Opinion category, Page 218
Doug Gansler: Could a 3rd party be the answer we need in 2024?
Four more years of a Trump presidency would take an enormous toll on America and its democracy. Polling continues to trend in Donald Trump’s direction over President Joe Biden’s, and we seem to be hurtling toward a disaster in November’s presidential election. This is a rare and unprecedented moment in...
Letter to the editor: Differing views of Republicans, Democrats
I feel utter disappointment for the writer of the letter “Republicans revenge impeachment” (Dec. 21, TribLive) and his obvious failure to grasp history and retain any knowledge from it. He states that the GOP voted in unison for a “religious fraud.” Sounds like freedom of religion is something the writer...
Sounding off: Letter-writers focus on Gaza, Fetterman, Parkway congestion, Tomlin
Ceasefire won’t work in Gaza It’s clear that ceasefires have not brought peace in the Middle East, but instead prolonged the violence. Over the past 80 years, terrorist groups have attacked Israel and frequently killed innocent civilians. And whenever Israel fights back to the verge of victory, the U.N. calls...
Letter to the editor: Look at causes when addressing Parkway congestion
I applaud the idea of improving the traffic flow along the Parkway East (“$142M in federal funding to address congestion, transit along Pittsburgh’s Parkway East,” Dec. 19, TribLive). We all know it’s a mess. But I think they are missing the mark. Improving the shoulders so commuter buses will have...
Editorial: Why should the DA have to approve body camera video release?
The things we can see make a huge difference in the things we can understand. We show pictures not only because they add interest to a story but also because they can give as much information as the words. In addition, they can provide context. Pictures can help us not...
Letter to the editor: Hamas’ genocide of both Israelis and Palestinians
I am confused about the news saying that the Jews are committing genocide on the Palestinians. The pro-Palestinian protesters are saying that Israel should stop committing genocide. Where were the protesters when Hamas brutally attacked Israel and did indeed commit genocide? It is beyond comprehension that Hamas has no compassion...
S.E. Cupp: New Year’s resolutions for what’s ahead in 2024
Another year is closing, and with it comes some renewed optimism for a fresh start and some relief that we are leaving some sore spots behind. 2023 wasn’t an easy year for many of us. It was marked by war — in Ukraine and later in Gaza. With Hamas’ barbaric...
Andrew Good: Pennsylvania workers need wider E-Verify mandates
Pennsylvania lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would require all state and local government contractors, and their subcontractors, to verify that newly hired workers are either American citizens or legal immigrants. Contractors that refuse to do so would face stiff fines. If passed, this bill would prevent companies from using...
Adam Brandon: The fear factor and winning the independent voter
Voter trust and fear over the 2024 election are driving unprecedented interest in independent voters. The candidate who can address these fears, whether that candidate is President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump, will go on to win. With only a handful of states up for grabs, they need...
Letter to the editor: Taking care of the whole child
Public school administrations and school boards, now smitten by the whole-child teaching approach and wanting to stay in touch, really don’t seem to know or care all that much, until they get bitten by the money and funding crunch. The whole-child approach has been in child care programs for decades...
Letter to the editor: Not all in Gaza are victims
Residents of Gaza are portrayed as victims of warmonger Israel. They claim they are innocent victims. This is not entirely true. Some Gaza residents are actually part of Hamas and believe they are justified in attacking Israel. It is very hard to keep a secret for a long time. Hamas...
Laurels & lances: Highs and lows of 2023
As 2023 comes to a close, we look back on some of the highs and lows of the past 12 months. Laurel: To healing wounds. Five years after the deadliest antisemetic attack in U.S. history, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting finally had its day in court. Shooter Robert Bowers was convicted...
Letter to the editor: Grateful for first responders in Sewickley Valley
The borough of Sewickley Heights wishes to recognize and express its gratitude to the Sewickley Valley police, fire and ambulance services and other first responders for their remarkable coordinated emergency response to the incident that occurred on Backbone Road on Dec. 12. The Sewickley Heights police, with assistance offered by...
Cal Thomas: Looking back, looking forward
At the end of the year, we hear predictions about the future, many of which have been proven wrong: from the end of the world due to climate change, to the telephone is just a toy. (There is a story, probably apocryphal, that in 1876, the president of Western Union,...
Liz Hirsh Naftali: My 4-year-old great-niece was released by Hamas. When will the other hostages be freed?
There are 107 people, including seven Americans, still held hostage by Hamas since the brutal terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7. My great-niece, 4-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, was one of them. For 50 days, we did not know where she was, if she was alive, or if she was...
Letter to the editor: Rudolph the Black and Yellow Steeler
Rudolph the black and yellow Steeler Had a very shiny throw. And if you ever saw it You would even say go GO! All of the other coaches Used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any football games. Then one foggy Christmas Eve...
Letter to the editor: Fetterman, be a better man
Like many young Pennsylvanians, I’ve been disappointed to watch Sen. John Fetterman flounder in his elected role of representing us. We were told (by him and his family) that we would be getting a progressive champion of human rights, and instead we get a worse-dressed version of Sen. Joe Manchin,...
Editorial: Personal finance class long overdue for Pennsylvania students
William Penn opened schools when Pennsylvania was just a colony. Public schools in the state were put in place constitutionally in 1789. The Free Public Schools Act passed 45 years later, formalizing a public education system in the Keystone State. Education represents about 39% of the state’s budget, according to...
Letter to the editor: Biased press
Seeking the truth (a lost virtue) should always be job No. 1 of any in a free press. But too often the truth gets slanted to fit an agenda. Case in point: In November, a march in Washington of pro-Israeli supporters had an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people in attendance,...
Letter to the editor: Foie gras ban shows Pittsburgh’s compassion
I am in support of the recent ban on foie gras sale and production in the city of Pittsburgh, as it reflects our city’s progressiveness and commitment to a more compassionate future for all beings (“Pittsburgh bans foie gras, pauses efforts to bar fur sales, horse-drawn carriages,” Dec. 18, TribLive)....
Rich Fitzgerald: Reflecting on 12 years of service
As I near the end of my third and final term, it provides a perfect opportunity to say thank you to Allegheny County residents. It has been the privilege of my life to serve in this position, and to represent you as county executive. Together, we have accomplished a great...
Jonah Goldberg: 2023 was the year I started believing in the horseshoe theory of politics
This is the season for columnists to offer some new idea that encapsulates the year that was. I got nothing. But 2023 was the year I finally abandoned my opposition to an old idea — the horseshoe theory of political ideologies. The term is often attributed to French author Jean-Pierre...
Kelly McKinney: Are we as a nation ready for the next big threat? What Oct. 7 and the pandemic have taught us
I was stunned by the early morning headline that appeared in my email. According to The New York Times, Israeli officials had known about Hamas’ plan for more than a year before it launched its Oct. 7 attacks. This could not be true. The Israel that I have come to...
Letter to the editor: AI, digital dollar will destroy us
So here we are in year 3 of the most senseless government the U.S. has ever had. The funny thing is everyone is going along with their stupidity. Let’s have a little checklist. I think Bidenomics is a lie; not abandoning our soldiers — a lie; making your life better...
Letter to the editor: Vegan New Year’s resolution benefits all
It’s that time again. Millions of people around the world will make New Year’s resolutions that they plan to keep. Some decide it’s time to lose a few pounds or maybe make the decision to unplug from social media. One of the more popular resolutions is choosing to go vegan....
