Opinion category, Page 139
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...
Letter to the editor: Zelenak will have everyone’s back
In a historic bipartisan vote, in May 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Fairness Act, which aims to grant statewide anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill, HB 300, passed with a 102-98 vote and received support from both Democrats and Republicans. This marks the first time the...
Letter to the editor: Lead in schools’ drinking water a danger to children
Your article “Deer Lakes welcomes back students with coffee shop, Legos-style learning and colorful parking spots” (Aug. 30, TribLive) demonstrates how the back-to-school season can be an exciting time. However, considering the persistent issue of lead in our schools’ water, it is also a time of concern. As an analysis...
Editorial: Election officials focused on system integrity
Ideally, the number of noncitizens casting ballots in the United States should be zero. But elections and voter registration are run by human beings, so mistakes are inevitable. The test of any system is not the ideal but how it responds when the inevitable mistakes occur. As we head into...
Letter to the editor: Trump, guns and inflation
Here it is just a few weeks into the school year and already another tragic school shooting by a young white male who was “picked on” and had access to an AR-15. Isn’t it ironic that half the country worships at the feet of the biggest bully there is who...
Letter to the editor: 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 pursuing that path for reasons...
Kristina Becvar: National Voter Registration Day is more important than ever
Each election, millions of Americans miss out on the opportunity to cast their votes because they are not registered. Some may have moved; others may not realize they need to update their voter registration, while others missed the deadline. In polling, thousands of non-voters consistently cite registration issues as their...
Matthew Yglesias: What if Harris and Trump could ignore Pa.?
The 2024 election will almost certainly come down to Pennsylvania. But nothing is certain in life, and it’s not too soon — forgive me — to look forward to the 2028 election, when warmer, faster-growing, less-unionized states are key Electoral College battlegrounds. In fact, according to Nate Silver’s forecasts, the...
Letter to the editor: Women’s ‘rights’ and covid vaccine mandates
The writer of the letter “Women’s rights may determine presidential election” (Aug. 28, TribLive) declares: “At the top of any list of concerns regarding freedom is a woman’s right and health decision to control her own body.” I’ll fix this for the author by adding: “… recognizing, however, that a...
Letter to the editor: State, local governments make doing business tough in Pa.
In 2019, U.S. Steel had plans to invest $1 billion in the Edgar Thompson and Clairton mills to increase production and cut emissions. The Allegheny County Health Department sat on the permits for over two years. In 2021, U.S. Steel scrapped the plans for an upgrade. What would be different...
Letter to the editor: Keep Trump out of the White House
I am a 60-year-old registered Republican. I have voted pretty much Republican since the day I could vote. I voted for Donald Trump in 2016. That will be the last time I will ever vote for this convicted criminal who I believe is a liar and racist who discriminates against...
