Opinion category, Page 308
Laurels & lances: Police and consequences
Laurel: To carrying on. Though the hole created by the loss of Chief Justin McIntire remains, the Brackenridge police are getting back to business as usual. Police from across the region covered the department following McIntire’s death Jan. 2 in the line of duty, allowing the Brackenridge officers an opportunity...
Letter to the editor: Are we seeing a rift between Biden and media?
Having followed politics rather closely for more than four decades, I could only shake my head in disgust as Joe Biden won the presidency in 2020. At least when Donald Trump made stupid, clumsy attempts to circumnavigate the truth, it could be attributed to his unfamiliarity with political articulation. Biden...
Phil Kerpen: Biden’s 2nd student loan bailout scheme is even worse
President Joe Biden isn’t waiting for the Supreme Court to decide on his last $400 billion student loan bailout before rolling out another, even more costly plan. (Oral arguments on the first one are scheduled for Feb. 28; it’s been blocked by lower courts for now). Biden’s new plan to...
Paul Muschick: Pa. House closed for business, but lawmakers still getting paid. Here’s how much gridlock costing taxpayers.
If you couldn’t perform all of your duties, would your boss still pay your full salary? We all know the answer. In the real world, you get paid based on what you can accomplish. In the world of Pennsylvania politics, you get paid regardless of how little you may do....
Colin McNickle: Pittsburgh Public Schools must get on with right-sizing
Moving forward this year with a plan shelved two years ago to close six Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) buildings is imperative for the district to reduce its expenses for the benefit of taxpayers, concludes a new analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “Those closures were part of a...
Presley Gillespie: Equity and inclusion in action in Pittsburgh
Equity and inclusion are ongoing efforts that are integral to organizational success. They are not one-off activities or training. They are not afterthoughts or buzzwords. They are more than simply showing up or involving everyone. Equity and inclusion are forging more robust connections and cultivating a greater sense of belonging...
Letter to the editor: Hoping for an end to Wolf’s chaos
Gov. Tom Wolf said on March 16, 2020: “I would like people to stay home 24 hours a day.” From that day till now, some Pennsylvana residents have taken that fear to heart. Others mocked and laughed as the shutdowns and mandates continued and we did our best to lead...
Letter to the editor: Republicans holding us hostage
I have some question for voters who cast ballots which nominally granted control of the U. S. House of Representatives to the Republicans: Is it acceptable to you that a high-stakes game of chicken will be played over whether to increase the debt ceiling, an action which enables the country...
Editorial: One-way public comment rules can be malicious compliance
Compliance is the term for acknowledging the rules and following them. You see the stop sign. You gently step on the brake pedal as your car approaches it. You note the speed limit and set your cruise control accordingly. But malicious compliance is different. It’s technically following the letter of...
Letter to the editor: Jan. 6 commission symptom of bloated government
It has been said, “When the government fears the people, there is liberty, but when the people fear the government, there’s tyranny.” Today, we are ruled by an elite group who have weaponized the federal government to serve their self-interest. We talk of “insurrection” on Jan. 6 but ignore that...
Jonah Goldberg: Biden should admit to mistakes in his classified documents scandal
There’s an understandable compulsion in the media and among Democrats to emphasize the differences between Joe Biden’s classified documents scandal and Donald Trump’s. The two cases are different in many important respects. The most significant is obviously that the former president refused to cooperate with the National Archives and Justice...
Joe Guzzardi: Interior Department’s misguided ‘restoring America’ program
A week after Joe Biden became president, he signed Executive Order 14008, which announced his commitment to protect 30% of U.S. land and water — 41.5 million acres per year — by 2030. On May 6, 2021, the Department of the Interior published “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” a...
Daniel Eichinger: When the DA’s office fails to fulfill its gatekeeping role
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is in desperate need of an overhaul. As a public defender in Allegheny County for over 10 years — including several years managing and leading the office’s Trial Division — I witnessed the many systemic failures that plague the criminal justice system. One such...
Letter to the editor: RIP Jeff Beck and David Crosby
We recently lost two musical giants, Jeff Beck and David Crosby. RIP and thanks for the years and years of fantastic music. Rock ’n’ roll heaven just got so much better. The group “Dream Theater” said it best when they sang, “After we’re gone, the spirit carries on.” Mike Stehney...
Letter to the editor: No reason to laud our public education system
The laudatory statement in Rich Askey’s letter “Thank those who educate our students” (Nov. 17, TribLIVE) was like the captain of the Titanic congratulating his staff and crew on the good job they were doing loading the lifeboats as the ship was sinking. He praises everyone associated with the Pennsylvania...
Editorial: Will Pittsburgh nonprofits pass a charity inspection?
In order to drive a car in Pennsylvania, you have to do more than pay your registration fee. You have to pass an inspection. The mechanic looks at your registration and insurance, but he also looks over the car itself. He makes sure it isn’t just legal but that it...
Letter to the editor: U.S. enemies are taking advantage
As our country continues to self destruct, our enemies are quietly taking advantage of our stupidity and lack of patriotism. We see Russia challenging us and our allies with their invasion of Ukraine. Russia is using Ukraine to test their newest military weapons. It has allegedly sabotaged the undersea gas...
Elwood Watson: DeSantis goes after Black history
In his ongoing attacks on what he describes as “woke politics,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has denied permission for an advanced placement African American history course to be taught in Florida public high schools. NAACP Director Ivory Toldson condemned the course’s rejection, calling DeSantis’ decision a “dereliction of his duty...
Cal Thomas: A surprise resignation in New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Like Halley’s Comet that only comes around every 75 years, the resignation of a top politician from office is a rare occurrence. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has quit and not for the usual reasons of scandal or the all-purpose excuse “to spend more time...
Gordon Tomb: In Pa., will Shapiro unlock decades of affordable energy?
With Democrat Josh Shapiro as a newly inaugurated governor and a new legislative body, Pennsylvania will either shine as an energy superstar or continue down the dim path of economic decline. The commonwealth is a national leader in energy production despite being stifled by onerous regulations, market-distorting subsidies and an...
Letter to the editor: Guess who’s paying for immigrants’ hotel, food?
Who is paying for immigrants to stay at the $500-a-night Row NYC Hotel, with three free meals a day? Take a guess. I attribute this to the current administration’s southern border policy. The New York Post recently ran an article headlined “Tons’ of food gets tossed daily by NYC hotel...
Letter to the editor: Planned hazardous waste dump threatens residents
Residents of Western Pennsylvania, beware — we are at risk! MAX Environmental Technologies plans to build a new hazardous dump on the banks of Sewickley Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny River, threatening drinking water for thousands. We have some of the worst air quality in the nation, with MAX...
Editorial: A smart, accountable gift ban makes common sense
One of the first things Gov. Josh Shapiro has done after taking office is to retool the gift ban for the offices under his control. During Tom Wolf’s tenure there was a ban, and it was handcuff-tight. Cabinet members on official visits couldn’t accept simple and affordable hospitality that could...
Letter to the editor: What’s ‘fair share’ when it comes to taxes?
Regarding the letter “We need fair taxation to end wealth inequality” (Jan. 7, TribLIVE): “Fair share” is liberal speak when arguing that our tax system is unfair, because in their opinion, the wealthy are not paying enough taxes. They are careful not to define what a “fair share” would be....
Tom Purcell: Grateful for Punxsutawney’s silly fun
Groundhog Day cannot come soon enough. It’s the thick of winter. Cabin fever is setting in. Incivility is worse than ever. A delightful, silly diversion is what we need about now, and Punxsutawney Phil has been delivering needed joy this time of year since 1887. As you know, every Feb....
