Sounding off: Harris, Trump top week's letters

Harris will protect women’s rights

The story “’She should be alive’ — Harris spotlights woman’s death to blast abortion bans” (Sept. 20, TribLive) is a wakeup call for Pennsylvania voters. It describes how two women died when they did not get proper medical treatment after developing complications from taking abortion pills. Why? Because Georgia’s six-week abortion ban has created dangerous confusion about when doctors are legally allowed to provide care.

This tragic scenario could happen in Pennsylvania if Donald Trump returns to the White House. Since Dobbs, reproductive rights have been drastically rolled back in 21 states with near-total abortion bans in 14. Women are being denied basic care, doctors are being threatened with jail time, and even access to contraception and IVF are in jeopardy.

Trump has denied affiliation with Project 2025 because of its unpopularity; however, its architectsof this plan include many members of Trump’s own administration, and his name is mentioned in it over 200 times. Thus, despite his claims, it is not difficult to imagine Trump moving to ban abortion nationwide. If so, the effects will be catastrophic for the nearly 2.5 million women in Pennsylvania of child-bearing age (15-44) and their families. As the mother of a 24-year-old daughter, I find this possibility terrifying, not to mention antithetical to the values of freedom and safety Pennsylvanians stand for.

With abortion as a top issue for nearly 50% of Pennsylvania voters,It is my fervent hope that Pennsylvanians recognize the importance of the decision we are facing.On one hand, we have Trump, who is proud of killing Roe v. Wade and talks about punishing women for abortions. On the other, we have Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, who have been lifelong advocates for women’s reproductive rights and can be counted on to protect those rights. The stakes could not be higher or the choice more stark.

Marie Norman

Squirrel Hill

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Don’t be fooled by Harris’ plans

As I watched the Donald Trump-­Kamala Harris debate, I was reminded of the Clinton era, when he attempted to have every American have a home to achieve the so called “American dream.” He removed the mortgage requirements set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by regulating that a homebuyer needed no downpayment, no credit and no income verification. When mortgages began to default, banks and savings and loan companies were forced to close their doors, causing a financial crisis.

Harris comes forth with a different twist by giving $25,000 to 3 million first-time homebuyers at a cost to the American taxpayer of $75 billion. Would this not be better spent on seniors who are unable to pay for assisted living care facilities?

Harris also pledged to give $50,000 in tax credits to those who want to start small businesses. Because a person wants to go into business does not mean they will be successful. It takes a strong-minded person willing to work a minimum of 12 hours a day who has a product or service that is unique. Eighteen percent of new small businesses fail in the first year, an additional 31% in the second year and 50% in the fifth year. They did not need tax credits, as there were no profits to pay taxes.

Harris’ pie-in-the-sky, unworkable programs are a public relations scheme to whet the appetite of the gullible to vote for her. Do not be fooled.

John Kostelac

White Oak

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Trump, Vance not the leaders we need

How did America lose its footing? I have seen hate-filled, Trump-style politics before. George Wallace ran on a hate-filled platform of segregation.

From 1971 to 1979, we laughed and cried with “All In The Family” every Saturday night. We laughed at Archie Bunker and his skewed prejudices. We watched as Archie underwent a slow transition. We watched as Michael fought with Archie, pulling scabs from his wounds, and Gloria explaining to Archie why Michael treated him this way. And then we watched when Edith explained to Archie a new world view, and sometimes we teared up when we saw the terror in Archie’s face from the glass ceiling falling around him. (America was moving past this hatred.)

Donald Trump doesn’t have a Michael, Gloria or Edith to right his ship. I don’t think Melania, Ivanka and Jared can help him transition to a loving and caring individual.

How can we elect a man who says anything regardless of who it hurts, who spews lies about refugees being rapists, murderers and drug dealers when with our own eyes we witness them toil from sunup to sundown to live the American dream and raise families in virtually crime free communities? How can evangelical churches make a deity out of Trump? Does this hatred fill their coffers?

How can we elect a vice president who insults women and teachers without children?

Trump and JD Vance are not the men to lead our country. We must regain our footing if America is going to remain a beacon of light for the world.

William E. Wells

Carnegie

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Trump is the right pick for president

After watching the presidential debate, I as a young American have been shown who the correct candidate to vote for is, President Trump.

Countless times throughout the debate, misinformation was spread about Trump, from claims about Charlottesville that the media has debunked or his affiliation with Project 2025, which he has disavowed. It was also said that he is a bully who uses insults. Anyone who has driven on Route 28 has seen the billboard that called Trump a “weirdo.” How many times has Gov. Tim Walz called Republicans “weird?” This is OK?

I am concerned about the state of the economy, illegal immigration and global affairs. Harris, as “border czar,” should not be proud of letting in, by some reports, over 11 million migrants. Additionally, the border wall was racist, yet she supports a border security bill that could pour millions into the continued construction of the wall.

She should be ashamed of inflation rates as high as 9.1 % (which under Trump in 2020 was just 1.4%), and she should be ashamed of the wars that have started under this administration. She says Trump cozies up to dictators, yet Trump was the first president to visit North Korea and negotiate peace. As Trump said in his closing remarks, “Why have you not done anything in 31⁄2 years?”

As for those who bring up criminal indictments and Jan. 6, I remind you that Trump said “peacefully” in that speech. Over half of the country wants Trump back in office. That should speak volumes about the current state of the country.

Ashton Caldwell

Cheswick

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Curbing electronic waste

The moment I noticed my phone battery was draining faster than I could scroll, I decided to get it fixed. At the store, I was told I needed additional, unnecessary repairs to fix issues unrelated to the battery. In the end, it was easier (and cheaper) for me to buy a new phone.

This trip wasn’t just an inconvenience, but a contribution to a larger environmental problem. Buying new technology so often has allowed electronic waste to become the fastest growing waste stream in the world.

Instead of junking old electronics, let’s make it easier to fix them. Collectively, using our phones for even one year longer has climate benefits equal to taking over 600,000 cars off the road.

Fortunately, state legislators have introduced legislation to do just that. HB 2535 makes manufacturers provide available information and parts needed to repair electronics. This important legislation just passed in a committee vote, an exciting step forward.

Thank you to Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, for championing this bill giving us the right to repair. To help alleviate climate change and keep toxic waste out of our environment, other leaders should support this bill.

Amanda Mitchell

Carrick

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Pro-choice hypocrisy

I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the “pro-choice” crowd with their anti-­Republican ads, condemning certain political figures for wanting to take away their “right” to destroy their unborn child. They complain, “What right does a politician have to tell you what you can or cannot do with your body?”

Their memories must be very short. Where were these complainers when President Joe Biden was mandating vaccines, which I consider experimental, for government, health care workers, educators, the military and other “select” groups? What happened to the “choice” these people had under Biden’s tyranny? Where were the “pro-choice” people’s voices then? I am guessing they just rolled over and rolled up their sleeves.

The Founding Fathers never intended for the federal government to have so much power, and abortion is a “states right issue,” as it should be.

You cannot have it both ways.

George Silowash

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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Pirates are sinking

Just when you think the Pirates organization can’t get any lower … boom! Bob Nutting is an embarrassment to the MLB. Saving $200,000 by DFAing Rowdy Tellez. That’s probably the equivalent of me saving $2, if not less. What player would ever want to come to Pittsburgh to play? We all know Paul Skenes is gone in four years if not sooner. Probably for five minor leaguers that never leave Altoona! It’s just sad.

Dale Parker

Jeannette