Opinion category, Page 631
Charlie Melancon: Pennsylvania on forefront of energy technology, development
History is being made in the energy industry. But that history has been both positive and negative. The latter, of course, is best showcased by the recent “contango” in the crude oil industry that pushed futures prices well into the negatives as reported by outlets worldwide. Those prices have since...
Letter to the editor: Living on love in time of coronavirus
The produce stands, roadside fruit markets and grocery stores both large and small are now open for business. But I thought we could live on love alone. John Greco Cheswick...
Letter to the editor: Decency in the White House
Not all Trump supporters are moonshine-swilling hillbillies or white evangelicals who have left their consciences in the vestibule. They are joined by those who are simply satisfied with full bellies and crammed wallets. Add to their number the spineless Republican senators, who, after the president was impeached — and, yes,...
Letter to the editor: The real ‘Crossfire Hurricane’
With the dismissal of the “perjury trap” prosecution of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the real “Crossfire Hurricane” has landed. Let the destruction begin. The unfiltered data just declassified by the acting director of national intelligence seems to support my personal opinion that Barack Obama was a heinously corrupt president. It’s...
First lady Frances Wolf: Let’s be kind, grateful on 143 Day
Fred Rogers called upon us to look for the helpers during dark times. And right now, our helpers are everywhere. They’re in our hospitals, driving our buses, stocking our shelves, delivering our packages and so much more. They’re keeping us safe and healthy while we get through this pandemic. Last...
Lori Falce: Trolleys, Star Trek and a pandemic
They call it “the trolley problem.” It’s a question that I first encountered in my very favorite course at Penn State — a small philosophy class with a professor who cared much less about the grade you earned than the things you thought and what they motivated you to do....
Laurels & lances: Checks and balances
Laurel: To small gestures. Six weeks might not seem like a big deal with some things. It’s less than the timeline from Halloween to Christmas, which seems to pass in a blink. But when you’re waiting for money, it can feel like a lifetime, especially when belts are tight and...
Nathan Benefield: Pennsylvanians deserve an apology
Insults. Threats. Bullying. Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf’s video statement featured all three. Wolf launched these salvos against his fellow Pennsylvanians — local elected officials, job creators, and workers in eight counties — seeking to provide for themselves and their families. He called them “cowards” and “deserters” for assessing local...
Jennifer Christman: Mental Health Awareness Month critical for covid-19 front-line workers
Prior to covid-19, our nation was silently witnessing another growing epidemic — suicide. Specifically, among first responders. Many members of this at-risk population are now on the front lines of the pandemic, working in high-stress professions where the nature of their work leads to experiencing trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder....
Letter to the editor: Back to normal at warp speed
“Operation Warp Speed” could be the new Trumpian slogan that ought to do the trick. That will show the pesky covid-19 who’s boss. We’ll simply ignore the raging pandemic and go back to normal. Vaccine by year’s end? Sure! It has been ordered. Miracle cures, silver bullets, magical thinking …...
Letter to the editor: Why are big stores open, small businesses closed?
Because of the diverse opinions on business closures while we deal with the coronavirus, I believe most of us know that the heart of American industry is small business. Therefore, I call on Gov. Tom Wolf to use a bit of common sense. I simply cannot understand why businesses such...
Letter to the editor: Wolf leaves service industry in dark
Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to veto House Bills 2506 and 2513, which are aimed at getting restaurants and liquor-licensed establishments open and appear to be bipartisan. Will Wolf once again leave the service industry in limbo? A third bill, HB327, which is an attempt to give liquor-licensed establishments the...
Letter to the editor: Social distancing is a dangerous experiment
I believe social distancing is an experiment on our emotional health. Humans need physical contact for our mental health, from babyhood through our adult lives. I fear social distancing will cause increases in spousal and child abuse, suicide, murders and other crimes. When scientists studied babies in Romanian orphanages whose...
Letter to the editor: Thoughts from a front-line cashier
I only wanted to be a cashier. Now I’m deemed essential. So I work, exhausted, on the “front lines,” praying I won’t bring covid-19 home. I only wanted to be a cashier. Now I must enforce social distancing. “Can you please step back?” I only wanted to be a cashier....
Editorial: The uncommon sense of Levin deal
Let’s try this again. Way back in February, Levin Furniture was in danger of closing, but owners of the Art Van Furniture company that purchased it in 2017 said not to worry — everything was “business as usual” and a solution would be found. That solution, as it turned out...
Sen. Vincent Hughes: Republican reopening plan worst kind of politics
In the last few weeks, Pennsylvania Republicans have ramped up the political theatre in a brazen attempt at politicizing the Wolf administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. From staged political rallies organized by out-of-state, extreme right-wing agitators to attempts at strong-arming local officials to ignore the governor’s executive order on...
Eric Failing: Private schools should share in CARES Act funding, too
In late March, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In part, it calls for $13.2 billion to be provided for K-12 education across the country, with an estimated $523.8 million for Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That money has been earmarked for...
Letter to the editor: How are those on TV getting haircuts?
I, like most people, am becoming a shaggy dog. In watching news programs and political ads, I noticed that none of those people seems to need a haircut. I would really like to know where they are getting hair care. In a short time, I won’t be able to identify...
Letter to the editor: Democratic candidates
Considering the New Jersey Democratic Party once allowed a last-minute substitution on its 2002 Senate ballot because Robert Torricelli was involved in an ethics scandal and trailing badly to Republican Douglas Forrester, does anyone not believe that the Democratic National Committee will attempt the same malarkey due to grave concerns...
Letter to the editor: Taxes on leased vehicles
One of Pennsylvania’s best-kept secrets is a 9% tax on leased vehicles (in some counties it may be 10%). Having leased three vehicles in the last five years, it wasn’t until I returned my Nissan Rogue to the dealership and received a final disposition fee of $395 plus a tax...
Letter to the editor: Appreciating government actions on coronavirus
The run for the White House is sealed. Until coronavirus arrived, things in the government were unsettled. As soon as politicians were aware of its seriousness, they started doing what they had to do. Our country was locked down, then the flow of money began to help with food, business...
Letter to the editor: Leaders, saints during pandemic
To be or not to be, that is the question. This line of Shakespeare is the one that first comes to mind for most people. Prince Hamlet is musing on the comparison between the pain of life and the fear of the uncertainty of death and of possible damnation of...
Letter to the editor: Avoiding some of Pennsylvania’s ‘pain’
Reading Deb Erdley’s article “State lawmakers say there is pain ahead as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease,” the following thoughts came into my mind: Before Pennsylvania politicians inflict any more pain on us in the form of more or higher taxes, they first must sell the turnpike and retail liquor...
Pat Buchanan: Will Americans submit to a second lockdown?
On March 24, President Trump said he wanted the country and the economy “opened up and just raring to go by Easter.” Easter came and went. And Trump was mocked for being aspirational and unrealistic. Yet, with Ascension Thursday at hand, 40 days after Easter, the president seems to have...
Editorial: Fire departments need funds
Everyone needs a helping hand right now. We are worried about getting sick, and we’re worried about the people we love. We are worried about keeping our jobs, and we are worried about paying the bills if we don’t. We’re worried about what happens when we get back out there...
