Opinion category, Page 736
Lori Falce: Is your kid just a piece of wood?
The saddest commentary on our education system that I have ever heard didn’t come from a politician or a pundit. It came from the woman who taught my sister in kindergarten. “Everyone brings us their children like lumps of wood for us to carve into something. They all want us...
Laurels & lances: Russians, crime, radar and story time
Laurel: To colluding with Russians — musically. It was the sounds of Chicago. Except it wasn’t Chicago. It was cover band Leonid & Friends. And they aren’t even from Chicago. They’re from Moscow. Yes, Russia. The 11-member band was a big hit in Greensburg last week, packing St. Clair Park...
Letter to the editor: Fetal tissue research crucial
The recent decision of the Trump administration to curtail fetal tissue research is detrimental to the further development of life-saving therapies (“Trump administration imposes new restrictions on fetal tissue research,” June 5, TribLIVE). Fetal tissue research not only helps scientists develop therapies to prevent disease, but also treat existing diseases....
Letter to the editor: Disrespect at Penn Hills council meeting
My neighbors and I attended the June 17 Penn Hills council meeting at which the subject of a memorial for fallen firefighters was brought up. It was noted that a committee has raised $12,500 for the memorial, which must have certain dimensions according to municipal codes. Deputy Mayor Catherine Sapp...
Letter to the editor: What will Jesus do with us?
Are we a country that wants to become like President Trump? To lie, cheat, break laws and become an immoral nation, where winning is everything and the ends justify any means? Where mercy, compassion and understanding are replaced by hate? Are we a nation under God? We pit the rich...
Editorial: Let us resolve …
Happy 243rd birthday, America! As has become a Trib custom on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we once again commend for your thoughtful review this nation’s founding pronouncement, reprinted in its entirety in the adjacent columns. And, as also has become an Independence Day tradition at the Trib,...
George Will: To construe the Constitution, look to the Declaration
WASHINGTON — On this 243rd anniversary of the beginning of the best thing that ever happened — “The Great Republic” was Winston Churchill’s tribute — many of today’s most interesting arguments about America’s nature and meaning are among conservatives. One concerns the relevance of the Declaration of Independence to the...
John Stossel: Freedom, not force, makes our nation great
Happy Fourth of July! We have reason to celebrate. The Fourth honors the founding of America. It’s the anniversary of the day in 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was approved. The Declaration was important. It didn’t say that America would be the best country because it would have the...
Plan would slash higher-education costs
Students are awash in higher-education debt. Parents are frustrated that they can’t do more to help. Colleges and universities throw up their collective hands because they think there is little they can do. Banks point fingers at the students, blaming high default rates as the root cause of high interest...
Pat Buchanan: Trade John Bolton for Tulsi Gabbard
“For too long our leaders have failed us, taking us into one regime change war after the next, leading us into a new Cold War and arms race, costing us trillions of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars and countless lives. This insanity must end.” Donald Trump, circa 2016? Nope. That denunciation...
Colin McNickle: Budget challenges for Port Authority
A number of issues, nagging and expensive, face the Port Authority of Allegheny County in its proposed fiscal 2019-20 budget, says the research director at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “An expiring labor contract and new hires are key drivers of operating expense increases for the mass transit authority,”...
Editorial: Regional police show real small government
While other municipalities in Pennsylvania are trying to find ways to work together on a DUI task force, two municipalities are joining forces. That’s not a metaphor. Springdale Township and Cheswick created the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. The eight-member force started patrolling Monday. There is a lot about this...
Letter to the editor: It will be Trump in a landslide
According to the fake news media, President Trump would lose the election if it were held today. Not only would Trump be beaten by Joe Biden, but also by fellow Democrats Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg. Does the fake news media really expect us to believe...
Letter to the editor: Representatives favor drillers
I don’t know of any restrictive laws being considered by our Pennsylvania legislative reps that would control use of polluting plastics that threaten our very existence. You bet they wouldn’t take action with the Beaver Shell facility nearing completion. Our representatives continue to change laws to favor the drilling industry....
Letter to the editor: Escape from freedom
Honor is dead. Truth is alive, but on life support. Willful ignorance (aka denial) is thriving and growing stronger. Why? Because truth can create anxiety. Once you buy into denial, you tend to defend it as you plunge deeper into it. Like quicksand, it gets more difficult to escape. Freedom,...
Tom Purcell: Buy a home! You’ll benefit — but be miserable
Why do I want more Americans to buy homes? Because misery loves company. The Wall Street Journal reports most American renters believe homeownership is financially out of their reach — only 24% say it’s “extremely likely that they would ever own a home, 11 percentage points lower than four years...
Cal Thomas: Questions I would have asked the Democrats
The likelihood I would ever be invited to serve on a network panel questioning the Democratic presidential candidates is equivalent to an invitation to take the next trip to the moon. Still, as I tortured myself watching the two “debates,” which were not really debates, but mostly a show of...
Editorial: Penn Hills can’t depend on state money
Good for the taxpayers of Penn Hills. The highly troubled school district is getting a $3.3 million cash injection from the state on top of the regular annual contribution all districts receive. State Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, helped Penn Hills get the extra money from the Department of Education....
Letter to the editor: Thanks for FBI’s vigiliance
Many thanks to the FBI, which thwarted a terrorist attack on a North Side church (“Syrian refugee charged with plotting to bomb Pittsburgh church”).President Trump has disparaged the organization because of its scrutiny on his criminal activity, but its never-ending vigilance is appreciated by every decent American. Joe Lucas South...
Letter to the editor: Tragedy at our border
Recent media articles and commentary, either directly or by implication, project that inadequate child care or security at the southern border are the fault of the U.S. This is unfair and irresponsible reporting and opinion. No country or people in the world have shown more commitment and support to troubled...
Letter to the editor: UPMC-Highmark political stunt
The UPMC/Highmark situation is a great example of why health care should never be delegated to government control or interference. Attorney General Josh Shapiro should have left the issue alone. People had five years to decide what was best for their health care and wallets. Shapiro was only good for...
Editorial cartoons for the week of July 1
Editorial cartoons for the week of July 1....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of July 1
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of July 1....
Michelle Malkin: Unraveling of crafting & politics
Fun fact: I’ve been crocheting since I was 10., when my Tita Lisa taught me the magic of granny squares Fellow yarn nerds will understand the heavenly bliss of spending hours at Hobby Lobby or Walmart immersed in a sea of alpaca, mohair, angora, super bulky and super saver skeins...
G. Terry Madonna & Michael Young: The Democrats’ debate marathon
A Debate Marathon Who will win the 2020 presidential election seems endlessly debatable—and the Democrats are preparing to demonstrate just how endless that debate will be. Overall there will be 12 sanctioned Democratic presidential debates during the party’s nomination battle, six of them in 2019 with six more in 2020....
