. Figuring out a long-term solution for Social Security and Medicare.
In West Virginia, it means making sure the state’s financial house remains in order. Offering a consistent workforce to keep the state’s brightest here after they earn a college degree. Making sure industries like coal don’t get shoved to the side.
And in Marion County, it means tackling the problems that continue to plague the area, including illegal drugs and crime.
Does it seem like an insurmountable task? We realize these issues are big, and we don’t expect immediate results. We know the process will take time, and to do it correctly will require focus and hard work from both parties.
But that’s the key point — while we don’t expect results to happen in one day, we do expect everyone to put partisan politics aside and work together.
We expect them to work together to bring back America’s sense of unity, both in the nation’s capital and from coast to coast.
We expect them to work together to provide a solid foundation for our children and grandchildren, who will lay the groundwork for generations to come.
You deserve a better America. We all do.
With everyone working together, that better America is within our reach.
Opinion
Now is time to focus our attention on nation’s future
- Opinion
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A complete commitment: When fathers become dads
On the third Sunday of June each year, we observe Father’s Day. This is extra special to Fairmont because the first celebration was observed here in The Friendly City. Over the years of annual observance, the role of father has taken on many new and varied duties.
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What’s the solution for funding highways?
There was a time when the federal government put substantial highway dollars in the states to match funds for projects.
That was two wars and a recession ago, though. That was when Congress had its differences but could pass a bill or two every now and again. -
Valley Falls great recreational area, but don’t ignore the rules on safety
The signs at Valley Falls State Park couldn’t be more clear:
“Danger. Rocks are slippery. Hazardous currents and rapids. Swimming and wading prohibited.”
The signs also note that alcoholic beverages are prohibited and that the minimum fine for violating the rules is $167. -
Following court decision, let’s move on, see FGH ‘grow and thrive’
We don’t think anyone would argue the point that our community and its leaders need to be forward-thinking, forward-moving and focused on the bricks that will pave the pathway to the future.
Sometimes there’s a disagreement about that future. And sometimes those disagreements have to be settled. -
Gary Price strong as superintendent, in position to bring stability to schools
“An evaluation of a superintendent is not intended to find fault, but is a measuring tool to see how effective one is doing and see if any improvement or concentration in any area needs to be worked out to make one better.”
This was Marion County Board of Education president James Saunders reading a prepared statement prior to going into discussion about the status of Superintendent Gary Price. -
Livelihood of people at center of Patriot Coal case
The bankruptcy of Patriot Coal is far more complicated than many of us will ever understand.
What complicates it is people. This isn’t just about paperwork and reorganization. The livelihood of workers and those who spent years in the mine are at stake here. -
Relay for Life: A reason to give thanks but much work to be done
The annual Marion County Relay for Life was held Friday inside the Falcon Center on the shared campus of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College — moved indoors for the first time because of weather. It was held three weeks after Mannington’s Relay for Life, also a growing, annual event held this year at Hough Park.
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Judge’s ruling about Patriot Coal is ‘tragic’ and a ‘travesty’
We wonder how many readers were angered when they read the top story in the Times West Virginian on May 30.
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D-Day reminder of ‘great and noble undertaking’ made during World War II
It was nearly 70 years ago that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was offering the following words to soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force:
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All must invest time, effort and funding to keep our children safe
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare — watching your child taken away in an ambulance following an accident, not knowing the full extent of their injuries.
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A complete commitment: When fathers become dads
