Opinion category, Page 448
Sandy Fox: Amazon warehouses are sacrifice zones
An article published Dec. 9 in The Guardian has been circulating among Churchill residents. The title of the story rings true: “Warehouses in their backyards: When Amazon expands, these communities pay the price.” Churchill is a 2.5-square-mile suburban community of 3,000 people 10 miles east of Pittsburgh. Residents remain steadfast...
Letter to the editor: Society honors gold-medal Pennsylvanians
What do former Gov. Dick Thornburgh, television icon Fred Rogers and philanthropists Elsie and Henry Hillman all have in common? The obvious answer is they all proudly called Pittsburgh home. They also share a unique distinction of being recipients of the Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, presented to...
Editorial: ‘Exemption assistance’ carries tone of political play more than civic responsibility
State Rep. Leslie Rossi, R-Unity, says she is not opposed to covid-19 vaccination, but for constituents who are, she’s offering to help. Her latest newsletter declares “vaccination exemption assistance NOW AVAILABLE!” The newsletter suggests if “you or someone you know (is) being forced to get the covid-19 vaccine,” you can...
Letter to the editor: Countering ‘consequences’
Leonard Stanga’s diatribe “Predictions have consequences” (Dec. 4, TribLIVE) was sort of over the edge. He starts by asking, “How can BLM or antifa or anyone get away with these threats?” Then he proceeds to make a few threats of his own. How does that work? Then he goes off...
John Stossel: The FDA’s deadly delays
Covid-19 deaths are up. Politicians tell us to wear masks and get vaccinated. Amid the fear, I’m surprised that we haven’t heard more about two drugs that could make covid-19 much less of a threat. In blind tests, Pfizer’s Paxlovid was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death...
S.E. Cupp: Fox News is selling toxic snake oil
The year is 1893 and Clark Stanley, the self-styled “Rattlesnake King,” is preparing for his big moment at the World’s Exposition in Chicago. Fairgoers have already been wowed by Otis Brothers’ elevator exhibit, George Washington Gale Ferris’ giant wheel and Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope. But they haven’t seen Stanley yet. According...
John Scott: Keystone Saves can build retirement savings for millions of Pennsylvanians
In a promising step for the millions of Pennsylvanians who want to save more for retirement, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly on Dec. 13 announced the Keystone Saves Program Act, which would allow workers whose employers don’t offer a retirement plan to save for retirement. This opportunity to help...
Lori Falce: I don’t want to be Elon Musk rich
I will never be rich. Much as I might enjoy a private island and a chalet in Switzerland, I know that is not in my future unless I hit the Powerball jackpot. Journalism is not really the kind of career you pick with visions of wealth planning dancing in your...
Letter to the editor: Pickett deserves Heisman
I didn’t expect the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Kenny Pickett to win the Heisman, but after watching his disappointing third-place finish, I must call out the media, once again. Just like our political media, even our sports media seem to follow a herd mentality. Certainly Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was an exceptional...
Laurels & lances: Winning, losing and history
Laurel: To the schools of winners. Pittsburgh may have a reputation as the City of Champions, but it might have to start sharing that title with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League after the 2021 football season. The Steelers would be lucky to have a run like area teams had...
Dr. Andrew Smolar: The lost art of tolerating our mixed feelings
Recently, some of my patients have been saying some version of this: “I can’t believe they’re teaching critical race theory to my 8-year-old. She came home crying. She felt bad about herself because her skin is white. I’ve got to protect her.” These people are trying to promote their children’s...
Letter to the editor: Advice for Steelers leadership
The Steelers are disgusting to watch. Week after week, fiasco after fiasco, it’s clear to me that Art Rooney is the problem. His grandfather and father are probably doing backflips in their graves. The NFL is a business; start running your team like one. Starting at the top: Your GM...
Letter to the editor: Christmas TV offerings leave Jesus out of the picture
Reviewing the Christmas television offerings listed recently in the Living section left me with a feeling of disgust. Believe me, I’m not a Grinch and enjoy celebrating the holidays as much as anyone, but who, I ask, are we honoring? There seems to be only one true, legitimate story reflecting...
Editorial: Sheriff’s resolved lawsuit is good news but sad commentary
In Pennsylvania, a sheriff’s office has a mixed bag of responsibilities, but they all come down to one simple role. Whether a deputy is serving a warrant or delivering a subpoena or enforcing an injunction, the job is the same. It is about being the arm of the court. It...
Letter to the editor: Pa. needs more climate change action
Nations from all over the world gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, recently for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 to address the climate crisis. Meanwhile in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Legislature has failed to act: The Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution blocking the state from joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,...
Greg Fulton: A Christmas wish for Pirates fans
It’s almost Christmas, and on the wish list for many Pirates fans in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere is that the team makes it to the World Series in 2022. It’s the same thing they have asked of Santa for many years. Being a Pirates fan can be painful. Most of...
Samuel Royer: Hammered by housing prices, first responders, teachers seek relief
From armed battles on the other side of the globe to terror attacks on our own soil, America is no stranger to turbulent times. For over two centuries, we have counted on brave individuals that rise to the occasion to protect our country and our communities, whether overseas or at...
Letter to the editor: Biden’s sleight-of-hand
Magicians use sleight-of-hand and distraction to do their tricks. They instruct you to look at one hand and use the other one to fool you. I believe President Biden is using the same tactic. When domestic and foreign affairs get too bad, it is a strange coincidence that a new...
Letter to the editor: Fake slide is a great move
I was reading where these sports authorities think that when the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Kenny Pickett faked a slide, the play should have been called dead (“Football rules experts agree: Controversy over Kenny Pickett’s fake slide needs to be addressed ‘effective immediately’,” Dec. 7, TribLIVE). And they want to make that...
Letter to the editor: Signs point to end of civilization
Dr. Mehmet Oz’s campaign slogan is “America First.” It is unattainable. Wake up to reality. Praise a man who has done so much damage to our federal government and country? Our democracy is ending. Not one politician seems to want to do anything about our national debt. The last time...
Editorial: Pandemic is no time for polarization
There are certain facts of life that are just so true, it almost seems ridiculous to say them out loud. Water is wet. What goes up must come down. Nothing’s sure but death and taxes. The ever-increasing polarization of politics is another. We almost have no right to be shocked...
Letter to the editor: Amish advantage
I am a father, a husband, a carpenter, a taxpayer and a Christian. I do not hate the Amish people; I only wish they played by the same rules as the rest of us. I was recently on a job site where the level of hypocrisy was so insulting that...
Mary Sanchez: Has antisemitism found a spot in woke America?
In late October, Jewish Americans saw the release of a report confirming what many intrinsically felt and feared. Antisemitism is on the rise. One in four American Jews said they’d been targeted by antisemitism during the past year. Four out of every 10 changed their behavior, with 22% deciding it...
Jonah Goldberg: Trump’s clout with Republican voters seems to be slipping away
Like a lot of people, I get a ton of thirsty emails from Donald Trump. On Saturday, he sent this note: “See you in Sunrise, FL, in a little while and tomorrow, Orlando. Big crowds!” He was referring to the first installment of his road show with former Fox host...
Mary Frances Cooper: Keep your library ‘free to the people’
When I assumed the role of president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Jan. 1, 2012, my goal was to become a champion for the ever-changing and increasingly important responsibility that public libraries have in our society. Now, as I prepare to leave this organization I’ve come to call...
