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Articles by Jack Bernard
The MAGA Base
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Opinion: How will GOP leadership react when Trump declares the 2026 elections to be riddled with fraud?
“It now appears there actually was meaningful voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia, last November. That is not a conspiracy theory. It’s true.” -Tucker Carlson, 7-14-21 (Fox News, “Tucker Carlson Tonight”) No, Tucker, that was not true (https://politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jul/20/tucker-carlson/tucker-carlson-spins-web-misleading-claims-he-alle/?utm_source=chatgpt.com ). It clearly was and still is a conspiracy theory with no factual basis.
Why West Virginia is one of the few states still supporting Trump
A survey has come out which shows that Trump is underwater in almost every state. East of the Mississippi River, Trump is only above water in Alabama and West Virginia. In West Virginia, he has a positive favorability rating with 48% of state residents versus a negative rating with 41%. My best friend passed away a few years ago. He had been my closest friend since we met when I was 21 and living in a single wide trailer.
Why West Virginia is one of the few states still supporting Trump Original
A survey has come out which shows that Trump is underwater in almost every state. East of the Mississippi River, Trump is only above water in Alabama and West Virginia. In West Virginia, he has a positive favorability rating with 48% of state residents versus a negative rating with 41%. My best friend passed away a few years ago. He had been my closest friend since we met when I was 21 and living in a single wide trailer.
Democrats Favored to Win Back House
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Guns, Hudson and North Carolina | Opinion
OPINION Columnist Jack Bernard examines gun violence, the Second Amendment and why Congress should pursue firearm safety reforms. Jack Bernard Fayetteville Observer Oct. 27, 2026, 5:09 a.m. ET “I will always defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms...Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve authored and cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation to protect our Constitutional rights.” — Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) Rep. Hudson is a big advocate for US residents having guns.
Guns, Hudson and North Carolina | Opinion
Guns, Hudson and North Carolina | Opinion Columnist Jack Bernard examines gun violence, the Second Amendment and why Congress should pursue firearm safety reforms. Oct. 27, 2026, 5:09 a.m. ET “I will always defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms...Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve authored and cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation to protect our Constitutional rights.” — Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) Rep. Hudson is a big advocate for US residents having guns.
Guns, Hudson and North Carolina | Opinion
"I will always defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms...Throughout my time in Congress, I've authored and cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation to protect our Constitutional rights." — Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) Rep. Hudson is a big advocate for US residents having guns. He has introduced numerous pro-gun pieces of legislation, including H.R. 38 in 2025. HR 38 was cited by Hudson as "the greatest gun rights boost since ...
Column: Fictional post-election Trump/Welker interview
Post election, Trump will feel like he has total freedom to do whatever he wishes, with no restrictions. Here is a theoretical exchange that will take place between himself and Kristen Welker of “Meet the Press” in late November after the mid-term elections. Welker- Good morning, Mr. President.
Georgia State University helped me and it’s making a difference for others
“Georgia State has always been a place where opportunity and excellence go hand in hand. At the Andrew Young School, we see that mission in students who use their education to improve their lives and their communities. That combination of access, excellence and public impact is what makes Georgia State so special.” — Thomas J. Vicino, Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. As the son of an undocumented immigrant, I have been a Georgia resident off and on for much of my life.
Jack Bernard: WV highest in nation for accidental deaths? (Opinion)
With 63.4 accidental deaths per 100,000 people, the combined drug overdose and vehicle crash rates place West Virginia as the worst state in the nation for premature deaths. This fact should concern all West Virginians, regardless of political affiliation. A report noted the state had 14.5 deaths per 100,000 residents for vehicle crashes in 2024, higher than 43 other states.
Israel - The Nation with the Most Diverse Population in the Middle East
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Number of Affordable Care Act users in West Virginia is declining due to national policy decisions
“The biggest factor (causing decreased use) is plan costs, specifically the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits… in place since 2021. With the rollback of the extra discounts, fewer people get financial aid. At the same time, the underlying cost of a plan also increased.
CONTRIBUTOR'S VIEW - Jack Bernard: Democrats favored to win back House
It is not unusual for a sitting President to be unpopular. But lately this one seems to be doing everything wrong regarding the midterm elections. It is a virtual certainty that despite the undemocratic gerrymandering of districts to give the GOP an advantage, the Democrats will take over the House. The most recent poll by Quinnipiac illustrates the problem for GOP House members (https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3965 ). Many Republican Congressmen criticize Trump in private.
Georgia faces a dire physician shortage in the near future if we don’t act
Why medicine? Like many current or future physicians, we spend countless hours considering our “why.” For most of us, a deep commitment to service, a curiosity for the unknown or unsolved and a knack for understanding human biology underpin our calling to medicine.
Affordable Care Act users in West Virginia is declining due to national policy decisions
“The biggest factor (causing decreased use) is plan costs, specifically the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits… in place since 2021. With the rollback of the extra discounts, fewer people get financial aid. At the same time, the underlying cost of a plan also increased.
