Letters to the Editor category, Page 139

Westmoreland County needs additional mental health resources, especially for those in immediate crises. Pathways, a former Excela program, helped people with mental issues avoid hospitalization. Reinstituting this program would deliver services directly to people in need and avoid costly hospitalizations. A return to Pathways would give people appropriate levels of...

Critical race theory in our public schools has raised a lot of controversy. I Googled some interesting facts of U.S. history that relate to theories of racism in the U.S. but are probably overlooked by the Democratic teachers union. 1. President Abraham Lincoln formulated the Republican Party to end slavery....

Ah, the good ol’ days. January 2021: Gasoline averaged $2.67 a gallon in the East and $3.70 a gallon in the West. Household electricity was 13.09 cents per kilowatt hour. Eggs cost $1.67 a dozen. Yep, January 2021. Think everything costs more? Guess what? Even President Biden’s U.S. Bureau of...

I’m not certain whether Winston Churchill actually said the below quote, but after reading the following gibberish written to this newspaper: “Biden worst president ever” (April 8, TribLIVE), “A plan to track immigrants, politicians” (April 8, TribLIVE), “Let Ukraine, Russia duke it out” (April 7, TribLIVE), “Biden a better car...

Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel “Persepolis” shows her life as a young girl in 1970s Iran in a clear light that should show life far outside our comfortable American cocoon. Why is anybody afraid for our children to learn about the world? Bad things happen, and courageous young people like Marjane...

The author of the letter “Let’s tell the truth about racism” states that systemic racism “has and continues to be prevalent in all facets of our society.” From my perspective, our country has arguably been more successful at eradicating all forms of racism than perhaps any other. Just look at...

We find ourselves in quite a mess right now. We could not even come together during a pandemic. We used to be able to get behind our leaders and look out for each other. Our country is hyper-­political, divisive and distrustful. Many seem only able to say what they are...

Reading some of the political opinion letters in this paper and others, as well as online, is like venturing into the “Twilight Zone.” The back and forth arguing where my guy is good, your guy is bad, my news sources are true, yours are false, proves how controlled and mindless...

It is encouraging to see so many articles in the Trib pointing to our country moving in the right direction. Work is beginning on repairing bridges and roads which provide good paying jobs. Several presidents tried to develop an infrastructure plan but failed. President Biden got it done. Unemployment is...

Let me state up front that I don’t begrudge pitcher Gerrit Cole for getting as much money as he can from the New York Yankees, who I’m sure are doing quite well financially. The Yankees are paying Cole $36 million a year. Cole is obviously an excellent starting pitcher. Most...

After reading the letters “PSEA leadership should be challenged” (April 2, TribLIVE) and “Cyber charter funding reform needed” (April 3, TribLIVE), I felt compelled to write. Why are teachers not making as much money as PSEA employees? You want our teachers to make $200,000-plus? You are out of your ever-loving...

It seems to me that too many letter-writers spew out hatred for someone or for some perceived issue that is usually without merit because of historical or factual inaccuracies. These fallacies replace truth in these writings. Unfortunately, many readers accept what is written without questioning these fallacies or the motives...

In 1930, blame for problems was cast upon recent European immigrants. “They are ruining our country.” Today, similar hatred is turned upon people with dark skin. Now, “they” are ruining our country. “They” are taking our jobs. The kitchen table has been replaced with the internet. The prejudice is the...

As Easter approaches, let’s all pray for Ukraine. That’s all there is left to do to end this war. Pray for no World War III. No one will win. Fly your flag in support of Ukraine, too. Wendy Miller Harrison...

Other states have been using legal mail-in ballots for decades. It allows more registered voters more time to research/compare the candidates and to vote without taking time away from professional or family duties. A majority of Republican Pennsylvania state legislators introduced and enacted mail-in ballot legislation in the fall of...

Has President Biden fallen asleep? Does he not realize that he is failing the American people regarding the border? Our government calls for hearings for Supreme Court nominees, and hearings regarding gas companies reaping profits, so why not call for the president of the United States to appear at a...

I don’t understand this headlong rush into green energy even before the country has the ability to manufacture components of renewable energy. Nine of 10 of the largest makers of solar panels and six of 10 of the largest windmill makers in the world are Chinese. Europe has three of...

I believe the Westmoreland County Housing Authority continues to blame residents of subsidized housing for deteriorating facilities while sweeping growing complaints under the rug. Issues reported include accessible elevators that do not work, mold, poor water and sewage systems, bug infestations, old, malfunctioning appliances and broken HVAC systems that can...

Regarding Kathleen Bollinger’s letter “Let Ukraine, Russia duke it out”: In 1992, Ukraine signed the Lisbon Protocol, part of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Ukraine (along with Belarus and Kazakhstan) agreed to give up the Soviet-era nuclear weapons on its territory, making them a threat to no...

Microbes have it rough. People kill them with disinfectants, remorselessly, as if their little lives were of no importance. Some of them are really warm, special, talented creatures. Open your heart. Using an electron microscope, I’ve been keeping company with some scintillating bacteria. Who would have thought spirochetes and streptococci...

Regarding the letter “Government a virtue, not a burden” (March 27, TribLIVE): “Government is a virtue” might apply to Marx or Engels, but not lovers of liberty. We understand that it’s a necessary evil. But our obligations to our country are to our fellow citizens. Our obligations to government are...

I’m getting a little tired of politicians telling us Americans that they’re doing all they can to solve a problem, knowing they’re not, or just lying. Example: Gas prices have skyrocketed. I don’t care why, I just know the president/governor/politicians most definitely can do more, such as an executive order...

The op-ed “Pa. communities should be allowed to choose clean energy” (April 7, TribLIVE) neglected to mention just why the United States has led the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fails to mention the costs of burdensome government mandates and mischaracterized legislative proposals. First, Pennsylvania’s embrace of competitive...

A 2018-19 survey found that there are approximately 502.5 million pieces of litter in Pennsylvania, much of it single-use items such as plastic water bottles and cigarette butts. Litter affects Pennsylvania’s property values, meaning less people are choosing to live in Pennsylvania. Here are some ways to help solve our...

With so many global issues impacting household expenses, I am grateful for the real solutions recently introduced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro that will bring real relief to my family. As a mom of five, I have watched meat, milk and fruit, our staples, skyrocket over the last two years....