Opinion category, Page 334
Letter to the editor: Parents should look closely at books
In her article “Legislation proposed to regulate book bans in Pennsylvania school districts” (Oct. 11, TribLIVE), Megan Tomasic mentions in great detail how widespread this is and that the books questioned dealt primarily with LGBTQ+ or racial themes. She identified the two books that caused local protests by parents. She...
Letter to the editor: How about some tax credits for those without student loans?
With the Biden administration recently announcing the opening of applications for student loan “forgiveness,” I have an idea for the 2024 GOP nominee. Let’s use President Biden’s massive expansion of the IRS to ensure that every person that doesn’t have student loans that need forgiving a $10,000 tax credit. Every...
Editorial: Why we don’t endorse political candidates
Endorsements are the way some organizations or individuals show their support for a candidate. A popular governor could throw his weight behind someone running for mayor. A major union can advocate for a legislative candidate. It’s all very familiar because of how often it happens. Frequently, endorsements can come with...
Letter to the editor: Prominent Republicans say election not stolen
In their report “Lost, Not Stolen: The Conservative Case that Trump Lost and Biden Won the 2020 Presidential Election,” eight prominent Republicans said the 2022 election was not stolen. In their words: “There is absolutely no evidence of fraud in the 2020 presidential election on the magnitude necessary to shift...
Tom Purcell: Pre-election stress disorder
I’m already anxious about the outcome. I speak of next week’s elections, and a modern malady the Mayo Clinic refers to as “election stress disorder.” “We notice it in our bodies, the tension in our shoulders,” says Dr. Robert Bright, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist. “Sometimes people get GI (gastrointestinal) upset...
Cal Thomas: Last man no longer standing
He called himself “the last man standing,” a reference to the rock ‘n’ roll icons of which he was among the most notable. Jerry Lee Lewis died last week at age 87. He was the last in a line of rock greats whose records I played as a 16-year-old disc...
Leon Ford and Evan Feinberg: Healing communities in Pittsburgh
In major cities across the country, violent crime remains stubbornly higher than it was pre-pandemic. Pittsburgh is no exception, with the homicide rate up 25%. If we want more peaceful communities, we must develop better relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Bridging the divides between law enforcement...
Letter to the editor: Remember these things about Trump
I pose questions to letter- writer Jack Bologna (“Before voting, ask yourself if you’re happy with …,” Oct. 22, TribLIVE). Do you recall that our former President Trump: 1. Said after he took office that covid was like the flu and would go away? He got it and was flown to...
Letter to the editor: If you want your vote to count, don’t vote for election deniers
I believe it is more important to vote this year than ever before. Our democracy is at stake. I watched the Jan. 6 coup attempt and am not ashamed to say I cried. People have become complacent about what happened that day. I know there are other factors like inflation,...
Letter to the editor: Primary elections belong to Democrats and Republicans
Regarding Tim Kaczmarek’s letter “Transition to independence” (Oct. 9, TribLIVE): He and many others who are registered independents clamor about not being able to vote in primary elections. The purpose of a primary election is for our two major political parties to choose their candidates for the fall general election....
Editorial: The curious case of the missing manhole
You can fill a hole. You can fall in a hole. Climb into one, dig one, cover one up. But how do you lose a hole? You could ask the Harmar supervisors. The township’s contractor, Mele & Mele & Sons, appears to have buried a manhole that allows repair crew...
Letter to the editor: GOP, party of violence
Republicans are dumping millions of dollars in fear and smear ads on the issue of crime. So let’s talk about crime. We just had the four-year anniversary of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where a deranged right-wing zealot took up a weapon of war after...
Richard W. Jones: Our kinder, gentler Halloween is welcome
Halloween is much better than it used to be. Trust me on this. I’ve seen a lot of Halloweens, and, 60 years ago, there was a heftier dose of “trick” in trick-or-treat than there is now. The night was divided into two parts in the Western Pennsylvania steel mill town...
Letter to the editor: Democrats will uphold free, fair elections
I saw Liz Cheney’s full interview on “Meet the Press” Oct. 23. It was more than just a clear chat. She said that every American has an obligation and a responsibility to make an informed vote in the midterms and understand the facts. And if someone they are considering voting...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 31
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 31....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Oct. 31
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Oct. 31....
Letter to the editor: Shapiro will take action to curb gun violence
Pennsylvania needs a governor who will regulate firearms, and Josh Shapiro can do that. As a young advocate, I fear for myself and everyone around me — especially after the uncalled-for shooting at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin Sept. 24. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, in an average year,...
Editorial: Shuman closing failed kids in 2021 and continues to do so
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has drawn a line between the closing of Allegheny County’s Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in September 2021 and a rising tide of violent crime. “We should have never closed Shuman without a plan,” Gainey said during a news conference related to a triple homicide Oct. 15...
Letter to the editor: Fetterman’s ‘work’ record
It was good to see that John Fetterman’s physician cleared him with “no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.” Unfortunately, prior to his stroke, he didn’t “work full duty” while either as mayor or lieutenant governor — missing many city meetings (but still claiming this was...
Letter to the editor: Oz is right candidate for Pa.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is the right candidate for me. I grew up in Lebanon County. I am now a student at Robert Morris University. I was raised with conservative values and deep love for my country. Oz supports these values. From defending our constitutional rights to fighting for our veterans,...
Letter to the editor: Democrats will get the job done
Inflation is high. Grocery prices are up. It costs more to fill the tank than it did in 2020. Strangely, many folks concerned about inflation plan to vote for Republicans. What will Republicans do about inflation if elected? They may extend the Trump-era tax cuts for corporations, exacerbating inflation. Record...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Defining moments from the Oz-Fetterman debate
The long-awaited debate last week between Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz in the race to become Pennsylvania’s newest U.S. senator produced far more flash than substance, but each candidate gave one response that defined his performance over the whole hour. Fetterman hesitated for too long and then...
Hannibal Travis: Future of creative freedom on the line
The internet has opened access to culture. Billions of webpages build on the art, images, music, film, television and writing of the past. This explosion of content leads to tough questions over ownership of creative work and exclusivity of use. The highest court in the land may soon try to...
Karen Adams: Campaigns’ love-hate relationship with their signs
Every election cycle, I’m accustomed to seeing campaign signs. But this past summer, I was struck by the sheer number of them in Scottsdale, Ariz., near where I live. I counted 18 on just one corner of a major intersection. As a linguist who studies political advertising, I’ve read the...
Letter to the editor: Jeremy Shaffer has extreme abortion views
Jeremy Shaffer is positioning himself as the moderate in the congressional race in District 17. He is anything but. He is running ads claiming that “Jeremy Shaffer will protect women’s health care.” His wife shills: “Being married to a physician, Jeremy knows the importance of decisions between patients and their...
