Sounding off: Politics, U.S. Steel deal among writers' topics

Leaders must restore domestic tranquility

For multiple reasons, I thank God that Donald Trump was not killed, injured or shot at in the latest attempted attack by a domestic terrorist who appears to have been politically motivated.

There will always be those who are inclined toward violence, some of them pursuing that path for reasons we may never understand, but it is past time to attack one of the seeds of political assassinations: the rhetoric that we hear from our leaders. It is past time for them to do their part to attempt to restore a measure of domestic tranquility, to think about the words they speak before they exit their mouths: to be civil.

When one demeans, degrades and dehumanizes their opponent through using extreme terms, when one implies that violence against foes is acceptable, we risk anarchy.

Can our political figures not disagree without being disagreeable? Can they not challenge an opposing ideology without engaging in vicious personal attacks against the proponent of that ideology?

If we continue down the road of an escalating level of polarization, our country and its institutions and system of governance are at risk.

I pray for the safety of Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Oren Spiegler

Peters

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Vote for the party that respects and honors women

I can sympathize with those who oppose abortion. I do not believe that any woman considers abortion lightly.

But what happens when the government intervenes in a decision that should be between a woman and her doctor? We’ve seen it already, in states where abortion has been outlawed or severely restricted.

Women whose fetuses are not viable forced to carry them to term. Doctors afraid of losing their licenses or even being imprisoned forced to make decisions that could imperil mothers’ lives. Girls who have been raped forced to go to another state to terminate their pregnancies.

If Trump is reelected, we can expect a national abortion ban — possibly followed by a contraception ban. Trump has repeatedly bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade. His running mate has said he opposes abortion even to save the life of the mother.

Once a national abortion ban is in place, women and girls will not have the option of going to another state to receive care.

If reproductive freedom is important to you, you must vote!

Vote for Kamala Harris. Vote for the side that respects and honors women.

Philip Riffe

Cranberry Township

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Harris strategy spells disaster

Once again, the Democratic Party is resorting to policy silence in its presidential campaign rather than being forthright with the American citizenry about the multiple crises our nation is facing. The basement strategy 2020 win of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has been disastrous. It’s given us extreme inflation, an invasion by millions of immigrants, filth in the streets of our cities, disrespect by our international adversaries and trillions of dollars added to our national debt.

Despite being told by the media that Biden was sharp and certainly able to serve another four years, that complete falsehood was exposed in his debate with Donald Trump. The Democratic Party leadership reacted and forced Biden to withdraw in favor of Harris. But the media had the task of remaking that word salad-spewing lightweight into the savior of the Democratic Party using Hollywood glitz and glamour to convince America she is a brilliant and caring presidential designate.

The problem is that, in my opinion, Harris has the values of a radical — soft on crime, abortion on demand — a socialist with little knowledge of the laws of economics. Hence, she is unfit to serve as president and avoids all direct public scrutiny. Will America buy that strategy again?

I believe Americans have had enough of the inflation, runaway debt, overrun borders, filth in our streets, uncontrolled crime and offshore threats to our weakened nation. Americans remember the Trump years and want them back, despite the angry media falsehoods and Democratic vitriol in Congress.

Anthony T. McGartland

Murrysville

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Challenges of U.S. Steel/Nippon deal

The proposed purchase of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel pits the United Steelworkers union against some in senior management who say the transaction by Nippon will save and prolong the viability of the iconic company that has promised to invest billions to upgrade facilities and processes. If the transaction goes through, everyone has to be ready for a cultural change. The Japanese culture is very different from American culture.

Nippon will have senior executives in key positions with the expectation that the company will be run using their business models, philosophies and protocols. That change will be somewhat of a challenge due to the language and culture barriers. There will be an adjustment for both American and Japanese workers; they will need to build a mutual trust to be successful.

Lastly, there’s the iconic brand and logo at stake that’s synonymous with U.S. Steel but also with America and the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. It’s the same logo the Steelers have proudly worn since 1933. How’s that going to be integrated into the Nippon brand?

