Opinion category, Page 303
Letter to the editor: Time to move deer hunting opener back to Monday
State Rep. Brian Smith, R-Punxsutawney, and Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem, have both announced plans to introduce legislation to move the opening day of Pennsylvania’s rifle deer season back to its traditional Monday after Thanksgiving. These legislators and others have recognized through considerable constituent contacts from hunters and businesses that moving...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: DeSantis is no Reagan
Why are so many big politicians acting so small? There are plenty of opportunities for them to think big and act big, but lately some politicians are stuck on those things that will grab some headlines but have little to do with the future of America. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis...
Christopher Decker: Inflation is proving particularly stubborn
The Federal Reserve is facing a rather sticky problem. Despite its best efforts over the past year, inflation is stubbornly refusing to head south with any urgency to a target of 2%. Rather, the inflation report released on March 14, 2023, shows consumer prices rose 0.4% in February, meaning the...
Heidi Zinzow: 54% of firearm deaths in the US are from suicide — and easy access to a gun is a key risk factor
More than half — 54% — of all firearm deaths in the United States in 2021 were attributable to suicide, according to February 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide deaths involving firearms — the most common means of suicide in the U.S. — have increased...
Letter to the editor: Ending daylight saving time
I agree with Tom Purcell (“Still time to save us from DST,” March 6, TribLIVE): This back and forth with the time is all wrong. Instead of moving back and forth one hour, just move a half-hour and leave it be. We’re all tired of moving back and forth. William...
Sounding off: On marijuana, Norfolk Southern, Bushy Run, covid origins, Doug Mastriano, student debt
‘What-ifs’ regarding legal marijuana and workers I have a few questions and thoughts for all those people who want to make marijuana legal. Has anyone mentioned anything about those who employ someone on marijuana? What happens to the employer if this employee injures himself or someone else? Do you want...
Editorial: Will Norfolk Southern CEO’s response leave a bad taste?
“I said at the very beginning, ‘I want to do this and do things right today, tomorrow, a year from now, five years from now and 10 years from now,’ ” said Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw. Apparently part of doing things right is chugging a glass of tap water...
Letter to the editor: Vote out legislators who won’t end property tax
Gov. Josh Shapiro recently outlined his first budget proposal. He mentioned raising the qualification income bracket to $45,000 from $35,000 for the homeowner/rent rebate program. For homeowners, that’s like putting a Band-Aid on something that requires surgery. Stop paying your property taxes and see who really owns your house and...
Letter to the editor: Politics has tainted science
I question the assertion in the letter “Vote out climate change deniers” (March 3, TribLIVE) claiming that “Every scientific organization in the world that conducts climate research has determined the planet is heating up and fossil fuels are the cause” and “every nation in the world … accepts that global...
Gary Franks: Politicians need constitutionally enforced age limits
If elections were held today the biggest and best-known two names would be paired against each other again. One would win, and I believe America would lose. President Joe Biden is 80 years old. He will be 82 in 2024, and, if reelected, would complete a second term at the...
S.E. Cupp: Are Trump’s attacks hurting or helping DeSantis?
As the 2024 presidential election gets underway, Donald Trump is testing out a risky strategy. He’s swinging hard and often at a competitor who hasn’t even gotten in the race yet. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has given every indication he likely will run, — hosting donor retreats, visiting swing states...
David Galluch: Coming soon — the Shapiro energy tax
In a sleight of hand worthy of a card shark, Gov. Josh Shapiro quietly acted to raise home heating and electricity costs for Pennsylvania families. It’s officially termed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. It should be called the “Shapiro Energy Tax.” Little noticed until recently, the governor tucked...
Letter to the editor: The wealthy already pay enough
Looking for votes and money in one act, President Joe Biden declares the wealthy ought to shoulder a heavier tax burden to help fund Medicare (“Biden says new taxes on the rich can help save Medicare,” March 8, TribLIVE). His “pay their fair share” plea makes a good headline. It...
Letter to the editor: Parks Township should merge with other police departments
I believe that since November, Parks Township supervisors have been ambivalent regarding the welfare and safety of our community. The supervisors have had multiple closed meetings with three local township police departments, including Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department (SARPD). SARPD consists of Freeport, Gilpin Township and now Ford City. Ford...
Lori Falce: St. Patrick’s Day and the legacy of Ireland
Ireland has given the world a lot. There’s whiskey, which is probably enough of a reason for many to celebrate all on its own. But it also was an Irishman who was credited with introducing to Europe the idea of hot chocolate. For Catholics, there’s the sacrament of confession, which...
Letter to the editor: Mastriano running again?
I am delighted to learn that failed gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano is contemplating another bid for high office, possibly an effort to become Pennsylvania’s next United States senator. I would look forward to Mastriano adopting the same “winning formula,” the tactics he used as he was humiliated in his high-profile...
Paul Kengor: Remembering the Sparrow Lady
“Ross woman missing for 3 decades found in Puerto Rico, police confirm.” That was a Tribune-Review headline March 3. It was the kind of newsflash too common in this world, so much so that I normally might not have bothered with it. But for some reason, I was prompted to...
Laurels & lances: Communication and court
Laurel: To staying connected. On Jan. 2, the people of Harrison, Tarentum and Brackenridge were trying to follow what was happening with the manhunt for a wanted fugitive. Social media was lighting up with information — not all of it accurate. The day ended with the death of Brackenridge police...
Jim Pieffer: Federal staffing mandates would hurt Pa. nursing home care for seniors
There has been an undeniable nursing home workforce crisis in recent years. While many have moved on from the pandemic, the stress and anxiety continue in nursing homes as employees work hard to protect those most vulnerable to covid-19. Though well-intentioned, a proposed federal staffing requirement by the Centers for...
Letter to the editor: Communities should support Lower Valley Ambulance
Why is Oakmont willing to pay a different ambulance service $50,000 plus another $50,000 for a new ambulance (“Oakmont officials select Parkview EMS as borough’s new ambulance service,” March 7, TribLIVE)? How much did they pay Lower Valley Ambulance Service? Borough Manager Scot Fodi stated council had concerns following a...
Letter to the editor: Are Fox News personalities grooming their audience?
Grooming: You may have heard the term as it applies to children, but adults also can groom adults. By definition, grooming is when someone builds a relationship, builds trust, an emotional connection with someone or a group of people, with the explicit intention to manipulate, exploit or use them in...
Editorial: Should UPMC and other nonprofits worry about Tower Health ruling?
Tower Health might be the canary in the nonprofit coal mine. The Reading-area health system has four hospitals. It has joint ventures with Drexel University. It has about 11,500 employees and was ranked No. 8 in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report in 2022. In 2020, it had total...
Letter to the editor: Taxpayers not responsible for student debt
President Biden’s attempt to buy votes in the 2022 midterms and beyond by abusing his authority under the Heroes Act of 2003, and offering up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness, is hopefully going to be struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. The Heroes Act was put in...
Jonah Goldberg: Following the law on Jan. 6 was the least Pence could do. Why are we praising him?
On Saturday night, Mike Pence unleashed his anger at Donald Trump. “History will hold Donald Trump accountable for Jan. 6,” Pence declared at the Gridiron Dinner, a normally jovial event for prominent journalists. “Make no mistake about it: What happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to...
Colin McNickle: 3 proposals to fix Pa. school funding mess
Now that the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has ruled the Keystone State’s school funding model does not meet the state constitutional standard of equity in education, the obvious question is “What’s next?” Sans a state Supreme Court reversal, “If the Legislature wants to focus on reducing the wide disparities in per...
