Opinion category, Page 10
Letter to the editor: Two-party system doesn’t work
It occurs to me that the two-party system does not work anymore. The Republicans voice an idea and the Democrats say no way. And the same is true the other way around. What happens? Not a thing. There is so much hate and mistrust, the framers must be rolling in...
Letter to the editor: Authoritarian takeover
The New Republic has published an excellent article on 10 rules for authoritarian takeover of a country. I strongly encourage everyone who thinks to find and read this piece. Rule 1: Fire government referees. President Donald Trump has fired 17 inspectors general and members of the federal oversight commission. Rule...
Jason Kavulich and Bill Johnston-Walsh: Standing up for Pa.’s family caregivers
Every November, a quiet yet profound tribute unfolds across the nation: National Family Caregivers Month. While we celebrate many professions and contributions, this observation, long championed by AARP Pennsylvania and the Department of Aging, is for the over 63 million Americans who provide unpaid care to a family member or...
Letter to the editor: Tariffs are indeed a tax on the consumer
Are tariffs a tax on consumer? Well, my brother got a bill from FedEx for $8 for a product he bought from Amazon, listed as a tariff from Department of Homeland Security for product from overseas. We have been told over and over again that tariffs are not a tax...
Letter to the editor: Trump administration withholding food from citizens
Last week, I met one of the 42 million low-income Americans for whom SNAP benefits ceased during the government shutdown. He was using the last of his benefits at the grocery store but remained short of funds. Because of the kindness of strangers, he left with all of his items...
Letter to the editor: Filibusters and shutdowns
In 2013, the then-majority Democrats in the Senate, under the leadership of Sen. Harry Reid, changed U.S. Senate rules regarding the filibuster to eliminate it, but only for approving presidential appointees. This was done in deference to then-President Obama, because Republicans refused to approve his appointments. That change allowed Obama’s...
Editorial: Ending of government stalemates doesn’t negate damage
November is when families finally come together around a table and accomplish one thing that may have been hard to do for months. They have a meal and try to get along. Maybe it’s the impending Thanksgiving holiday that has prompted the Pennsylvania and federal governments to finally do what...
Jonah Goldberg: Has Trump already lost the Latino vote?
For generations, foreign policy eggheads debated the question, “Who lost China?” I’m wondering if election analysts might soon ask, “Who lost the Latinos?” Almost exactly one year ago, President Trump won an impressive election victory. It wasn’t the landslide his boosters claim, but it was decisive. And Trump’s record-breaking success...
Destenie Nock: Heat or hope — what happens when energy aid freezes before winter
There are life-and-death consequences for millions of households as a result of the ongoing government shutdown. Every fall, millions of families wait for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to begin aid distribution so they can manage their energy bills. This year, that wait is stretching into winter. Because...
Panini A. Chowdhury: Can America afford to fear her own cities?
Can America truly thrive while its cities are under siege — not only from political neglect like Electoral College and recent gerrymandering attempts, but from a spreading narrative of fear? This isn’t merely a partisan issue. It’s an economic, social and existential one. Our urban centers are the beating heart...
Halie Kampman, Brian King, Glenn Sterner, Kristina P. Brant and Maya Weinberg: Pa. counties face tough choices on spending $2B opioid settlement funds
In communities across Pennsylvania, local officials are deciding how to spend over $2 billion from the state’s opioid settlement agreements. For many, the task is proving promising yet challenging — and raises questions about how to best navigate complex local needs. Pennsylvania will receive the money over 18 years from...
Letter to the editor: Netanyahu, Trump very similar
I would like to commend the writer of the very patriotic and courageous letter “Netanyahu and Trump” (Oct. 25, TribLive). The similarities between these two are absolutely amazing. Their public behavior convinces me that they were both born without souls. While the fascist fans of these semi-humans will call us...
Letter to the editor: Venom of Marxism
It is difficult to imagine the venomous spawn of philosopher Karl Marx rearing its evil head in New York City’s mayoral race. For Christians, despite the 20th century being the bloodiest of all previous centuries combined, have been slowly embracing the reason for that bloodshed, Marx. Marxism is an atheistic...
Letter to the editor: Replacing lead pipes critical to health
As business manager of the Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers Local 66, I’m proud to have our members replacing old and potentially dangerous lead pipes in the Pittsburgh Region. It’s easy to take for granted basic necessities like clean air, drivable roads and safe water. One such example is aging lead...
Editorial: Pennsylvania’s Act 111 does not protect good policing
Police enforce accountability — sometimes through arrests, sometimes through simply maintaining order. It is understandable that the public expects police to be accountable as well. It is confusing to have the law stand in the way of that. If an officer is fired for some kind of abuse of power,...
Jason Anthony: Google search ruling a win for small businesses in Pa., across country
This fall, after a years-long antitrust battle, a federal judge rejected the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request that he force Google to break apart its integrated search tools. Many high-profile commentators called the decision a disappointment, but I saw it as a major win for small businesses. Let me explain....
Danny Tyree: Can we talk sensibly about Veterans Day
“Write something sensible.” I’m finishing this column on the first anniversary of my mother’s passing, and I can still hear her cajoling me to cater to her down-to-earth tastes. Her funny bone was unpretentious. She could laugh at pratfalls on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” or a tyke’s witticisms on “Kids...
Mark Z. Barabak: Nancy Pelosi prided herself on cold calculation. She knew it was time.
When Nancy Pelosi first ran for Congress, she was one of 14 candidates, the front-runner and a target. At the time, Pelosi was little known to San Francisco voters. But she was already a fixture in national politics. She was a major Democratic fundraiser who helped lure the party’s 1984...
Letter to the editor: Where the heck is the tech?
Where the heck is the tech? I’m sick and tired of hearing, “We take the safety of our students and community very seriously,” or some variation on this theme.” So, why are children still getting molested in schools, people and police getting stabbed and shot in our streets and unlighted...
Letter to the editor: Trump flip-flops on Constitution
You could not make this up: Our president called upon Pennsylvania voters to reject the retention of state Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht, asserting that he was asking this of Keystone State citizens in order to “bring back the rule of law and stand up...
Editorial: Pittsburgh’s new mayor must be the bridge to what’s next
Pittsburgh’s mayor needs to be like the city — full of bridges. The mayor has to find a way to cross deep, perilous financial waters. The mayor has to span the chasm between the needs of residents and the demands of business. The mayor has to travel from the promises...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 10
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 10....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 10
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 10....
Letter to the editor: Government should prohibit dangerous medications
Your newspaper reported Teva is selling blood-pressure drugs in America that contain carcinogens (“Blood pressure medication recalled over carcinogen,” Nov. 1); that is to say that they cause cancer. It is not the first time our U.S. Food and Drug Administration has caught Teva’s medical products subjecting our citizens to...
Letter to the editor: The penny problem — don’t keep the change
The demise of the penny is most likely going to cause a financial burden on the consumer. The government decided to eliminate minting the penny, as the metal and labor used in the coin exceeded the value of the coin. The solution? Rounding to the nearest nickel. Problem solved! Well,...