There’s a company in Jeannette that has gone through a similar purchase by a Japanese company. They’re members of the United Steelworkers union, and they both still have challenges today, some 20 years later.

Rick Parker

Jeannette

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U.S. Steel acquisition a sensible move

Concerning the Nippon Steel attempt to acquire U.S. Steel: I recently retired after six years as senior buyer with a quality international company (unionized) that bought a lot of steel. When the Trump administration tossed U.S. Steel a lifeline with increased duties on imported steel, USS responded by raising their prices.

Previously I worked over eight years for a Japanese-owned company that was the poster boy of why unions are sometimes necessary. Among other odious practices, they incentivized themselves to terminate employees for creative reasons so as to not pay accumulated earned vacation and leave time.

Accordingly, I understand both sides of the issue well. But, in all fairness, the odious ex-employer made said decision through their local, not their Japanese management. I had worked for three different Japanese employers over the 20 years prior, and encountered nothing even remotely like that sorry experience.

Thus the choice is not whether U.S. Steel will remain an American-owned steel producer. The choice is whether it will be owned by a quality firm based in a country that is a strong ally of the United States or continue its current trajectory toward shedding market share mostly to a country that has nuclear missiles aimed our way.

Look at the iconic U.S. Steel building in downtown Pittsburgh, which now has a different owner. Most of the office space with the new owner is occupied by law offices, a little by other tenants including U.S. Steel. Both major candidates are dead wrong in opposing this sensible acquisition.

David Staples

Hempfield

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Lead in schools’ drinking water a danger to children

Your article “Deer Lakes welcomes back students with coffee shop, Legos-style learning and colorful parking spots” (Aug. 30, TribLive) demonstrates how the back-to-school season can be an exciting time. However, considering the persistent issue of lead in our schools’ water, it is also a time of concern.

As an analysis in a recently released PennEnvironment report shows, current laws are failing to protect our children. We need to get the lead out of our schools’ water. Lead is highly toxic to children, and even low levels of lead exposure can lead to learning disabilities including ADHD and depression. Yet lead contamination of Pennsylvania schools’ drinking water is widespread. A recent report shows that of 65 Pennsylvania school districts surveyed, 91% of those tested found lead in their water.

Fortunately, proposals pending in the state Legislature, SB 986 and HB 2011, address these loopholes by requiring all drinking water taps in Pennsylvania schools to have filters that capture lead. Our elected officials must pass these protections as quickly as possible, so no child in the commonwealth suffers the detrimental health effects of lead in their school drinking water again. It is time our legislators do their homework and get these bills passed.

Nicholas Barber

Philadelphia

The writer is a clean water associate with PennEnvironment.

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Gerrymandering blocks Pa. innovation

Given its abundant resources, Pennsylvania underperforms economically. That’s according to the Brookings Institute report, “Commonwealth of Innovation.” The report recommends that state government take “catalytic steps” to “unlock” Pennsylvania’s innovation potential.

Former Ohio Chief Justice and Lt. Gov. Maureen O’Connor, a Republican, recently noted one factor blocking economic development — gerrymandering. O’Connor, now a member of the redistricting reform group Citizens Not Politicians, explains that gerrymandering increases legislative extremism, creating less-stable business climates and thwarting long-term business planning.

By comparing pre- and post-gerrymandered districts, economists are confirming this assertion. Legislators “insulated” by gerrymandering more often vote with their party and bring less money back to their districts, according to researchers from Raina and Xu of the University of Alberta. A team headed by Pat Akey from the University of Toronto showed that consumer credit declined when district shapes became more distorted. Akey’s team concluded that gerrymandering-protected legislators don’t advocate enough for supportive legislation or regulation to create prosperous economies in their districts.

These are real pocketbook issues. Pennsylvanians should insist that our legislators support a citizens’ redistricting commission built on models that have reduced gerrymandering in other states. It would be fairer for residents across the commonwealth and a smart business move.

JoAnn Kennedy Flanagan

Shadyside