Opinion category, Page 359
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Four present threats to the republic
It’s a well-known story, but it bears repeating from time to time. As Ben Franklin was leaving Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1787 after the delegates had finished writing our nation’s Constitution, he passed through the crowd that had gathered on the steps hoping to learn what kind of government...
Sounding off: Jan. 6, Trump, our economy, second chances, Kasich, Biden’s failures, Norwin housewives
Clarifying Jan. 6 ‘hypocrisy’ The writer of the letter “Jan. 6 hypocrisy” (Sept. 1, TribLIVE) accuses the Jan. 6 committee of hypocrisy and the media of spewing propaganda. His points: • “President Trump told supporters to ‘go to … the Capitol’ (but) at no time did he call for violence...
Counterpoint: Let’s cut the military budget, just don’t call it ‘defund’
There is an excellent argument that the “defund” trope has become so politicized that it now gets in the way of, rather than advances, policy advocacy of any stripe. But that doesn’t mean we should reflexively dismiss the underlying idea that government funds should be shifted away from wasteful or...
Point: We should reform, not defund, necessary institutions
Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. While Newton was describing this phenomenon in relation to physics, the basic principle also applies to society in general. For instance, after the death of George Floyd in 2020, many municipalities...
Letter to the editor: CMU professor’s words sad and classless
Regarding the article “Twitter removes CMU professor’s tweet wishing ‘excruciating pain’ for Queen Elizabeth II” (Sept. 8, TribLIVE): We live in such a graceless age. A human being with a family died. One would hope that when this person, who instructs our youth, dies and her supporters and their families...
Letter to the editor: If not ‘extremists,’ what are MAGA Republicans?
Carolyn Thomson’s letter “MAGA Republicans not extremists” (Sept. 8, TribLIVE) implores readers not to portray MAGA Republicans as “extremists,” “terrorists” or “neo-fascists.” I find this hard to do given 1,000 or so MAGA Republicans stormed the Capitol in the hope of overturning a free and fair election, but OK —...
Editorial: Hallam’s Airbnb ban shows struggle between safety and freedom
The problem with checks and balances is sometimes they don’t just check other people. Sometimes, they check us, too. It isn’t just dramatic irony. It’s an illustration of equity. The head of the Internal Revenue Services should be just as likely to be audited as anyone who turns in a...
Letter to the editor: Violence comes from Democrats, too
In an awkward lack of self-awareness, the Trib co-dependently enables “Westmoreland Democrat election concerns” regarding a vandalized yard sign of all things (“Westmoreland Democrats say concerns abound as November election nears,” Sept. 8, TribLIVE). I don’t condone the vandalism, but I’ll pass on the fainting couch routine over Democrats’ feeling...
Gary Franks: Is Biden just a rubber stamp?
Who’s a threat to democracy? President Joe Biden is a rubber stamp for the Democrat-controlled Congress. He has never vetoed a bill presented to him by Congress. Thus, as far as policy, legislation and the direction of the country are concerned, the de facto presidents are Senate Majority Leader Chuck...
S.E. Cupp: Pity the poor, wounded MAGA Republicans
Over the past week, it’s safe to say we’ve all shed a tear or two, maybe even said a prayer, and quietly reflected on the tremendous loss the world collectively experienced last week. For many that’s because of the historic and solemn events unfolding in the United Kingdom. But I’m...
Peter Morici: Biden’s green energy subsidies will boost inflation, distort investment
Democrats can head into the midterms touting the CHIPS Act and new green-energy and health-care legislation, dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act, but these forays into industrial policy will likely stoke inflation and distort capital investment. As passed, the IRA should increase revenue and reduce Medicare drug spending by $767 billion...
Colin McNickle: PRT must economize or see funding cut
Should Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) not soon make serious cost-containment efforts, state legislators who hold the purse strings should consider pulling those strings tighter to force the issue, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “The renamed PRT must focus intently on the factors it can control...
