Opinion category, Page 643
Letter to the editor: Rep. Reschenthaler, why block WHO funding?
A message to Rep. Guy Reschenthaler: Your initiative to block funding to the World Health Organization via U.S. House Resolution 917 has alerted many of us in Westmoreland County. Last week, President Trump “officially” defunded the USA’s long-standing contribution to WHO, once its largest contributor. You’ve now actively participated in...
Letter to the editor: Incompetence meets a pandemic
Some countries are responding to covid-19 with competent leadership. Germany and New Zealand took action with early, aggressive testing and quarantining. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern communicate with consistency and honesty, explaining to the public the magnitude of the threat, and, like Winston Churchill...
Letter to the editor: Focus on humanity’s needs
I am weary of reading posts on social media about opening up businesses now because Pennsylvania is losing tax revenue and those who are unemployed due to the covid-19 virus are anxious to return to work. Also, stimulus checks are burning holes in many pockets. Hateful things are being said...
Rex Huppke: Protests against coronavirus stay-at-home orders put us all at risk, may delay America’s reopening
While they are few in number, those who’ve decided it’s their duty as Americans to protest coronavirus lockdowns are putting their self-interest over the health of others. Period. You can disagree with me and call me a liberal schmuck and stand by President Donald Trump and the protesters he’s egging...
Editorial: Falling oil price shows high Pennsylvania gas tax
Call it irony. Call it supply and demand. Whatever you call it, the result is the same. Gas is cheaper than it has been in years. Shop around in the Pittsburgh area, and you could find it as low as $1.59 a gallon. The average in Pennsylvania is just $2.17...
Pat Buchanan: What will be the new American cause?
After the Great Pandemic has passed and we emerge from Great Depression II, what will be America’s mission in the world? What will be America’s cause? We have been at such a turning point before. After World War II, Americans wanted to come home. But we put aside our nation-building...
John F. Rohe: Remembering the first Earth Day, 50 years ago
John F. Rohe is vice president of the Colcom Foundation. In 1970, the first Earth Day set a high bar for long-range plans. Its aspirations stretched well beyond the 50th anniversary that we observe on April 22. Now, perhaps more than ever, the original vision of Earth Day brings intergenerational...
Stacy Gallin: Learning from Holocaust in time of covid-19
As we commemorate Yom Hashoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day — this week, I keep thinking about the Hebrew phrase, L’dor V’dor. In English, this phrase means “from generation to generation.” It refers to the essential task in Judaism of passing down traditions and education from one generation to another. It...
Eric Rittmeyer: Push emotional intelligence instead of college
There isn’t a single parent who doesn’t want what’s best for his or her child. Watching them do well in school and getting that dream job is what parenting is all about. Or is it? As a society we’ve shifted our emphasis way too much onto academic success and way...
Letter to the editor: Thanks and suggestions for Comcast
It was very nice to see Comcast offer some free “extras” during this pandemic. Another suggestion would be to bump customers in the “smallest” package up to the next package at no cost. If that sounds like too much, how about offering them EWTN? It could be quite some time...
Letter to the editor: Government-imposed socialism is theft
Regarding Mary Kay Nafaa’s letter “Health care, socialism & capitalism” (April 6, TribLIVE): I can’t address all of her confusions, but we can start with this thought experiment. Suppose you or your family or friends or political party wanted or needed something your neighbor had. You have three choices: 1....
Letter to the editor: Nursing homes need to do better
I got quite irritated as I watched a person who owns multiple nursing homes doing a TV news interview from behind a fancy desk with a backdrop decorated with what looked like high-end paintings and decorations. This person wants funding from the government to help with the covid-19 outbreak in...
Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh foundations address covid-19 crisis
It’s encouraging to see our region’s largest grant-making foundations joining forces and shifting funding priorities to address the catastrophic issues being faced by hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. It’s our hope as we recover and revive our economy and workforce that our foundations...
Letter to the editor: Will we get our rights back after covid-19?
The Centers for Disease Control admits tests for covid-19 sent to states are flawed. The CDC also said the cause of death of those who tested positive for covid-19 is from covid-19 no matter the real cause of death. And that is with a flawed test! Hospitals are being reimbursed...
Editorial: May 8 could be moving target for pandemic reopening
May 8. That’s when Gov. Tom Wolf is saying the state can slowly start to come out of its coronavirus shell, tentatively getting back to the business of being normal again. It’s more than two weeks away. And maybe that’s enough to make a difference. After all, a lot can...
Tom Purcell: The EPA made it harder to mow my lawn
I used to enjoy mowing the lawn. Now it agitates the heck out of me. My agitation is the result of the gas-container safety spouts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated since 2009 — spouts that barely allow gas to come out. According to Jeffrey Tucker, editorial director at...
Ryan Costello: Stopping covid-19 surprise bills in Pa.
When Danni Askini, a registered nurse and two-time cancer survivor, began to feel ill — chest pains, headaches and shortness of breath – she did the right thing and immediately got tested for the coronavirus. Unfortunately, the tests came back positive. While receiving treatment, she got another shock — a...
Frasat Ahmad: Fighting covid-19 during Ramadan
“Mom, don’t leave. It’s too dangerous.” “If I don’t,” my mother replies, “my children will starve.” “I’m your child,” I respond. “So are they,” she says. I have had this debate with my mother for more than a month. Deemed an essential worker, my 61-year old mother leaves her house...
Letter to the editor: Nurses thankful for church’s donations
Earlier this month, my church, Otterbein United Methodist Church of Greensburg, contacted me about picking up some things to donate to my work family —% treats for all the nursing units at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. Their generosity filled the back of a minivan. Wow! From a group of about...
Letter to the editor: Only military deserve military benefits
I really appreciate how hard everyone is working toward the goal of fighting covid-19. I appreciate that the Trib published Douglas Morris’ op-ed “All American workers deserve military benefits” (April 4, TribLIVE), and it clearly illustrates that if you look long and hard enough, you can find the stupidest thing...
Letter to the editor: Government must help keep families fed
I fondly remember Shop ’n Save employees giving me free balloons and lollipops as a kid. I lit up with gratitude and pride when I saw their $10,000 donation to food banks (“Shop ’n Save donates $10,000 to Western Pa. food banks.” ) The donation is needed, as the Greater...
Letter to the editor: Working for experimental treatments
I am 23 and was diagnosed with an inoperable glioblastoma brain tumor in November 2016. Doctors gave me six to nine months to live. However, after 34 rounds of radiation, four different chemos and many, many prayers, as of my last scan, there was no evidence of the tumor. I...
Letter to the editor: Pa. shouldn’t go fishing during pandemic
On the same day Pennsylvania recorded its highest one-day total of coronavirus cases, Gov. Tom Wolf hung out a “go fishing” sign — the same governor who was late issuing a statewide stay-at-home, the same governor who continues to allow on-site purchasing of lottery tickets. Now Wolf invites everyone to...
Letter to the editor: Time to consider year-round school
Children have been out of school since early March, and our governor has shut down the schools for the rest of the current school year. Even though some schools have online teaching, there are many school districts that cannot afford to give all children an iPad or computer. Some families...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of April 20
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of April 20....
