Opinion category, Page 304
Letter to the editor: We have a heart problem, not a gun problem
After reading the many letters to the editor in favor of more laws that could lead to confiscation of guns from legal gun owners, I have but a short note for them: Cain killed Abel without a gun. What we have is not a gun problem but a heart problem....
Letter to the editor: EPA’s power plant rules good for all of us
Railroads aren’t the only purveyors of pollution. Power plants bring us electricity, but they send us smog and soot, too. For anyone who breathes, this is bad news. The good news is the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed stronger power plant pollution rules. For the last month, I have battled...
Editorial: Westmoreland GOP chair says lawsuits are about eliminating rivals
So what is up with the Westmoreland County commissioners’ race? The primary election that will decide the two Republicans and two Democrats who advance to the November general election still is two months away. While legal catfights over legitimacy have become the default in Pennsylvania politics, that seems like something...
Letter to the editor: Republicans’ plans for Social Security, Medicare
I wish to expound on the letter “GOP and ‘fixing’ Social Security” (Feb. 10, TribLIVE). Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida has proposed a plan that would “sunset” all federal legislation in five years; “if a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again,” he said. He also said...
Sofia Sunseri: Give abuse survivors their justice
From the time I was 5 years old until I reached puberty, I survived repeated sexual abuse. Like far too many others, there was no justice. The legal system failed me and protected the abuser. I repeatedly and profoundly suffered abuse throughout my life while being held to normal expectations...
Vidhura S. Tennekoon: The U.S. banking crisis isn’t over yet
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank failed with enormous speed — so quickly that they could be textbook cases of classic bank runs, in which too many depositors withdraw their funds from a bank at the same time. The failures at SVB and Signature were two of the three...
Robert Smith: Waters of the United States
We are once again locked in a debate regarding the proper role of the federal government to regulate what is termed waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. On Dec. 30, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the...
Raymond Tonkin: Pa. should retain death penalty for murder of police
In the early hours of Sept. 13, 2014, my phone rang. I answered. On the other end of the phone was a dispatcher informing me that the Pennsylvania State Police were requesting me because two state troopers had been shot outside the Blooming Grove Barracks. I quickly dressed and headed...
Ross Nicotero: PRT’s hiring and retention is crisis that must be addressed now
Several weeks ago, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) launched a public input process to overhaul the downtown bus network. This is the first portion of a system-wide transit network redesign, to ostensibly make our bus routes faster, more understandable and more effective in serving our riders’ needs. As transit workers, we’re...
Letter to the editor: Will government release covid origin information? Doubtful.
From a Feb. 27 U.S. News & World Report article: “There is not a consensus right now in the U.S. government about exactly how covid started,” (National Security Council spokesman John Kirby) said during a White House press briefing. “There is just not an intelligence community consensus. “When asked if...
Letter to the editor: Don’t be afraid to question climate change claims
The writer of the letter “Vote out climate change deniers” (March, TribLIVE) says all climate change deniers must be voted out and that the Republicans are the problem because they get so much money from the fossil fuel companies. First off, fossil fuels are never going away. Nothing else can...
Editorial: Oscar speech a reminder of imprisoned teacher Marc Fogel
On Sunday, in front of a glittering array of Hollywood luminaries and the eyes of millions, a documentary about a man unjustly held in a Russian prison was honored with an iconic golden statuette. In accepting the Oscar, “Navalny” director Daniel Roher stood alongside a team of others — including...
Christopher Baxter: Secrecy is too often the norm in Pa. state and local governments
Our state and local governments exist to serve our communities. We pay our taxes each year, and in return, we the taxpayers have a right to know what our government is doing, how it’s spending our money and whether we’re getting the services we deserve. But there are fewer and...
Letter to the editor: Always check your sources
The writer of the letter “Has America turned its back on God?” (Feb. 27, TribLIVE) cites James Madison as the source of a quote on the Ten Commandments. Some of those commandments prohibit bearing false witness, spreading untruths. The quote cited has never been proven to originate in Madison, though...
Tom Purcell: In need of St. Patrick’s Day humor
The St. Patrick’s Day spirit has arrived, and we sure are in need of some Irish levity. The economy is limping, and inflation is hitting us hard. It reminds me of the laborer who fell off a roof at a construction site: “Were you hurt by the fall?” asked his...
Letter to the editor: Why so angry?
The authors of recent letters to the editor are obviously the malcontents of our current elected government. What are they truly angry about? It couldn’t be that President Biden picked up the ball that the previous administration dropped in reference to the covid-19 pandemic. It couldn’t be his persistent attempts...
Letter to the editor: What will it take to stop mass shootings?
I fully agree with the letter “Why can’t we stop the mass shootings?” (Feb. 28, TribLIVE). Obviously there has been too much bloodshed over this issue. I do not wish any ill will toward anyone, but I can’t stop thinking that if another mass shooting affects the personal life of...
Letter to the editor: Why are WPIAL ticket prices so high?
For the last several years, I have attended WPIAL boys high school basketball championship games at the Petersen Events Center. The cost for attending a game has been $10 for many years. This year, I planned to attend all three games and was surprised to find the cost of the...
Editorial: Motor License Fund bill could mean decisions for municipalities
A Pennsylvania Senate bill would see state police get less money from a dedicated pool with a different purpose. The Motor License Fund is a coffer set up to collect money from various automotive-related sources. It is filled by things such as the 61-cent gas tax, a chunk of the...
Letter to the editor: ‘What-ifs’ regarding legal marijuana and workers
I have a few questions and thoughts for all those people who want to make marijuana legal. Has anyone mentioned anything about those who employ someone on marijuana? What happens to the employer if this employee injures himself or someone else? Do you want someone in your home who is...
Letter to the editor: Technology career awareness key to our future
One of the top concerns from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia is ensuring that our economy is well supported and continuing to grow, especially with the uncertainty of a recession looming. There is much that policymakers can do to add stability and provide opportunity for our communities. It is vital to recognize...
Editorial cartoons for the week of March 13
Editorial cartoons for the week of March 13....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of March 13
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of March 13....
Letter to the editor: We all must support Bushy Run
Bushy Run Battlefield has received a lot of support recently. That support has come from volunteers, the board of directors and board president Bonnie Ramus. That support has come came from Sen. Kim Ward and Rep. George Dunbar and their hardworking staffs. That support has not come from Pennsylvania Historical...
Letter to the editor: We must start solving America’s gun problem
America has a gun problem. We are world leaders in both gun ownership and deaths. Statistics show 120 guns per 100 Americans. In the first six weeks of 2023, there were 71 mass shootings. We have become numb to media reports of the carnage that affects civilians and law enforcement...
