Opinion category, Page 422
S.E. Cupp: More Dems should follow Eric Adams’ lead on crime
As President Biden prepares to meet with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to address the years-long surge in violent gun crime, he’s taking an important, if a little late, step in acknowledging what many Americans have known for some time: We have a serious problem of rising violence in...
Reps. Bryan Cutler, Kerry Benninghoff and Stan Saylor: Helping Pennsylvanians means putting taxpayers first
Next week, Gov. Tom Wolf will deliver his eighth and final budget address, and already it is clear that Pennsylvanians will again have offered to them higher taxes, higher energy costs and more irresponsible spending ideas that will set the commonwealth up for a disastrous financial future. As a result,...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Achieving diversity requires intentionality
We don’t even know the woman’s name yet. In fact, we don’t know much of anything about her except that she is Black. That’s not a lot, but it’s more than enough for some people. Ever since last week, when Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, and President...
Letter to the editor: Teachers not responsible for curbing kids’ violence
Regarding Steve Kokette’s letter “Reducing violence, starting with schools” (Jan. 30, TribLIVE): Stop adding to educators’ responsibilities. Adults who are raising children should teach the children to be less violent, not teachers! Believe me, teachers have enough on their plate. Monica Yuhas Smock...
Letter to the editor: Why no infrastructure improvement after gas tax?
Watching the media coverage of the bridge collapse in Point Breeze, I thought the reporters did their best to provide all the information involved in this collapse, but they left out at least one piece of information. Several years ago, our esteemed governor, Tom Corbett, was able to pass a...
Lori Falce: Celebrating my 1st vaccine anniversary, with no crocodile in sight
Happy vaxiversary to me. It popped up on my Facebook reminders — the post I shared a year ago to note my first dose of the covid-19 vaccine. Me, my face covered in my pink-and-purple tie-dyed mask that matched my kind of pinkish quarantine hair, holding up the card that...
Letter to the editor: Economic growth in Westmoreland
In reference to the article “Declining workforce amid pandemic cited as Westmoreland County’s top issue” (Jan. 19, TribLIVE): At the State of the County event hosted by the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Growth Connection and Industrial Development Corporation, the Board of Commissioners provided an informative forum on important...
Paul Kengor: NCAA recognizes natural immunity — when will colleges follow?
The NCAA is finally on the ball. Its Covid-19 Medical Advisory Group has adjusted its definition of “fully vaccinated” to account not only for vaccination but other immunity factors, such as natural immunity — i.e., real immunity. Individual athletes with documented covid-19 infection within 90 days now carry the equivalent...
Laurels & lances: Support, shutdowns and hold music
Laurel: To community coming together. When Richard McCloskey of Etna hung a swastika flag on his porch late in 2021, some people in the area were understandably upset at a symbol tied not only to the Nazis but also other hate groups. “I don’t hate nobody,” McCloskey said, claiming he...
Cal Thomas: Trump-Pence deal with the devil
Former President Donald Trump has further — if that’s possible — undistinguished himself by again attacking his vice president, Mike Pence. In another of his ongoing email messages to supporters (which are usually accompanied by a donate button), Trump says he wanted Pence to overturn the results of the last...
Howard Manuel: Support newly settled Afghans
There is no easy way to relive it; the American spirit was tested throughout our time in Afghanistan. We can have many a long discussion about what and when, or about our withdrawal strategy in 2021. But in this new year, our efforts are best exerted looking at the lingering...
Colin McNickle: Are Pittsburgh’s pension changes prudent?
The City of Pittsburgh has revised its employee pension program. But whether the moves were prudent remains an open question, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. It was in December that outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto signed ordinances that eliminated a pension reduction for some city employees,...
Letter to the editor: Time to dump Trump
It’s well past time for the GOP to shed Donald Trump and his insanity. Principled conservative values are lost amid the bluster and hate he raises. Trump was nearly the death of us all. Come on, Republicans: Show some spine and dump the Donald. Dan Skantar North Fayette...
Letter to the editor: What happened to property tax reduction from gambling profits?
Regarding the article “Pennsylvania casinos shatter record, generate $4.7 billion in revenues in 2021” (Jan. 21, TribLIVE): The Pennsylvania Lottery brought in record revenues last year, too — $1.3 billion. I remember when Pennsylvania homeowners were promised a huge reduction in their property taxes if we voted in favor of...
Editorial: Journalism Competition and Preservation Act serves communities by keeping news accessible
Local news is necessary news. All news serves a purpose. National news helps us identify what is happening in our country and how it affects us and how we affect it. State news narrows that focus to the decisions being made in our capital and by our lawmakers and in...
Letter to the editor: Still blaming Trump?
Regarding Edward A. Svitek’s letter “Trump has done enough damage” (Jan. 19, TribLIVE): I would be ashamed to ever admit that I’m a Democrat now, or ever. Hateful people (Democrats) will continue to blame President Trump forever, even though we currently have an unqualified president and vice president who are...
Letter to the editor: Won’t vote for Corman
When the Central Pennsylvania Republican State Committee Caucus gives him only seven votes out of more than 100 cast in a straw poll for governor, what does Jake Corman, the current president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate, do? He suggests impeachment of the Philadelphia district attorney. As he has...
John Stossel: Runaway inflation difficult to stop
Inflation is the worst in 40 years. The price of cars is up 37%. Gas is up 49%. During the last few years, as politicians spent ever more money, experts told us not to worry. Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, said inflation would be “transitory.” Treasury Secretary Janet...
Letter to the editor: Voting Democrat an addiction
I believe that voting Democrat can be an addiction. Democrats continue to vote Democrat for decades while their cities disintegrate into cesspools of drugs, slums, crime, disease and suffocating taxes. For some of them, when they finally can’t stand it any longer, they move — and vote Democrat in their...
Jonah Goldberg: Ukraine’s president may be our only hope
One can only sympathize with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Vladimir Putin has a dagger aimed at the heart of Ukraine. For months he has mobilized troops along the Ukrainian border. The recent deployment of troops to Ukraine’s almost undefended border with Belarus raises the possibility of a blitzkrieg strike against...
Kevin Vallier: Why we can’t split the difference on culture
The United States is an outlier among established democracies in two respects: We face both falling social trust and rising polarization. I have argued that the two dynamics connect in a doom loop. Trust in others and institutions falls, leading to greater polarization, which drives trust down even more. That...
Colleen Hroncich: Education choice can prevent fights over covid policies
“One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to education.” This is a phrase that education-choice advocates have voiced for years to explain why families need options. But it’s never been truer than today while dealing with covid-19. Before Christmas break, many Pennsylvania school districts had considered moving to remote...
Letter to the editor: Voice of Westmoreland on board? Problem with pledge?
Spare me. The Voice of Westmoreland seems to have a seat on the editorial board of the Trib. And Kris Weinschenker (“Other forms of indoctrination in schools,” Jan. 27, TribLIVE) seems to have a problem with Americans saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Regis Kruth Shaler...
Letter to the editor: Words give wrong impression of Dr. Oz event
I love how just a few words can give the wrong impression if one doesn’t read further! To quote the article “Dr. Mehmet Oz stumps in Westmoreland County in quest for U.S. Senate” (Jan. 26, TribLIVE): “The meet-and-greet event held in a small room … where few attendees wore face...
Letter to the editor: Biden administration is weakening the military
The Biden administration is weakening our military readiness with their idiotic woke policies. The military is not the place for social experimentation. The teaching that America is inherently racist is detrimental to a cohesive fighting force. The military needs to be colorblind in recruitment, training and promotion of troops. The...
