Gary Stout

July 4, 2026, will mark a major event in the nation's history. It is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our landmark semi-quincentennial birthday.

Late last summer, former commissioner Bracken Burns knocked on our door in East Washington. Burns was seeking information on the individual who had built the large ornate older homes in our neighborhood. Like most East Washington residents, we knew the age of our home, but could not name the builder. Despite my lack of knowledge […]

During weekly chats with a friend, we discuss the usual topics including the Steelers, political developments, and the economy. My friend is sure an economic collapse is around the corner that will be worse than the Great Depression. Now that my wife and I have purchased a new home, he advises us to rent our […]

My views on war and its place in American foreign policy have changed dramatically over the years. As a child, my family were members of a tiny Quaker congregation (Religious Society of Friends) that met in the Meeting House that defined our small New Jersey hamlet, Quakertown.

Lawyers are the brunt of many jokes, often deservedly so. Members of my profession tend to be brash, overconfident, and unemotional. Far too often we give advice and fail to listen. Our legal training focuses on becoming zealous advocates for our clients. Attorneys are not trained to be therapists.

There are two different paths for political leadership to take in reviewing their past decision-making, current events, and prospects in upcoming elections. The first is to never admit a mistake and to always blame the opposition for the failure of any policy, or election result. This approach is now the chosen path of President Donald Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 state budget released in February features $53.3 billion in spending, reflecting an estimated 5.4% increase. The proposal seeks to raise additional funds not through higher personal income or sales taxes, but by legalizing new revenue streams and utilizing state reserves to balance the budget.

In January 2019, my spouse and I were privileged to join a Washington County Bar Association cultural exchange. It was a unique continuing legal education program that transported 24 local travelers to Havana, Cuba. Over five days we were treated to a full lineup of lectures on Cuban history, economics, and the socialist political system. We also enjoyed diverse eating experiences, museums, an art colony, and music/dance ensembles.

For those who want to start their day on a positive note, I have a suggestion. As you rise out of bed, do not turn on the news to catch the latest 8 a.m. press conference from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Do not go to a financial channel to learn how the stock market […]

When you write these commentaries long enough, issues from the past will often resurface. In March 2021, I received a phone call from now-deceased district attorney Eugene Vittone who told me about his efforts to save the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC) from the county’s plans to dissolve it. Vittone sent a letter opposing […]