Opinion category, Page 93
Joseph Sabino Mistick: We can all do better being good neighbors
Last week, as Americans mourned the destruction and death caused by raging fires in Los Angeles, both Canada and Mexico sent firefighters and equipment to California. It is what good neighbors do. They help each other as best they can when help is needed, without being asked and without keeping...
Colin McNickle: PPS’ continuing chronic absenteeism crisis
Chronic absenteeism in Pittsburgh Public Schools remains abysmal, concludes the latest data from watchdog A+ Schools. And the district’s chronic tardiness in addressing the matter has become inexcusable, says a scholar at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “The duty of PPS administrators is to put an end to the...
Cal Thomas: Trump’s second inaugural address
Who remembers Donald Trump’s first inaugural address? Probably not very many, unless they have Googled it, as I did. That’s likely because after the speech Trump became fixated on the size of the crowd, which he repeatedly claimed was larger than official estimates. As I reread it, I was surprised...
Letter to the editor: Hegseth ‘jagoff’ question shows lack of respect
Regarding the article “Pete Hegseth asked to define ‘jagoff’ at Senate confirmation hearing” (Jan. 14, TribLive): The esteem normally accorded to the U.S. Senate reached a new low when Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., asked Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of Defense, to define and explain the term...
Shih-Yu Simon Wang: Fiery and icy weather of West, East coasts is no coincidence
The Hollywood sign stands sentinel above Los Angeles, watching as embers dance through the January night like wayward stars. Glowing debris floats on warm winds past million-dollar mansions, while emergency crews battle a blaze that shouldn’t exist — not in winter, not here, not now. Two thousand miles east, in...
Sounding off: Trump, Biden, Steelers among week’s topics
Free-for-all coming with Trump in charge So here we are. A convicted felon will be our president. We will be led by billionaires and millionaires, an oligarchy. As if any of them know what it’s like to live this life without any of the struggles that those with less encounter....
Letter to the editor: Free-for-all coming with Trump in charge
So here we are. A convicted felon will be our president. We will be led by billionaires and millionaires, an oligarchy. As if any of them know what it’s like to live this life without any of the struggles that those with less encounter. It’s all about power. My father...
Editorial: Did taxpayers win their bet on legalized gambling?
On Tuesday, Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield had some impressive payouts. It wasn’t because someone bet on black or stayed at the slot machine until a jackpot came up. The awards weren’t paid in poker chips. The prize was $19 million in casino-generated funds distributed to organizations with a public...
Letter to the editor: Liberals won’t see the truth
Kudos to the writer of the well-thought-out letter “Opposing news, opposing views” (Jan. 9, TribLive). His conclusion is spot on. Hillary Clinton once refereed to MAGA supporters as deplorables. Since I don’t think she is ever right about things political, her opinion in my mind isn’t worth a hill of...
Gary Franks: The return of Donald J. Trump
On Jan. 20 Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as our 47th president of the United States. He truly has an opportunity to have a remarkable four years in office. Only one person, Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president, has had the chance to serve as president for...
S.E. Cupp: Sham Hegseth hearing shows standards are gone
Oh, how far we’ve fallen. On Tuesday, the Senate began its confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet, starting with one of his more controversial picks, “Fox & Friends Weekend” host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary. The roughly four-hour performance was an utter waste of time, having accomplished nearly nothing...
Anjana Susarla: Meta’s fact-checking shift spotlights competing approaches in fighting misinformation, hate speech
Meta’s decision to change its content moderation policies by replacing centralized fact-checking teams with user-generated community labeling has stirred up a storm of reactions. But taken at face value, the changes raise the question of the effectiveness of Meta’s old policy, fact-checking, and its new one, community comments. With billions...
Letter to the editor: Steelers need new coaches
When will the Steelers’ owners replace the coaching staff so that the fans can have something to look forward to? Six in a row is uncalled for. Any other team would have replaced the coaches after two losses. Carl Felton Columbus, Ohio The writer is a Seward native....
Letter to the editor: Too much CO2 bad for people and planet
I take exception with all four self-centered points in the letter “More meat, CO2 among resolutions” (Jan. 12, TribLive). With regard to one in particular, I suggest the writer rev up his 4.5-liter, 315 HP V8 Mustang and then go sit behind its tailpipe and breathe in that CO2. As...
Lori Falce: Rubio did what few have done for Marc Fogel
On Wednesday, during the confirmation hearing for Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to become secretary of state, something remarkable happened. Yes, it was political. Everything in Washington is political, whether it should be or not. Yes, it was partisan. In a narrowly divided chamber like the U.S. Senate, everything is partisan....
Laurels & lances: New store, old story
Laurel: To shopping around. The Greater Pittsburgh region will have a new neighbor in the grocery market. This week, popular New York-based retailer Wegmans announced its first foray into the area. A 115,000-square-foot location is planned for a 13-acre plot in Cranberry, adjacent to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. A...
Letter to the editor: ‘Peace’ event turns divisive
On Jan. 12, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s office hosted an event called “Building Bridges,” where an Israeli and Palestinian peacemaker presented a message of hope and ideas for achieving peace. In his introductory remarks, the mayor said his job is to “make sure in this city that everybody felt safe,...
Letter to the editor: We need legislation to fix climate change
Regarding the letter “Earth records hottest year ever in 2024 and the jump was so big it breached key threshold” (Jan. 10, TribLive): Earth records hottest year ever! Yawn. The last 10 years are the 10 hottest on record and likely the hottest in 125,000 years! Ho hum. There were...
Paul Kengor: A big inauguration with a big deadline
We’re mere days from Jan. 20, 2025, the second inauguration of Donald Trump — this time as America’s 47th president. It is much anticipated by all, with some jubilant and others dreading the moment. But it ought to be much anticipated for a remarkable deadline Trump has given for that...
Jay Feinman: Insurance for natural disasters is failing homeowners
The wildfires that have devastated large parts of Los Angeles County have drawn fresh attention to the struggles many Americans face insuring their homes. Since 2022, seven of the 12 largest insurance companies have stopped issuing new policies to homeowners in California, citing increased risks due to climate change. California...
Elizabeth Stelle: New year, new taxes in Pa.
The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends to involve overspending and sticking taxpayers with the bill. If Pennsylvania lawmakers thought to quit this dirty habit in 2025, they are off to a...
Letter to the editor: Ward’s take on US Steel
In reading Sen. Kim Ward’s comments in the article ”What they’re saying about it: Biden nixes U.S. Steel-Nippon deal” (Jan. 3, TribLive), I was surprised she favors a Japanese firm over an Ohio firm for the U.S. Steel buyout. I don’t believe she fought for the jobs lost when First...
Letter to the editor: Fetterman sees what other Dems won’t see
I guess the writer of the letter “Sen. Fetterman, will you lead?” (Jan. 11, TribLive) doesn’t see how Americans were fed up with poor Democratic policies that hurt this country. Joe Biden is the worst president we’ve had in decades. His border policies have allowed millions of illegal immigrants and...
Letter to the editor: Society’s foundations rooted in love
The writer of the letter “Destroying our foundations” (Dec. 31, TribLive) claims the foundation of Western civilization lies in the Ten Commandments, particularly “Do not murder.” While this commandment is an important moral ideal, history tells a different story. The USA was built on the displacement and slaughter of indigenous...
Editorial: Increasing use of coarse language in seats of power reflects a broader decline
The term “presidential” long has referred to the way a person carries himself and the significance of the office. It also can refer to the people with whom the president surrounds himself. After the rapid evolution of public discourse in recent years — some might convincingly call it devolution —...