The Questions At The Bottom Of Your Ballot
Most of us know who we are voting for before we walk into the polling place. Fewer of us know how we will answer the questions at the very bottom of the ballot. This year, every voter in Fayette County will be asked three questions to amend Georgia’s constitution. Each one needed a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly to reach the ballot, but each needs only a simple majority of voters to become a permanent part of our constitution. The questions are short, and they all sound harmless.
President Trump – Promoting Divisiveness
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Number of Affordable Care Act users in West Virginia is declining due to national policy decisions
“The biggest factor (causing decreased use) is plan costs, specifically the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits… in place since 2021. With the rollback of the extra discounts, fewer people get financial aid. At the same time, the underlying cost of a plan also increased.
Affordable Care Act users in West Virginia is declining due to national policy decisions
“The biggest factor (causing decreased use) is plan costs, specifically the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits… in place since 2021. With the rollback of the extra discounts, fewer people get financial aid. At the same time, the underlying cost of a plan also increased.
Affordable Care Act users in West Virginia is declining due to national policy decisions Original
“The biggest factor (causing decreased use) is plan costs, specifically the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits… in place since 2021. With the rollback of the extra discounts, fewer people get financial aid. At the same time, the underlying cost of a plan also increased.
Jack Bernard: Don't put off needed change because of politics (Opinion)
West Virginia has several healthcare issues that must be addressed sooner rather than later. None are more important than lung disease, caused by both environmental factors and lifestyle choices. I understand the lifestyle factors better than most Americans. Although I have been involved in public health for many decades, my wife chose to smoke, which caused her death from lung cancer five years ago.
Politics - I Must be Doing Something Right
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Opinion: Stuck with a very unpopular GOP President, how Rick Jackson is using his billion to buy an election
If the ads are true, and I have a feeling that they may well be exaggerated, GOP candidate Rick Jackson came from humble beginnings and quite did well. He is worth $3 billion ( https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2026/06/17/meet-the-staffing-billionaire-who-just-won-the-republican-gubernatorial-runoff-in-georgia/). As a former SVP for a national corporation, I question what he may have done along the way to create that kind of wealth.
Let’s have open and intelligent conversations with our children about AI
“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race,” — Stephen Hawking, author and scientist, in a 2014 BBC interview. This summer an OpenAI test model broke out of its sandbox, reasoned its way into another company’s servers and stole answers to cheat on its own evaluation. No human told it to this or controlled the process.
Trumpapalooza
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Local Opinion: Tennessee lawmakers need to raise state tobacco tax — for the children
"Tennesseans boast the fifth highest adult smoking rate in the nation, and over 31% of all cancer deaths in the state are smoking-related." — American Cancer Society Younger people and low-income groups are more likely to respond to higher tobacco pricing. Therefore, Tennessee's children are the ones who suffer the most because the legislature has not increased state cigarette taxes. The Volunteer State's rate is the eighth lowest in the nation.
Pretending Does Not Cure Racism
It’s been a long a long time comin’. But I know a change gon’ come.”- song by Sam Cooke (A change is gonna come, 1964) Many well-meaning and normally fair Fayette County citizens believe that they are not racist when in reality they are. I know … many of my local acquaintances and friends fall into this category. Childhood upbringing is a large part of the problem.
Bad Politicians | The Citizen
Menacing figures fill the airwaves this election season as campaigns turn opponents into caricatures. These black-and-white portrayals of smarmy villains, accompanied by sinister music, warn voters that catastrophe awaits if the “wrong” candidate wins. Negative portrayals of political opponents are nothing new. Even the venerable Thomas Jefferson secretly paid scandalmonger James Callender to write blistering criticisms of President John Adams during the 1800 campaign.
‘Flimflam’ Man Does It Again
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Looking at West Virginia’s unemployment rate and healthcare rankings
If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Following are the candidates for The Register-Herald Athlete of the Week (in alphabetical order): Jacob Brown, Midland Trail golf. Brown shot a 31 in a three-team match with Princeton and Wyoming East at Bridge Haven on the Gorge. It is believed to be the lowest nine-hole score ever posted by a Midland Trail golfer. Neena McClintic, Greenbrier East girls cross country.
Looking at West Virginia’s unemployment rate and healthcare rankings Original
Recently, I have seen various studies which have analyzed West Virginia as to employment and healthcare. I am interested in both areas. I have been a SCORE volunteer for 15 years, mentoring small businesses. SCORE is a 501(c)(3) affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration. My professional career (government and corporate) was in healthcare, both in West Virginia and nationwide. I am still heavily involved, being on various local, state and national boards.
Medicare and Social(ism) Security
“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.”- President Eisenhower At a recent Rotary Club of Peachtree City, the speaker was Faye Sykes, President of Wealth Management for Tuttle Wealth. She did an excellent job of explaining Social Security. She mentioned future funding as a challenge, as further explained below. But first, a bit of history.
