Opinion category, Page 630
John Stossel: The private space race
This week, American astronauts returned to Earth. Their trip to the space station was the first manned launch from the U.S. in 10 years. By NASA? No. Of course, not. This space flight happened because government was not in charge. An Obama administration committee had concluded that launching such a...
Jonah Goldberg: Trump’s delay-the-election tweet was just a distraction
On Thursday morning, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the U.S. GDP had the biggest drop in a single quarter in U.S. history. From April through June, the economy contracted by 9.5 percent, with GDP falling at an annualized rate of 32.9 percent. President Trump, who tweets about many...
Nathan Benefield: Transparency victory a call to action for lawmakers
On Sunday, Gov. Tom Wolf concluded a weeks-long standoff with the state Legislature by caving. Despite repeated veto threats, he allowed a transparency bill — passed unanimously — to become law, but without his signature. Wolf’s opposition to the benign transparency legislation, sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, was a...
Letter to the editor: Regarding covid-19, do what you think is best
Every day it has become the same old rules and regulations. Wear your mask. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. To the point of brainwashing. It is my belief that you will never get the general public to do anything 100%. Even after a cure is found, all will not...
Letter to the editor: Pandemic highlights differences between Biden, Trump
You might want to believe that a presidential rally is going to cause a “spike” in coronavirus cases but a “peaceful” demonstration with masses of people shoulder to shoulder is OK. I don’t. If you believe pitting Americans against each other by vilifying free speech, free thought, diversity of opinion...
Letter to the editor: Media bias can affect how we think, vote
As a professor of political science and economics at UCLA, Tim Groseclose in 2012 published the book “Left Turn,” providing convincing statistical evidence that bias by the political media actually can determine the way people think and vote. He showed that most of our television, radio and print media have...
Letter to the editor: Career politicians won’t unite us
I’ll make this quick and to the point. All I’ve been hearing about is how we should all stand together. Well, guess what: The career politicians are making that damn near impossible by caving in to every whim. People are allowed to tear down statues, destroy property, not pledge allegiance...
Letter to the editor: ‘Malicious slander’ at Chinese consulate in Texas?
Regarding the article “China cites ‘malicious slander’ as Houston consulate closes” (July 23, TribLIVE): The late John Dillinger was just a sadly misunderstood bank customer, too, wasn’t he? Alan Schultz McCandless...
Letter to the editor: John Lewis raised others up
John Lewis has made his final trip across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the bridge where his skull was fractured by Alabama state troopers in 1965. He spent his lifetime earning the military and state trooper guard who honored him as his casket traveled that same bridge on July 26. Lewis’...
Martin Schram: This may be John Lewis’ greatest gift to us all
For two weeks, we have watched and listened to history’s recordings of the late John Lewis, speaking powerfully and movingly to us during his lifetime of courageously nonviolent combat in the name of our civil rights. But we really shouldn’t say our final goodbyes to the iconic man who is...
Lori Falce: Is it a conspiracy theory?
Is it cake? It’s a phenomenon taking over the internet. Look at this video showing a book or suitcase or can of baked beans. But wait, what’s happening? Someone produces a knife and cuts it in half. That simple household object turns out to be chocolate and buttercream and fondant....
Laurels & lances: Listening, hearing, living
Laurel: To doing the right thing. Westmoreland County Controller Jeffrey Balzer did just that when he put on a mask. Balzer was previously criticized by some — and supported by others — for not donning the protective gear required in the courthouse and by Gov. Tom Wolf’s edict. A three-term...
Janet Jai: The dangers of Pittsburgh’s new Bike(+) Plan, especially for children
Pittsburgh’s new Bike(+) Plan will be coming to all of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, maybe to your street. Be careful! This new bike plan may make Pittsburgh’s newly designated bike-path streets (and others around them) more dangerous — especially for children — and for drivers and pedestrians as well. Given the pandemic...
Letter to the editor: Sick of rioters
“Basta, ’nuff” is what my grandmother would yell at us when things got a little too much for her. So, to the rioters all over the country, I’m saying, “basta, ’nuff.” Listen, the entire country is sick of your crap. Sick of the lawlessness, sick of the riots, sick of...
Letter to the editor: ‘Defend our cops’ should be our new mantra
Did you read Lori Falce’s column “Good cops have power to demand change” (June 4, TribLIVE)? Please look it up. It needs to be reprinted for those who missed it. It has a powerful truth. The new statement, I believe, should be “Defend our cops.” Take it and run with...
Letter to the editor: Pa.’s school reopening guidelines too strict
It was amazing to read the front-page article “From masks to buses to recess, Pa. unveils guidance for schools finalizing reopening plans” (July 16, TribLIVE). It left me wondering where our state officials get the information to make their recommendations on schools reopening. I cannot imagine a child wearing a...
Letter to the editor: Defunding police in Pittsburgh
I was appalled after reading “Pittsburgh council set to enact police reforms before summer recess” (July 22, TribLIVE). Councilman Ricky Burgess states “we cannot defund the police” and then sets in action a “reform bill” that defunds the police budget by $250,000, which was set for a new recruit class...
Letter to the editor: Facts on Joe Biden’s platform
Instead of what I see as the constant biased CNN untruths and the conspiracy theories, let’s look at some facts. Joe Biden is promising (according to his website and the DNC platform) all of the following — none of which were done in the 40-plus years he has been in...
Timothy L. O’Brien: William Barr only claims to respect the rule of law
Attorney General William Barr is famously unflappable, the legal technician and savvy Washington insider unswayed by lesser minds or weaker wills. But on Tuesday, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing examining the past 19 months of his tenure, Barr’s legendary composure dissolved several times. His anger flared at moments when...
Carl P. Leubsdorf: With campaign lagging, Trump has a Pence dilemma
When President George H.W. Bush faced an uphill reelection fight in 1992, aides discussed ways to change the political calculus and give his candidacy a much-needed boost. Now, Donald Trump faces a comparable situation and a similar option. In the case of Bush, several top advisers, including the candidate’s future...
Editorial: Nursing homes need continued covid attention
Pennsylvania has 693 nursing homes. According to the state Department of Health, all of them have now had at least one round of covid-19 testing. Every resident, every staff member, have reportedly been tested for the disease that is at its most lethal among the aging population. Personal care and...
Ann Sanders and Theodoros Papazekos: Congress must boost SNAP benefits to address hunger crisis
The economic downturn accompanying the pandemic has cost millions their jobs, and millions more have faced reduced hours and wages. The problem is perhaps particularly acute in Pennsylvania. As of June, our state unemployment rate of 13% was the ninth worst in the country and far worse than its peak...
Letter to the editor: Masking the country’s bigger problems
I look at people’s eyes above the masks, filled with fear or numbness. What a fine excuse to take a step farther back from having to associate with their fellow human beings. In the digital world we no longer have to deal with social interaction, which can cause distress because...
Letter to the editor: Memories of Vietnam
Reading Howard Bronder’s letter “Fireworks remind vet of soldier friends in Vietnam” (July 7, TribLIVE) was very uplifting. In Vietnam, I was stationed way up north around Dong Ha, Quang Tri. I share your story very well. The movies “Platoon” and “First Blood” show how it really was. You mentioned...
Letter to the editor: We the people … surrender?
When “democratic socialism” comes, we’ll deserve forfeiting America’s signature quality. Not just liberty itself, but our understanding that effort, pride, motivation, failure and success are as essential to the joy of freedom as the outcome. With socialism, effort is secondary. Obscenely taxed workers fund communal support and $93 trillion Green...