Letter to the editor: Recognizing POW/MIA sacrifices
Sept. 16 is National POW/MIA (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) Recognition Day. The Department of Defense lists 81,477 military service members still missing and unaccounted for from our nation’s wars during the past 100 years. Today, take time to recognize the sacrifices these individuals and their families made for the...
Letter to the editor: With school choice, legislators put children first
Regarding the letter “Representatives don’t represent us” (Sept. 6, TribLIVE): Many op-eds and letters criticize legislative leaders for not pursuing what is being deceptively called “reform” of charter schools. School boards are elected by the local public to provide the vehicle for education from a legal and business model standpoint...
Lori Falce: The unreachable cure for cancer
There might be no better way to get people on your side than to say you want to cure cancer. Cancer is an ugly, predatory beast that stalks its victims without regard for age or class or worthiness. It attacks the good and the evil dispassionately. In 2019, the most...
Letter to the editor: Allegheny Valley church closings disheartening
Kudos to Bishop Larry J. Kulick and the Diocese of Greensburg for their leadership and commitment in reopening St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in New Kensington. The Diocese of Pittsburgh could learn a lot by following their example instead of closing five beautiful churches of the seven in the Guardian...
Paul Kengor: Truly a cancel culture
“My favorite radio station recently picked up some right-wing drivel weekly radio show which I listen to in order to punish myself. Anyhoo, I listened to your whiny crying … I wish cancel culture was a real thing which actually existed so I could cancel you for all time.” So...
Laurels & lances: Cleaning up and cracking down
Laurel: To preserving natural beauty. Southwestern Pennsylvania is defined as much by its water as it traditionally has been by its industry. However, the area’s rivers have both accommodated the businesses that built up around them and been negatively impacted by that development over the years. Reversing the pollution of...
Cal Thomas: Another Irish exodus
DUBLIN — Americans are not the only ones suffering from high fuel and food prices, along with rapidly increasing costs for housing and rising mortgage rates. The Irish, too, are experiencing a similar economic squeeze, but unlike Americans who can reduce financial pressures and move to states with no state...
Michael Butler: Shell ethylene cracker complex shows value of never giving up
The French writer Victor Hugo once called perseverance “the secret of all triumphs.” Those words came to mind as I read that Shell this year expects to open its estimated $10 billion ethylene cracker complex in Beaver County outside Pittsburgh. It’s been a decade since the company announced the site...
Letter to the editor: If Trump loses, China wins
Considering past and recent events of the current administration, I can no longer hold my tongue, and feel compelled to comment on the upcoming 2022 and 2024 elections: It is my opinion, within a reasonable degree of engineering certainty, that if President Trump and his supporters lose, China wins. It’s...
Letter to the editor: Mason Rudolph should sue Steelers
Don’t be surprised if Mason Rudolph sues our classless Steelers. We have labor laws, and I believe the Steelers are in violation. Talk about a hostile work environment; their conduct has been atrocious. They sat back and did nothing while their insecure QB alienated the teammates against Rudolph from the...
Editorial: Suicide is military’s last battlefield
There is one thing that soldiers and sailors, Marines and airmen understand from the moment they undertake their task. It is that their lives are counted. They are the real weapons of war — more than bullets or bombs. They are the single greatest commodity in the logistics of defense...
Letter to the editor: Former inmates deserve second chances
Flagger Force employs over 1,000 workers across Pennsylvania, including more than 320 people in Western Pennsylvania. Team members bring diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and experiences, including a significant number who are justice-involved. As a believer in fair-chance employment and giving people who want to work the opportunity to do so, I...
Jonah Goldberg: Surprised by Ukraine’s recent victories? You shouldn’t be.
“Nobody knows anything,” William Goldman, the legendary screenwriter said. “Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work. Every time out, it’s a guess and, if you’re lucky, an educated one.” I’m starting to think the same thing is true of foreign...