Jack Bernard: WV is ruby red and poverty stricken
Poverty is nothing new to West Virginia, a beautiful state the has faced tough economic times in recent decades. I worked in a poverty program back in the 1970s, later evaluating local programs for the Federal government. I did evaluations of poverty programs in the mountains of Kentucky along the border of West Virginia, places like Pineville and Pikeville. I remember seeing former miners with black lung sitting on the benches and on the curbs of the streets near the courthouses.
Extremists in Democratic Socialists of America – Georgia Democrats Beware
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Jack Bernard: WV is ruby red and poverty stricken (Opinion)
Poverty is nothing new to West Virginia, a beautiful state the has faced tough economic times in recent decades. I worked in a poverty program back in the 1970s, later evaluating local programs for the Federal government. I did evaluations of poverty programs in the mountains of Kentucky along the border of West Virginia, places like Pineville and Pikeville. I remember seeing former miners with black lung sitting on the benches and on the curbs of the streets near the courthouses.
Animal Shelters: Our Lawmakers have failed us
“No-kill is not just a shelter’s problem and it’s not just an animal welfare problem; it’s a community problem, and the community’s support is needed for shelters to continue to become no-kill.”- Atlanta Humane Society Animal abuse is a nonpartisan subject. Yet, no one in our General Assembly seems to care.
Local Opinion: Is Tennessee really one of the worst states to retire?
A recent study by 24 Hour Caregivers has ranked Tennessee as the sixth worst state to retire, which both surprised and shocked me. As a healthcare executive, I worked extensively in all parts of the state. I also have relatives living in both the middle and eastern parts of the state. If I were going to move from Georgia, it would be to East Tennessee, a beautiful area with a lot to see and do.
Is AI as Dangerous as It Seems?
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Sole source contracting for garbage pickup
The PTC City Council recently voted 4-1 against having a sole source garbage pick-up contract. Only the Mayor voted for it. The sole source provider had a quarterly fee with 3 choices- $63 (trash and weekly recycling); $75 (adding on yard waste, bi-weekly); and $86 (adding on bulk item pickup).
Voter turnout key to Georgia 2026 mid-term elections
Overall, the November races for Governor and Senator appear to be very close, per a recent nonpartisan AARP sponsored survey (https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/topics/voter-opinion-research/politics/2026-midterm-election-poll-georgia.doi.10.26419-2fres.01065.004.pdf ) . As shown below, the age of the voters who turn-out in November could well be the key to who is elected in various Georgia races, including Governor and Senator.
Georgia’s physician shortage is at crisis level, partially because of academic institutions
We have a physician shortage in every state. With 2.7 million Georgia residents in “Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas,” only 12 states have a worse primary care problem, according to data on the Kaiser Family Foundation website. Georgia’s overall physician-to-patient ratio is 23% worse than the national average. Georgia is projected to be short 8,012 doctors by 2030. The need for a more effective, efficient and fair admissions system has never been higher.
We Need a President Who Brings Us Together
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Jack Bernard: Is prior authorization killing WV patients? (Opinion)
“While prior authorization may have a place for certain nonstandard treatments, it should not be required for treatments that follow recognized pathways or clinical care guidelines. Community Oncology Alliance advocates for a complete reexamination and overhaul of the prior authorization system.” — Community Oncology Alliance, April 22, 2021.
The Democratic Party Must Broaden its Base
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Elected Official Inaction Causing the Death of Our Furry Friends (but Not in Fayette)
“Fayette County Animal Control takes a proactive approach to our community safety. Stray animals can be injured, cause car accidents, chase and or bite livestock or harm humans. Many times, the animal is simply lost, and the owner can be found.
Times Opinion: Is abortion in Tennessee a dead issue?
"Today's signing changes nothing, and being pregnant in Tennessee is still far deadlier than it should ever be ... The only way to restore reproductive freedoms — before things get worse — are consequences at the ballot box for anti-abortion extremists." – Ashley Coffield, CEO, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee Coffield made the above statement after the 2023 enactment of very limited modifications to Tennessee's 2022 anti-abortion law, one of the strictest in the country.
CONTRIBUTOR'S VIEW - Jack Bernard: If we vote for someone promoting division, then conflict is what we deserve.
Jack Bernard argues Georgia voters should look beyond party labels in November’s race between Republican Rep. Brian Jack and Democrat Maura Keller. Do you want to know what is wrong with politics in this nation and here in Georgia? Look in the mirror. We are the ones who elected our government, often voting for party affiliation rather than the best candidate for the job.
Jack Bernard: Nothing can be done about gun violence? Really? (Opinion)
“West Virginians are staunch defenders of our right to bear arms, and I will always advocate to protect our Constitutional freedoms," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said back in June. Capito went on to say that she was introducing the SHOT Act, a bill designed to ensure gun retailers and manufacturers have no legal liability for those misusing their products and harming innocents.
Medicare for all and West Virginia
“Analyses show that administrative overhead, insurer profit margins, and PBM-related practices account for a significant share of premium spending. Roughly 16 cents of every premium dollar goes to profits and administrative costs, making overhead the second-largest category of premium spending.” — Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va. I agree 100% with Rep. Carol Miller.
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