Letters to the Editor category, Page 338
Letter to the editor: Churches are not under attack
I would like to acknowledge Pastor Tom Walters of Word of Life Church for his willingness to graciously accept and respond to criticism for his decision to hold worship services this past Sunday (“Hempfield church pastor apologizes for open services on Sunday,” March 23, TribLIVE). He certainly does not deserve...
Letter to the editor: ‘Protection’ for frail elderly seems like punishment
The common narrative to endure social distancing measures is to protect the frail elderly. There are unintended consequences of the world we’ve imposed on them, based on my recent rounds in nursing facilities. Many elderly there are frail with debility and dementia. Usually an otherwise mundane existence is broken up...
Letter to the editor: Great time to clean up our littered roads
During this time of uncertainty, closures and orders to stay home, let’s do something productive. A lot of people are not at work and kids are off school, so get out with your kids and do a little spring cleaning along the roads. Litter is everywhere and looks disgusting. Dave...
Letter to the editor: For everyone’s sake, stay home!
I started this morning on my knees, praying that God would fill me with love, compassion and courage, and then I made my way to Westmoreland Hospital, where I am a physician. The mood at the hospital is tense. As of March 22, we still have limited capacity to perform...
Letter to the editor: Covid-19 & overpopulation
All the Earth’s environmental problems are a direct result of overpopulation. Any other consideration is a result of, and not in addition to, overpopulation. Overpopulation results in polluted water, air pollution, deforestation, rising crime rates, loss of wildlife leading to mass extinctions, widespread food shortages, vanishing fish in the oceans,...
Letter to the editor: We must battle ill health as an adversary, too
Walter Williams’ silly “We have no ‘right’ to health care” (March 13, TribLIVE) completely misses the point, besides being extraordinarily ill-timed. It’s not about “right,” it’s about “how do we want to spend our tax dollars — and would we prefer higher taxes to cover the cost of a universal...
Letter to the editor: Recognizing social workers
March is National Social Work Month. As a senior at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, I have the honor of working with extraordinary individuals who have accepted the call to become change-makers and advocates for the vulnerable and oppressed. While case management will always be a vital...
Letter to the editor: What’s basis for Pa. closure decisions?
“Grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, beer distributors, bakeries and auto parts stores are among those businesses permitted to stay open.” “Car dealers and laundromats are among the businesses that must close.” The above sentences appeared in the article “Gov. Wolf orders ‘nonlife-sustaining’ businesses to close physical locations to halt coronavirus...
Letter to the editor: Property tax forgiveness better than cash payment
So now we have the federal government talking about a cash payment for people affected by the pandemic that is covid-19. I can see a lot of room for fraud in this approach, especially with all the red tape associated with anything the feds do. How about property tax forgiveness...
Letter to the editor: Hoarding is un-American
The coronavirus outbreak has panicked people into hoarding food, paper products and sanitizing compounds. Consumers across the country are conducting binge purchases of these products, and most supermarkets are reporting bare shelves and difficulty in restocking them. The binging activity is very un-American. There is no need for people to...
Sounding off: Chuck Schumer should resign over ‘word choice’
“It was a very poor choice of words,” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said. And just like that, Sen. Chuck Schumer’s attack on two sitting members of the Supreme Court in the most voracious manner was dismissed by some on the left. Those words to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh...
Letter to the editor: New trial for accused priest heartbreaking
The Rev. Hugh Lang, who was convicted in November on charges that he sexually abused an 11-year-old boy in 2001, had his conviction vacated this month because a new judge believes Lang did not receive a fair trial. We are dismayed that the victim will have to go through yet...
Letter to the editor: Truckers deserve respect & clean facilities
On March 16, PennDOT and governor’s office moved to close all the Turnpike rest stops with just fueling and convenience stores available — no food and restroom facilities, just Porta-Johns. Then on Wednesday they opened some rest areas to truckers, but still no bathrooms other than Porta-Johns. By Friday, the...
Letter to the editor: Maybe Trump finally gets it
It’s about time. Finally, President Trump is acting more like a president should. His recent news conferences have shown exactly how he should act: as a concerned president for all Americans during a crisis. He has turned away from Republican and conservative radio talking points concerning the coronavirus outbreak as...
Letter to the editor: Bernie, Biden, Pelosi & Schumer
After all the campaigning and wasted money, it appears that the Democratic/socialist party is narrowed down to two white men, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. Sanders is an avowed socialist, and Biden, who has run several times before, was President Obama’s vice president for eight years. If Obama thinks Biden...
Letter to the editor: In praise of the DMV
When was the last time you heard someone praise the wisdom of the DMV? When I visited the Bridgeville DMV facility to secure a Real ID, I expected the worst: a three-hour wait for the painful experience of being told I didn’t have the right documents. To my delight, the...
Letter to the editor: Transparency vs. politics
The editorial “The people have a right to know” (March 2, TribLIVE) offers only one side of the story. I don’t disagree that the people have a right to know what their public officials are doing, but I think it’s important that they understand the entire scope of what an...
Letter to the editor: Electoral College is essential
Regarding Ron Slabe’s letter “Electoral College is archaic”: Any law, resolution or proposal to change the core process of our national election, especially one heavily sponsored (i.e., funded) by left-wing progressives, is something the electorate should strongly oppose. The left has a way of assigning nomenclature to disguise the purpose...
Letter to the editor: Who would fall for ‘Russian meddling’?
Warning! “Experts” report that Vladimir Putin is personally crafting the most hypnotic Facebook ad ever created. If Hillary herself even glances in the ad’s general direction, she will become another Trump zombie. In reality, though, I find it maddening that the media and politicians use the words “meddling” and “interference”...
Letter to the editor: Pro-life means protecting all lives
To me, “pro-life” means supporting all aspects of all lives. It’s not enough to merely encourage a child’s birth while ignoring efforts to feed, clothe, educate, provide health care and protect that child throughout life. Since 2016, we’ve seen expanding anti-life policies, including attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act...
Letter to the editor: Investing and coronavirus
Coronavirus has done one good thing: It forced individuals to reassess investment. The result: a near-recession. While a bear market is never preferable, the chance of an economy not propped up on overconfidence and malinvestment should be desirable to all. Then, the Fed reduced rates to 1.5% in an attempt...
Letter to the editor: School tax & retirement
I believe in total elimination of school tax. No property owners should lose their homes because of it! Op-ed writer Gary English (“Tax -shifting schemes won’t provide property tax relief,” Feb. 18, TribLIVE) doesn’t agree. The proposed House/Senate Bill 76 on school tax elimination would provide much more than a...
Letter to the editor: Economic truths about Obama, Trump
In response to the letter “Obama vs. Trump on national debt” (Feb. 27, TribLIVE): The Bible tell us that the truth will set you free. While President Obama inherited a bad economy, the truth about the Obama “recovery” is that it had the lowest labor participation rate in years with...
Letter to the editor: Young people know the election stakes
There is a growing trend of Republican retirements in the Pennsylvania Legislature. From Joe Scarnati to Mike Turzai to local representatives, it’s clear that something is sending career Republicans packing in 2020. Each time members of the GOP decide against filing reelection papers, it’s an opportunity for voters to ask...
Letter to the editor: History of African American Chamber of Commerce
I would like to clarify the history of an economic organization that is important in the history of Pittsburgh’s black community — the African American Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1996 at the suggestion of business consultant Richard Portis. Founding members were Mulu Birru and Charles Reaves of the Urban...
