Opinion category, Page 437
Mona Charen: The MAGA perversion of patriotism
In September, an Arizona student who tested positive for covid-19 was ordered to quarantine for several days. Seems normal, no? No. The boy’s father barged into principal Diane Vargo’s office and demanded the kid be allowed back into school immediately. Vargo was alarmed when the intruder told her others were...
Letter to the editor: Grateful for ATI’s generosity
My late husband, Kenneth (Jack) Koedel, retired from ATI after 46 years of employment. He has been gone for 5½ years. Every year during the holiday season, the company deposits a gift of money in my bank account. I am so grateful that they have not forgotten the widows of...
Letter to the editor: Maybe Dr. Oz will be good for Pa.
With Dr. Mehmet Oz throwing his hat in the Senate race, I ask myself, why not? In recent elections, we have had a diversity of candidates. Hey, we have a caterer as a coroner in Westmoreland County. Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor of California, a position formerly held by...
Editorial: GOP shouldn’t overreact to redistricting
The Pennsylvania House Majority Leader may be a bit hyperbolic. Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said he thinks the new preliminary map for redistricting the state House of Representatives is “a danger to our system of government.” That seems like a reach. It’s a map, not a coup d’etat. It’s also...
Letter to the editor: Hungry kids need Build Back Better passed
While families are counting down to the holidays, many are also anxiously watching a different clock — the one that is running out for Congress to take meaningful action to address hunger and poverty in communities here in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Unless Congress acts before the end of the year,...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: United when disaster strikes
As the nation became aware of the devastation caused by last week’s tornadoes, we were reminded once again what the word “united” means in the United States of America. Cutting across nine states — Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee — there were at least 44...
Sean Hoffmann: Pa. has historic opportunity to restore quality of beloved rivers
Western Pennsylvania is known for its three rivers: the Allegheny, the Monongahela and the Ohio. These rivers and the surrounding region provide an ecological richness along with tremendous recreational opportunities. They are biologically diverse, picturesque and among the most historic tributaries in America. And because we cherish our three rivers,...
Sounding off: Covid is what ‘ruins lives’
I have seen many dumb statements made on this page, but the letter by Michael Arnone is quite possibly the winner (“Don’t worry about the unvaxxed,” Dec. 2, TribLIVE). He says vaccine mandates are “ruining people’s lives” and that, since the vaccine works, the vaccinated shouldn’t care if others get...
Andrew Cuff: Western Pennsylvania is dying – or is it?
To many Americans, the regions surrounding Pittsburgh have become a collection of “ghost towns” to avoid or a lost culture to elegize. Western Pennsylvania is now a socially acceptable target for stereotypes conjuring images of blighted vacant lots, shuttered mills and welfare recipients addicted to painkillers. Even the familiar term...
Tricia Cunningham: Corman, Mastriano act tough on election integrity, but they caused the problems
If you care about election integrity, there are a couple of Republican senators running for governor who you may want to scratch off your list. Both Sen. Jake Corman and Sen. Doug Mastriano are scurrying around the commonwealth claiming to want to get to the bottom of what happened in...
Sandy Fox: Amazon warehouses are sacrifice zones
An article published Dec. 9 in The Guardian has been circulating among Churchill residents. The title of the story rings true: “Warehouses in their backyards: When Amazon expands, these communities pay the price.” Churchill is a 2.5-square-mile suburban community of 3,000 people 10 miles east of Pittsburgh. Residents remain steadfast...
Letter to the editor: Society honors gold-medal Pennsylvanians
What do former Gov. Dick Thornburgh, television icon Fred Rogers and philanthropists Elsie and Henry Hillman all have in common? The obvious answer is they all proudly called Pittsburgh home. They also share a unique distinction of being recipients of the Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, presented to...
Editorial: ‘Exemption assistance’ carries tone of political play more than civic responsibility
State Rep. Leslie Rossi, R-Unity, says she is not opposed to covid-19 vaccination, but for constituents who are, she’s offering to help. Her latest newsletter declares “vaccination exemption assistance NOW AVAILABLE!” The newsletter suggests if “you or someone you know (is) being forced to get the covid-19 vaccine,” you can...
Letter to the editor: Countering ‘consequences’
Leonard Stanga’s diatribe “Predictions have consequences” (Dec. 4, TribLIVE) was sort of over the edge. He starts by asking, “How can BLM or antifa or anyone get away with these threats?” Then he proceeds to make a few threats of his own. How does that work? Then he goes off...
John Stossel: The FDA’s deadly delays
Covid-19 deaths are up. Politicians tell us to wear masks and get vaccinated. Amid the fear, I’m surprised that we haven’t heard more about two drugs that could make covid-19 much less of a threat. In blind tests, Pfizer’s Paxlovid was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death...
S.E. Cupp: Fox News is selling toxic snake oil
The year is 1893 and Clark Stanley, the self-styled “Rattlesnake King,” is preparing for his big moment at the World’s Exposition in Chicago. Fairgoers have already been wowed by Otis Brothers’ elevator exhibit, George Washington Gale Ferris’ giant wheel and Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope. But they haven’t seen Stanley yet. According...
John Scott: Keystone Saves can build retirement savings for millions of Pennsylvanians
In a promising step for the millions of Pennsylvanians who want to save more for retirement, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly on Dec. 13 announced the Keystone Saves Program Act, which would allow workers whose employers don’t offer a retirement plan to save for retirement. This opportunity to help...
Lori Falce: I don’t want to be Elon Musk rich
I will never be rich. Much as I might enjoy a private island and a chalet in Switzerland, I know that is not in my future unless I hit the Powerball jackpot. Journalism is not really the kind of career you pick with visions of wealth planning dancing in your...
Letter to the editor: Pickett deserves Heisman
I didn’t expect the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Kenny Pickett to win the Heisman, but after watching his disappointing third-place finish, I must call out the media, once again. Just like our political media, even our sports media seem to follow a herd mentality. Certainly Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was an exceptional...
Laurels & lances: Winning, losing and history
Laurel: To the schools of winners. Pittsburgh may have a reputation as the City of Champions, but it might have to start sharing that title with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League after the 2021 football season. The Steelers would be lucky to have a run like area teams had...
Dr. Andrew Smolar: The lost art of tolerating our mixed feelings
Recently, some of my patients have been saying some version of this: “I can’t believe they’re teaching critical race theory to my 8-year-old. She came home crying. She felt bad about herself because her skin is white. I’ve got to protect her.” These people are trying to promote their children’s...
Letter to the editor: Advice for Steelers leadership
The Steelers are disgusting to watch. Week after week, fiasco after fiasco, it’s clear to me that Art Rooney is the problem. His grandfather and father are probably doing backflips in their graves. The NFL is a business; start running your team like one. Starting at the top: Your GM...
Letter to the editor: Christmas TV offerings leave Jesus out of the picture
Reviewing the Christmas television offerings listed recently in the Living section left me with a feeling of disgust. Believe me, I’m not a Grinch and enjoy celebrating the holidays as much as anyone, but who, I ask, are we honoring? There seems to be only one true, legitimate story reflecting...
Editorial: Sheriff’s resolved lawsuit is good news but sad commentary
In Pennsylvania, a sheriff’s office has a mixed bag of responsibilities, but they all come down to one simple role. Whether a deputy is serving a warrant or delivering a subpoena or enforcing an injunction, the job is the same. It is about being the arm of the court. It...
Letter to the editor: Pa. needs more climate change action
Nations from all over the world gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, recently for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 to address the climate crisis. Meanwhile in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Legislature has failed to act: The Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution blocking the state from joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,...
