Opinion category, Page 358
Editorial: Volunteers are vital to Southwestern Pennsylvania
The oft-used phrase is “it takes a village to raise a child.” In updated parlance, it isn’t so much a village as it is a volunteer — or lots of volunteers. It is hard to calculate everything in our lives that is done by someone who isn’t collecting a paycheck...
Letter to the editor: Trump a patriot?
In his letter “America and Pa. need Donald Trump” (Sept. 12, TribLIVE), Paul Carrick claims Democrats hate America, when it was former President Trump whose words to his armed supporters at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, incited the insurrection that caused the deaths of five Americans over his “Big...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: What do the book banners and burners fear?
There are a few things you should be asking yourself right about now. Meaning you students who find yourselves living in places where self-appointed guardians of public morality have been busily banning books. This includes Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott wants to jail librarians who allow students access to novels...
Stephen Herzenberg: Union growth offers greater promise to workers
This week, clean energy leaders from around the world will gather here in Pittsburgh for a critical dialogue on how to address climate change but also improve jobs. Their choice of Pittsburgh for this unique gathering is not a coincidence: Opportunities for workers in the Steel City and all of...
David Dzombak and Tom Batroney: The Clean Water Act at 50
On Oct. 18, 1972, Congress enacted in a bipartisan manner the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). Prior to the CWA, clean-water laws at the federal and state levels were inconsistent, and progress was slow in cleaning up our nation’s water,...
Letter to the editor: Our leaders could come up with new voting methods
Regarding Anne Rindt’s letter “Voting in person can be a challenge for many” (Aug. 30, TribLIVE): Yes, voting can be a challenge for many, but you would think our politicians could come up with something better. In France, 40 years ago, they eliminated mail-in voting. Why? Too much fraud. Other...
Letter to the editor: We still ignore self-inflicted post-9/11 defeats
Once again on this year’s anniversary of 9/11, we mourned the loss of American lives and the betrayal of our free society by murderers. Once again, we ignored the additional defeats we inflicted on ourselves and why. 1. Six weeks after 9/11, the Patriot Act was signed into law. George...
Editorial: Voluntary exclusion could help with addiction
Addiction is a complicated thing. It is a craving for something that creates a pleasurable response in the brain, prompted by the way chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin swirl around in the system. We generally associate it with regulated or illegal substances such as opioids or nicotine or alcohol,...
Letter to the editor: Can’t support Fetterman
I’m usually a “homer” when it comes to things like sports and politics and generally support candidates from Western Pennsylvania in statewide and national elections. But, after careful review and consideration, here are three reasons I cannot support John Fetterman for Senate. First, I do not believe the persona he...
Tom Purcell: An extension of tax grief
I used to love the first weekend of autumn. Now I loathe it. Maybe I better explain. I used to wait until the nicest week in spring to organize my taxes, but now I wait until the nicest week in autumn. Autumn officially begins this Friday, Sept. 23, which is...
David McKenzie: Community solar could ease economic pressures
Election season always brings discussion about the issues that are most important to Pennsylvanians. The economy is at the top of the list, with inflation and high energy prices hitting wallets hard. One solution that checks all the boxes on these economic concerns is community solar. Senate Bill 472 and...
Paul Muschick: Catholic church sex abuse victims deserve justice. Don’t let the election interfere.
A few weeks ago, Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative leaders announced they had reached a bipartisan agreement to finish the long overdue job of giving long ago victims of child sex abuse an opportunity to seek justice. Let’s just hope their pledge is honored after November’s midterm election. Nothing ever...
Letter to the editor: Economy is not thriving
I think letter-writer Charles Henry (“Signs of a thriving economy,” Sept. 14, TribLIVE) is delusional. His letter was hysterical. He proposes the economy is thriving because of a few statistics. Coincidentally and very funny, the front page of the Trib the same day had the headline “Red hot inflation continues...
Letter to the editor: Diversity in Westmoreland
I take offense to John Ventre’s letter ”Politicians shouldn’t engineer community makeup” (Aug. 25, TribLIVE). We know no one can force a person to live anywhere against their will, but the community’s attitude toward diversity (and I don’t mean only color) sure plays a big part in a family deciding...
Editorial: Season tickets could be good for more than Steelers games
Season tickets are a great way for fans to not only see their favorite teams but also to show that their commitment goes deeper than a T-shirt or a bumper sticker. Steelers season tickets are a way to timeshare a slice of Acrisure Stadium — that still feels weird —...
Letter to the editor: What if Fetterman wins and resigns?
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s health is important to consider in this election, especially since this seat could determine the majority in the U.S. Senate. Why would someone continue to run for an office where the heavy workload is not forgiving to recovery from a stroke? The only reason I can...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Sept. 19
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Sept. 19....
Editorial cartoons for the week of Sept. 19
Editorial cartoons for the week of Sept. 19....
Margaret Zylka House: Running in her shoes
The past few weeks have been hard for the running community, a community of over 60 million Americans, as we bear the heartbreaking loss of Eliza Fletcher, who was abducted and killed while on an early-morning run in Memphis. I began running more than 30 years ago in the sixth...
Letter to the editor: Amendments should be few and far between
When it comes to voting on amendments to the state Constitution, I usually cringe and become nervous. The Constitution is supposed to be a guide or set of rules to run the state government. Changes to it should be few and infrequent. The federal Constitution has 27 amendments, and the...
Editorial: Fix medical marijuana loopholes before growing to recreational use
Pennsylvania has a marijuana problem. The state legalized weed for medical use in 2016. Dispensaries started opening their doors two years later, with the government picking up a 5% tax on sales. That translates to millions in revenue for the public coffers. Dispensaries were barely opened when the discussion of...
Letter to the editor: Is abortion just the beginning?
“Jesus never once said anything about abortion.” This was said by Joe Scarborough on MSNBC. And Jesus never said Joe was a jerk, but … . To me that seems to be an incredible comment. Can anyone imagine that the son of God, creator of all living things, would even...
Letter to the editor: Get informed and make a plan to vote
Sept. 20 is National Voter Registration Day. The newly formed League of Women Voters of Westmoreland County (LWVWC), a nonpartisan organization, urges you to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The right to vote is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. The right to vote is what gives...
Letter to the editor: Do parents really want government to provide for everything?
Regarding the editorial “School breakfast will help hunger, but lunch would be better” (Sept. 13, TribLIVE): Let’s just jump to the final step like the 1930s in Germany or China or Russia. Just send your kids to the government (for everything) and they can get three meals a day (plus...
Letter to the editor: It’s always political
Isn’t it laughable when a politician claims that an action of the other party is “political”? “It’s a political witch hunt!” It’s all political. It always has been. But right now, the proverbial needle is pointing to party over country and a power grab by the few over democracy. The...
