Letters to the Editor category, Page 185

According to the article “Wolf, Pa. Democrats again push for passage of LGBTQ discrimination protections,” “The GOP-controlled Legislature banned all but the U.S., Pennsylvania and POW MIA flags from being flown on Capitol grounds. … (Lt. Gov. John) Fetterman, however, has continued to fly Pride flags, including one removed by...

Here are some lessons I’ve learned in today’s troubled world: Jobs and free market opportunities, not big government programs and subsidies, are the answers to poverty. CNN and MSNBC provide mostly partial, biased, misleading news. Excessive government spending and the resulting higher taxes often lead to higher prices, uncontrolled inflation,...

Expanding the sale of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails to additional retail outlets that already sell beverage alcohol is a commonsense way to increase consumer convenience and generate millions of dollars for the commonwealth (“Pa. Senate passes bill to legalize cocktails-to-go, sends to House with modifications”). In fact, allowing spirits-­based RTDs to...

For the 12th time this year, a loaded handgun was confiscated by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport from a passenger’s carry-on bag (“Man faces charges after being stopped for gun at Pittsburgh International Airport,” June 7, TribLIVE). He used the same excuse as the others: “I forgot it was there.”...

Dear Mr. President, There are several concerning issues right now. On your first day of office, you canceled the Keystone XL pipeline. Recently you approved of the Russian pipeline Nord Stream 2, and this monthyou suspended the oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Gas prices are...

Just how dishonest and manipulative has the mainstream media become? Incredibly so, as evidenced by the recent journalistic indiscretions related to Communist China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. When it was first proposed by Donald Trump, some in his administration and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton that the covid-19 virus had originated...

In the news recently was the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre. I had never heard of it until now. I am concerned with what happened afterward, which was nothing. Hundreds of lives lost, hundreds of homes and businesses lost, and nothing was done. No one was ever imprisoned or...

The Harvison Road bridge in Penn Township will be demolished to accommodate a $30 million project to widen the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Irwin and Monroeville from four to six lanes. According to the article “Penn Township negotiating with turnpike commission in advance of bridge removal” (June 14, TribLIVE), it is...

In her letter “GOP’s election plans will take away voters’ rights” (May 30, TribLIVE), Frances Weiss misquoted me when she stated: “George Silowash said he believed state mask mandates have taken our rights away.” My words in my letter “How about we all make our own mask decisions?” (May 23,...

As a member of a fourth-generation dairy farm, I was frustrated to read allegations from a vegan organization in the letter “Plant-based dairy a viable option” (June 13, TribLIVE). Here’s the real story of what happens on a dairy farm, where my most important priority is the health and well-being...

Regarding the article “Wolf again vows to veto any bills that limit abortion access in Pa.” (June 11, TribLIVE): Guess Gov. Tom Wolf doesn’t believe Black Lives Matter. In 2019, Black people made up just 12% of the U.S. population but accounted for 38% of the reported 889,000 abortions that...

Letter-writer Ed Svitek states that it’s “Biden’s job to restore our dignity” (June 10, TribLIVE) and writes about lies by President Trump and Republicans. When a person makes a false statement, it could be because he or she does not have all the facts; when a person lies, he or...

As the co-founder of Project SEED, I would like to extend a sincere thank-you for the tremendous support and generosity we have received from so many individuals, businesses, clubs and organizations in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. We just completed our eighth year of providing food to hungry children in...

Did Joe Biden leave out the word “don’t” before “yield”? This is from an official transcript of his remarks after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 16: “I told him that, unlike other countries, including Russia, we’re uniquely a product of an idea. You’ve heard me say this...

How dare the bishops politicize the Eucharist (“U.S. Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden,” June 18, TribLIVE). Their proposed “teaching document” is aimed directly at Joe Biden. What about politicians who support the death penalty? What about divorced Catholic politicians, such as twice-divorced Newt Gingrich? What about...

Professor Paul Kengor’s column “Highway robbery on the Pa. Turnpike” (June 10, TribLIVE) criticizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for raising toll fees despite the cost savings resulting from eliminating over 500 tollbooth workers and substituting E-ZPass and Toll by Plate. Kengor fails to mention that the turnpike has been required...

It’s supposed to get (relatively) cold the evening of June 22. Low in the 40s. Probably not as cold as the all-time cold for the date, 42, set in … 1988. The reason that’s interesting is that later in the summer of 1988, Pixburg had its longest and hottest stretch...

Isn’t it great that Madam Vice President visited our fair city? I was hoping she would be able to stem the influx of undocumented non-union scab workers who are swimming across the Mon! Andy Shubik Stoystown...

There were some assertions and questions in the letter “Wolf cutting charter school lifeline” (June 11, TribLIVE) that warrant a response. Public schools have greater costs per student than charters, and during covid, there were zero days to prepare. Existing deficits already had tightened budgets, and unlike charters, huge cash...

The fight to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania is in trouble. This legislative session’s anti-gerrymandering bill has been stalled in committee after being introduced more than 100 days ago, then considered at one initial hearing. This bill responds to the 70% of Pennsylvanians who want gerrymandering to end. Months of citizen...

Letter-writer Edward Svitek (“Biden’s job to restore our dignity” (June 10, TribLIVE) reminds me of my departed grandmother (RIP, Grandma): They both hate/hated Republicans with a passion, but can’t/couldn’t present a valid true reason why. That’s why many years ago I registered as an independent, considering both sides of a...

During the four years of the Trump administration, the general public was subject to claims that the Democrats could not let go of the fact that they lost the election. In hypocritical fashion, we are now being inundated with equally false claims that the election was rigged, stolen or otherwise...

Who would ever have thought they would see the day the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL would move from being politically neutral to the progressive left? They must now bear the descriptive title of “professional sports and social justice organizations.” We are not privy to the reasoning behind Major League...

For the 12th time this year, a loaded handgun was confiscated by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport from a passenger’s carry-on bag (“Man faces charges after being stopped for gun at Pittsburgh International Airport,” June 7, TribLIVE). He used the same excuse as the others: “ I forgot it was...

Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget contains a golden nugget: a raise in the minimum wage. This would improve the lives of 1.6 million Pennsylvania workers. It would be a shot in the arm for 27.5% of our workforce. With our ridiculous wage inequality, this increase is essential for the well-being of...