Sounding off: Politics and politicians on readers' minds

Run elections like the lottery

Our election system is archaic. Consider the lottery system: Hundreds of millions of entries are recorded, and a winner is known within a few hours. Not only the winner, but also the location where the ticket was purchased, plus all the lesser winners that didn’t quite get all the numbers. A very sophisticated system, and rarely a mistake. And no hacking!

Consider using a sophisticated computer system for our elections. Each eligible voter is provided a card — yes, an ID! — containing photo, name, party affiliation, address, etc., plus a unique number (just like your ballot has when you vote). You use the card to vote, either at a voting machine (located anywhere, like lottery computers) or via a personal computer by entering your number. Once polls are open (any time a state decides), you can vote. Polls can be open as long as each state decides. Your ballot will be customized to your national, state and local races/referendums. Once your ballot is cast, your card (number) cannot be used again in this election. All results will be known the day after the last poll closes.

This is not rocket science. Computer engineers know how to do this. It works for lottery systems.

Those who can’t get to a computer can notify the local elections bureau, and a volunteer (with proper photo ID), friend or relative can bring a wireless computer so they may cast their ballot. With no poll workers, lots of volunteers should be available.

No cheating would be possible. We would be guaranteed a safe and proper election.

Steve Swencki

Hempfield

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Thanks for nothing

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for the 8.7% increase you gave me for my Social Security monthly payment in order to cover the increase in my cost of living. I had no idea you had so much money to give away. Can you tell me how you have managed to accumulate such a large nest egg?

It does create a problem for me, however, I was going to give my employees a raise in their wages for next year. But to make it a real increase and not just cover their cost of living, I will have to give them at least a 10% raise. In order to do this, I will have to raise the prices I charge by 10%.

Then I realized that the grocer from whom I buy my food, and the plumber who fixes my leaky pipes will probably have to do the same. In fact, the only thing that probably won’t go up 10% is the bank account upon which I am relying for my retirement funds.

If you or one of your assistants could tell me how to resolve my financial dilemma, I would be happy to vote to keep you in office.

Richard F. Flickinger

Ligonier

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Biden’s accomplishments

Even with the Senate split 50-50, President Biden’s accomplishments in just two years are very impressive. His handling of covid-19 saved countless lives. Medicare coverage improved. Childhood poverty levels were cut in half. The bipartisan PACT Act and Safer Communities Act were passed. The CHIPS Act, which will strengthen American manufacturing and innovation, was passed.

We are already seeing the results of the infrastructure bill which was desperately needed here in Pennsylvania. The American Rescue Plan Act passed with little Republican support. This act’s purpose was to support small businesses and rescue the American economy from the public health and economic crisis that occurred during the previous administration.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed with zero Republican support. It includes a 15% minimum tax on companies with over $1 billion in earnings, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, improvements in health care and a lifeline to battle climate change. Biden is increasing the decimated IRS employee pool so that they can reduce Big Money’s tax evasion prevalent under President Trump.

The media and Republicans label Biden as senile and incompetent, but the facts indicate he may be the most consequential president in 40 years. In contrast, I see Trump’s main accomplishments as a $2 trillion tax break for Big Money and a packed ultra-right Supreme Court hell-bent on reducing our rights and freedoms.

Patricia Oliver

North Huntingdon

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What will Republicans do?

Accepting that Republicans have gained control of the U.S. House, I was anxious to hear their plans for dealing with inflation and crime, these being the primary issues raised during their campaigns.

I was especially eager to learn of their ideas for ways of battling worldwide inflation. How capturing just half of the federal legislative branch of government could bring solutions to a global problem baffled me, but I was willing to listen.

As to crime, I was curious to know how Washington lawmakers could solve this local problem since the GOP won’t dare mention commonsense gun laws most Americans favor. Acknowledging that we have more guns than people is ignored as a starting point for any discussion among them. Suggestions that banning sales of weapons of war will never happen within this group, and those who dare to do so should expect shunning or party expulsion.

Failing to cite inflation and crime as their main post-election concerns, leaders of the soon-to-be Republican majority announced their top goal to be investigating Hunter Biden, along with looking for ways to smear Dr. Anthony Fauci . Subpoenas, which they refused to comply with when issued by Democrats, are to be useful weapons. We can only hope that in the meantime Biden’s laptop is safely secured at either Fort Knox or Mar-a-Lago.

I predict that these (dare I say witch hunts?), errr, investigations, could end up much like those past GOP legislators launched into Benghazi, Hillary’s emails, Obama’s birthplace, IRS overreach, etc.

Am I disappointed? Yes. Surprised? No.

Glenn R. Plummer

Unity

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We need both term limits and age limits

I agree with Gary Franks concerning age limits in Congress (“We need an age limit for federally elected officials, Supreme Court justices,” Nov. 18, TribLIVE).

I’ll go one step further: two terms for the Senate and five for the House, 12 and 10 years, respectively. As the founders intended it, not to become a lifetime job. Time for many to go back to the farm.

Leonard Mucci

Derry Township

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Election may be over, but political bribery is not

The election may be over. But political bribery is not.

I voted on Nov. 8, but I woke up the next morning to a state that still permits lawmakers to accept gifts, in the form of cars, vacations and fancy meals, from lobbyists. It’s ludicrous but painfully true. Bribery is legal. There are no limits on the amount of gifts our lawmakers can accept from lobbyists in Pennsylvania.

I woke up to a state that suffers at the hands of a corrupt Legislature. Our minimum wage remains shamefully low at $7.25 an hour, our water is being poisoned by oil spills, our public education system is crumbling, the very air we breathe is polluted.

I woke up to a state that has yet to enact a gift ban, establish public campaign financing or shine a light on dark money expenditures.

We are told to take our concerns and channel them into a vote. Every election we are presented with the same regurgitated political performance: “Vote for me, vote for change!”

Until our Legislature works up the courage to make the moral choice to end legal bribery, the cycle will continue. We will wake up every Wednesday morning after Election Day with the same dreadful feeling in our stomachs.

Andrea Pauliuc

Oakland

The writer is an internal organizer and project manager for MarchOnHarrisburg.

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Our rights are absolute

Where is the outrage? In grade school social studies, we learned that our Founding Fathers defined our rights as God-given and cannot be taken away by any government.

In other words, no self-serving dictator can supersede our constitutional rights. They come from our creator. It is for this reason communism must be atheistic since they perceive the State as supreme. They can’t compete with God-given.

But our esteemed president seems to see himself as the ultimate authority regarding our rights. Where is the outrage? Anyone who remembers fourth grade social studies has a better understanding of our Constitution than those who consider themselves the only ones worthy to fill the highest offices in the land. God help us if they succeed.

Jerry Krajci

Arnold