Sounding off: Abortion, state of nation, voter ID, Jan. 6 among hot topics

More important issues than abortion

We all thought the abortion issue was decided long ago. I am weary of all the coverage devoted to it over the years. Every election, the subject is brought out and debated again, mainly by men who would rather make a show of power by trying to control women’s lives rather than address or take a stand on more important concerns.

If the government decides to impose control over a woman’s body and her extremely personal decisions, then I believe it should exercise control over men’s bodies and lives, as well. How about making men who are convicted rapists and child molesters, those who withhold meager child support and those who sire children by multiple partners and then abandon them be required by law to have vasectomies? That sounds fair to me.

We have two especially dangerous candidates running for office in this state. Watch the television ads, and Sen. Doug Mastriano clearly comes across as an angry wanna­be dictator intent on imposing his will. Then there is Dr. Hollywood, Mehmet Oz, who has no political experience and fluctuates on abortion depending on his audience at the time.

I believe a more important issue facing this country is what to do about couples who have more kids than they can afford and babies born into drug addiction.

Lee Ann Johnson

Hempfield

We must return to ‘one nation under God’

I agree 100% with letter-writer Ken Mowl (“We’re off the rails”). Who is running the circus? Will we ever know who is the ringmaster? We have no idea what is included in the Democratic Inflation Reduction Act, either. When questioned, answers are vague or altered to make things sound complicated. The people of the United States are smarter then these elitists think, and the truth will be known eventually.

We’re hanging on to our hats, Ken. It’s not the only thing we’ll lose. I think we’ve already lost our security, our global reputation, our land, our businesses, our border and multitudes of people to drugs, the pandemic and violence, and irreparable losses have been done by Democratic double-standard justice systems.

We must ride the train until November and beyond to get our country back from the brink.

It’s been challenging for patriotic Americans who love this country to stand firm and persevere. We must vote for an administration that honestly and justly follows the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to return America to “one nation under God.”

I’ve been told “good always prevails.” This is the train wreck we’re in. Let’s get this train back on track headed to Station No. 1, democracy, for the people and by the people.

Mary Ann Klingensmith

Youngwood

Protests should never inflict harm

To Bruce Braden (“Jefferson wouldn’t have approved of Jan. 6”) and Ed Collins (“Jefferson may have OK’d Jan. 6 insurrection”): Your letters were interesting reads. You both took the words of Thomas Jefferson and created an argument suited to your point.

However, I believe one major part of the argument is being overlooked: The state of the nation in which our founders had to endure is significantly different than the state we have today. The colonists’ rights were limited (for many, they did not exist). They could not speak, write, conduct business or trade. They were taxed on goods and services that they did not agree upon. Their leader was roughly 1,000 miles away and did not work with them directly.

In our nation today, we are able to express our views, speak with our elected leaders without the fear of imprisonment and help enact change to have move our nation forward. Is the system perfect? No. Do Americans have the right to protest policies and ideas that they do not agree with? Absolutely. But the protest should never inflict harm on others, nor should the safety of others be infringed upon to help further an agenda.

As George Washington said, “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

Ashton Caldwell

Cheswick

Why is voter ID a bad thing?

Could someone please explain to me why people are against showing an ID to vote? Why is that such a bad thing?

You show it to banks, you show it to cash a check in stores, you show it buy cars, you show it to enter federal buildings, you show it at schools to prove who you are so you can pick up your kids, you show it to rent a car, you show it at your doctor’s office and hospitals, you give the information to anyone you need to buy things from online, for credit cards, to purchase an iPhone.

We use our IDs every day in a hundred other ways. So why, then, when we want an ID to prove you are eligible to vote in this country, is it such a bad thing? And don’t even tell me it is because there are people that don’t have one, because I think that is a blatant lie.

In my opinion, the only reason to fight against showing an ID when you vote is to allow non-Americans to cheat; there is no other reason. If you are not here legally, then you have no right to vote. Do you think we could go to any other country and vote in their elections? Of course not. That would be ridiculous, but yet Democrats and some Republicans are fighting the one way we can prove voter eligibility.

Can anyone explain to me why showing a ID to vote is such a bad thing?

Debbie Buffer

Youngwood

Why no gift ban for legislators?

As a former Pennsylvania state employee, my position as a law and regulation enforcer put me in contact with business and industry. I was not permitted to accept any gifts, meals or even a glass of water without documenting it with a receipt of payment for that item. This dispels any hint of influence or bribery.

A gift ban is in place for state government employees, but not state legislators. Pennsylvania is one of just eight states with no gift ban for legislators. They are free to accept gifts, travel, lodging and hospitality. It must be reported, but there is no oversight or enforcement. Lobbyists can wine and dine any legislator who will lend an ear to their issue or cause. If state employees must adhere to gift bans, why don’t our lawmakers? Who are they representing, the lobbyists or the citizens?

A gift ban bill must pass if we want to have transparency and trust in government, but such bills, like House Bill 1009 and others, sit in committee and never become law. Why? Our General Assembly’s procedural rules allow a few majority leaders, like Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, to control what bills get a vote. Let’s call on her to advocate for passing gift ban legislation. Learn more at #FixHarrisburg.

Joanne Hall

West Newton

We need Wolf’s stimulus checks

Pennsylvania citizens: I am writing to prompt you to write or call your state senator and representative regarding the $2,000 stimulus checks Gov. Tom Wolf wishes to give all Pennsylvania citizens.

Wolf would like to give every Pennsylvania citizen who makes $80,000 or less a check for $2,000. I wrote to the governor asking where these checks were. I got a response that said he wants this to happen, but it will not unless our state legislators pass it. So far they have not.

This money, Wolf assures, is extra money that if not used by 2024 will go back into the state pot to be distributed however your legislators wish. To their own interests.

I know there are many people who are hurting financially. Food, gasoline, housing, utilities — everything is going up.

If you back the governor and contact your legislators, I believe we have a chance of having this passed. This will be the third or fourth time the governor has presented this to the Legislature for approval and he has just done so again.

I think this is very important to Pennsylvania residents and their families whom the governor is attempting to help.

Dianna J. Rumbaugh

Avonmore

Pirates insult great players with Hall of Fame lineup

Regarding the article “Pirates announce inaugural 19-member Hall of Fame class” (Aug. 7, TribLIVE): The Pirates blew it big time. How in the world they can leave off the MVP from the 1960 World Series teamis a mystery.

It is especially galling when we consider the selection of Jake Beckley and Steve Blass. Beckley is surely a complete unknown to the vast majority of Pirates fans, and while Blass is a current favorite due to his long career as an announcer, his pitching career has made him as notorious as he was classically heroic. To ignore the 92-year-old Dick Groat and include the 80-year-old Blass is an absolute insult to a man whose Pirates career was interrupted by two years of military service.

Rectify this disgraceful decision immediately.

Dennis Gallagher

Bellevue