Letters to the Editor category, Page 396
Letter to the editor: Medicare for all? It’s not free
Certain politicians have been proposing the idea of Medicare for all. Sounds great, right? What they are not telling the public is that Medicare is not free. Consider Original Medicare 2019 : Part A: Premiums: Less than 30 quarters working (Medicare taxes paid), $437 per month; 30-39 quarters working, $240...
Letter to the editor: Divisive politics dangerous
As a decades-long independent, I find the behavior of the Republican and Democratic Party leadership in Washington disgraceful, embarrassing, unpatriotic and dangerous. They, along with their respective cronies in the media, have successfully divided the country into opposing factions who disregard the Constitution, precedent and common sense, whenever convenient. Extremists...
Letter to the editor: What if Native Americans built walls?
Although I recognize the need for border controls, I wonder how many of us would be here if the Native Americans had constructed walls around our country … . Jim Blahovec Penn Township, Westmoreland County...
Letter to the editor: Hempfield needs police
Another year has passed, and Hempfield Township continues to mooch off Pennsylvania taxpayers to pay for its police services. Added revenue from the new mall casino could allow Hempfield to fund its own department or “kick in” to support the Pennsylvania State Police. Is it fair that Pennsylvania’s largest township,...
Letter to the editor: Government waste is immoral
Our president is asking Congress for less than 1 percent of the federal budget to ensure security on our southern border. However, the Democrats have decided to hold federal workers hostage during the negotiations to deny the president his sworn duty to protect this nation. In an October 2009 article,...
Letter to the editor: No surveillance on Hillary
The last few days I have suspected that I was under surveillance, most likely by the FBI. So I put a “Hillary for President” sign in my front yard. Wow … the surveillance is now gone. And, I didn’t have to pay anything for the sign; I found it in...
Letter to the editor: Cosmic luck
If you were born in America, you didn’t earn your citizenship. Your good fortune originates from random cosmic luck. In fact, your chances of hitting the “billion dollar lottery” are better than the odds that placed your life in this nation at this moment in time. You could have been...
Letter to the editor: Shutdown will reveal truths
There are two things this government shutdown will reveal. One is how not well-off things are for the average American, and that a large percentage of people live paycheck to paycheck, with a thin line between comfort and poverty. Less than 50 percent of Americans have more than $1,000 in...
Letter to the editor: TEACH bait & switch
Letter-writer Jeanne Snyder (“TEACH grants should be paid back,” Jan. 1, TribLIVE) should be proud of her son’s accomplishment of graduating from Penn State using grants, scholarships and loans. He found a job and started making payments toward the loans. Snyder states that education majors should pay for their education...
Letter to the editor: Peduto’s plans won’t make us safer
Regarding Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and his efforts to confront the gun problem(s) as he perceives them (“What’s next for Pittsburgh’s controversial gun-regulation proposals,” Jan. 8, TribLIVE), I think his heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, his brain seems unable to find that place. Additional legislation in cities throughout...
Letter to the editor: Fairness & civility in local politics
When retired executive John Ventre announced his decision to run for Westmoreland County Commissioner on Jan. 11, he was stunned to see that his extensive resume of work and board and charitable service, and his creative plan to help the county, was reduced to negativism regarding his former hobby and...
Letter to the editor: Protect our country
The Democrats had a gun control mantra: “If only one life is saved, it’s worth it.” I think this mantra is more applicable to building the border wall. We have already had illegals kill police and cause traffic fatalities. Democrats and RINOs have to get off their high horses and...
Letter to the editor: Immigrants, disease & our charity
Everyone talks about drugs and criminals illegally entering through Mexico, but I wonder about the disease coming in with these invaders. They probably have not been inoculated for many common diseases, and could be carrying other diseases common to their countries. Also, after their trek to an unwelcoming country, they...
Letter to the editor: Government battleground
I recently read and reread a letter to the editor about our government. Then I thought about all the drama in our government. How can a government that has always stood for fairness and understanding become a battleground? Politicians have failed to agree on anything — because a certain person...
Letter to the editor: Gun issue distractions
I have one question for letter-writer Michael Rock (“‘Assault’ wrong term for rifles,” Dec. 27, TribLIVE), who quibbles about specifics of terminology and never mentions the terrible consequences of these weapons of mass destruction or any constructive solution: Was the Tree of Life synagogue massacre an assault? So often I...
Letter to the editor: Beware foreign drug makers
This morning’s news announced a 26-year-old had lost his life because he no longer had health coverage under his parents’ plan and he couldn’t afford a $1,300-per-month insulin drug on his own. This is truly a tragedy. However, most people with hospitalization drug coverage are unaware that this country gets...
Letter to the editor: Steelers, borders & pot
My thoughts about some recent news. • Once more the Steelers will not be in contention for a Super Bowl win. They have the talent, but need a coach. Mike Tomlin is a nice guy, but will never be a winner like Chuck Noll because he doesn’t enforce strict discipline....
Letter to the editor: Trump bully & liar
The letter I wrote a few weeks ago (”Trump’s made us laughingstock,” Dec. 13, TribLIVE) has been proven true. Our president is a bully, and this government shut down proves it. He is like a little boy who gets mad when he doesn’t get his way, takes his football and...
Letter to the editor: Tlaib misinformed on impeachment
Newly sworn in to Congress, Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib is getting some negative feedback regarding the profanity she used in a recent speech. Apparently, Tlaib was caught up in the excitement of discussing the opportunity to impeach President Donald Trump. In an online article, CNN noted that advocating a...
Letter to the editor: Liberals & immigrants
I wholeheartedly agree with Robert Ritchey’s ideas in his letter “Immigration win-win-win” (Jan. 4, TribLIVE). They are right on the money. I would like to add one stipulation: Bleeding heart liberal citizen sponsor will relinquish citizenship and be deported to immigrant’s country of origin along with immigrant when said immigrant...
Letter to the editor: Peduto, bring both sides together on guns
Mayor Bill Peduto has a unique opportunity to bring people together rather than to continue to divide us, as the recent gun legislation proposals are doing (“What’s next for Pittsburgh’s controversial gun-regulation proposals,” Jan. 8, TribLIVE). We are hearing a lot of viewpoints from both sides, but very little that...
Letter to the editor: See Trump for what he is
I am continually amazed by how so many people cannot, or will not, see Donald Trump for what he really is. The letter from Lou Mangione (“Let Trump do his job,” Dec. 17, TribLIVE) could, by some, be considered accurate. And yet: • Trump is no more scrutinized than was...
Letter to the editor: County Dem leadership
2018 was supposed to be the year of the blue wave, yet here in Westmoreland County, every single Democrat running for state or federal office lost, in most cases by double digits. While we saw Democrats across the country win in historically red districts and states, in our own county,...
Letter to the editor: Sad goodbye to Antonio Brown
An open letter to Antonio Brown: In the 2010 draft I sat and waited for your pick — round 6, pick 195. I exploded with joy! Emailed my husband in Afganistan: Steelers got Antonio Brown! Antonio who? Antonio Brown, the next big thing! Went out and bought myself (still have)...
Letter to the editor: TEACH grants not ‘free money’
To letter-writer Jeanne Snyder (“TEACH grants should be paid back,” Jan. 1, TribLIVE): You state that “Upon graduating, he (your son) found a job and started making payments toward the loans.” Did he also pay back the grants he received? TEACH grants are not free money to teachers. They come...
