Opinion category, Page 368
Sounding off: Abortion, state of nation, voter ID, Jan. 6 among hot topics
More important issues than abortion We all thought the abortion issue was decided long ago. I am weary of all the coverage devoted to it over the years. Every election, the subject is brought out and debated again, mainly by men who would rather make a show of power by...
Letter to the editor: We need Wolf’s stimulus checks
Pennsylvania citizens: I am writing to prompt you to write or call your state senator and representative regarding the $2,000 stimulus checks Gov. Tom Wolf wishes to give all Pennsylvania citizens. Wolf would like to give every Pennsylvania citizen who makes $80,000 or less a check for $2,000. I wrote...
Editorial: Westmoreland commissioners should be open about settlement money
Watch movies or television shows with cartels and kingpins, and you come away with one message pretty quickly: Drug money can make things go bad in a hurry. A lot of money plus little trust equals suspicion. It’s not just a fictional truism. You can see it in criminal court...
Letter to the editor: A thief is a thief, no excuses
The tempest in a beer can that is the FBI retrieval of unreturned government property from Mar-a-Lago brings to mind this scenario: You throw a party for your spouse, parent, etc. After the guests leave, you discover many pieces of your silverware are missing. Fortunately, a friend remembers seeing “Jim”...
Gary Franks: The Trump reality show and the media’s addiction
I trust we all would agree that addictions — whether it’s drugs, alcohol, gambling or anything else — are not healthy. So why not define former President Donald Trump as a media addiction? Yes, the mainstream media (both left and right), cable stations, social media, newspapers and radio are all...
S.E. Cupp: Biden should speak fully on his plans to run in 2024 or not
“The president has said he’s planning on running again. People should take him at his word.” That was Anita Dunn, a top adviser to President Biden, sounding very confident in her insistence Biden will seek a second term — and almost indignant that the question is being raised at all....
Editorial: Lawmakers’ big raises are an affront to Pa. taxpayers
Aren’t raises great? Everyone likes more money. Everyone appreciates finding out that hard work and service to an employer is rewarded with a little bit extra in the bank account. For too many people, that just doesn’t happen. There are pay freezes. There are sad conversations about how valuable you...
Nathan Benefield: Families need a rein on inflation, not shortsighted spending gimmicks
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a 40-year high in June, with an increase of 9.1% over last year before holding steady in July. According to one analysis, inflation is costing American families about $500 per month in higher prices. Americans are feeling the pain, with a recent Quinnipiac poll...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland Transit drivers know system best
In the article “Westmoreland transit touts rider gains” (Aug. 11, TribLIVE), the Westmoreland County Transit Authority told of the welcome, slowly growing increase in ridership. Also mentioned was the possibility of hiring a consultant to “review and design a new route structure.” I’m sure, if the Westmoreland Transit managers asked...
Letter to the editor: Klein’s commitment to Harrison unquestionable
As a former Harrison Township commissioner and police commissioner, it was an honor to serve with Mike Klein. Not only is he one of the best police chiefs to serve Harrison Township, but he has been one of the best police chiefs in Western Pennsylvania. His unwavering commitment to protecting...
Lori Falce: Veggie trays or crudite? The battle for Pa. votes
Who could have predicted that carrots and broccoli would have such an impact on politics? Every day at parties, barbecues and receptions of all kinds, platters of produce are being ignored in favor of chips, cookies, pizza and tiny little sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is taking...
Letter to the editor: Trump brings it on himself
There have been several letters in the last several weeks defending former President Donald Trump and complaining of the “witch hunts” and the constant mainstream media “negative” coverage of him. First off, the never-ending Nazi-like Trump rallies and him hinting at a 2024 run keep him front and center, so...
Paul Kengor: Telling stories, David McCullough’s enduring recipe for success
I just turned in a book manuscript. My editor gave me the publisher’s standard questionnaire for authors. Among the questions was if I preferred my acknowledgments section at the start or end of the book. I was aghast. I told my editor that the very notion of opening a book...
Laurels & lances: Celebrating concerts, condemning crime
Laurel: To a real comeback. Pittsburgh has always been a place to catch some truly amazing music — whether you are talking about at a local bar or small venue or in a traveling theater production. But is there anything like a big stadium show? There really isn’t. And yet,...
Moira Conway: Pa. communities must consider the impact of warehousing growth
With the onset of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, e-commerce took on a newly important role in delivering necessary items, and truckers, warehouse workers and distribution-center workers have been recognized as essential. An issue often overlooked, however, is the growing impact of warehousing and distribution centers within the communities in...
Peter Morici: Republicans need a new standard bearer
The Republicans desperately need a new generation to step up, challenge Donald Trump for the party nomination, and craft a new party agenda. The odds are decent that Republicans will capture the House in November and the Senate remains in play. Even if they prevail, however, they won’t gain veto-proof...
Letter to the editor: Democrats’ double standard
When Hillary Clinton relocated to New York to run for Senate, the Democrats hailed it as a savvy political move. When Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz does it, it’s a major campaign issue. But there’s no double standard with the Democrats! Bill Radvansky New Kensington...
Letter to the editor: Pirates insult great players with Hall of Fame lineup
Regarding the article “Pirates announce inaugural 19-member Hall of Fame class” (Aug. 7, TribLIVE): The Pirates blew it big time. How in the world they can leave off the MVP from the 1960 World Series teamis a mystery. It is especially galling when we consider the selection of Jake Beckley...
Editorial: ITT Tech loans show need for financial literacy before college
If you attended ITT Technical Institute at any point between 2005 and when it closed in 2016 and obtained federal student loans to pay for it, you may be breathing easier. The Department of Education announced Tuesday that about 208,000 borrowers with a total of $3.9 billion in debt would...
Letter to the editor: New families are healthy for communities
Regarding the article “Influx of young families stresses Freeport Area elementary classrooms” (Aug. 13, TribLIVE): We are a young family of educators. We were excited to move this summer to Sarver. While an influx of young families may put temporary stress on a community’s resources, newcomers also bring resources (e.g.,...
Letter to the editor: Protests should never inflict harm
To Bruce Braden (“Jefferson wouldn’t have approved of Jan. 6,” Aug. 9, TribLIVE) and Ed Collins (“Jefferson may have OK’d Jan. 6 insurrection,” July 31, TribLIVE): Your letters were interesting reads. You both took the words of Thomas Jefferson and created an argument suited to your point. However, I believe...
Jonah Goldberg: The paradox of Trump’s charisma
Donald Trump has a lot of charisma. Let me finish. I do not mean charisma in the colloquial sense of being charming, though he has charmed millions. I’m referring to a style of leadership famously described by the German sociologist Max Weber, who described three forms of authority or leadership:...
Colin McNickle: The cause of ‘The Pittsburgh Pause’
You’ll recall that some observers in Pittsburgh pooh-poohed the prospective sale of two hallmark commercial properties owned by a North Carolina company as being any harbinger of poorer things to come for the city’s office occupancy fortunes. But a new analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy posits that...
Letter to the editor: Thankful for parents who choose life
I have been reading a lot about the reversal of Roe v. Wade, with people both for and against it. A great-grandson was born in February, and a great-granddaughter in April. The little boy is such a happy guy, always smiling and laughing. The sweet little girl is so happy,...
Letter to the editor: Dangerous leaders, nursing homes, legalizing pot …
Regarding the letter “Pa., not Fla., has the dangerous leaders” (July 24, TribLIVE): Which is more dangerous, leaders who put their heads in the sand and disregard Centers for Disease Control guidance or those who accept that guidance? I’m proud to have leaders who follow CDC guidance. As far as...
