We need an honest president

Our country has been blessed with country-loving leadership until recently. We, until recent times, believed in justice. If you commit the crime, then do the time.

I would submit to you the following examples of poor leadership.

President Trump knew on Jan. 5, 2021, that some citizens were spoiling for a fight. Yet on Jan. 6, his very presence started a fire storm of citizen fervor.

Vice President Biden, during his tenure, sat in on more than 20 business calls involving his son. His very presence was a tacit approval of his son’s pay-for-play scheming without saying a word.

President Trump knowingly mishandled classified documents.

Sen., Vice President and now President Biden also knowingly mishandled classified documents.

Having had a top secret clearance while in the military, I saw firsthand at crypto school at Lackland Air Force; crypto school Mare Island California; an on board the USS Wright CC2 how other members of the military lose their top secret clearance for a variety of offenses, immediately and severely.

I voted for Trump twice. I cannot do that again. Biden’s behavior disqualifies him in my estimation.

Who can “we the people” trust to lead our country?

Speaking of leadership, can any of you explain how former President Obama could have been so oblivious to the activities of VP Biden? Where was the Secret Service, FBI, etc.? Might we ask Diogenes to help find us an honest man for president?

Ray Borkoski

Ford City

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Are Amazon’s jobs worth its baggage?

When I read the article “Westmoreland officials hopeful Amazon warehouse portends future growth” (Aug. 16, TribLIVE), I had mixed feelings. New jobs for the area are always welcome. On the other hand, Amazon comes with baggage. Its anti-union stance is legendary. The workers in New York voted for a union over a year ago, and Amazon is stalling and battling with legal actions. In 2022 Amazon spent $14.2 million in a nationwide campaign to destroy union organizing.

Then there is its troubling history of worker abuse. Amazon has been fined multiple times for failing to provide a safe workplace. Their employees have a much higher rate of injury than other comparable workplaces.

The Guardian reports that the communities around Amazon warehouses pay the price in pollution, noise and destruction of infrastructure.

The biggest negative is financial. Forbes reports that the return on investment for Amazon subsidies is dismal. By their calculations, $1 million in subsidies created 23 jobs, or government spends over $43,000 for a single job. It would cost taxpayers less to just pay those workers a salary and not subsidize Amazon. We are giving taxpayer subsidies to a man and his company who are worth billions while paying little or no taxes.

Amazon had been looking for a warehouse in Southwest Pennsylvania for years. I am guessing that they might have moved to our area without subsidies and with a living wage for all employees. Our local government must do better for its citizens.

Sandy Kremer

Youngwood

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Find humane solutions to deer problems

Shame on Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and City Council member Barb Warwick for orchestrating the cull of deer in Frick Park (“Pittsburgh looking to allow limited deer hunting in some city parks,” Aug. 29, TribLIVE).

I am a native of Somerset County, and some of my earliest memories are of my dad and grandfathers skinning deer. There are many photos of me as a child next to my father’s buck or doe that he killed that deer season. My grandfather was a local game commissioner. Deer hunting is deeply woven into the cultural history of Pennsylvania and a source of pride for those that participate in deer hunting season.

Elizabeth Ringler-Jayanthan

Squirrel Hill

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Jail for the leading candidate?

What surprises me most is how average Democrats seem perfectly fine with our government attempting to jail the leading opposition candidate.

Thomas Wagner

Murrysville

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A look back at the good old climate days

Every day we hear breathless commentary that one or another weather phenomenon — record heat, cold, tropical storm in California, fires, drought, etc. — have not happened for decades. Eureka! Our government’s efforts to roll back the climate clock is working.

Climate czar John Kerry is popping champagne (the good stuff — French). Isn’t that what the effort is all about? Don’t we wish for the days back in 1936 when the temperatures across the U.S. hit a record high of 120 degrees. Or 134 degrees in 1913 in Death Valley. And the record low of -70 degrees in Montana in 1954. Florida had a record low of -2 degrees in 1899. Real degrees, not “adjusted” or “feels like” degrees. How about the days of the Cat 5 hurricanes in 1924, 1928, 1932 (two), 1933 (two), 1935, 1938, etc.?

Don’t we all wish for those good old days and feel thankful for the billions of dollars it is costing us?

Dave Fredley

West Deer

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Slow climate impact for children’s sake

On Monday, my seventh-grader was home from the Pittsburgh Public Schools because of heat. I grew up in Miami, where the classrooms often had no air conditioning, and we never had a heat day. Was there a remote-learning day in Pittsburgh last year because of snow? I don’t remember one.

We are watching climate change at work with our very eyes, and the solutions can’t be only in the hands of individual citizens driving electric cars and using energy-saving appliances. Let’s slow down our impact on the climate in a real way, so that these kids in school will have a planet to improve further when they graduate.

I am glad to hear that another plan is in the works, per the article by Ryan Deto “Allegheny County to draft climate action plan” (Aug. 29, TribLIVE), but we need to get from planning to doing. The Inflation Reduction Act can help, calling your congressperson can help, and looking around at the ample evidence all around you can help. We have to do something. Otherwise, heat days may permanently replace snow days, and the kids will only have us to blame.

Jennifer Bannan

Bloomfield

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Why language programs are important

I was saddened to read that West Virginia University is terminating its language program (“West Virginia University would end world language majors, continue Spanish, Chinese instruction,” Aug. 29, TribLIVE). President E. Gordon Gee felt that you could learn the languages with an app.

I am a German native and a German language teacher, and I feel that an app can never replace a live teacher. The German language is very structured and logical. It helps to foster logical and critical thinking. Isn’t that what universities should teach? Also, the cultural aspect is very important. (I recently had my students compare the German and American tax and health system.)

So, we can learn from other countries what to do and what not to do. Then, hopefully, there will occur a widening of the horizon and more understanding and tolerance altogether.

Helga M. Mears

Greensburg

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