Letters to the Editor category, Page 311

Thank you for the editorial ”Gerrymandering doesn’t represent us.”Gerrymandering can be a complicated subject, but you focused on the essence of the problem with the sentence, “Representative democracy doesn’t work if it’s not representative.” This assessment sums up the reason our state and federal governments are dysfunctional. If we can’t...

According to the latest Mercatus Center Senior Research, the top 50% of taxpayers pay 97.3% of the total. The top 1% pay over 38%. Leaving under 3% for the bottom 50%! Either the Democratic candidates who are calling for tax fairness flunked math or they just like beating up the...

Letter-writer John Ventre (“Liberals & abortion”) says politicians “don’t see the bigger picture” because they allow fetuses to be aborted while we are losing population. George Wandell (“Logical, truthful sex-ed lesson”) seems to feel similarly. But the really big picture is that this earth simply cannot sustain so many people....

Regarding the article “Sen. Toomey lauds Trump for calling off Iran strikes, supports stricter economic sanctions” (June 21, TribLIVE): More sanctions are absurd to Iran. How would we like it if someone took our medicines away? That’s what happened in 2013 before the Iran nuclear deal. Iran rightfully fears that...

The recent decision of the Trump administration to curtail fetal tissue research is detrimental to the further development of life-saving therapies (“Trump administration imposes new restrictions on fetal tissue research,” June 5, TribLIVE). Fetal tissue research not only helps scientists develop therapies to prevent disease, but also treat existing diseases....

My neighbors and I attended the June 17 Penn Hills council meeting at which the subject of a memorial for fallen firefighters was brought up. It was noted that a committee has raised $12,500 for the memorial, which must have certain dimensions according to municipal codes. Deputy Mayor Catherine Sapp...

Are we a country that wants to become like President Trump? To lie, cheat, break laws and become an immoral nation, where winning is everything and the ends justify any means? Where mercy, compassion and understanding are replaced by hate? Are we a nation under God? We pit the rich...

According to the fake news media, President Trump would lose the election if it were held today. Not only would Trump be beaten by Joe Biden, but also by fellow Democrats Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg. Does the fake news media really expect us to believe...

I don’t know of any restrictive laws being considered by our Pennsylvania legislative reps that would control use of polluting plastics that threaten our very existence. You bet they wouldn’t take action with the Beaver Shell facility nearing completion. Our representatives continue to change laws to favor the drilling industry....

Honor is dead. Truth is alive, but on life support. Willful ignorance (aka denial) is thriving and growing stronger. Why? Because truth can create anxiety. Once you buy into denial, you tend to defend it as you plunge deeper into it. Like quicksand, it gets more difficult to escape. Freedom,...

Many thanks to the FBI, which thwarted a terrorist attack on a North Side church (“Syrian refugee charged with plotting to bomb Pittsburgh church”).President Trump has disparaged the organization because of its scrutiny on his criminal activity, but its never-ending vigilance is appreciated by every decent American. Joe Lucas South...

Recent media articles and commentary, either directly or by implication, project that inadequate child care or security at the southern border are the fault of the U.S. This is unfair and irresponsible reporting and opinion. No country or people in the world have shown more commitment and support to troubled...

The UPMC/Highmark situation is a great example of why health care should never be delegated to government control or interference. Attorney General Josh Shapiro should have left the issue alone. People had five years to decide what was best for their health care and wallets. Shapiro was only good for...

Some dislike President Trump’s abrasive style and long for the days of Mitt Romney and the Bushes, when Republican candidates respectfully faced unfair and relentless attacks from Democrats without fighting back. Over the past 60 years, Democrats have befuddled Republicans with aggressive tactics invented by Chicago activist Saul Alinsky in...

Did you know that if you are a member of the Ravelry knitting community and support President Trump and his administration, you are a white supremacist, a bigot and a racist? Ravelry is a popular worldwide community; did those in charge not realize that they are calling millions of conservatives...

Donald Trump says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a evil and a disgrace. A true pot calling the kettle black. Trump says he hates the word impeachment and calls it a “dirty, filthy word.” How does he think I, and many Americans, feel? We think Trump is the most evil,...

I would like to see Congress pass a new program into law to replace the former Aid To Families With Dependent Children program, which was passed under FDR in 1935 and abolished in 1996. Since its abolition, there has been a large increase in the number of people (especially children)...

So now we have the Norwin School District raising taxes again due to a budget shortfall (“Norwin OKs tax hike; maintains staff, programs,” June 21, TribLIVE). It’s interesting how they have money to pay for soccer field and other sporting venue “upgrades” but find it necessary to jam it to...

As we prepare to celebrate the founding of our nation, we are in the grip of a narcissistic president who has spent two years successfully violating Amendment 1 and the Emolument Clause of our Constitution. He has joined other populist leaders in the Philippines, Turkey, Egypt, Poland, Hungary and others...

The news about UPMC and Highmark reaching a 10-year agreement is historic (“UPMC, Highmark reach 10-year deal for patient coverage,”). The hundreds of people on Highmark have cause to celebrate. It was the grassroots people of Pennsylvania who banded together and wouldn’t give up as they fought and beat the...

This is a word of thanks from the Fawn Township Board of Supervisors to Chief Dan Selfridge and Chief Chase Slepak of Fawn Township Volunteer Fire Departments 1 and 2 for their departments’ efforts during Fawn’s recent flooding. A special thank-you to D&D Auto Salvage and the Norris family for...

The Tribune-Review wrote two articles on Tay Waltenbaugh announcing his candidace for state Senate (“Retired human services executive Tay Waltenbaugh to challenge Kim Ward for state Senate,” June 12, TribLIVE; “Democrat Tay Waltenbaugh announces state Senate run in Jeannette,” June 12, TribLIVE). I felt a need to tell the other...

The article “Experts: Allegheny Township fracking case highlights importance of local elections” disturbingly shows how unconventional gas drilling could soon take place even in residential areas. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s cowardly decision to refuse to hear the case will profoundly and negatively disrupt forever the quality of people’s lives. The...

Regarding the article “Wolf tours Greensburg blight, touts proposed gas severance tax” (June 7, TribLIVE): I am so tired of our governor only having one plan: raise taxes on us so he can spend more. He can tell me all day long how he is going to tax the gas...

As long as we have people behaving like sheep in a group, with no minds of their own, following the leader and not questioning anything, we will always be divided. Neither Democrats nor Republicans are always right. We were born with brains — we need to use them. How can...