Opinion category, Page 443
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 29
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 29....
Andrew Chew: In Pa., civic engagement is a critical challenge
Northeastern Pennsylvania is defined by its culturally distinct communities, from dense small cities and coal-region boroughs to bucolic townships and newer suburbs. From the beginning, the area has been shaped by a deep tradition of civic engagement — an unseen force defined by volunteerism, pride, community ties and showing up...
Rabbi Barbara AB Symons and Rabbi Aaron Bisno: Shining a light on fair representation
Today, Jews throughout the Pittsburgh region, and around the world, gather to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. On this night, we light the Shamash, or the helper candle, to light every candle on the menorah, adding one every night to honor the eight days that a little vial of...
Letter to the editor: Who could replace Mike Tomlin?
I don’t understand who Mark Madden thinks is out there who would do a better job coaching the Steelers than Mike Tomlin (“Steelers’ lack of identity, focus an indictment of Mike Tomlin,” Nov. 20, TribLIVE). Tomlin is already 20th on the all-time wins list, with seven division titles, nine playoff...
Letter to the editor: Parties and politics
Carol Badgley, in her letter “Loss of Bacha as coroner a shame for Westmoreland residents” (Nov. 13, TribLIVE) laments that a political newcomer, Tim Carson, defeated the incumbent, Ken Bacha, as Westmoreland County coroner because, as she explains, “elections have come down to party rather than who is more qualified...
Letter to the editor: Shapiro will make a difference as governor
While serving communities in the South Hills and Monongahela Valley for over a year, I frequently hear about people’s lack of faith in the country’s ability to improve. There seem to be so many small problems to fix, while the big problems become too large to overcome. To address these...
Editorial: Demand your money’s worth from elected officials
In 2022, many people will be hoping for an increase in salary, but it won’t be a guarantee. Unless you happen to be a Pennsylvania lawmaker. Or judge. Or high-ranking government official. For someone falling into one of these categories, 2022 not only will come with a raise, but it...
Letter to the editor: Flynn’s call for one religion contrary to Founding Fathers’ views
Michael Flynn, in a recent Awaken America speech, declared, “If we are going to have one nation under God … we have to have one religion.” Flynn’s notion runs contrary to several Founding Fathers’ statements on religion in America based on Old World evils of religion and government connected in...
Lucille and Clyde Bittner: Put aside differences and help people
As a married couple of 27 years, where one of us identifies as a Republican and the other as a Democrat, we understand better than most the idea that politics shouldn’t make it to the dinner table. During the last election, we were a split Trump and Biden household — and...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Thanksgiving, more than a day
Art Keppel started Thanksgiving early this year, and it lasted for months. When the Philadelphia lawyer retired from private practice in March 2020, the pandemic gave him time to reflect on his life, like many of us. A year and a half later, he embarked on the “Art Keppel Thank...
Sounding off: Stop arguing and educate our kids
It seems as if we have forgotten the most important aspect of attending school. We have become so concerned with school mask mandates that we have overlooked the quality of education our children are receiving. Somehow many parents have equated education with mask-wearing in schools. Our kids have fallen behind...
Janet Swim and Nathaniel Geiger: Americans support climate change policies, especially those that give them incentives, clean up energy supply
As the Biden administration tries to build support for new climate and energy policies, a set of studies offers some insights that could help them appeal to the widest audience. We are social scientists who examine how people think about climate change solutions. In the studies, we explored how the...
Greg Fulton: In honor of James Harrison, the ultimate grinder
If there were a Grinder Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison would be in it. In fact, his statue might be in front of it. Grinder is a term in sports that refers to a player who may not have been born with great natural skills or physical...
Letter to the editor: ‘Democrat’ label is toxic for candidates
The Democrats are prepared to commit mass political suicide to pass the Biden/Pelosi “Build Back Better” socialist scam. This bill will add to the deficit and accelerate already out-of-control inflation while further addicting some Americans to government handouts. The results of the elections earlier this month in Virginia and New...
Letter to the editor: Brooks is no ‘self-serving fat cat’
Regarding David K. Camblin’s letter “Why didn’t Bob Brooks pay for parade permit?”: You don’t know what you don’t know, Mr. Camblin. I will assume ignorance rather than rudeness in your letter slamming the most generous man I know and have the honor to work for. Brooks did consider paying...
Editorial: Public money, trust demand answers from Freeport
The proper response to a request for information about public money is not “It’s taken care of. Trust us.” That should go without saying. The purpose of laws regarding open records is to make sure what public officials say can be proven or disproven because, sadly, sometimes people aren’t entirely...
Letter to the editor: After Arbery verdict, grateful for justice
It is a special season of Thanksgiving not only for the loving family of Ahmaud Arbery, but for all who believe in equality and justice under the law. The guilty verdicts against the killers were initially improbable. The case did not come to light until months after the murder. The...
S.E. Cupp: How today’s Republican Party reminds me of Minute Maid concentrate
If you’re over the age of 30, you probably recognize the iconic black and orange can that sat in so many of our freezers and supermarkets growing up: the Minute Maid concentrated orange juice can. Developed in the 1940s to safely ship Vitamin C to our troops in World War...
John Stossel: Thank private property
Beware the “tragedy of the commons.” It almost killed off the Pilgrims. Now, via Washington, D.C., it’s probably coming for us. Tragedy of the commons is a concept from an essay by ecologist Garrett Hardin. He wrote how cattle ranchers sharing a common parcel of land soon destroy that land....
Leonard Pitts Jr.: ‘True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar’
Abraham could have asked for anything. The Make-A-Wish folks stood ready to make a dream come true for the 13-year-old boy, who has aplastic anemia, a life-threatening blood disorder. But Adeola “Abraham” Olagbegi didn’t ask for a PS5 or a day with LeBron James. No, he just wanted to feed...
Gene Barr: ‘Shop small’ takes on new meaning this year
Small businesses — the backbone of the American economy and the heart of many Main Street communities in Pennsylvania — have experienced unprecedented setbacks due to the covid-19 pandemic. Those challenges, combined with workforce shortages, labor market issues and supply-chain disruptions, have left small businesses struggling to survive. In fact,...
Letter to the editor: Renewable jet fuel credit will cost Pa. families
Pennsylvania families can expect higher emissions and higher costs if Congress continues to support a tax credit for renewable jet fuel. That’s because the special tax credit for jet fuel would effectively eliminate the tax benefits for other clean fuels such as biodiesel and renewable diesel. Since here in Pennsylvania,...
Lori Falce: All I want for Christmas
There are six simple words that can leave me speechless. “What do you want for Christmas?” I am honestly baffled, floundering like Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” when he sits on Santa’s lap and blanks on his beloved Red Ryder BB gun. A football? OK, a football, sure. My friends...
Letter to the editor: Where the ‘fascism’ label belongs
In the simple arrangement of socioeconomic political systems, all systems that use government as a means of production are accurately placed on the left, and all systems that use for-profit corporations to do so are on the right. You cannot place fascism on the left simply because in the German-to-English...
Jonah Goldberg: Tucker Carlson’s ‘Patriot Purge’ was final straw
I quit Fox News after more than a decade as a contributor. So did my business partner and friend Steve Hayes. We explained our reasons on the Dispatch, a media company we founded. The decision was a long time in coming. Like Ernest Hemingway’s description of bankruptcy, it came gradually...
