Sounding off: Presidential race tops week's letters

Reenergized by Harris

I want to extend a personal thank-you to Donald Trump. For many years, I was very apathetic toward politics … until he entered the fray.

But my interest in politics isn’t because I’m pro-DT. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I can unequivocally say that I haven’t despised anyone as much as I despise DT. Simply put, he’s a blowhard who needs to be removed completely from politics, and in my opinion from earth. The insurrection alone should have been enough to disqualify him, but add to that his dishonesty, infidelity and self-serving attitude toward pretty much everything, and I continue to be mystified as to how this man has as much support as he does.

Most candidates who run for office run for the good of the country, but in my opinion, anything DT does in life is for the good of DT.

Kamala Harris is reenergizing not only my interest in politics but the interest of the whole world. As an anti-Trumper, I’m voting for Harris.

Steve Brody

Upper St. Clair

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Harris won’t help middle class

I have questions for the Democratic Party and its supporters. Why do they blame “corporate greed and price gouging” for why the prices of food, energy and virtually everything else skyrocketed when the current federal administration took office? Did “corporate greed and price gouging” not occur during the previous administration, when prices were stable and inflation stayed below 2%? I think today’s economic problems are caused by overspending and overregulation by the federal government.

If President Biden and Vice President Harris are truly trying to help the American middle class, I have to rate their efforts a failure. Let’s send leaders to Washington, D.C., who can succeed at helping the middle class.

Ken Kretschman

Crafton

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Hatred for Trump muddies rational thought

As the Dems have methodically erased one low bar after another regarding candidate viability, whether it’s being fine with Sen. John Fetterman’s stroke or President Biden’s obvious mental issues or age, or Kamala Harris’ undemocratic ascent to her current station, attained without a single vote and 14 million disenfranchised voters in the wake of her palace coup, it’s unremarkable that the party has chosen war, big corporations and authoritarian goonery as their platforms.

If you haven’t read “1984,” you’d better get on it. I don’t know what kind of Nostrodamus DNA George Orwell had coursing through his veins, but his depiction of the dystopian Big Brother oppression and thought control the modern Democratic Party is efforting is chilling and throws into sharp relief the very world you’ll engage when you walk out your door this sunny September morning.

For the scant few liberals who may be reading this, I ask you this: Are you really better off now than you were under the Trump presidency? Is there anything about our country, because that’s what this is about, that’s better than it was under President Trump? Or will you allow your party-driven fear and hatred for a guy, who by the way isn’t even that conservative, to steer your thinking away from the clear, calm waters of rational thought and into the turbulent, muddy class five rapids of emotion?

Tom Altmiller

Charleroi

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Why does Trump have so much hate?

The immigrants are coming, the immigrants are coming! Hurry, lock the door, hide the children, the immigrants are coming.

How many people do you suppose said this and worse when Donald Trump warned them about these people? I often wonder why he has so much hate and speaks it like a second language.

In contrast, for anyone who is a Christian, I often wonder how you square Him, the Prince of Peace, in your life. Christ is the polar opposite. He’s all about love.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

So there you have it. One preaches love and one preaches hate. Unfortunately, for so many in this country, hate speaks the loudest for some.

Joni Campbell

Harrison

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America is already great

When I am out driving my vehicle, using my God-given eyesight, I see thousands of new vehicles on the highway traveling to parking lots of stores full of people shopping, restaurants full of patrons eating, sports venues full of fans, entertainment venues sold out, and airports, trains and cruises full of people traveling. Most homes in our area are sold within several days of listing. For-hire signs are everywhere. Citizens are helping the needy.

We are being told in the media and newspapers that we need to “make America great again.” Use your God-given brain and eyesight. America is already great, and under a Democratic regime. Keep this in mind when you go to the polls to vote.

Sandra R. Kuch

West Newton

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Campaign season is fairy tale seasonFairy tale season

I recently came back from vacation and while away a fairy-tale debate took place between two candidates for president.

It seems one candidate defended the record the candidate had as president and also made some wild statements that were fact-checked by the moderators.

The other candidate was in a fishing mode and had a few bites and was not fact-checked. That candidate also promised to give a $50,000 tax credit to new small business startups if elected. Why only new startups? Could it be that her voting record as a senator in the 115th Congress and 116th Congress on issues for small business was nine “no’s” and one “yes” on bills important to the small business community? Does she not like small business people? I did fact-check this.

In a Peanuts cartoon strip, Peppermint Patty asked Charlie Brown, “Do all fairy tales begin with ‘Once upon a time’?” Charlie answered, “No, many of them begin with ‘If I am elected, I promise …’.” Enjoy the rest of the fairy tale season because reality will be back soon.

Dan McCue

Donegal

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Apply ‘truth in advertising’ to political ads

I’m sure we’re all a little tired of all the political commercials that are on every TV channel at every commercial break. And who knows what is fact or fiction? FYI, the federal government, as well as many state governments, have “truth in advertising” laws in place that mandate that companies cannot advertise a product’s benefits without providing proof of the claim. So why can’t these same governments apply this law to political advertising? I think it would drastically reduce (or even eliminate) all the negative ads we see multiple times daily.

Plus, in between those political ads, we’re forced to watch pharmaceutical companies tell us what drugs we should be taking to cure whatever ailment we may have, from diabetes to cancer. I think we all know we can’t get these drugs without a doctor’s approval, so why are they pushed on us? Obviously, so we can tell our doctor what we want instead of the doctor telling us what we need. We all want reduced drug costs, so, if our government would limit these ads as they did tobacco and alcohol ads, the pharmaceutical companies’ advertising costs could be applied toward reducing the cost of the drugs and help many of us as well as those on Medicare Part D!

Steve Swencki

Hempfield