Opinion category, Page 656
Laurels & lances: Milk, food and liquor
Laurel: To a tall glass of support. When the milk market was drying up for Ben Brown’s Westmoreland County farm Saturday, things looked bleak for Whoa Nellie Dairy. While milk is one of those staples everyone buys when a storm is coming or an emergency threatens, some farmers have been...
Charles Mitchell: Lawmakers offer way out of coronavirus chaos
Since the beginning of the covid-19 outbreak, I have been rooting for our governor, Tom Wolf. We all need him to be successful in protecting our neighbors from this disease, and initially his response was consistent and transparent. But now, his secretive approach is harming his multi-state effort to reopen...
Lori Falce: The politics of ordering groceries
On Wednesday, my groceries were delivered. I had tried to get an Instacart window for more than a week. We didn’t have ham at my house for Easter because the earliest time I could get was Monday. So there I was, Monday morning, trying to focus on reading and research...
Letter to the editor: Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up call
Do you not see what is going on? The worldwide pandemic is a wake-up call. This has happened many times before. This is a warning from God to the people of the world. Read the Bible. There needs to be more love in the world. There is too much hate...
Letter to the editor: Strengthen food assistance across nation
In the of era of social distancing, Pittsburghers are more united than ever — not only are we keeping up with work and loved ones through video calls, we are also coming together to meet the needs of our community (“Outside PPG Paints Arena and Rivers Casino, groups rally to...
Letter to the editor: Climate lessons from coronavirus
The covid-19 pandemic is unfolding in ways all too familiar in world crises, ways that eerily reflect our inadequate response to climate change. Experts warn us that early and decisive action is needed. But the warnings are largely ignored until the impacts are overwhelming and draconian measures become necessary. The...
Letter to the editor: Democrats don’t automatically win in Westmoreland
Congratulations to Eric Davanzo for a resounding win (“Republican Eric Davanzo poised to claim House 58th District special election,” March 17, TribLIVE). His hard work and that of his family paid off. His party stood solidly behind him before and during the election. Even with the current situation, people of...
Letter to the editor: Keep prisoners in prison
Open up our jails because of covid-19 (“Gov. Wolf approves release of up to 1,800 inmates amid coronavirus concerns”)? Why? How does this make any sense? Those in charge need to think this over and rethink this. Prisoners are in jail for a reason. We have family members and friends...
Editorial: Masks defend health and economy
The best offense is a good defense. It’s a familiar sentiment. It’s a tenet of arenas from the military to Wall Street. It’s a concept that fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers might even consider a religion. It’s the idea that there is no better way to attack a problem than...
Josh Shapiro: Major victory for abuse survivors
We’re working overtime right now in the Office of Attorney General — protecting your financial security and stopping price gouging during the public health emergency — and still meeting our core responsibilities to public safety. In fact, we just won two major victories that will protect Pennsylvanians from the most...
Suzanna Masartis: The race for a covid-19 cure
America traditionally has turned to its biopharmaceutical industry for solutions to our ailments and diseases, with the demands for treatments and vaccines created by the coronavirus pandemic underscoring what members of rare disease communities feel every day. Although biopharmaceutical companies are committed to developing solutions to help diagnose and treat...
State Sens. Lindsey Williams & Maria Collett: Essential workers need our help now
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage across our state, country and world, every day we wake up to new unsettling statistics. As of this writing, in Pennsylvania alone, there are 25,345 cases of coronavirus, but there are surely hundreds, maybe even thousands more, who have contracted the virus but...
Letter to the editor: Put WHO funding back into America
President Trump wants to stop funding for the World Health Organization. I say go for it. And while you’re at it, include Pakistan and all the other supposed allies from third-world countries that we finance, but hate us. Oh, and please include the United Nations. Put this money back into...
Letter to the editor: Listening to Trump & experts
Regarding Carl Mochak’s letter “Don’t listen to Trump” (April 10, TribLIVE): Sir, who are you listening to? Nancy Pelosi telling everyone to come to San Francisco’s Chinatown? New York City leaders saying it is OK to go out to the theaters and restaurants? Are you one of the people who...
Letter to the editor: Changing rules has consequences
I found the letter “Wisconsin voting debacle unconscionable” (April 12, TribLIVE) a huge misrepresentation of what all is happening with our right to vote. Rules are rules, and that is how it is. Imagine an election where people can go around with a handful of absent ballots or go to...
Letter to the editor: We need candidates who respect science
Despite President Trump’s recent change of heart, he must still be held accountable for the damage that has been inflicted by covid-19. His undeniable indifference to health experts’ advice early on will no doubt cost lives. Moreover, his predominantly anti-scientific approach toward the pandemic is downright irresponsible. His longtime contempt...
Letter to the editor: Where is leaders’ common sense?
Regarding the article “Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto ending self- quarantine” (March 24, TribLIVE): Why is it that Peduto can emerge from his covid-19 self-quarantine and get back to work at his office? He had said that he was able to work from home, but now needs to violate the stay-at-home order...
Letter to the editor: Now is the time to question our leaders
Regarding the article “$25K bonuses, other resources for Pa. essential workers could be on the way”: Some would argue that this is not the time to speak up or question our leaders, but I believe now is exactly the time and our responsibility to do so. I’m a lifelong independent,...
Tracy Gordon Fox: As a nurse, not much scares me, but coronavirus does
My patient lay on her side, her back heaving up and down. At first, I was afraid that perhaps she was becoming increasingly short of breath. As I moved closer and saw her face, I noticed she was crying. Streaks of tears rolled down her smooth brown skin. “Are you...
Editorial: Hospital loans could save lives
We need our hospitals. Right now, they are all busy with other things. Emergency departments are taking care of the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Health care workers are testing to identify those with covid-19 symptoms. Intensive care units are struggling with the task of trying to save lives —...
Dr. Christopher Koman: Normalcy bias hampers fight against covid-19
Christopher Koman, M.D., is a family physician with Genesis Medical Associates in McCandless. A farmer has a pond. On day 1, there is one lily pad. He knows that they grow fast and will double every day and completely cover his pond in 30 days. On what day will his...
Jonah Goldberg: Curve-flattening result of behavioral change, not central planning
There’s an intense, often ugly debate over the response to the covid-19 pandemic. In broad brushstrokes, some contend that the lower-than-predicted death toll proves the models forecasting massive fatalities were needlessly sensational. Some even suggest they were deliberately so, to scare politicians, including President Trump, into taking drastic and unnecessary...
Letter to the editor: Row officers should work full days
Jason Hamilton’s letter “Transparency vs. politics” (March 20, TribLIVE) completely misses the point. While I understand his desire to defend his spouse, Westmoreland County Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton, the idea her lack of time in the office should be justified by the fact she “answers questions at the...
Letter to the editor: Keep alcohol consumption in moderation
Practicing social distancing and thorough hand-washing is critical to lessening the impact of covid-19. Prioritizing self-care and optimal health practices are also crucial at this time. For those who drink alcohol, reflect on your alcohol consumption to ensure it falls within the moderate drinking guidelines. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines define...
Letter to the editor: Coronor’s office covid-19 records
It is state statute that requires covid-19 cases be reported to the coroner of the county where the death occurs (1218-B Coroner’s Investigation: (7) A death known or suspected to be due to contagious disease and constituting a public hazard). In most cases, jurisdiction would be released to the attending...
