George Washington warned Americans about the evils of political parties and partisan politics in his Farewell Address to Congress. When I ran as a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, I did so because I saw how the two major parties and partisan politics were destroying our country, and I wanted to give voters a truly independent voice — something we need now more than ever.

As long as all of the Democrats vote “yes” and the Republicans vote “no,” the impeachment of our president will be seen as — and will in fact be — a completely partisan charade. Our country needs representatives with true convictions and real backbones, who aren’t constrained by political partisanship.

Out of all the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, there is only one person who is objectively doing the right thing: Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan. Rep. Amash was tired of divisive partisan politics — but he decided to actually do something about it: He changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent. Now he no longer feels the very real pressure from party elites to vote a certain way. How refreshing would it be if every member of Congress possessed this same conviction?

Accordingly, I believe there is only one way to end this madness: The time has come for our leaders to prove they are willing to put our country before their party by changing their political affiliation to independent.

Drew Gray Miller, South Side

Inflation for Pa. officials vs. Pa. seniors

Seems members of our Pennsylvania Legislature and judges received a 1.9% cost of living adjustment but Social Security recipients only received 1.6%. Is inflation that much higher in Pennsylvania? Or do we have some clever mathematicians on the Pennsylvania payroll?

Richard Herd, Hempfield

Westmoreland bus proposal

I congratulate the Westmoreland County commissioners on proposing to run their own bus system. This will be at least a two-year journey to save money for the county taxpayers. Two years, to give them a chance to work out the inevitable bugs, since county government has never operated its own buses. This will be a good experiment to see if government can provide better value for the users of the system, as well as for the taxpayers of said system.

Private companies were too high-priced, so in a competitive spirit, government stepped up and said “we will do this.” County government previously bid out several departments to the private sector, supposedly for lower cost and/or better efficiencies. Turnabout is fair play.

Will this be like many government programs, and prove to escalate costs above projections? Let’s do the experiment and find out.

Then there’s a chance that government will run the buses better/cheaper than the private sector. But all one has to do is look at the often inferior “service” that we get from government. In this case, government is certain that private companies are not providing a reasonable cost service. Let the games begin. Maybe we taxpayers will benefit.

Don Carrera, Penn Township, Westmoreland County

Impeachment coup

In case you’ve been busy and have not seen the news, here’s a summary.

For two months the Democrats concocting the impeachment of President Trump told us the reason for impeaching was “quid pro quo.” Then they discovered their base can’t grasp Latin, so they focus-group-tested “bribery” and fed us that line for two weeks. Ultimately, they abandoned including “bribery” as an article of impeachment. When a reporter asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the dropping of it, she informed us, “I myself am not a lawyer, sometimes I act like one.” It makes you wonder what other “acting” San Fran Nan does?

Next came the release of Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on the investigation into the FBI-FISA warrant abuses. The anti-Trump media seemed panicked and talked themselves into knots. MSNBC assured us the “Trump campaign was not spied on.” On sister channel NBC, they admitted, “… undercover operatives (for the FBI) secretly recorded their conversations with two Trump campaign advisers.”

By the way, the “S” in FISA stands for “Surveillance,” and what exactly is the job description of an “undercover operative”? “Spying”? Do ya suppose?

My dictionary lists “spying” as synonym for “surveillance,” but when Trump says his campaign was spied on, the noooz says “Trump’s a liar who pushes conspiracy theories.”

Someday you can tell future generations: This is what it was like during the coup that tried to negate the results of our (last?) free and fair election and cancel our democracy. Maybe (hopefully) you’ll still have freedom of speech to do so.

C. Colpo, Burgettstown

Biden’s actions in Ukraine should be examined

The longer the impeachment process drags on, the more I am convinced of two things: Joe Biden did something bad in the Ukraine, and he had the help of some corrupt Ukrainian officials.

The Republican House members and lawyers keep bringing up Biden’s dealings with Ukrainian gas interests. The Democratic House members ignore all of it. The media ignore it. Why?

President Trump is accused of trying to dig up dirt on his political rival, Biden. What if Trump was just trying to expose corruption in the Ukraine and Biden was involved? That puts a different light on Trump’s phone call to the Ukrainian president.

If Biden is innocent, he should welcome an investigation immediately. If he didn’t do anything wrong, he shouldn’t be worried. He should release his financial records from the Obama administration era, and name the officials he had contact with. That would help the Ukrainian president in his investigation.

Elizabeth Warren, Biden’s main challenger, seems to be a smart woman. Why isn’t she interested in looking into Biden’s activities in the Ukraine? It is beginning to look like a cover-up, with the press helping the Democrats.

In my opinion, Democrats are sneaky, underhanded and determined to destroy Trump at any cost, the truth be damned. Biden’s activities in the Ukraine and Trump’s phone call should both be considered in the impeachment hearings. Otherwise, it’s just a kangaroo court.

Kathleen Bollinger, Fawn

‘Impairment’ follows impeachment

I stayed up into the wee hours Dec. 12 to watch Jerry Nadler and his Judiciary Committee preside over the debate and vote over which articles of impeachment to bring before the House. Not to get tutti-frutti, but impeachment leads to impairment.

The Democrats in Congress want to impair the important functions of government. For instance, while the Intelligence Committee was conducting the impeachment inquiry, because it could be held behind closed doors, not one of the regular bimonthly intelligence briefings was held. The USMCA agreement, which could open the door for more American jobs, was delayed for a year. But their impairment didn’t prevent them from passing a $1.4 trillion budget extension.

If the Dems had real evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, as stipulated in the Constitution, it would be one thing, but the watered-down charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress will, and should be, laughed out of the Senate. Abuse of power is not an impeachable charge, because every president can be accused by the opposition party of such. President Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase deal without congressional approval. Should we have given the land back, or impeached T.J.?

Obstruction of Congress is a bigger joke. The executive and legislative branches are co-equal, so Congress cannot demand the president jump through hoops without going to the courts first, especially given the unfair terms they put forth.

Without real charges and fact witnesses, the Dems’ charges are falling on deaf ears, but many just want to continue this charade.

Michael Contes, New Kensington

Morals, decency and Trump

I was pleased to see that my letter (“Trump deserved World Series boos”) was appreciated by A. Atkinson (”Tired of Democrats’ letters”). While I respect his right to his opinion, does he honestly believe that will stop me from writing letters about who I feel is the worst and most dishonorable president in my lifetime?

If Atkinson had read any of my previous letters, he may have understood my views a little more. Yes, I am a Democrat, but I am not a staunch Democratic voter. I have voted Republican numerous times, but have never voted for a Republican president. Donald Trump would have never gotten my vote, even if he was a Democrat.

And I’m tired of hearing that it’s because of Hillary Clinton losing. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. It’s about morals, ethics and common decency. He made me hate him with his arrogant and narcissistic ways, calling those who oppose him scum and SOBs. A moral and decent president doesn’t do that publicly. And he sure doesn’t stand at a podium mocking a disabled person.

Trump has created his own image. So please don’t tell me I have to respect a president who has no respect for anyone but himself and those who support him.

Atkinson may be right: Trump may be elected again, I’m sad to admit. And I’ll go on hating him, and writing letters about his wrongdoings, lies and crimes against America — which will all escalate, I’m sure.

Edward A. Svitek, Brackenridge

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