Letters to the Editor category, Page 333

“Without presenting any evidence, President Trump said … .” This is how the media covers the Trump administration, with additional commentary accusing him of lying. The New York Times on Jan. 11 published a piece about the FBI’s inquiry into the possibility that Trump was working on behalf of Russia....

I do not understand why politics is taking such a toll on the government shutdown. Do the math: Estimates put the cost of illegal immigration at $130 billion per year. The president is asking for $5.7 billion for a border wall. If the wall proves to be over 80 percent...

It’s a shame that the letter-writers fraught with anxiety and seething rage concerning President Trump are wasting so much energy and happiness when most of their stated reasons are, I believe, without basis in truth and fact. It’s also a shame that so many intelligent, reasonable people have been convinced...

With news of the Supreme Court open to hearing gerrymandering cases from North Carolina and Maryland, it’s time to fan the inferno about Pennsylvania’s own redistricting reform. For a long time, I believed that promoting an independent, nonpartisan citizens’ commission on redistricting that is proposed by Fair Districts PA was...

Certain politicians have been proposing the idea of Medicare for all. Sounds great, right? What they are not telling the public is that Medicare is not free. Consider Original Medicare 2019 : Part A: Premiums: Less than 30 quarters working (Medicare taxes paid), $437 per month; 30-39 quarters working, $240...

As a decades-long independent, I find the behavior of the Republican and Democratic Party leadership in Washington disgraceful, embarrassing, unpatriotic and dangerous. They, along with their respective cronies in the media, have successfully divided the country into opposing factions who disregard the Constitution, precedent and common sense, whenever convenient. Extremists...

Although I recognize the need for border controls, I wonder how many of us would be here if the Native Americans had constructed walls around our country … . Jim Blahovec Penn Township, Westmoreland County...

Another year has passed, and Hempfield Township continues to mooch off Pennsylvania taxpayers to pay for its police services. Added revenue from the new mall casino could allow Hempfield to fund its own department or “kick in” to support the Pennsylvania State Police. Is it fair that Pennsylvania’s largest township,...

Our president is asking Congress for less than 1 percent of the federal budget to ensure security on our southern border. However, the Democrats have decided to hold federal workers hostage during the negotiations to deny the president his sworn duty to protect this nation. In an October 2009 article,...

The last few days I have suspected that I was under surveillance, most likely by the FBI. So I put a “Hillary for President” sign in my front yard. Wow … the surveillance is now gone. And, I didn’t have to pay anything for the sign; I found it in...

If you were born in America, you didn’t earn your citizenship. Your good fortune originates from random cosmic luck. In fact, your chances of hitting the “billion dollar lottery” are better than the odds that placed your life in this nation at this moment in time. You could have been...

There are two things this government shutdown will reveal. One is how not well-off things are for the average American, and that a large percentage of people live paycheck to paycheck, with a thin line between comfort and poverty. Less than 50 percent of Americans have more than $1,000 in...

Letter-writer Jeanne Snyder (“TEACH grants should be paid back,” Jan. 1, TribLIVE) should be proud of her son’s accomplishment of graduating from Penn State using grants, scholarships and loans. He found a job and started making payments toward the loans. Snyder states that education majors should pay for their education...

Regarding Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and his efforts to confront the gun problem(s) as he perceives them (“What’s next for Pittsburgh’s controversial gun-regulation proposals,” Jan. 8, TribLIVE), I think his heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, his brain seems unable to find that place. Additional legislation in cities throughout...

When retired executive John Ventre announced his decision to run for Westmoreland County Commissioner on Jan. 11, he was stunned to see that his extensive resume of work and board and charitable service, and his creative plan to help the county, was reduced to negativism regarding his former hobby and...

The Democrats had a gun control mantra: “If only one life is saved, it’s worth it.” I think this mantra is more applicable to building the border wall. We have already had illegals kill police and cause traffic fatalities. Democrats and RINOs have to get off their high horses and...

Everyone talks about drugs and criminals illegally entering through Mexico, but I wonder about the disease coming in with these invaders. They probably have not been inoculated for many common diseases, and could be carrying other diseases common to their countries. Also, after their trek to an unwelcoming country, they...

I recently read and reread a letter to the editor about our government. Then I thought about all the drama in our government. How can a government that has always stood for fairness and understanding become a battleground? Politicians have failed to agree on anything — because a certain person...

I have one question for letter-writer Michael Rock (“‘Assault’ wrong term for rifles,” Dec. 27, TribLIVE), who quibbles about specifics of terminology and never mentions the terrible consequences of these weapons of mass destruction or any constructive solution: Was the Tree of Life synagogue massacre an assault? So often I...

This morning’s news announced a 26-year-old had lost his life because he no longer had health coverage under his parents’ plan and he couldn’t afford a $1,300-per-month insulin drug on his own. This is truly a tragedy. However, most people with hospitalization drug coverage are unaware that this country gets...

My thoughts about some recent news. • Once more the Steelers will not be in contention for a Super Bowl win. They have the talent, but need a coach. Mike Tomlin is a nice guy, but will never be a winner like Chuck Noll because he doesn’t enforce strict discipline....

The letter I wrote a few weeks ago (”Trump’s made us laughingstock,” Dec. 13, TribLIVE) has been proven true. Our president is a bully, and this government shut down proves it. He is like a little boy who gets mad when he doesn’t get his way, takes his football and...

Newly sworn in to Congress, Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib is getting some negative feedback regarding the profanity she used in a recent speech. Apparently, Tlaib was caught up in the excitement of discussing the opportunity to impeach President Donald Trump. In an online article, CNN noted that advocating a...

I wholeheartedly agree with Robert Ritchey’s ideas in his letter “Immigration win-win-win” (Jan. 4, TribLIVE). They are right on the money. I would like to add one stipulation: Bleeding heart liberal citizen sponsor will relinquish citizenship and be deported to immigrant’s country of origin along with immigrant when said immigrant...

Mayor Bill Peduto has a unique opportunity to bring people together rather than to continue to divide us, as the recent gun legislation proposals are doing (“What’s next for Pittsburgh’s controversial gun-regulation proposals,” Jan. 8, TribLIVE). We are hearing a lot of viewpoints from both sides, but very little that...