Opinion category, Page 169
Joseph Sabino Mistick: A not so beautiful day in the neighborhood
WQED television was established in 1954 — right here in Pittsburgh — as the first community-sponsored educational television station in the nation. The station was truly Pittsburgh, originally funded in part by 200,000 $2 donations from local families. WQED is in our community’s genes, and our genes are in WQED....
Parmy Olson: If AI wrecks democracy, we may never know
This year promises to be a whopper for elective government, with billions of people — or more than 40% of the world’s population — able to vote in an election. But nearly five months into 2024, some government officials are quietly wondering why the looming risk of AI hasn’t, apparently,...
Claudine Sipili: The rising tide — bear witness to families swept into homelessness
Newly released federal data reveals an intensifying homelessness crisis impacting families across America. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report found a staggering 15.5% increase in the number of families with children experiencing homelessness compared with 2022, reversing the downward trend in family homelessness that...
Meredith Elizalde: Legislators must save our children from gun violence
The Democratic Party has traditionally been supportive of gun safety legislation. Therefore, it should be a safe assumption when you cast a vote for a state representative on the Democratic ticket, that you are also casting a vote for gun safety. However, Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, consistently defies this, as...
Letter to the editor: School funding and more taxes
I applaud the well thought out, viable suggestion in the letter “An equitable school funding alternative to property tax” (May 3, TribLive). However, it would just mean an additional tax. The politicos wouldn’t dream of giving tax money back! They will just spend the money on something else or line...
Sounding off: Policing Hempfield, Bob Casey, protesters on readers’ minds
Time for Hempfield to get its own police force I’m curious about Hempfield Township’s decision to secure a state grant to demolish an unused state penetentary for $3.5 million (“Demolition plans advancing for former state prison,” May 6, TribLive). Wouldn’t that money go a lot further in securing their own...
Letter to the editor: Why people don’t like Trump
I believe people don’t like Donald Trump because he lacks certain qualities: He has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honor and no grace. While Trump may be laughable, I doubt...
Editorial: Some government jobs require more professionalism than popularity
Elections or appointments can fill a job vacancy in one of two ways. It may by popular acclamation — meaning of all the people up for a job, one person emerges as the favorite. Or it may be by default if only one person is in the running. In jobs...
Letter to the editor: We aren’t that different
Expressing opinions in this day and age is very difficult. There is such a lack of respect for differing opinions that expressing yourself is difficult. The vulgar hatred of the Jews being expressed makes me realize how corrupt our society has become. It scars me to my core. I fight...
Gary Franks: Sex scandals and the presidency
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of an episode that led to a sitting president admitting his guilt to a felony, a first in America’s history. In the late 1990s, former President Bill Clinton was embroiled in a sex scandal involving a young lady from Arkansas named...
Gillian Kratzer: Pa. surplus should help all residents
I guess it’s not important to keep $14 billion sitting in a bank account in Harrisburg after all. In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro introduced a budget with strong investments in education, community development and public transit. It included proposals to address housing, gun violence, teacher recruitment, higher education costs, medical...
S.E. Cupp: Trump’s biggest albatross is Nikki, not Stormy
Donald Trump has a woman problem. That sounds like an obvious statement about the thrice married former president who is currently defending himself against charges he paid off a porn star he slept with just months after his wife gave birth to their son. But Stormy Daniels — said porn...
Colin McNickle: Voters should decide new ‘local option’ taxes
A bill introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would allow all counties except Allegheny and Philadelphia to enact a 1% “local option” sales and use tax. But while the measure has just begun to wend its way through the law-making process, a scholar at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy...
Jason W. Park: Keeping guns from falling in the wrong hands — lessons from Charlotte
On April 30, four police officers were killed in a shooting while attempting to serve a warrant at a home in Charlotte, N.C. Four other law enforcement officers were wounded during the incident. Officers returned fire and the suspect was killed in the ensuing melee. How can we prevent another...
Letter to the editor: Protesting students should be expelled
So it’s 2024, and America seems to be moving back in time to when the Germans were killing the Jewish people, only now we have college students shouting things like “kill the Jews.” What the hell is wrong with people? These students are probably expecting loan forgiveness; if that happens,...
Lori Falce: Are we a democracy or a republic?
The words we use can make a difference in the way we think. For instance, I have received more than one email talking about “demonrats” instead of Democrats. “Republicans” can be mutated into “Rethuglicans.” The message in the mangling of the words is clear. It’s one of distaste and distrust,...
Laurels & lances: Blood, gators and money
Laurel: To a rapid response. In the event of an emergency, time isn’t money. Time is life or death. The speed of getting medical attention is the difference between survival and tragedy. That is why it is amazing to see local EMS organizations on the cutting edge of a vital...
Letter to the editor: The damage of selfishness
Selfishness is sinful, contradicting everything Christians stand for. Selfishness disregards compassion, justice and the command to love one another. Our region has experienced a 9% increase in precipitation over the past decade and a staggering 34% rise this year alone. Selfish sinful personal gain accelerates environmental degradation, extreme weather events...
Paul Kengor: The debate over a Trump-Biden debate
The judge at the Trump trial in Manhattan might like to muzzle the Donald, but that isn’t easy. In fact, Donald Trump one day last week emerged from his trial as feisty as ever. A reporter asked if he would like to debate President Joe Biden. Trump didn’t hesitate. He...
Erika Strassburger: Keep Pa.’s clean energy momentum going
Pennsylvania has the potential to become a leader in 21st-century clean energy like wind and solar. To realize that potential, we need to make concerted efforts to invest in these industries across the commonwealth, continuing to grow the number of good-paying, clean energy jobs created through President Biden’s clean energy...
Peter Morici: Americans are down on the economy — but there are good reasons to be optimistic
Americans are down on the economy, and many believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Yet the aggregate metrics of U.S. economic health are good. Consumer spending and business investment, especially in industrial equipment, information processing and software, continue to power growth, while U.S. unemployment has been below...
Letter to the editor: Time for Hempfield to get its own police force
I’m curious about Hempfield Township’s decision to secure a state grant to demolish an unused state penitentiary for $3.5 million (“Demolition plans advancing for former state prison,” May 6, TribLive). Wouldn’t that money go a lot further in securing their own police force in order for our Pennsylvania State Police...
Letter to the editor: Conservative ‘talking points’ don’t ring true
To quote the letter “Vote out Bob Casey” (May 1, TribLive): “If you do not enjoy high prices … and you are sick of the endless parade of illegal immigrants invading our country,” then vote out the Democrats. These conservative talking points — “inflation,” “illegal immigration,” “Biden’s fault” — do...
Editorial: Time for Westmoreland’s register of wills to step down
Contempt of court has been in the news a lot lately because of the multiple counts leveled against former President Donald Trump by a New York criminal court judge. On Tuesday, a Westmoreland County official found herself in the same boat. Sherry Magretti Hamilton is the register of wills. It’s...
Letter to the editor: Medicare Advantage saves seniors money
For seniors living on a fixed income, access to high-quality, affordable health care is important — especially as inflation continues to push the prices for everyday essentials higher and higher. That’s why I’m thankful to be covered by a Medicare Advantage plan that works for my budget. Like the vast...
