Opinion category, Page 583
Colin McNickle: Common-sense pension reforms still prudent
A large majority of municipal pension plans in Allegheny County are in good shape. But the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused tremendous economic damage, could challenge those plans’ health and deepen the woes of plans already struggling, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “With the fiscal...
Letter to the editor: Our government must protect us from covid-19
There are 208,000 Americans dead and counting. Why are we allowing this to happen? Why have we become immune to our country’s men and women needlessly dying? This did not need to happen and does not need to continue. Demand that our government protect us. Stop playing politics with our...
Letter to the editor: Where’s Hunter Biden?
Hey Joe Biden — where ya hiding Hunter? Didn’t you claim you had two sons? Cheryl Koloshinsky Latrobe...
Letter to the editor: Do your homework and use your vote wisely
Every time I see someone write about term limits, I go crazy. We have term limits: It’s called “our vote.” The problem is, we don’t do our homework — look up the candidate’s voting record since he or she got elected. We Americans are getting so lazy it’s ridiculous. We...
Walter Williams: Supreme Court and rules of the game
The United States Constitution’s Article 2, Sec. 2, cl. 2, provides that the president of the United States “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the...
John Stossel: Media bias is clear
“A pioneer devoted to equality.” That was The Washington Post’s headline about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. But when Justice Antonin Scalia died, the headline was, “Supreme Court conservative dismayed liberals.” When the founder of ISIS was killed, the headline was: “Austere religious scholar at helm of Islamic State, dies.” But when...
Editorial: Trump’s diagnosis shows covid-19 is nonpartisan
President Trump now is one of the 7.2 million Americans who have tested positive for covid-19. Everyone should be able to put themselves in these shoes. Maybe everyone doesn’t have a grandma in a nursing home or a husband working in a hospital. Maybe everyone doesn’t work frontline in a...
Jonah Goldberg: Trump isn’t unpatriotic because of tax avoidance — just a lousy businessman
What shall we make of the president’s tax situation? If The New York Times’ accounting is correct, Trump has paid little (or nothing) in income taxes for a long time. In both 2016 and 2017, he paid $750 to Uncle Sam. In 10 of the last 15 years, he paid...
Carolyn Lee: Manufacturers are Pittsburgh’s future
An artist from Pittsburgh created the famous image of Rosie the Riveter back in the 1940s. During World War II, Rosie inspired countless women to do their part to help the war effort by working in manufacturing, building the munitions and supplies our troops needed for victory. With the spread...
Letter to the editor: Vonnegut predicted current state of politics
In a 2006 Rolling Stone interview, Kurt Vonnegut, author of such classics as “Slaughterhouse-Five,” described how he he missed the days when leaders like FDR, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for the downtrodden in our country. The interview cited a line from his 1981 college...
Letter to the editor: We must respect the flag
The American flag represents all Americans, including all nationalities, ethnicities, ages and occupations. The U.S. flag is not a canvas for political expression or promotion of personal agendas. I see examples of flag desecration on a daily basis; these include adding “off color” stripes to the flag, placing the face...
Letter to the editor: Legalized recreational marijuana bad idea
Medical marijuana is OK if needed, but I think Gov. Tom Wolf wants to get people hooked on regular marijuana for money (“Gov. Wolf renews call for legal recreational marijuana,” Sept. 3, TribLIVE). Marijuana messes with your mind, everyday living and driving. We do not need people being high while...
Letter to the editor: Time to end surprise medical billing
In the midst of a global pandemic, Americans are facing uncertain times and many health care concerns. Patients are not only concerned about illnesses, but health care bills as well. Often patients find themselves stuck with unexpected bills as a result of seeking emergency care out of network or when...
Laurels & lances: Super sandwiches, sincere thank-yous, and needless noise
Laurel: To a tasty treat. We know that Primanti’s multitasking sandwiches of meat, french fries, coleslaw and tomatoes between pillowy Italian bread are highly superior to other cities’ staple sandwiches. That’s just logic, right? But it’s always nice to have someone from out of town verify that for the Steel...
Lori Falce: What a debate is supposed to be
It was the longest night of my life. The debate dragged on forever. And he continued to not answer the questions. Well, he did answer. His replies just didn’t have much to do with the questions that were asked. It was frustrating. It was annoying. I don’t mind saying, it...
Paul Kengor: Steelworkers union aglow for Biden-Harris
“Did you see what they did to the Cathedral of Learning?” So asked one of my students, Aaron. I’ve been in Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning countless times — studying, writing, even a touch of romance. My wife and I smile at the memory of my getting on the elevator one...
Dave Spigelmyer: Natural gas bridges the partisan divide
Presidential elections too often focus on polarizing issues that divide us rather than areas of common ground that bring us together. No matter one’s political views, a thriving economy, sustained job growth with family-supporting wages and benefits, a healthy environment, and our nation’s security will always enjoy broad bipartisan support....
Paul Petrick: A Slovenian strategy for Trump
Having advanced the cause of Middle East peace by brokering the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, President Trump must now turn his attention to the Middle West to advance the cause of his reelection. For in America’s heartland lies Ohio, the nation’s preeminent presidential prognosticator....
Letter to the editor: Wolf the worst governor
So I am down in Florida and after golf we are at the clubhouse and a small conversation starts about politics. Now, here is how it got out of hand. The topic went to who had the worse governor, Pennsylvania or Michigan. This actually got a little heated until we...
Letter to the editor: Vote for Bill Marx, vote for democracy
You are probably thinking, who is Bill Marx? Well, Bill Marx is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District. We need to vote out Rep. Guy Reschenthaler. I believe he has failed us. He voted against raising the minimum wage, lowering prescription drug...
Letter to the editor: A second Trump term will ruin much
I want Joe Biden to win this election. I feel as if the First Amendment is at risk in a social experiment to turn outrage to rage, and it must stop. I am shocked at the opinions some people express in the Letters section. Rage is an inner breakdown of...
Letter to the editor: 2% rule and doing for ourselves
William Boetcker, German immigrant and Presbyterian minister, authored his 1916 list of “10 Cannots,” the last of which was: “You cannot help men permanently, by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.” We should all be following the “Carrera 2% Rule.” Two percent of the people...
Editorial: Balance keeps life rolling along
Just like riding a bike. It’s how we describe things that are so easy a child can do them. Things that take a little practice and a lot of balance. Things that can’t be forgotten because the muscles remember. The Rev. Doug Boyd’s whole life is like riding a bike....
Letter to the editor: On Biden, won’t be fooled twice
I am 73 years old and a lifelong Democrat, Mr. Biden, but you and President Obama once said, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” There’s an old saying: Fool me once, shame...
Kelley McConnell: Covid-19 and the case for cyber charter schools in Pa.
In a July 24 press conference, Gov. Tom Wolf spoke about the rise of enrollment in cyber charter schools due to the covid-19 pandemic. He stated that despite his uncertainty on the “pedagogy” behind online learning, school districts need to ensure that children are able to learn safely and recognized...
