Opinion category, Page 96
Letter to the editor: Penn State taunts persist for a reason
Regarding Chip Minemyer’s op-ed “Tired Sandusky taunts further insult victims of abuse” (Dec. 31, TribLive): Chants and chirps by opposing fans about the Penn State child sex abuse scandal are aimed at calling out the Penn State community for continuing to worship people, i.e. Joe Paterno, who played a prominent...
Peter Morici: U.S. needs a saner approach to immigration
Americans have been appalled by thousands of illegal immigrants — those granted temporary legal status or who crossed the border undetected — exacerbating homelessness and straining shelters, schools and social services budgets. President-elect Donald Trump promised aggressive deportations during his campaign, but he hardly has a mandate. He won the...
Bruce Yandle: We should stop waiting for the pre-covid economy to return
For those waiting and hoping to see the economy return to pre-covid levels of activity, recent employment data, while showing considerable strength, must be discouraging. The data are reminiscent of American novelist and playwright Gertrude Stein’s comment following a disappointing visit to her childhood hometown, where she had hoped to...
Letter to the editor: A different look at Afghanistan pullout
I am really tired of Republican letter-writers harping about President Biden’s “humiliating Afghanistan surrender to the Taliban” (“Biden a flawed president, flawed man,” Dec. 21, TribLive). Another wrote of “A bungled, shameful Afghanistan pullout.” (“Hope for a better tomorrow with Trump,” TribLive, Dec. 27). Where were these writers while we...
Editorial: Farmers market and food shuttle could change climate of food desert
Think of a desert, and a specific image comes to mind. It’s sandy and hot and seems endless and empty. But that’s not every desert. There are frozen deserts that still qualify for the definition because of the lack of rainfall. There are deserts landscaped with mountains or those dotted...
Letter to the editor: Help is on the way thanks to Trump
To me and all the Americans who voted to oust the radical Democrats from offices across the country, every day is now Christmas Day as we read or see the deconstruction of their DEI/woke/ESG identity politics that have turned the American dream of success through merit into a nightmare of...
Lanhee J. Chen: Romney’s Senate exit marks an end to the bipartisanship Washington desperately needs
Mitt Romney delivered his farewell speech before the U.S. Senate in early December. It isn’t hyperbole to say it marked the end of an era. Romney’s decades in public service will be considered historic — he is the only American to serve as governor of one state and senator for...
Amir Sommer: Our words about Israel-Hamas war can add to hostilities — or help on path to peace
The language people use to talk about the Israel-Hamas war has power: It can contribute to misunderstanding and alienation, but it can also bring about appreciation for concepts that can seem impossible during this kind of conflict, such as peace. I was born to a Palestinian Arab father and an...
Letter to the editor: Good riddance to Biden
Regarding the letter “Thankful for Biden’s accomplishments” (Dec. 26, TribLive), here are some additional “accomplishments” to that list: a 22% rise in inflation; a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan; an unsecured southern border allowing millions of illegal migrants, including criminals and terrorist invaders, to enter the country, resulting in murders of...
Letter to the editor: 1 commissioner could get the job done in Westmoreland County
By the time the next primary rolls around, our three Westmoreland County commissioners will be earning over $100,000 each. Those three plus their staff will cost the county over $500,000. Why do we need three people to make a decision? One commissioner and two staff members would save the county...
Editorial: Republican budget gimmicks: Just say no
The Republican Party’s new majority has become deeply split over the legislative path ahead. Some lawmakers want to prioritize defense, energy and immigration. Others want to focus on taxes first. Still others want everything, all at once, preferably while humiliating their opponents. A more modest agenda would better suit their...
Letter to the editor: The dangers of K2/Spice at Allegheny County Jail
The synthetic drug K2/Spice is illegal and dangerous, and it is being used at the Allegheny County Jail as well as other jails across the country. A person can get “high” from the drug, but the drug can have very serious side effects: tachycardia, convulsions, kidney failure, hallucinations, paranoia and...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Jan. 6
.Editorial cartoons for the week of Jan. 6...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Jan. 6
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Jan. 6....
Letter to the editor: Why are we letting the fox guard the henhouse?
Think about the fable of the fox guarding the henhouse. Now think about the guy who took billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayers’ money to design and build electric cars with batteries that go boom. Now think about giving him a government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, that has...
Letter to the editor: Resolve to be healthier with plant-based diet
New Year’s resolution, anyone? How about one with multiple benefits for our health, our planet and the animals? Eating more veggies, fruits, legumes, grains and nuts helps us stay healthier, reduce global warming and stop animal suffering. It requires no exertion or deprivation. And it saves money too! The abundant...
![Editorial: The burden of the [egg] yolk](https://assets-varnish.triblive.com/2025/01/8082086_web1_7973719-362d44dcac9c48bfb97c27a6873d1199.jpg)
Editorial: The burden of the [egg] yolk
The price of eggs was political in 2024. The breakfast staple and baking building block often came into the conversation over the cost of groceries. Vice President-elect JD Vance provided an inadvertent chuckle for some when claiming a carton cost $4 — while standing in front of a display with...
Letter to the editor: Natural gas drives benefits across Pa.
I would like to respectfully disagree with the writer of the letter “Fracking falsehoods” (Dec. 18, TribLive). Natural gas development is a vital driver of Pennsylvania’s economy and energy security for the nation. It is difficult to ignore the benefits and disregard the truth in the numbers. While critics continue...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: President and Mrs. Carter made America better
Jimmy Carter became larger in defeat. That’s not easy to do, but it is especially rare in politics. For many politicians, losing the big one is enough to push them into the background forever. For Carter, his one-term presidency was just one step along the way to greatness. Carter’s presidential...
Point: Democrats have an opportunity to rebuild
As this historic 2024 political year comes to a close, many Democrats are crying in their eggnog. Not only did we fail to win back the House of Representatives (this prospect seemed likely in January), but we lost the Senate and frustratingly lost the White House again — and the...
Counterpoint: GOP disarray is a positive for Democrats
As Democrats look to 2025, several factors provide them with a sense of hope and optimism for regaining and maintaining political power. The landscape of American politics can be unpredictable, but the current climate offers promising avenues for Democrats to explore as they prepare for coming elections. One of the...
Sounding off: Minimum wage, Biden, Trump at top of week’s letters
Pennsylvanians need a raise State Rep. Jesse Topper hit the nail on the head when he said Pennsylvanians need more money in their pockets (“We can stop the pinch who stole Christmas,” Dec. 20, TribLive). But he was tone deaf with his answer. We, the struggling middle class, need a...
Letter to the editor: Pennsylvanians need a raise
State Rep. Jesse Topper hit the nail on the head when he said Pennsylvanians need more money in their pockets (“We can stop the pinch who stole Christmas,” Dec. 20, TribLive). But he was tone deaf with his answer. We, the struggling middle class, need a pay increase to deal...
Editorial: What does Biden’s block mean for U.S. Steel?
Pittsburgh is a steel town. Pennsylvania is forged from coal and coke and iron. Maps are peppered with the words “furnace” and “mills.” The history of metal production in the Keystone State began in the 1700s — before America was a nation. Did the end of that identity come Friday...
Letter to the editor: Biden is no hero
I find it interesting the accolades the writer of the letter “Thankful for Biden’s accomplishments” (Dec. 26, TribLive) bestowed on President Biden, and I’d like to share what else Biden has done. His history of lies goes back to his Senate days, and when he thought he was going to...
