Opinion category, Page 442
Mark Hendrickson: When humans don’t procreate
Two years ago, I wrote about the pending global population implosion. Demographers predict that 90 countries will lose population between now and the year 2100. Shrinking populations have portentous implications, including major shifts in geopolitical power and the possible financial collapse of welfare states. The United States’ population is part...
Letter to the editor: Military discount policy doesn’t work for all vets
The heavily reported new Home Depot “veteran discount” policy actually excludes veterans from using the discount, rather than making it easier to use. Online registration for the discount is fairly easy, at home, on a computer. But trying to use the discount at the store is not possible for veterans...
Letter to the editor: Concerned about well blowouts in Penn Township
My wife, Marcia, and I live just 0.45 miles from the Apex Energy Drakulic multi unconventional gas-well pad in Penn Township (“Activists continue to protest gas wells in Penn Township,” Oct. 21, TribLIVE). One of our biggest concerns is a well blowout like the one in Belmont County, Ohio, in...
Editorial: Watch the spending, DA Ziccarelli
When you run for office, it’s all about selling yourself to the voters. You are the product, and the price is a ballot. But after you win, the job becomes only partially marketing. The rest of the time is spent doing the mundane work of the office you have taken:...
Letter to the editor: Bringing down out-of-control prescription drug prices
The op-ed “AARP’s drug pricing conflict of interest” (Jan. 1, TribLIVE) reads like all the other opinions that Big Pharma and its enablers recycle. If anyone has a conflict, it is astroturf groups like Patients Rising, claiming to speak for patients but cozying up to Big Pharma. For decades, millions...
S.E. Cupp: The new right wants division, cruelty, ratings
Edmund Burke. Russell Kirk. And … Jesse Watters? One of the hosts of Fox’s “The Five,” Watters said the quiet part out loud Monday evening, when discussing President Biden’s agenda and pushback he’s getting from progressives in his party. “(D)o I feel sorry for Joe Biden? No. I work at...
John Stossel: Andrew Yang’s Forward Party
Independents are now America’s largest group of voters. After George Bush’s presidency, fewer people called themselves Republicans. After Obama’s, fewer called themselves Democrats. How will these independents vote? Andrew Yang hopes they’ll vote for him. In my latest video, the former Democrat explains why he’s started a new party, the...
Letter to the editor: Why hasn’t synagogue shooting suspect gone to trial?
A white supremacist in California murdered worshippers at a Passover service in a Southern California synagogue in 2019. Both federal and state trials were held, and the accused was found guilty and sentenced to life sentences. Those who defended this individual reported he was influenced by the killings at the...
Letter to the editor: Time for Biden to go
For President Biden: If you were accused of being an American citizen with a profound belief in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Three (among many) items are noteworthy: 1. Actions in accord with the sanctity of life. 2. Responsibility for our...
Letter to the editor: Scanlon a conservative after carjacking?
Regarding the article “U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon carjacked in Philadelphia park, uninjured” (Dec. 22, TribLIVE): The best way to turn a liberal into a conservative. Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...
Lori Falce: The worst Christmas present ever
In early December, I got an early surprise. It wasn’t a holiday card or a Christmas present or a plate of cookies. It was a lease renewal — with a 20% rent increase. Was this because I got a 200-pound Mastiff or decided to keep exotic snakes in my spare...
Letter to the editor: Attacks on Shapiro demonstrate right-wing fear
I despise negative campaigning, and it started a year before the critical Pennsylvania gubernatorial election. I already have received by mail multiple hit pieces that attack the presumed Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. They emanate from Commonwealth Partners of Harrisburg, an association of radical right-wing entrepreneurs. The group...
Paul Kengor: Covid and conscience
Covid vax mandates continue to head to the Supreme Court. Currently, the court is reviewing the Biden OSHA mandate seeking to forcibly vaccinate Americans who work for organizations with more than 100 employees. Recently, the court declined to stop a state vax mandate for health care workers invoking religious objections....
Laurels & lances: Hospital, classrooms and a diner
Laurel: To being proactive. As covid-19 numbers in Southwestern Pennsylvania swell with the spread of the omicron variant, UPMC Children’s is taking steps to address the impact on a growing demographic. The variant is contributing to rising cases among pediatric populations. UPMC Children’s already had one unit dedicated to coronavirus...
Letter to the editor: Carbon taxes won’t hurt consumers
Letter-writer Ralph Dunsworth (“Carbon emissions tax will hurt consumers”) is concerned about the cost of carbon taxes to consumers. No need to be. For example, House Resolution 2307 puts an “atmospheric dumping fee” on carbon emitters, but all fees are rebated to consumers. As such, 85% of Americans receive as...
Letter to the editor: Climate has always changed
Well, looks like the despicable and deplorable Democrats are at it again. They hadn’t even recovered all the bodies from the devastating tornadoes in the mid-South when the leftists started blaming “climate change.” And, naturally, their allies in the media are piling on along with the rest of the enviro-whackos....
Editorial: Why can’t Westmoreland hire an elections director?
Greg McCloskey got a $5,000 bonus this week for running the Westmoreland County elections process. This was definitely money he earned. McCloskey already has his own job for the county as head of public works. That’s at least a full-time job doing things like making sure the county’s crews are...
Letter to the editor: Government solutions are not the answer
The role of government should be to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility and provide for the common defense with the least amount of government coercion and the most amount of personal liberty as possible. The concept of providing jobs, food, clothing, housing, education and health care is best provided by...
Jonah Goldberg: As political satire, ‘Don’t Look Up’ fails in more ways than one
“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay’s dark comedy released on Netflix just before Christmas, has gotten an enormous amount of attention, despite the fact most film critics tend to agree it doesn’t hold together too well artistically, even as some welcome it for its propagandistic value. As you’d expect from the...
Bill Press: Throw the book at Mark Meadows
Now that the House has voted to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt for refusing to appear before the Jan. 6 Select Committee, Washington insiders are gripped in a typical, inside-the-Beltway dilemma: Whether or not the Justice Department should file criminal charges against him. After...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Jan. 6 insurrection a dress rehearsal for something far worse
It was an act of country love. This is what we have repeatedly been told about the insurrection at the Capitol, one year ago this week. The claim began, as brazen lies so often seem to, with Donald Trump. “These are the things and events that happen,” he said, “when...
Letter to the editor: Trump will figure into this year’s races
Regarding Jonah Goldberg’s column “Trump’s clout with Republican voters seems to be slipping away”: He is full of horse pucky. To ascertain whether President Trump makes a difference any more, watch the primaries this year. If I’m running for office, you better believe I want Trump to wrap his arms...
Letter to the editor: Protecting communities from gas well pollution
The West Deer supervisors’ rejection of Olympus Energy’s well pad application (“West Deer supervisors reject well pad proposed by Olympus Energy,” Dec. 21, TribLIVE) shines a light on the proximity of existing gas wells to communities, particularly smaller wells. Unfortunately, the state recently finalized a pollution standard for gas wells...
Editorial: Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and how to say goodbye
Sports figures often are seen as role models — good or bad. In less than 48 hours, two former teammates showed both aspects. Not with what they did on the field, but with how they left it. Ben Roethlisberger’s tenure calling the plays and throwing the ball for the Pittsburgh...
Letter to the editor: Republicans do have a plan
Patty Satalia, you presented no facts in your letter “Republicans are not planning for our well-being”. Let me help you out. Democrats plan to address climate change by replacing our energy independence with heavily subsidized electric cars and solar panels. Note: “… almost 90% of all of the planet’s global...
