Opinion category, Page 165
Letter to the editor: Remember the real reason for Memorial Day
When will people and businesses stop saying “Happy Memorial Day”? Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. A day to remember and honor those who never made it back home from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the many other wars and conflicts over the years. Before you crack open...
Letter to the editor: Protecting access to Alzheimer’s treatments
As the saying goes, “You can’t choose your family.” The same can be said for not being able to choose which chronic disease will impact you and your loved ones. Millions of families across the United States have loved ones who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and have quickly seen the...
Editorial: Remembering sacrifice on Memorial Day
For Memorial Day, a classic Trib editorial: On this Memorial Day, be grateful that Americans’ willingness to sacrifice for freedom’s sake, instilled by each generation in the next, remains as strong as ever. Today, Americans honor those most worthy of such gratitude — those who gave their lives in our...
Letter to the editor: Take care of the bees
With spring in full bloom, it’s time for a reminder about the importance of bees to both humans and nature. Bees don’t just pollinate the flowers in your garden; they pollinate the myriad crops we eat and protect the environment by promoting biodiversity. This has a number of effects, such...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: Justice denied
When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas resigned 55 years ago this month, he was facing congressional calls for his impeachment. He had been on the court for less than four years and had controversially remained a confidant of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. The cause of his resignation was a...
Point: A call for civil rights — end colonialism in Puerto Rico
For 107 years, Puerto Ricans have lived as second-class U.S. citizens. Just last month, the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights’ Puerto Rico Advisory Committee released a memorandum highlighting the subjugation of Puerto Rico and revealing continuing disparities faced by its 3.2 million U.S. citizens. The memo exposed a sad yet...
Counterpoint: Puerto Rico as 51st state would pile on the debt for US, tip balance of power
Every so often, whether Puerto Rico should be granted statehood becomes a hot topic, especially inside D.C.’s Beltway. Historically, the people of Puerto Rico have generally voted against becoming the 51st state. However, that has not stopped many from advocating for Puerto Rican statehood, which would assuredly result in two...
Letter to the editor: Biden and Trump as Mufasa and Scar
Watching the presidential race reminds me of the Walt Disney movie “The Lion King,” with Joe Biden as Mufasa and Donald Trump as Scar. It’s a no-brainer that both of them are old, but one person seems to be trying while the other is trying to keep himself out of...
Letter to the editor: Teach children hard work, love of country
Memorial Day is a time to reflect. As I remember my late father, a Marine who served in the island-hopping campaign of World War II, I can’t help but compare our nation then to our nation now. I am proud to say my parents were part of the Greatest Generation....
Editorial: Biden is changing U.S. stances on marijuana. He should bring Marc Fogel home from Russia for medical marijuana use.
On Thursday, Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel spoke to TribLive about his time in a Russian penal colony, where he has been sentenced to 14 years. His alleged crime: possession of medical marijuana legally prescribed in Pennsylvania. He had a simple and heartfelt plea to President Joe Biden: “Just please, bring...
Letter to the editor: PBMs crucial in fight against costly health care
Like most in the Keystone State, I am deeply concerned about the escalating costs of health care, particularly prescription drugs. A recent government study revealed that Pennsylvania residents spend a yearly average of $13,557 on health care, exceeding the national average by over $2,000. With health care costs already burdensome...
Gary Franks: And the Oscar goes to … DEI participants
I never “wanted” to get anything because I was Black, but I never wanted to be “denied” anything because I was Black, either. All I’ve wanted is fairness — to have a fair opportunity to compete, fair evaluations and fair enforcement of our laws. This is what all Americans should...
S.E. Cupp: Does Trump really have any policy on abortion?
The day was Aug. 18, 1988. New Orleans. President Ronald Reagan’s vice president, George H.W. Bush took the stage at the Republican National Convention to accept the nomination for president. He’d been lagging in the polls behind Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis, and Jack Kemp suggested an idea that could save...
Athan Koutsiouroumbas: In Pa., cost of American dream is out of reach
The American dream in Pennsylvania has a price tag: $230,464. That’s the cost for a family of four to live “comfortably” in the Keystone State. The tally is based on the “50/30/20 Rule,” which holds that half of a household’s income should be spent on housing and necessities, a third...
Letter to the editor: Transparency needed on ARPA funds
The American Rescue Plan (ARPA) report issued by Westmoreland County for the third quarter of 2023 accounts for only about $58 million of the $105 million in allocations for those funds. At the commissioners’ meeting in January, Commissioner Doug Chew said the remaining funds were used as “replacement” funds for...
Lori Falce: Uvalde settlement is offensively inadequate
The City of Uvalde, Texas settled a lawsuit with the families of 17 children killed and two who were wounded in the 2022 massacre of Robb Elementary School. The city is paying out $2 million. That may sound like a large number. In some cases, it might be. In this,...
Laurels & lances: New hire, new housing
Laurel: To a new hire. The first president of Pennsylvania Western University announced her departure on Valentine’s Day 2023. That was followed by interim president Lorraine Bernotsky being named the new leader of West Chester University. She will depart PennWest June 30. It has taken more than 15 months to...
Letter to the editor: Driving energy leadership
The busy summer travel season is upon us, meaning increased demand for transportation fuel. According to AAA, nearly 44 million travelers are expected to head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day travel period – an increase of 4% over last year. As demand for affordable, reliable...
Paul Kengor: Pearl Harbor and the vanishing WWII vet
I think often of my late friend Charles Wiley. My colleague David Ayers and I plotted to bring Charlie to Grove City College every spring semester for years. Students were enthralled by this extraordinarily colorful old guy holding forth with stories from his incredible life, beginning as a childhood actor...
Michael Puskaric: Regional partnering key to ending opioid crisis
The opioid epidemic has left a trail of devastation across the United States, claiming countless lives and tearing apart communities. In 2022 alone more than 110,000 Americans succumbed to a drug overdose with opioids accounting for nearly 70% of those deaths. Meanwhile, fentanyl and counterfeit pills continue to flood America...
Letter to the editor: Biden should institute freeze on prices, wages, benefits
President Nixon instituted a 90-day wage and price freeze in August 1971. Inflation was rampant, and people were suffering financial difficulties. My husband and I lived through that period. Most workers’ wages were frozen. Most prices were frozen. Wage and price controls did not work perfectly, but they did cool...
Letter to the editor: Veterans follow orders on safety precautions
The writer of the letter “Veteran won’t vote for Biden” (May 16, TribLive), who says he is an Air Force veteran, regurgitates numerous right-wing conspiracy theories about the erosion of “freedoms, values and individual responsibilities” by the left as reasons not to vote for President Biden and extolling the years...
Editorial: Is the NFL Draft or a Super Bowl better for Pittsburgh?
Is the NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh in 2026 really that big a deal? From a financial perspective, it definitely could be. It seems unlikely Pittsburgh will see a Super Bowl on the North Shore anytime soon. The February weather in Southwestern Pennsylvania is too changeable for 120 million eyes...
Letter to the editor: Abortion should not be an issue
Election Day is racing at us with what seems like breakneck speed. To me, it seems the big issues the candidates will be clashing about are abortion, inflation and millions of immigrants living off the American taxpayer. How many of them are here to do harm to our country? Of...
Jonah Goldberg: Trump and Biden agreed to debates. That’s a lot less important than it was made out to be.
The Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to two presidential debates last week. Who among us can contain our excitement? Well, it depends on what you mean by “us.” In my corner of the professional world — pundits, commentators, political junkies — there was much rejoicing. Watching the Sunday shows, you...
