Opinion category, Page 453
Letter to the editor: Dumbing down Pittsburgh police response
What if the owners of newspapers told their editors to write without regard to the rules of grammar and punctuation? And what if they were told to dumb it down some; they are writing at too high of a level for their readership? Do you think the editors would feel...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: In America, justice should not have to be a relief
The first feeling is relief. On Wednesday in Brunswick, Ga., three white men — Gregory McMichael, his son Travis McMichael and their neighbor William Bryan — were found guilty of felony murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery. And one doesn’t feel joy, nor even vindication. Nope. Only relief. Justice...
Stephen Moore: We need a little more Milton Friedman right about now
Not long ago, President Biden made an offhanded comment that “Milton Friedman isn’t running the show anymore.” This president has seldom spoken more valid words. And that’s where the trouble has begun. If you were to rate the three most influential economic minds of all time, you’d be hard-pressed to...
Letter to the editor: Parenting should require a license
Many years ago I wrote a letter to the editor concerning parental licensing. I see and read about so many parents killing their children. You need to pass tests to become a police officer, drive a car, be a pilot, be a veterinarian … but there are no tests required...
Letter to the editor: Why gas prices are high
Regarding Sean Peters’ letter “Biden’s blunders” (Nov. 22, TribLIVE): As a citizen of this United States, I feel it is my duty to point out the misinformation you have asserted in your letter. There’s a reason prices have gone up lately, and it has nothing to do with President Biden....
Editorial: Butler County Community College teaches lesson with ransomware shutdown
Colleges like to compare themselves to each other. Pitt measures itself against its state-related siblings Penn State and Temple and its neighbors like Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon. They all pay attention to where they fall against their peers on other lists. Which is ranked highest in U.S. News and...
Letter to the editor: Pa. leaders don’t invest in Pa.
I am still rolling with laughter over the op-ed penned by Rep. Joanna McClinton, “Federal bill invests in Pa.; state legislative leaders need to do the same” (Nov. 22, TribLIVE). What nerve. First of all, our so-called leaders invest nothing in Pennsylvania; they use taxpayer dollars to pay for the...
Tom Purcell: Just say no to well-meaning but unaffordable spending
I wish I had a change of heart, but I still can’t support it. Back in 2009, long before I got my beloved 11-month-old puppy, Thurber, I was critical of a proposed federal bill that sought tax deductions for pet owners. Robert Davi, a tough-guy Hollywood actor, and then Rep....
Cal Thomas: Isn’t it rich? Thank you, Stephen Sondheim.
The death of composer Stephen Sondheim at 91 is more than the end of an era. It is the end of a chain of great Broadway musicals dating back to the 1920s when Jerome Kern’s “Showboat” first dazzled theater audiences. I met him only once. It was at Barbara Cook’s...
David Wassel: Reapportionment means never having to say you’re sorry
Following every census, legislative districts are redrawn to reflect population changes, preserving the idea of “equal representation.” Districts are currently being drawn for state legislative elections next year. This process is already generating debate, with concern over gerrymandering, misrepresentation of the 2020 presidential election results and attempts to curtail voting...
Letter to the editor: Arbery’s name should have been in headline
Your Nov. 25 front-page headline “3 found guilty of killing Black man in Georgia” sadly points out just what is wrong with our society. That Black man had a name, Ahmaud Arbery. Until society stops seeing and identifying each other by color, the prejudice and hate so rampant now will...
Letter to the editor: National vs. local journalism
I attended virtually the inaugural symposium of Duquesne University’s Institute for Ethics and Integrity in Journalism, “The Importance of Local Journalism in an Age of Declining Trust in Media.” It was obvious that the keynote speaker and panel members had a wealth of experience in their field, and all shared...
Editorial: Most important part of gun ownership is responsibility
With great power comes great responsibility. That’s more than just a good life lesson from the pages of a comic book. It’s an undeniable truth. The more power we hold in our hands, the more responsible we are for what we do with it. Drive a car, and you have...
Letter to the editor: Understanding Build Back Better Act
Our country will fundamentally change if the U.S. Senate passes the Build Back Better Act. You need to understand how it will change. The child tax credit will continue for one additional year, at which time the tax credit for a 0- to 6-year-old child will return from the current...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 29
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 29....
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 29
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 29....
Andrew Chew: In Pa., civic engagement is a critical challenge
Northeastern Pennsylvania is defined by its culturally distinct communities, from dense small cities and coal-region boroughs to bucolic townships and newer suburbs. From the beginning, the area has been shaped by a deep tradition of civic engagement — an unseen force defined by volunteerism, pride, community ties and showing up...
Rabbi Barbara AB Symons and Rabbi Aaron Bisno: Shining a light on fair representation
Today, Jews throughout the Pittsburgh region, and around the world, gather to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. On this night, we light the Shamash, or the helper candle, to light every candle on the menorah, adding one every night to honor the eight days that a little vial of...
Letter to the editor: Who could replace Mike Tomlin?
I don’t understand who Mark Madden thinks is out there who would do a better job coaching the Steelers than Mike Tomlin (“Steelers’ lack of identity, focus an indictment of Mike Tomlin,” Nov. 20, TribLIVE). Tomlin is already 20th on the all-time wins list, with seven division titles, nine playoff...
Letter to the editor: Parties and politics
Carol Badgley, in her letter “Loss of Bacha as coroner a shame for Westmoreland residents” (Nov. 13, TribLIVE) laments that a political newcomer, Tim Carson, defeated the incumbent, Ken Bacha, as Westmoreland County coroner because, as she explains, “elections have come down to party rather than who is more qualified...
Letter to the editor: Shapiro will make a difference as governor
While serving communities in the South Hills and Monongahela Valley for over a year, I frequently hear about people’s lack of faith in the country’s ability to improve. There seem to be so many small problems to fix, while the big problems become too large to overcome. To address these...
Editorial: Demand your money’s worth from elected officials
In 2022, many people will be hoping for an increase in salary, but it won’t be a guarantee. Unless you happen to be a Pennsylvania lawmaker. Or judge. Or high-ranking government official. For someone falling into one of these categories, 2022 not only will come with a raise, but it...
Letter to the editor: Flynn’s call for one religion contrary to Founding Fathers’ views
Michael Flynn, in a recent Awaken America speech, declared, “If we are going to have one nation under God … we have to have one religion.” Flynn’s notion runs contrary to several Founding Fathers’ statements on religion in America based on Old World evils of religion and government connected in...
Lucille and Clyde Bittner: Put aside differences and help people
As a married couple of 27 years, where one of us identifies as a Republican and the other as a Democrat, we understand better than most the idea that politics shouldn’t make it to the dinner table. During the last election, we were a split Trump and Biden household — and...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Thanksgiving, more than a day
Art Keppel started Thanksgiving early this year, and it lasted for months. When the Philadelphia lawyer retired from private practice in March 2020, the pandemic gave him time to reflect on his life, like many of us. A year and a half later, he embarked on the “Art Keppel Thank...
