Opinion category, Page 128
Sounding off: Politics, U.S. Steel deal among writers’ topics
Leaders must restore domestic tranquility For multiple reasons, I thank God that Donald Trump was not killed, injured or shot at in the latest attempted attack by a domestic terrorist who appears to have been politically motivated. There will always be those who are inclined toward violence, some of them...
Letter to the editor: Adelphoi should take responsibility for escapees
As a recent victim of one more of Adelphoi’s escapees, I think it’s time for the citizens of this county to demand Adelphoi take responsibility for allowing so many of their detainees to “escape” and cost the taxpayers both time and money. Does Adelphoi pay property taxes? We do. Our...
Letter to the editor: Vote for the party that respects and honors women
I can sympathize with those who oppose abortion. I do not believe that any woman considers abortion lightly. But what happens when the government intervenes in a decision that should be between a woman and her doctor? We’ve seen it already, in states where abortion has been outlawed or severely...
Editorial: Penn State stages another strike at student journalism
On Wednesday night, Penn State took a stand. Actually, it took 35 of them. It removed the newsstand racks and copies of the Daily Collegian from dozens of University Park campus buildings. The university insists this had nothing to do with squelching the independent student newspaper’s First Amendment rights. “The...
Letter to the editor: Kiski Valley opportunities
When I first came to Vandergrift some six years ago, I stated there was an attitude of pessimism. This attitude of despair and pessimism prompted an idea, and I founded the Vandergrift Business Association. This nonprofit was a success for businesses and citizens alike. New businesses formed, and existing businesses...
Letter to the editor: Restore election integrity with paper ballots
The writer of the letter ”County election deniers see problem that doesn’t exist” (Sept. 7, TribLive) accused Mary Rita Turka and me of trying to “cause chaos” in November’s election. Nonsense! We are representing the recommendations made by three election experts who testified before a Pennsylvania Senate committee hearing, saying our...
S.E. Cupp: Fear, death threats and Trump’s violent rhetoric
She’s nervous. But she’s got three kids at home, and in this economy, it’s a job, and she needs it. She didn’t know just how dangerous it would be, though. And now, as the big day gets closer and closer, she’s just hoping to survive it. She was prepared for...
Barbara Clark Smith: To American revolutionaries, patriotism meant fair dealing with one another
When modern Americans call themselves patriots, they are evoking a sentiment that is 250 years old. In September 1774, nearly two years before the Declaration of Independence, delegates from 12 of the 13 Colonies gathered in the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They quickly hammered out a political, economic and...
Letter to the editor: Unity solar farm not in best interests of residents, township
On June 25, the Unity Township Zoning Board held a hearing to consider a special exception application for the installation of a 34-acre solar farm along Charles Houck Road. This issue was unbeknownst to a majority of area residents who, once informed, filled the meeting room to overflowing for the...
Letter to the editor: When casting your vote, don’t forget about Jan. 6
There are some who would like to forget Jan. 6, 2021, a day when Americans claiming patriotism violated democracy. Thugs kicked down barriers, climbed up walls, broke windows and fought the Capitol police while Congress was doing the work of certifying the presidential election of 2020. To minimize the terror...
Lori Falce: Words hurt people every day
Rhetoric is all over the news right now. No, not the rhetoric itself, but the word “rhetoric” as people use rhetoric to discuss the concept of rhetoric. And if that seems confusing, that’s kind of the point. If you listen to politicians and pundits, the term rhetoric might be interpreted...
Letter to the editor: Lies about Trump
Our political discourse rarely weighs heavily in factual information. Our politicians understand that our largely uninformed electorate is best convinced by highly emotional, provocative language. For example, at the recent Democratic National Convention, speaker after speaker acclaimed the “joy” of their party’s nominees while spewing hateful diatribes about the Republican...
Laurels & lances: Sworn in & pleading out
Laurel: To a new start. The Westmoreland County Register of Wills Office has been in chaos for over a year. In January, as Sherry Magretti Hamilton started her third term, the extent of problems in her office began to unfold. County adoptions were months behind in processing. So were filings...
Letter to the editor: Culturally competent mental health, emergency services
On Tuesday, the Justice for Christian Hall coalition and Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance will host a press conference to introduce an Allegheny County Council resolution honoring the life of Christian Hall. This resolution highlights the need for culturally competent mental health and emergency services in Pennsylvania. A similar bill...
Letter to the editor: Reenergized by Harris
I want to extend a personal thank-you to Donald Trump. For many years, I was very apathetic toward politics … until he entered the fray. But my interest in politics isn’t because I’m pro-DT. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I can unequivocally say that I haven’t despised anyone as...
Cal Thomas: Words and deeds
In 1995 when Timothy McVeigh bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children and injuring hundreds more, President Bill Clinton blamed “promoters of paranoia,” which conservative talk radio hosts took as a slur against them. At the time I wrote that while there were many...
Letter to the editor: It’s time to stop Trump’s mayhem
Former President Donald Trump has falsely stated that Haitian immigrants are abducting and eating family pets. The result has been bomb threats, lockdowns and a state of emergency in Springfield, Ohio. The man and his vice presidential candidate are sowing mayhem and discord. Is it time to arrest the man...
Letter to the editor: Challenges of U.S. Steel/Nippon deal
The proposed purchase of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel pits the United Steelworkers union against some in senior management who say the transaction by Nippon will save and prolong the viability of the iconic company that has promised to invest billions to upgrade facilities and processes. If the transaction goes...
Editorial: Why would Pennsylvania elections need foreign money?
The state Legislature is open to money from almost everywhere. For years, people have pointed out the lack of real restrictions on gifts from lobbyists. Lawmakers tend to listen sagely, nod and promise to consider a gift ban. And that’s as far as it goes. Actually crack down on things...
Letter to the editor: Harris strategy spells disaster
Once again, the Democratic Party is resorting to policy silence in its presidential campaign rather than being forthright with the American citizenry about the multiple crises our nation is facing. The basement strategy 2020 win of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has been disastrous. It’s given us extreme inflation, an...
Jonah Goldberg: The rhetoric of Harris and Biden isn’t what’s sparking political violence. Here’s why.
Another unwell person sought to kill Donald Trump, according to the FBI and other officials. We should all be grateful that no one was hurt and that the Secret Service and local law enforcement appear to have done their jobs properly. I’m also grateful to former President Trump for assigning...
Kayla M. Williams: JD Vance’s dangerous push to further privatize the VA
When asked whether he would consider privatized health care for veterans, vice presidential candidate JD Vance replied, “I think I’d consider it.” While he acknowledged that there are areas where the Department of Veterans Affairs works well and rejected the idea of completely eliminating our second-largest federal agency, Vance doubled...
Patrick Starr: Trails are transportation
Trails and roads intersect in several ways, but from a transportation perspective they provide the same function. In many ways, trails are more accessible to a greater number of Pennsylvanians. Trails are beloved as a safe and comfortable place to move, to see, smell and experience the out-of-doors; to interact...
Barbara McQuade: Fighting Russian disinformation must be a team sport
Russian disinformation continues to poison U.S. politics via our social media platforms. As the tactics grow more sophisticated, our best defense may be building resilience rather than hoping to eliminate it. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice announced two law enforcement actions relating to a covert Russian disinformation campaign....
Letter to the editor: Border crisis one of many reasons not to vote for Harris/Walz
Imagine this: Sex offenders no longer need to register and are now permitted to live near schools and day care centers without fear of retaliation. Does this scare you? A lack of action protecting our borders on the part of Vice President Kamala Harris has essentially made this possible. Literally...
