Opinion category, Page 456
Jonah Goldberg: The trouble with ‘Build Back Better’ is no one really wants to pay for it
Here is a very basic fact: People tend to like getting stuff for free. Ask most people, “Do you want a fancy new Mercedes?” and they’ll likely respond, “Yes.” But ask them to pay full price for it and demand drops dramatically. Hold that thought. Sen. Bernie Sanders is very...
Editorial: Taxpayers and the school funding house of cards
Burrell School District is losing out on $403,000 in tax money because of one large property owner’s appeal. Arconic has negotiated a lower assessment for its property in Upper Burrell because it just isn’t worth what it once was. School district legal counsel Anthony Giglio of Andrews & Price in...
Letter to the editor: Social Security raise not enough
The Social Security raise is off by a fraction. Considering what I heard and read. Even though the increase is to be the largest in years, it has not kept up with inflation for years. When I heard about the increase, I thought of minimum wage and what a debacle...
Letter to the editor: Audit is not about integrity
In his letter “Audit’s goal is to maintain election integrity” (Oct. 1, TribLIVE), Tom Portante insists audit information being demanded by GOP state legislators from 9 million Pennsylvanians who voted in last year’s election, including names, addresses, birth dates, voting records and driver’s license and Social Security numbers, to turn...
Letter to the editor: The 5 stages of liberalism
How nice of letter-writer Kristin A. Shrump-Bugay (“The 7 stages of covid,” Oct. 1, TribLIVE) to “educate ” us all about “the plague.” Because I believe her letter was filled with half-truths and insults, as liberals’ letters usually are, I proudly present the five stages of liberalism: 1. Arrogantly announce...
Tom Purcell: Shouldn’t America be happier?
Despite the many blessings of living in America, why aren’t more Americans happy? According to World Population Review, the 2021 World Happiness Report ranks America as the 19th happiest out of 146 countries. The report bases happiness on six categories, including gross domestic product (GDP), social support, life expectancy, generosity,...
Ron Klink: Let’s rebuild infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions
As Democratic leaders in Congress work to pass President Biden’s $3.5 trillion investment to expand social programs, dozens of House Republican centrists who support the separate $1.2 trillion roads and rails bill are coming under political pressure. We must not lose sight of the single largest bridge investment since the...
Letter to the editor: OK to fly flag upside down — we’re in distress
I take exception to Bill Marx’s letter “Flying flag upside down is disrespectful” (Oct. 10, TribLIVE). Flying the flag upside down means that a person is in extreme danger, with threats to life, limb or property. There’s no way it’s disrespectful. It shows that our government now has taken so...
Letter to the editor: Keeping kids first in Norwin
Dear Norwin community, I am a proud parent and school board member of the Norwin School District. As a current school director, I want to take the opportunity to ensure this continues. Ultimately, we are in the kid business, and we must elect board members who are student centered. These...
Editorial: Ballot drop boxes make voting easier
For the past three years, how Pennsylvanians vote has been discussed in committees, debated on the floor of the Legislature and taken into court. It’s been just as hot a topic on television, in corner bars and at the dinner table. A big part of that has been about no-excuse...
Letter to the editor: Who’s responsible for ugliness in politics?
Is it really true, as some claim, that both parties are equally responsible for the ugliness in today’s politics? Modern political activism began with Saul Alinsky, a mid-20th century community organizer who wrote “Rules for Radicals,” the tactical bible for the political left. Alinsky taught confrontational politics where you relentlessly...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 18
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 18....
Mallard Fillmore for the week of Oct. 18
Mallard Fillmore for the week of Oct. 18....
Mona Charen: Narcissism of small differences
Back in 2016, when formerly distinguished conservatives were suddenly lining up to issue glassy-eyed endorsements of a half-mad reality TV figure, Jonah Goldberg wrote a brilliant column comparing the experience to “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” He captured the sense so many of us had that nearly an entire party...
Letter to the editor: When will we hold crooked doctors accountable?
Regarding the article “Kentucky doctor admits health care fraud, receiving kickbacks from Hempfield lab” (Oct. 7, TribLIVE): Can anyone disagree with me on wondering exactly why a crooked doctor has to steal, in this case almost $1 million, before it catches the attention of the bureaucrats who take and take...
Letter to the editor: If an audit is to be done, do it right
Regarding David Cassidy’s letter “No one has privacy anymore” (Oct. 12, TribLIVE) about an audit of the presidential election results in Pennsylvania: What is the definition of “enough American people”? Is it a majority of the population? A majority of the registered voters? A majority of those actually voting? Or...
Letter to the editor: Battling Amazon
As I’ve gotten older (almost 60), I’ve learned that a fundamental factor of life is becoming part of something bigger than yourself. If it’s family, a job, a church, a school — a sense of community and togetherness forms and thrives. I moved from the City of Pittsburgh to the...
Letter to the editor: Support police? Support gun safety laws.
In our area, there are many yard signs stating, “We Support Our Police.” Many of these households also feel that gun laws are an infringement of their rights. At the same time, we have the law-and-order Republican Party opposing gun safety laws. It is difficult to understand these contradictory positions....
Letter to the editor: Count your blessings
Looking out upon our nation and world with all its problems, it is easy to give in to despair, anger and self-pity. I came across the following in my archives, which gives me a new perspective (I have lost the source). I offer it with the hope it will give...
Colin McNickle: Attendance matters in academic performance
Attendance matters. And a new crunching of the data comparing attendance in Pittsburgh Public Schools and others across Pennsylvania by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy yet again confirms the axiom that attendance is closely correlated to academic performance. “That is not to say that high absenteeism is the only...
Mary Sanchez: The myth of the 1990s ‘crack baby,’ and its pandemic-related lesson
Like crack cocaine, covid can be easily politicized. The deeply troubled lives of “crack babies” thankfully never came to pass. If you missed that era of hyperventilated pronouncements, here is a synopsis. When crack cocaine first swept through American cities, much concern and social anxiety arose about the long-term impact...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Jan. 6 investigation will test oath of office
In the early days of the Civil War, President Lincoln knew that Washington, D.C., was crawling with traitors to the Republic. Together with Congress, Lincoln required a stronger oath of office that all appointed and elected government officials were required to sign, one version of which was called “The Ironclad...
Chris Zurawsky: Our Stephen Foster may be headed for LA
While the battle continues around the potential removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park, another controversial piece of historic local public art currently under wraps is set to return to public view … 2,500 miles away. In September, the Pittsburgh Arts Commission unanimously approved loaning a statue...
Sounding off: Flying flag upside down is disrespectful
I noticed some local residents have been flying the U.S. flag outside their homes upside down. I believe some people feel this a way of protesting or expressing dissatisfaction with current U.S. officials and policies. While it is legal to express yourself in whatever way you so choose, it is...
Kenneth Broadbent: Pittsburgh must work together for success
Business and organized labor leaders formed Pittsburgh Works Together because we believe the best path to sustainable prosperity for all segments of the population is an economy that embraces traditional industries, such as manufacturing, alongside emerging technology companies. The opportunity presented by mobile autonomy — vehicles and robots and other...
