Letters to the Editor category, Page 208

It’s hard to believe Westmoreland County will probably pay Midwest Direct for ballots that never appeared in voters’ mailboxes — and may give them another chance. They weren’t delayed — they never arrived! Either Midwest Direct said they mailed them without doing so, or they disappeared from U.S. Postal Service...

Here we go again with Gov. Tom Wolf’s rhetoric on more funding for public schools. Test scores prove that throwing more money at schools does nothing to improve our children’s education. Teachers unions are the problem. They strike often and mostly for the same two reasons: more money and more...

So Gov. Tom Wolf wants to tax us some more so he can give money to public schools . No problem … as long as it goes to the schools and not the teachers. We would all be so much better off without the teachers union. I’m done paying for...

For those who only watch and listen to extreme right-wing news sources, I hope the impeachment hearings were their come-to-Jesus moment. The United States has been led by a crackpot, not a patriot the last four years. President Trump’s words, threats and continued rhetoric to gather the gullible conspiracists toward...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently released a book touting his exemplary leadership during the pandemic and received an Emmy award for his viral press conferences; Hunter Biden plans to put out a memoir titled “Beautiful Things”; Black Lives Matter was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; and Joe Biden...

Thank you to the Tribune-Review and Mark Madden for acknowledging the greatness of Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron (“Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Hank Aaron was one of sports’ most important figures,” Jan. 23, TribLIVE). It’s incredible that Aaron maintained his poise in light of almost constant racism. He was superior in...

Notice to Republicans voting to censure those courageous Republican senators and representatives who voted to impeach and/or convict former President Trump: You do not represent all registered Republicans! Trump deserves to be punished in any way our society is able. He incited an insurrection against our government. What is wrong...

So now it seems that our illustrious governor wants to raise taxes substantially to fund the teachers unions. The teachers unions are a great money laundering organization. They fund the Democratic Party, and in turn the Democrats give it back. How wonderful! If I were in charge and said I...

LeadingAge PA renews its call for Gov. Tom Wolf to form a broader task force to quickly improve Pennsylvania’s lagging vaccination plan. Forming a bipartisan legislative group to address vaccinations was a start, but we can do more. Our organization represents more than 370 quality senior housing, health care and...

I have to give Democrats credit for imposing the mail-in vote, because I think that’s the only way Joe Biden could get elected. My dead Republican relatives (there are many) are gleeful that the Democrats have revived their voting rights and are looking forward to future elections. I hope the...

It sickens me to see that, even after the terrorist attack on the Capitol and on democracy that I believe was incited by President Trump, people are foolish enough to still believe in him. Recent letter-writers have claimed the election was stolen, that it was Democrats dressed as Trump supporters...

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) parents want a return to school, but are they asking the right questions? The focus has been on teachers, but the issue is more complex. To return now, a school district as large as PPS would have to modify the CDC 6-foot distancing guidelines in order...

Regarding the article “Pennsylvania GOP may meet to discuss Toomey impeachment vote” (Feb. 15, TribLIVE): He is going into private business, and he does not want to be boycotted by the liberals like they are doing to others who supported President Trump. Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...

Dear Rose Guerra (“Take down your Trump signs,” Feb. 8, TribLIVE): I don’t have my Trump sign anymore, but if I did, I would display it to let you and others know that it is my right to do so. If that embarrasses you and others, I’ll treasure that! Hannelore...

I became aware of climate change at a young age. The rising temperature of our planet has caused extreme weather in Pittsburgh. One winter we would get a foot of snow, the next we would get none. Heat waves have become more common. Seeing these changes made me passionate about...

Butterball was a wild turkey who made her home in the town of Forbes Road (“Forbes Road residents shocked gobbler ‘Butterball’ shot by game warden,” Jan. 16, TribLIVE). The people of Forbes Road accepted her and took her in as one of their own; they fed her and looked after...

When I heard this on the news, I was stunned and had to see it in print: “We did not send him there to vote his conscience,” David Ball, chair of the Washington County Republican Party, told KDKA political editor Jon Delano. “We did not send him there to do...

One reads with interest Jonah Goldberg’s essay “Impeachment trials aren’t about proving criminal behavior” decrying how lawyer pundits discuss impeachment, a political process, in terms of criminal proceedings. But one need not be a President Trump supporter to recognize the danger in asserting that, during impeachment, Congress merely plays a...

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s letter to Gov. Tom Wolf calling for the “immediate” inoculation of teachers, although well-intentioned, looks only at the proposed benefits without the associated costs (“Peduto asks Gov. Wolf to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers immediately”). This approach will have dire consequences. The covid-19 data shows a clear relationship...

President Biden has gone against what recent presidents (and some congressmen) talked about on the subject of immigration reform. President Trump was the only one who did something about it. If you search “Where does Trump get his dumb ideas?” on YouTube, you will see Trump watching Sen. Dianne Feinstein...

Regarding the article “Gov. Wolf seeks income tax hike to pay for big increase in school funding”: Anyone with a modicum of common sense can envision Gov. Tom Wolf’s MO in his proposal for a massive tax increase. There is no funding crisis simply because Tom Wolf proclaims it to...

The quality of our natural world and the health and well-being of human beings are inextricably linked. Climate change represents a threat to these at both a local and global level. Methane is the primary energy component in natural gas, used for everything from home heating to generating electricity, but...

How wonderful that the U.S. Forest Service and our so-called state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have opened Pennsylvania woods to ever-increasing numbers of ATVs and snowmobiles (“ATV/snowmobile fever: Westmoreland, Allegheny lead Pennsylvania in registrations,” Feb. 14, TribLIVE). Ah yes — conservation through pollution and desecration. I wait for...

I remember distinctly — before the infamous Nick Perry 666 Daily Number fix of the state lottery in 1980 — the promise that state-sanctioned gambling would benefit the elderly first and later eliminate or reduce school property taxes. Every expansion of gambling is announced with the pledge that the “new”...

Regarding the article “ ‘Trump House’ creator Leslie Baum Rossi seeks nod to run for open Pa. House seat”: This is an example of the partisan ways that must be eliminated from our democracy. Rossi’s comments such as “Trump is the best president we’ve ever had in my lifetime” and...