Opinion category, Page 578
Rod Chandler: Informed voters are smart voters
As a Republican former member of Congress and member of Republicans for Integrity, I have been through many political campaigns, and I believe most Americans of all political views would agree that campaign rhetoric gets lower and lower every day. Now, as election ads dominate the airwaves, unbiased, factual information...
Josh Freed and Jackie Toth: What Biden gets right about energy in Pa.
Pennsylvania has always been an energy state. In fact, it ranks third in power production nationwide. It’s the nation’s second-largest natural gas producer and generates the second-most carbon-free nuclear power in the country. The state’s nuclear energy is a clean energy asset for Pennsylvanians. Unfortunately, the largesse of its other,...
Letter to the editor: SNAP increase much needed
The Westmoreland County Food Bank strongly supports the 15% benefit increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the updated HEROES Act introduced in the House of Representatives. This past year, the Westmoreland County Food Bank and the rest of Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks have served...
Editorial: The triumph of a healthy Kiski River, bulging with mussels
Is anything ever too far gone to be redeemed? A freshwater shellfish says no. The Kiski River was so polluted for so long with the runoff from mining and the discharge from industry, it seemed too far gone to ever be home to life again. In 1909, A.E. Ortmann, curator...
Letter to the editor: Virtual Race for Grace a success
On Oct. 3, we hosted the long- anticipated 13th annual Race for Grace — our first virtual 5K and 1-mile walk. Six months after the original event was to take place on April 4, we were excited that race day had come, regardless of the modified format. In 31 states and...
Letter to the editor: Plot to take down Trump?
Money is power. The fat cats running the Democratic Party and the Chinese Communist Party both are taking heavy financial losses. President Trump is taking a big chunk of power away from them by reducing the amount of money that was flowing before his election via tariffs. The Democratic business...
Letter to the editor: Service members, prisoners of war are heroes
President Trump, regarding what you supposedly said about service members, that they are “losers” and “suckers”: Sen. John McCain was a hero, but to you, I guess he meant nothing. It’s only because of the service members who gave their lives that you have your freedom. You seem to not...
Pat Buchanan: Is war with China becoming inevitable?
“The Indians are seeing 60,000 Chinese soldiers on their northern border,” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo ominously warned Friday. He spelled out what he meant to commentator Larry O’Connor: “The Chinese have now begun to amass huge forces against India in the north. … They absolutely need the United States...
Dr. Jim Lando: Leadership matters in healing a sick nation
The lack of leadership by President Trump has set the stage for the unprecedented public health crisis, economic ruin and social turmoil that Americans face today. Our country was founded as the United States of America. Yet the divisiveness and cynicism emanating from the White House for almost four years...
Brittany Smalls: Pittsburgh’s Black voters using power at polls
With Election Day less than three weeks away, nowhere is more representative of Black voters’ excitement than right here in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. Last month, hundreds of Black voters joined local and national voter engagement activists at a tailgate for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Homewood. Organizers passed out food and...
Letter to the editor: Does Trump care about anyone but himself?
Watching the first presidential debate felt like another slap in the face by President Trump. When his family walked in with masks on, I thought — well, finally! But after being seated, they all took them off in defiance of the rules. I wonder why he doesn’t have his picture...
Letter to the editor: Why point out Trump stickers in accident report?
Regarding the article “Collision sends 3 to hospital, ties up eastbound traffic on Route 22 in Salem” (Sept. 27, TribLIVE): Neither of the vehicles left the scene of the accident and needed help to be identified, so I’m curious as to why it was relevant to point out the van...
Letter to the editor: Politicians’ crocodile tears don’t help us
Crybaby season is upon us, says this independent voter. So Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies and suddenly the radical left believes we should ignore the Constitution because it doesn’t benefit their warped viewpoints? They want us to ignore the fact that their viewpoint is a complete flip-flop of their position just...
Letter to the editor: Evangelicals have chance to break their deal with the devil
All right, Christian evangelicals, you’ve gotten what you wanted. There is no way the Democrats can block the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court justice. (Actually, she seems to be a thoroughly decent and qualified person.) The conservative viewpoint will dominate the court for years to come....
Letter to the editor: Biden’s campaign focuses on fear
Of all the motivations we use to cajole, motivate or control someone, fear is the top motivator. It is such a strong driver of our behavior that it also may form the basis for every other motivator in our lives. Fear is rooted in our childhood experiences, and it moves...
Letter to the editor: Don’t we care about what’s going on?
America is home of the losers, suckers and very stupid. Are we a people who believe everything we hear on social media and out of President Trump’s mouth? We don’t seem to look for the truth, or care. Life is not a reality show. When the people don’t care about...
Editorial: Gisele Fetterman, an American in every way
You do not have to like Gisele Barreto Fetterman. Maybe you do not like her husband, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, or his politics or his boss, Gov. Tom Wolf. Maybe you don’t like the Democratic ticket they ran on or the Democratic administration they run in Pennsylvania. Maybe you don’t...
Tom Purcell: To gig or not to gig …
Become an employee with full paid benefits, or remain a mostly independent gig worker? That debate’s raging in California as November’s general election approaches, and its outcome is likely to affect the entire country. According to The Washington Post, “Uber, DoorDash and other gig economy companies are bombarding TV airwaves,...
Sen. Lisa Boscola: Covid-19 policies must give restaurants a fighting chance
Imagine a longer-than-anticipated workday that leads to a late dinner with a desire for an adult beverage. Pre-covid-19, this was not only a common occurrence, but also legal with plenty of dining options. However, in Pennsylvania, it is no longer feasible to enjoy a quick late-night meal while sitting at...
Letter to the editor: Informed decisions — what a great idea
Educate yourself. Coronavirus? The New England Journal of Medicine’s website has free magazine emails plus a free covid-19 section. Johns Hopkins University offers a coronavirus resource center. Want real news? The Wall Street Journal’s subscribers don’t put up with wrong information — too much money riding on it. Some articles...
Letter to the editor: Why does U.S. have 25% of covid-19 deaths?
Ralph Ignasky’s letter “Do the math and open up Pa.” (Sept. 22, TribLIVE) on covid-19 deaths came up a little short. The U.S. has less than 5% of the world population and 25% of the covid-19 deaths. Why is that? I think the answer “lies” in the White House. (Thanks,...
Vincent Stehle: Let’s try sportsmanship during this election
Across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the crisp fall air announces the season for football and elections. More and more, voting is taking on the character of a hard-fought football rivalry. It used to be that political battles were fought over principles and policies and government programs. But the Republican Party...
Editorial: Penalize illegal checking in politics
There’s no place for violence in hockey. At least not outside of getting the puck to the net. While hip checks and shoulder checks, cross checks and stick checks happen all the time in the rink, that’s part of the game. When it happens after a whistle has blown, that’s...
Letter to the editor: Biden and ‘wealth redistribution’
For all of you who intend to vote for Joe Biden as a moderate Democrat, you need to take a look at the “Unity Task Force Recommendations” document he signed along with Bernie Sanders. It is 110 pages of socialized governing. The policy listing was put together by task forces...
Letter to the editor: 10 reasons to vote out Trump
10. Refusing to release his tax records — suspicious for hiding conflicts of interest (like tax evasion, questionable foreign activity). 9. Promoting unproven, possibly toxic solutions during pandemic — like hydroxychloroquine and “injection” of “disinfectant” to treat covid-19. 8. Ignoring proven pandemic mitigation strategies — going maskless; holding large, in-person...
