Sounding off: Politics letter-writers’ top topic
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Don’t castigate real Democrats
I stewed as I read and reread the letters “Trump’s victory shows rejection of Democrats’ ways” (Nov. 15, TribLive) and “Better under Trump? Think again” (Nov. 15, TribLive).
As a lifelong Democrat, I take exception to the castigating of real Democrats. The Democratic Party has been infiltrated by progressives, poisoning their thinking and objectivity. Add to this the Ivy League enjoyment of playing mind games and preying on the weakness of the general public by hiding behind the Democrat banner.
Modern Democrats and Republicans have lost sight of the needs of the American public. They love their parties more than their country. Without the country all the other trappings of their parties are worthless.
Bear in mind the USA has 350 million citizens, and roughly half of the eligible voters did not vote. So parties cannot claim they are doing what the country needs.
Progressives are social engineers and isms and ists and not be trusted with the future of the USA, and the economy.
Lest we forget the letter “National Popular Vote Law” (Dec. 1, TribLive) touting the desirability of having a popular vote in place of the Electoral College. Again, a progressive idea without looking at the results of poor planning, thus creating loses of liberty and freedom.
We have a progressive president who used the laws of the land to pardon his son after promising not to do so. Can you imagine the local judge or sheriff allowing their family members go free after committing a heinous crime because they wear a badge or a robe?
Enough of my ranting.
Raymond Borkoski
Ford City
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Biden a flawed president, flawed man
I was a young, politically naive man during Jimmy Carter’s time in office , but even then I could see that his was a failed presidency. The humiliation of the Iran hostage situation, including the failed rescue mission, high inflation, record high interest rates, etc. led to this conclusion. In spite of his poor performance as president, he will be remembered as a good man due his humanitarian efforts after leaving office.
I believe history will treat Joe Biden much differently. He will be remembered for the humiliating Afghanistan surrender to the Taliban, and the needless loss of 13 U.S. troops with dozens more gravely wounded during the chaotic retreat, as well as record high inflation, mass illegal immigration due to his border policies, major war in Eastern Europe, war in the Middle East, China threatening Taiwan, Iran spreading terror around the world with money released by his administration, etc.
To cap off his time in office, Biden pardoned his son Hunter not only for the crimes that he has been convicted of, but for any crimes he may have committed during the past 10 years, in spite of publicly stating multiple times that he would not. I’m fairly certain there will be more Biden family members given blanket pardons before he leaves office. Ask yourself why.
In my opinion, Biden will be remembered not only as a failed president, but as a very flawed man.
Ed Davis
Greensburg
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‘Poor loser’ hypocrisy
The profound hypocrisy evinced in the letter “Democrats are poor losers” (Dec. 4, TribLive) is more than I can bear without responding. Who was it that refused to admit he’d lost the 2020 election? Who was it that tried to steal the election? Who was it that insisted he’d won despite it being thrown out of more than 60 courts for lack of evidence, often by Donald Trump-appointed judges? Isn’t it amazing how all the talk of voter fraud and rigged elections has stopped so suddenly? Just like that!
As for the second half of the letter, the writer complains that the Democrats will try to fight the things Trump wants to do. But isn’t that what Republicans do when Democrats are in office? It’s called the opposition party.
If Trump has a free hand (and he will), we will be in a dictatorship, run by and for the rich and corporations. Another $8.7 trillion to the national debt with more tax cuts for the rich? I doubt he’ll care — he doesn’t have to pay it off; our children will.
His cabinet picks, in my opinion, are completely unqualified; their only qualification is that they be loyal to the dictator. RFK, a conspiracy theorist with no medical background, in charge of Health and Human Services? Say hello to polio and other diseases that were wiped out by the vaccines he doesn’t approve of. And Pete Hegseth? Don’t get me started.
We have some scary times ahead, and I’m sure there will be a lot of voter remorse.
Fred Durig
Delmont
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Popular vote vs. Electoral College
So I started reading this book on the U.S. Constitution to get a better understanding of who we are as a country. The Founding Fathers put a lot of thought into what type of government we should have so as not to allow despotism (I had to look it up) to take hold and destroy what they fought so hard to establish. The best solution was a constitutional republic, not a democracy.
I understand that everyone is very familiar with democracy and everyone wants to save it, but the reality is, a democracy is simply “majority rule,” period, end of discussion. Now that sounds great and in some cases it is, but a cruel and horrific example of a “majority rule” is a lynching … no representation for the minority to defend their position.
We are a unique country; some have even called it an “experiment,” but the truth is, the Founding Fathers set it up for “We the people,” not government. Government needs to be limited to the power outlined in the Constitution with checks and balances; otherwise, government becomes too powerful and governs by “their” will and not the will of the people.
So when we start to question whether a popular vote would be better than the established constitutional Electoral College, we need to be very cautious about who will ultimately be in charge after an election and how they actually got there. So God help us, God help us save and unite this United States of America.
Rowland Bostock
Jeannette
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Sheriff’s divisive letter tarnishes office
In eight years of submitting opinions, I have never rebutted others. After all, it’s just an opinion. But when a county officeholder receives county funds, I believe taxpayers do have a say.
I’m not sure why the chief law enforcement officer of Westmoreland County found the need, or the time, to submit a letter to the Trib’s opinion page (“Keeping Westmoreland County safe,” Dec. 10, TribLive). An elected public official who has taken an oath to protect all county residents apparently has allowed his personal ideology to get the better of him. He seems to indirectly encourage more gun licensing with fearmongering, which could also turn out to be detrimental to law enforcement. Studies show more guns mean more gun deaths, no disputing that.
In his letter, he blames liberal officials and , as he phrases it, illegal aliens as the root cause of our county’s woes. I think it is despicable and shameful that the office of county sheriff is being besmirched by the current holder.
The duty of the sheriff, and the staff of 75 under him, is to protect and serve. In this time of hostility and the end of a very divisive election, it was my hope that people in public office would show a genuine effort to stop the hateful rhetoric instead of continuing the name-calling and finger-pointing. I suggest to the sheriff: Just do the job; no need for your opinion.
Frank Flori
Greensburg
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McCormick should do away with the ‘death tax’
I am writing about something that has bothered me for years. I hope Senator- elect Dave McCormick sees this. I hope he is a person who listens to the people, and I wish him the best of luck (he will need it).
The one thing that really irks me is the inheritance, or death, tax. I have worked 45-plus years and have managed to save some money (believe me, I am not a millionaire), and I have paid many taxes over the years on this money. I hope to leave a little to my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.
My question is, why, just because I happen to die (and I will some day), the commonwealth of Pennsylvania wants an additional 4½ percent of my savings? The last time I looked, I believe only five states have such a tax. I think this tax is the worst tax ever enacted on the people of Pennsylvania.
I am asking McCormick to look into doing away with this tax.
William S. Gwyn
Ross
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Luigi Mangione is not a hero
Why is so much praise being heaped on assassin Luigi Mangione? The man he killed, Brian Thompson, had two sons, ages 19 and 16. Please tell me what crimes these two young men have committed. Mangione has sentenced them to a life without their father. I lost my father when I was 16. I can tell you, it is horrific.
Kathy Irey
White Oak