Opinion category, Page 439
Colin McNickle: A fee too far for Allegheny County hotels
Allegheny County’s 7% hotel room rental tax collections, ravaged by the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, began to bounce back in 2021, county data show. But a proposal to add a new fee on top of that tax is shortsighted, concludes an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. “Given that...
Letter to the editor: Don’t vote for Dr. Oz
I felt the need to write this letter to encourage Pennsylvania voters not to vote for Dr. Mehmet Oz. I’m not judging Oz; all I’m saying is, he’s not a resident of Pennsylvania. He lives in New Jersey, and to fulfill the Pennsylvania residency requirement, he listed his in-laws’ address...
Letter to the editor: Our justice system puts citizens at risk
When you no longer have a justice system that works, you put the lives of U.S. citizens at risk. There are times I felt safer serving my country in Vietnam than I do in parts of the U.S. There no longer seem to be deterrents to keep people from committing...
Lori Falce: Why doesn’t Russia play by the rules?
The rules never seem to be the rules in Russia. Not when it comes to politics or borders or even sports. It might seem ironic that the Russia-Ukraine situation is escalating in tensions at the same time the world’s athletes are gathered in China in what is supposed to be...
Letter to the editor: Some socialism might be Christian
I found myself intrigued by Jim Stahl’s letter “Socialism is not Christian” (Feb. 5, TribLIVE). Both “socialism” and “Christianity” can mean different things to different people, and I can’t fully know Stahl’s view on those terms based on his letter. So, to look at socialism and Christianity through a different...
Paul Kengor: The Great Dumpster Fire 2 — the rematch?
It sure looks like Hillary Clinton is running for president again. Clinton is expected to speak at the New York State Democratic Party Convention in Times Square later this month, prompting further speculation that she’s running. Indicators continue to mount. It also sure looks like Donald Trump is running again....
Laurels & lances: Cupcakes, eyesores and permits
Laurel: To a sweet gesture. Businesses in competition with each other might not seem like the best sources of help in times of trouble. What is tragedy for one can be a boon for another. But when it comes to small businesses, it is always best for the community if...
Tom Tyler: Liquor privatization — a glass half full, or half empty?
The debate on House Bill 2272 has started: Should Pennsylvania get out of the business of selling liquor, essentially going with private wholesalers and retailers? This has raised a question within the membership of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association (PLBTA), the statewide political voice for family-owned taverns, bars...
Peter Morici: GOP needs practical solutions before midterms
Republicans are a bit too confident about the midterm elections and more vulnerable than they think. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told key party donors that the Republicans will not offer a legislative platform but rather run against President Joe Biden’s record. Plenty of ammo At first glance, they...
Letter to the editor: History repeating itself in Ukraine
This Russian threat on Ukraine is history repeating itself. Make no mistake: Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied with only Ukraine. I believe Putin wants to rebuild the old Soviet Union and take over the rest of Europe. This reminds me of 1939 and the years before. Adolf Hitler first...
Letter to the editor: Saluting our farmers
I recently attended the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. It is touted as the best in our state, and certainly the biggest and best in the country. I was in awe of the preparation it must take to produce an event of this magnitude to inform the general public...
Editorial: Courts and doctors must cooperate on addiction
The opioid epidemic is not like influenza or covid-19. It is a medical issue that affects the body and threatens lives. It also is a social problem that ends up in court either because of crimes or because of issues such as custody. It is rare that a case of...
Letter to the editor: Benninghoff’s failure on redistricting
Have you ever done something for 25 straight years and still not been able to do it correctly? State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre County, has. As Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2020, 25-year legislator Benninghoff had the responsibility to lead the effort in redistricting so that...
John Stossel: Let Joe Rogan speak
Joe Rogan is amazing. Five years ago, I left Fox to start Stossel TV. I left because I was frustrated by live TV. Guests talked so much but said little. I now produce videos like the ones I used to do on “20/20.” I like having a month or more...
Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy and Taifa Smith Butler: The story of Pittsburgh’s water
During his recent visit to Pittsburgh, President Joe Biden had a lot to say about roads and bridges and America’s crumbling infrastructure — mere hours after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed. But notably, he failed to mention another critical public resource to which the people of Pittsburgh have called attention...
Jonah Goldberg: American reactions to Canada’s trucker protests shows how much our politics have changed
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act in order to clear out the trucker protests in Ottawa. From the beginning, I’ve remained quietly fascinated by the whole spectacle. Quietly, because I’ve struggled to figure out what I think about them, fascinated because they are a window...
Johanna Murphy: Employee shortage, Pittsburgh? Autistic, neurodiverse people ready to work.
For the past several months, op-eds and think pieces have meditated on the current national hiring crisis: Jobs all over the country are going unfilled. It’s a phenomenon we’re familiar with in Western Pennsylvania. For years, as our population has shifted, regional workforce development discussions have lamented the shortage of...
Letter to the editor: Trump should leave the building, permanently
Fearless leader Trump should do what Elvis did: leave the building. And never come back. Francois Vukosic Bridgeville...
Letter to the editor: Another Dem commission — yippee!
I can rest easy now. Comes news of another Dem commission to tackle some issue or another which sounds good and does zip. Pete Buttigieg, he of two months paternity leave and doing very little/nothing else in a year, is leaping into action. Leap, Pete, leap! He announced the formation...
Letter to the editor: Keep dogs safe around frozen water
Please keep your dogs safe in the winter. Keep them on a leash when you are around water. A few years ago, my dog Pumpkin got away from me chasing some ducks that were standing on the ice at Burrell Lake Park. She ran out onto the ice and slid...
Letter to the editor: GOP’s hollow words on election integrity
Republican Joe DiSarro, political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College, believes that Republicans’ redistricting plan, which political observers suggest favors Republicans, is a better option for Western Pennsylvania (“Westmoreland officials favor congressional map that unifies county”). This plan splits communities where Democratic voters reside and moves those voters into...
Editorial: EMT training is practical solution to filling need
The first step in a medical emergency often is taken even before getting to the hospital. It can begin with an ambulance staffed by professionals trained to offer the care that will stabilize a patient until more in-depth diagnostics and treatment can be provided. It is a vital journey that...
Letter to the editor: Illegal slot machines rob seniors
Every Pennsylvania taxpayer, even those who do not enjoy gaming or the entertainment venues in the state’s casinos, benefits from the commonwealth’s casino industry. Last year, the industry generated $1.93 billion in state tax revenue, an increase of $838.2 million over the previous year. Casinos also provide nearly $150 million...
Letter to the editor: Vaccinate for victory
America has now accumulated the most covid deaths per person of any advanced country. This failure is hurting our economy. But we can do better. We must work as a team to defeat covid. You might say “omicron is mild,” “the pandemic is behind us” or “vaccines don’t work.” If...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: LGBTQ kids, raise your voices and make haters hear you
Kermit the Frog famously observed that it’s not easy being green. But if he thinks that’s hard, Kermit should try being you. Having avocado-colored skin has to be a breeze by comparison. To be you, though, requires dealing with active-shooter drills and masking mandates while navigating family dynamics, lunchroom politics...
