Sounding off: Teachers don't need 'immediate' vaccination

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s letter to Gov. Tom Wolf calling for the “immediate” inoculation of teachers, although well-intentioned, looks only at the proposed benefits without the associated costs (“Peduto asks Gov. Wolf to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers immediately”). This approach will have dire consequences.

The covid-19 data shows a clear relationship of death to age and certain underlying medical conditions. The CDC reports an 85-year-old is 630 times more likely to die from covid than a 29-year-old. People with underlying conditions, as noted by the CDC, have a 12 times greater likelihood of dying than those without.

The limited availability of covid vaccines requires a thorough evaluation of all the associated risks and benefits, and difficult decisions need to be made. If the goals are to follow the science and minimize covid-related deaths, then the elderly and those with comorbidities, as directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Vaccine Guidelines Phase 1A, must be completed before consideration is given to vaccinating any other groups, including teachers.

I hope after a more complete evaluation, Peduto reconsiders his request to vaccinate teachers “immediately.”

Donald Kushner, M.D., Harmar

Trump worked to protect us

As we heard in the news: Hillary Clinton called Republicans “deplorables.” Katie Couric and others said Trump supporters in Congress should be “deprogrammed.” Maybe the type of people making these comments should listen instead of breathing in all that swamp gas.

I have been a Republican for about 50 years. I always wanted lower taxes, family safety, etc. for everyone, not all these massive giveaways and open borders. Politicians have a fence around the White House for their protection, but they don’t want a fence on our southern border for our protection.

I heard that the mob did not want to have President Trump win the election because his wall would help keep drugs and human trafficking to a minimum.

So who is Joe Biden really helping? Please help us!

Cliff Long, Unity

Trump must be held accountable

I believe in honesty, the rule of law and our democracy.

The Republican senators and representatives who continue to downplay the January riot, in which five people died and 140 were injured, are ignoring the most important principle of our democracy. Fair elections and a peaceful transfer of power are the cornerstone of our Constitution, which these same elected officials swore an oath to serve and uphold. These same representatives who continue to support President Trump’s long- standing mantra of a crooked election (with no proof) are just as responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection and for resulting deaths and destruction.

Quoting George Conway: “I believe many people that do not know any better believe Mr. Trump’s lies. But I believe that the ignorance, intellectual indolence or hatred of those who don’t know better cannot excuse the failures of those who do, who could have said something but did not because it was too inconvenient, unpleasant or politically perilous to do so.”

Our nation is built on the rule of law, a principle under which all people, institutions and entities are held accountable. Trump’s shield of invincibility must be removed, and he needs to be held accountable for his part in spreading misinformation and encouraging an uprising to overturn the results of a fair election.

One man alone cannot destroy our democracy, but the collective blind allegiance to his ill-devised whims will severely erode its foundations.

Diana Hull, McCandless

More election investigations won’t change minds

Concerning the letter “Election investigation needed” and to others who have expressed similar views, I respond: Why? You would not believe the investigation results anyway, unless they come to the conclusions you want them to. This is why some of you watch only Fox News or similar media that only mirror your viewpoints and say what you want to hear. Get off the conspiracy train.

Tom Baker, Jeannette

Candidates should pledge to work for all constituents

Regarding the article “ ‘Trump House’ creator Leslie Baum Rossi seeks nod to run for open Pa. House seat”: This is an example of the partisan ways that must be eliminated from our democracy.

Rossi’s comments such as “Trump is the best president we’ve ever had in my lifetime” and “I feel, and will always feel, that he won and by a lot in our state” are examples of how not to start a political career in good faith and sincerity. She seems to have not accepted his defeat, and echoes the claims of fraud some believe fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

I would recommend there be prerequisites for political candidates running for office. First, they must take a course in the “art of compromise;” second, they must show that they have some proven skill in negotiation that will lead to a more civil union.

It is easy to spread falsehoods and misinformation when there are many in a congressional district who will drink the Kool-Aid, but difficult to speak truth and provide the leadership on issues that will benefit the overall good of a congressional district.

Robert Pennline, Mt. Pleasant

Trump the only one to act on immigration reform

President Biden has gone against what recent presidents (and some congressmen) talked about on the subject of immigration reform. President Trump was the only one who did something about it.

If you search “Where does Trump get his dumb ideas?” on YouTube, you will see Trump watching Sen. Dianne Feinstein talk about immigration reform, and you will see former Sen. Harry Reid, President Bill Clinton, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton and President Obama talking about it, too. They did nothing about it except talk.

Trump was the only one who acted, and Biden seens to want to stop the wishes and concerns of past politicians and the American people. He and the Democratic Party are a bunch of hypocrites.

Jim Meyer, Jefferson Township, Butler County

Legitimize marijuana the right way

Regarding the article “Gov. Wolf seeks income tax hike to pay for big increase in school funding” (Feb. 2, TribLIVE): Anyone with a modicum of common sense can envision Gov. Tom Wolf’s MO in his proposal for a massive tax increase. There is no funding crisis simply because Tom Wolf proclaims it to be so.

I believe Wolf is using his expertise in political theater to manufacture a crisis. Then the legalization of marijuana becomes more appealing to the masses. Wolf is setting up Fetterman to ride in on his white horse to win your vote.

If Wolf wants bipartisan support to legalize marijuana, he should stop using grow licenses as political favor payouts. Wolf was heavily criticized when he awarded a grow license to his former policy adviser. And it’s not just Democrats, either. Just last year, two major Republican donors were also granted licenses valued at $25 million.

Most are not opposed to the legalization of marijuana. We are, however, in opposition to the way both Republicans and Democrats are treating it as a personal cash cow. If you want the industry to be respected and accepted, you need to stop delegitimizing it by treating it like a rigged raffle to pay off your friends.

Cindy Waeltermann, McCandless