Opinion category, Page 309
Editorial: Is Westmoreland County GOP being fair to all candidates?
Why would a candidate not be expected to support his own campaign? Westmoreland County commissioner candidate Paul Kosko of Hempfield hasn’t gotten in line with the county Republican Committee, and it is costing him his involvement in the party. In February, the committee announced its endorsement of a full slate...
Letter to the editor: Our addiction to plastic is dangerous
I am grateful that the Tribune-Review has thoroughly covered last month’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. From the plight of those most affected, to resources for concerned regional residents, your coverage is appreciated. One angle that demands more attention, however, is the connection between this disaster and our culture’s...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: For Ukraine, the good fight
Fight night on Pittsburgh’s North Side was in the final hours of St. Patrick’s Day. There was a packed house at the Grand Hall of the Priory to watch a six-bout card of prizefighters, some local and others from out of town. And it turned out to be much more...
Cassandra Jones Havard: Moral hazard — why it’s risky for the government to rescue banks
“Moral hazard” refers to the risks that someone or something becomes more inclined to take because they have reason to believe that an insurer will cover the costs of any damages. The concept describes financial recklessness. It has its roots in the advent of private insurance companies about 350 years...
Michael J. Lee: Secession is here — States, cities and the wealthy are already withdrawing from America
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, wants a “national divorce.” In her view, another Civil War is inevitable unless red and blue states form separate countries. She has plenty of company on the right, where a host of others — 52% of Trump voters, Donald Trump himself and...
Guy Ciarrocchi: GOP can target suburban swing voters and keep their base
In recent election cycles, the Philadelphia suburbs have been moving further into the Democratic column. To add to the challenge for Pennsylvania Republicans, more areas are resembling these communities as the state becomes more suburban. It’s a common trend in Rust Belt and East Coast states. Some analysts have argued...
Letter to the editor: American greatness
Regarding the letter “American greatness disappearing” (Feb. 28, TribLIVE): It depends on how you define greatness. Does a great nation take care of its most vulnerable children? Does a great nation abuse a person based upon the color of his or her skin? Today America must choose between moving forward...
Sounding off: Hunting opener, presidents, ‘woke,’ wages, secondhand smoke on readers’ minds
Presidents have no control over inflation Inflation, we are told, results when people spend too much money, driving up prices; too much money chasing too few goods. Wall Street wants to cure it by hammering on working people. The Federal Reserve raises interest rates, in effect sending every employer a...
Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh needs more vegan restaurant options
When Pittsburgh restaurant Onion Maiden announced it will close at the end of March, it was a punch in the gut for area vegans and plant-food enthusiasts. The owners say they are burned out, not because there’s a lack of business. Unfortunately, this leaves vegans like me in search of...
Editorial: Ethics should be top priority for every candidate
Ethics are the set of principles that steer someone’s actions. Sometimes they are easy to follow because they are clearly spelled out. Sometimes they are harder to navigate because they are vague suggestions of morality rather than hard-and-fast rules. There are different definitions for different jobs. The ethics of an...
Letter to the editor: Saturday deer opener works fine
Regarding the letter “Time to move deer hunting opener back to Monday” (March 19, TribLIVE): Twenty or 30 years ago I might have agreed with you. Back then, there were still a lot of hunters traveling north to hunt. We have a family hunting camp in Potter County, and we...
Gary Franks: NBA great Willis Reed — a gentle giant and friend
An NBA great has passed away — Willis Reed. His 10-year basketball career with the New York Knicks was outstanding and will be remembered by all who followed the game during those years. Reed, a Hall of Famer, was a class act, team player, captain, MVP, All-Star, two-time NBA champion...
Timothy J. Kunselman: ‘It’s political’ and other annoying words and phrases
The most recent word that annoys the heck out of me is “weaponization.” I first heard it used by Republicans railing against the Department of Justice and alleged use of the justice system to exact political punishment. “Weaponization” is right up there with “witch hunt” and “MAGA” and “red and...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s ‘accomplishments’ not marred by bone spurs
In answer to the writer of the letter “Why Trump was a great president” (March 7, TribLIVE), who lists all of President Trump’s “accomplishments”: And he did it all with bone spurs. Don Aliquo Lower Burrell...
Letter to the editor: We’ve gone from best president to worst
It seems that our country has been going down the wrong road for the past two years. Joe Biden has proven himself incompetent over and over again. From the skyrocketing prices of fuel, groceries and other essentials to the mishandling of our southern border to the sloppy pullout in Afghanistan,...
Lori Falce: Is it too late to limit TikTok?
It seemed so innocent at first. I downloaded an app. It was the thing all the kids were using, and it was raising a lot of questions in parenting circles. Was it OK for tweens? Was it dangerous? Should it be limited? Should it be nixed entirely? I’m not a...
Laurels & lances: Riding and parking
Laurel: To getting feedback. When it comes to providing services to the public, it’s important to know what people are going to need or want. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time, money and resources. The Westmoreland Transit Authority addressed that Tuesday with a public input session to talk with...
Letter to the editor: Saturday deer opener takes fun out of hunting
Hunter Randy Santucci is right on the money (“Opponents of Saturday deer opener cite negative economic, social impacts,” May 20, TribLIVE). The game commission needs to go back to Monday for opening day. They took all the fun out of camp and the camaraderie that camps have before hunting. Going...
Peter Morici: America’s most powerful weapon to beat China and Russia in Cold War 2.0 is free trade
The U.S. is in a new Cold War with China and something hotter with Russia. But America’s shift to protectionism and overreliance on implementing economic sanctions are foolish. After World War II, the U.S. created NATO and alliances in the Pacific, cultivated free trade among allies through the GATT, EU...
Rob Perkins: Allegheny County district attorney’s office needs an integrity unit
Our chief local prosecutor is the Allegheny County district attorney. Bucking a national trend, our DA has failed to establish a conviction integrity unit. It’s past time to create one. Mistakes happen in criminal trials. Just like they happen in any human endeavor. But the stakes are high in criminal...
Letter to the editor: Reality check on reenactments
The Bushy Run reenactment is silly. What’s next? A reenactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor? A reenactment of the Holocaust? A reenactment of the atomic bomb attack? A reenactment of the Vietnam War? Get a reality check. Francois Vukosic Bridgeville...
Letter to the editor: Amazing teacher and students at Pine-Richland
I attended a preview showing of the Pine-Richland High School musical put on for seniors. The music was played live by a student orchestra conducted by Brian Scott. The orchestra was amazing — they didn’t miss a note the whole show. I don’t know if Scott is an amazing teacher...
Letter to the editor: Follow science on climate change
The statement “fossil fuels are never going away” in the letter “Don’t be afraid to question climate change claims” (March 14, TribLIVE) is false. They will go away, at least, when they run out. But sooner than that we will be killed by the wars over remaining land and resources...
Editorial: Justice, compassion and the lesson of 2 mothers
The justice system is all about scales. They tip. They balance. They measure. They determine who is guilty. They weigh out the punishment. But they are often skewed toward retribution. Courts struggle with calculating the entirety of a crime’s gravity. It is understandable. How do you measure the impact of...
Letter to the editor: Tables turned on the woke
“The problem with the word woke” (March 10, TribLIVE) delves into the woke mind. Woke was appropriated by smug white liberals to brandish assumed street cred. Then they used wokeness to bludgeon conservatives. When their opponents turned the tables, the “woke mob” cried foul, rechristened woke a racial slur and...
