Opinion category, Page 271
Editorial: Independence and the legacy of Pennsylvania hospitals
Hospitals are part of the fabric of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 and was the first hospital in America to be founded as a medical facility and not as a workhouse or poorhouse. The state had the first mental health hospital. It boasts the oldest medical school and...
Letter to the editor: United Way nourishes our community
In the seven years I’ve been at Westmoreland Community Action (WCA), I’ve witnessed firsthand the overwhelming struggles of families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. New mothers in need of support, children falling behind in school and families going hungry because they don’t have enough to eat. However, I’ve also seen our community...
Letter to the editor: Proposed gun laws don’t properly address issues
The letter “Ending gun violence” (May 14, TribLIVE) advocated for new gun laws under the guise of the “Common Agenda to End Gun Violence.” It states that the laws are “broadly popular” and “bipartisan.” I believe both characterizations are false. The bills are supported by the usual anti-gun crowd led...
Rep. Jessica Benham: Federal agency could help Alzheimer’s patients
Last summer, my grandmother passed away after years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. If you’ve lost a loved one to this disease or know someone who has, then you’re familiar with the long and cruel journey both the patient and their families have walked. I want to say thank you...
Alex Bernstein: Raise minimum wage to build a better future
Everyone in Pennsylvania, from here in Pittsburgh to Erie, Scranton, Philly and everywhere in between deserves to earn a fair wage. But right now, thousands of Pennsylvanians are struggling to stay afloat, trying to navigate the cost of living crisis on a minimum wage of $7.25/hour — unchanged for nearly...
Cal Thomas: Obstacles in DeSantis’ path to presidency
The expected announcement today from Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that he is running for president will come as no surprise. While DeSantis won his reelection by 19 points and his accomplishments with the help of a Republican super majority in the state legislature have been impressive, appealing to voters...
Letter to the editor: Natrona Heights welcomes Aldi
Our community is so happy for the new Aldi store coming in Natrona Heights. With inflation and possibly a recession coming, us middle-class people — or poor, as they call us — are struggling with groceries and necessities. We welcome Aldi and jobs, jobs, jobs. Get off your rich high...
Letter to the editor: Thoughts on the labor shortage
Could the labor shortage be structural? Too few people to take over for the baby boomer retirements? Then add covid-19 making people realize that their health is more important than their job. Might also be a contributing factor to people participating in work. Life-work balance, and protecting nurses from abusive...
Letter to the editor: Leaders must be held accountable for lies
If the average person lies on an employment application, he or she can get fired. If people lie under oath, about their taxes, to the police or on a mortgage application, it is a criminal offense; they can be fined and face jail time. Why do we hold our elected...
Editorial: Reduce toll of ‘tranq’ overdoses
Gov. Josh Shapiro has a solid track record in the desperate struggle against the raging opioid epidemic. Before the covid-19 pandemic eclipsed opioids as the nation’s most pressing public health emergency, Shapiro played a traditional enforcement role as attorney general. He also had roles in changing prescription and dispensing protocols...
Letter to the editor: We shouldn’t be celebrating coal
Early this month, Sen. Pat Stefano introduced the 2022 Bituminous Coal Queen, Brianna Hensh, on the floor of the state Senate. The coal queen, Stefano said, “represents the coal industry, which is a major economic driver in our region.” Indeed, Brianna is an excellent candidate to receive a major award...
Letter to the editor: Future is bright for Southwestern Pa.
Last month, township officials from across the commonwealth gathered in Harrisburg for the 100th conference of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. There were many takeaways from the event, but what struck me was how our corner of the state is uniquely situated to overcome looming economic challenges. It...
Tom Purcell: Honoring our war dead on Memorial Day
Every year, polls show that a large number of Americans don’t know why we celebrate Memorial Day. According to People, a 2020 Onepoll survey found that fewer than half of the 2,000 people surveyed knew that the purpose of Memorial Day was not to honor those who served in the...
Christopher Nicholas: Pittsburgh is now the progressive beacon in Keystone State
Pennsylvania’s primary election proved to be a good day for liberal financier George Soros and his political operation, as well as for the Democratic establishment in Philadelphia. The bigger story, however, is that Western Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County supplanted Philly as the top progressive mecca in the state. The most high-profile...
Tom Schuster: RGGI can help communities throughout Pa.
It was recently announced that one of the few remaining coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania, Indiana County’s Homer City Coal Generation Station, will be shutting down. This will be a blow to the workers at the plant and the surrounding community. State and local leaders must commit to helping Homer...
Matthew J. Brouillette: Pa. primary unveiled a crisis for both political parties
On May 16, Pennsylvanians voted in statewide and local primary elections as well as a much-watched special House election. Beyond revealing the winners, the vote tallies show that former President Donald Trump lost (again), Democrats have an identity crisis and Republicans have a messaging crisis. While the former president wasn’t...
Letter to the editor: Why don’t socialists move to socialist countries?
I just got to thinking: Why don’t socialists just move to established socialistic countries? Why go to all the planning, work and deception to turn a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles socialistic? It seems like forced “conversion”; no free will. “As for me and my house” — you know, the...
Letter to the editor: We’re letting the clowns run the show
Well, America, before I go, I just want to tell you that you deserve what you’re getting. You have a military that’s in no way ready to protect you because they’re too worried about pronouns. The Navy just named an active-duty sailor who is also a drag queen to be...
Letter to the editor: Nursing home angels
For many elderly or seriously ill members of our families, their final journey in life starts when they walk through the doors of a nursing home. No longer are the day-to-day cares of their well-being administered by family, relatives or friends, but are placed in the hands of the nursing...
Letter to the editor: People with Alzheimer’s should have access to treatments
As a caregiver and advocate, access to treatments that can change the course of the disease in a meaningful way for people like my grandfather and the residents I cared for is incredibly important to me. On Jan. 6, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lecanemab, now known as...
Letter to the editor: Fixing our broken education system
After perusal of the article “School board races serve as culture war battlegrounds” (May 14, TribLIVE), I got to thinking about our national education system. In 1979, President Carter formed the Department of Education for political payback for teachers union support, and since then the unions have been firmly in...
Editorial cartoons for the week of May 22
Editorial cartoons for the week of May 22....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of May 22
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of May 22....
Mark Nicastre: Should Pa.’s state parks serve alcohol?
Pennsylvanians are getting their summer plans ready as Memorial Day nears. They’re thinking about the lakes, the amusement parks, the shore and extended travel throughout the commonwealth and the country. Here at home, many Pennsylvanians will visit the state parks system. Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation’s best...
Letter to the editor: More shootings, more inaction
Here we go again and again and again … another mass shooting after another. It seems the reaction to these horrible crimes nowadays is, “Really? Where at?” instead of, “Oh my God, what is going on in this country?” Who cares, and so what. To me, this is evidence of...
