Letters to the Editor category, Page 325

It is nigh upon the hour for the 17th Amendment to be revoked. Passed in 1913, the amendment called for the election of senators by the people, not the state. Despite the good intentions behind the amendment, this is a complete contradiction of what the federal government was supposed to...

I found it ironic that the same day Robert Jedrzejewski’s letter “Trump ‘hate’ is justified” (March 6, TribLIVE) was published, the House of Representatives was to vote on a resolution condemning hatred. Regis Kruth Shaler...

In February, I sustained a significant and painful injury to my wrist in a skiing mishap at Seven Springs. I am on the mend after surgery. I wanted to thank the ski patroller who tended to me, kneeling in the snow and speaking volumes of comfort while taking care of...

In response to Fred Francese’s letter “Cheap shots at Hempfield supervisors” (Feb. 22, TribLIVE): It appears agenda items were overlooked, then placed into effect without public review by the entire board. Learning that items were not voted on in public, Supervisor Rob Ritson requested an audit of the items in...

Thank you President Trump: … for being the first president since Nixon to not release your tax returns (with the exception of Ford, who released a summary rather than a return). … for tweeting offensive names about those who disagree with the stand you take. … for bullying, name-calling and...

Regarding E. Nicklas’ letter “White American male will stand tall”: Why is it that white males don’t have an advocacy group? Women have NOW, blacks have the NAACP, Muslims have CAIR, but nothing for white men — especially the single (that means unmarried — unburdened) kind. Could it be that...

Democratic leaders are urging Republican lawmakers to publicly air their displeasure with President Trump. I hope they are smarter than that. There are three political parties in this country — the Democrats, the Republicans and the true conservatives. The conservatives vote for Republican candidates. However, too many Republican candidates are...

Whether it’s President Clinton’s emphatic proclamation “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” or President Nixon’s Watergate defense “I am not a crook,” the lesson is the same: Politicians lie. The sad reality is that voters expect no better. Since 1976, Gallup has been polling Americans to rank...

Regarding Bob Bauder’s article “Pittsburgh recognized as starting point for Lewis and Clark expedition” (March 10, TribLIVE): Meriwether Lewis wrote in his journal on May 14, 1804: “The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure.” The River Dubois enters the Mississippi from the...

In addition to the “Green New Deal,” the agendas of many of the progressive left’s presidential candidates for 2020 contain social justice programs packaged as rights due all Americans. They include health care, living wage, employment, college education, etc. The guarantor of these rights without any cost to the beneficiaries...

Can someone please tell me why on earth we need self-driving cars? This is one of the biggest wastes of time, money and technology I’ve ever seen. Not only that, but you still need to sit behind the wheel. What’s the advantage, and who gets sued when your so-called self-driving...

So often, after reading the op-ed page and letters from readers, I’m amazed that so many people do not or cannot think for themselves; how many ignore or cannot comprehend facts and how many are sheep-like — i.e., must be led. Jack Bologna (“Global lukewarming,” Feb. 15, TribLIVE) wrote against...

There is a clear picture in the public’s mind of what takes place in a home invasion. The violation of the homeowner’s space, person, goods and financial well-being happens in an abrupt, mostly violent way. The invaders burst through the door and the nightmare episode begins. The emotional trauma continues...

Hardly a day passes when I don’t encounter the term democratic socialism, but what is it? Democratic socialism is the socialist hucksters’ latest name for their snake oil. It is galley slaves voting for their drummer. It benefits those who ride the ship for free, those who gain a temporary...

Why would Attorney General Josh Shapiro sue UPMC for having better pricing (“UPMC rejects state Attorney General Shapiro’s attempt to halt breakup with rival Highmark,” Feb. 21, TribLIVE)? Business 101: A lawsuit will make everybody suffer because prices go up. If UPMC has 2.5 million policy holders and Highmark has...

Drain the swamp: What does that mean? Is it just something to say to get votes? What swamp are they talking about — the one in Washington, or the one we all live in because of the people we continue to let run our country the way they think it...

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman was in Greensburg recently to discuss making recreational use of marijuana legal (“Fetterman’s marijuana tour stop in Greensburg draws large, divided crowd,” March 4, TribLIVE). If medical professionals believe cannabis is a good tool in their medical bag for treating chronic pain or other issues, I...

My family — parents, uncles, aunts and cousins — were all members of the Democratic Party. They were members when it was the party of the working class; the people who came to America to worship God, work hard, raise a family and search for the American dream. I and...

The worst-case scenario for a fracked deep gas well is when the gas somehow escapes the confinement of the casing pipe and ends up outside of it. This gas, which is under great pressure, then blasts its way to the surface and creates a plume hundreds of feet high. This...

There are many problems in regards to the downward trend of hunting, and I believe that Sunday hunting is minuscule. Three of the major factors are lack of hunting grounds, lack of quarry and the fact that young adults just plain do not want to do it. Two of these...

I was distressed to read Hank Baughman’s letter “Vaccines are safe?” (March 3, TribLIVE) and to think that it might spur some parents to delay or skip some vaccines. In Washington state, where vaccine exemptions are allowed, at least 69 children have contracted measles this year — 43 percent of...

Please do not support legalizing “recreational” marijuana — for the sake of Pennsylvanians’ well-being. An article in the Aug. 4, 2018 edition of World Magazine titled “The Green Rush Begins” states, “According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 30 percent of users will develop some sort of dependence...

Hannelore Miller’s letter (“We need a wall,” March 4, TribLIVE) is baseless. The worst attack in the U.S. came from legally admitted student visa holders. The wall will imprison Americans who have the right to cross, as well as hinder wildlife in the area. More clueless solutions from the Republicans....

In reply to letter-writer Hank Baughman (“Vaccines are safe?,” March 3, TribLIVE): Yes, there is a National Child Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) that was passed in 1998 largely because in the 1970s and ’80s there was controversy concerning the DPT (diptheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine. There were anecdotal reports that the...

As a boy, I adored Roberto Clemente. Not just because he ran like he was on fire and threw like no one will again. He was the ultimate athlete/philanthropist, literally giving his life to help the oppressed. As an adult, I hope to someday vote for Condoleezza Rice for president....