Opinion category, Page 68
Sounding off: Politics, Pirates among week’s topics
A difficult time for democracy One might argue Karl Marx was mistaken; it’s not, as Marx predicted, oppressed workers who are smashing capitalism, but bored billionaires. “Move fast and break things,” the guiding principle of Facebook, was adopted by billionaires across business and financial sectors. As I see it, an...
Letter to the editor: McCormick helping to keep us safe
It been a little over 100 days since David McCormick became Pennsylvania’s newest U.S. senator. I felt that electing a self-accomplished senator would give us a senator ready and able to take on the challenges of leadership in Washington. Sure enough, he has taken on several Senate leadership responsibilities, including...
Letter to the editor: Appreciate the great theater talent in Pittsburgh
I recently had the honor to attend the world premiere of “Art of Wise” by Mark Clayton Southers at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater. This is a brilliant play, written at a level of the very best playwrights. This experience reminded me that we have highly talented playwrights, directors, technicians and actors...
Editorial: How did Pittsburgh’s overtime budget go so wrong?
In November, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey proposed a 2025 budget that didn’t just hold the line on 2024’s spending, but it also reeled it in by 3%. In December, Pittsburgh City Council passed that budget with few changes. They did so despite concerns over aspects that felt unrealistic. Specifically, there...
Letter to the editor: Message to Summer Lee — impeach Trump
Earlier this month, Rep. Summer Lee did not directly respond to questions about whether she supports impeaching President Trump from office. This is unacceptable. I am unhappy seeing this lack of foresight and leadership from my district’s representative. It’s obvious to me, a concerned citizen and voter, that Trump is...
Letter to the editor: Republican endorsements cowardly
With the election of RINO Sen. Greg Rothman as Pennsylvania GOP chair, I fully expect the party to endorse its candidate for governor. There were 15 candidates for governor in 2021-22 when I ran. I don’t believe the party will want a repeat of “just anybody” thinking they can run....
Cal Thomas: Time to stamp out the post office
Better buy your “Forever” stamps now, because the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced another price increase. On July 13, the cost of a first-class stamp is scheduled to rise from 73 cents to 78 cents. The plan is to raise prices four more times by 2027. Meanwhile, it appears...
Ruth Johnston: Assisted outpatient treatment can help people like Cody Balmers
His face breaks my heart, though I realize most people will not react that way to Cody Balmer’s mug shots and arrest footage. Cody attacked our state’s official residence, leaving charred furniture and forcing the governor’s family to flee in the night — on Pesach no less, forcing them to...
Letter to the editor: In praise of Leechburg lumber donation
A huge shoutout to Stanford’s Home Center for donating the lumber that was stolen from the Leechburg Youth Baseball Association (“Leechburg baseball association’s stolen wood replaced, police investigating theft,” April 2, TribLive). It’s good to know that there are really good people who do really nice things in the A-K...
Letter to the editor: Allegheny County deserves clean air
Dear Allegheny County Council, I urge you to allocate the funding necessary to fully staff and operate the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program. Due to budget shortfalls, our county lacks the resources to enforce air permits, monitor pollution levels and hold violators accountable. This failure is not just...
Letter to the editor: Family caregivers need assistance
I am writing to publicly thank Rep. Guy Reschenthaler for supporting Alzheimer’s legislation last year, which led to three vital pieces of legislation being passed. I also urge the congressman to support the Credit for Caring Act (HR 2036), a critical piece of legislation that would provide essential financial relief...
Laurels & lances: Cancer & crime
Laurel: To cancer research. Luca Bertucci, 17, of Murrysville understands what it’s like to have cancer. As a sophomore, he received inpatient chemotherapy for Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare, aggressive lymphatic cancer. After seven months of treatment, today he is in remission. When his girlfriend, a member of a Leukemia &...
Letter to the editor: Liberals using scare tactics on tariffs
President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on many countries. The stock market is down. The liberal news and pundits are forecasting inflation, unemployment and recession. It is not that bad. They are trying to scare the American people. Trump is correcting a problem. I compare his tariffs to a drug...
Lori Falce: Prisons, private prisons and foreign prisons
The term “on paper” acknowledges a good idea may be very different from a good reality. For example, open mic night at a club works in theory. The club gets entertainment, and new talent gets a shot at the stage. Win-win. In practice, however, open mic nights might be almost...
Letter to the editor: Kakistocracy’s consequences
It is difficult to keep up with the actions of the kakistocracy but it is important to pay attention, know the facts and understand the consequences. • Elon Musk’s actions have by some accounts cost the U.S. $500 billion. That is not what it saved; that is what they have...
NOTE: On election-related letters
Note on election-related letters: The Tribune-Review will accept submissions of election-related letters through Oct. 24....
Peter Morici: Trump’s tariffs boost Democrats’ prospects for winning big in the midterms
President Trump is wagering tariffs on Republican majorities in Congress. Even with most of his reciprocal tariffs temporarily suspended, these import taxes make a recession more likely, and Mr. Trump won’t be able to turn around the economy quickly enough to save the Republicans’ bacon. Trump’s tariffs and prices He...
Daniel Nelson and Phillip Suderman: ‘No Trespassing’ means government, too
Private Property. Keep Out. No Trespassing. These are all signs that your average American inherently understands: This land belongs to someone else, and the public has no right to enter. But to Pennsylvania wildlife officers, those signs rate as suggestions, not strict rules. That’s because Pennsylvania grants its wildlife officers...
Letter to the editor: Questions about tariffs
I don’t understand tariffs. I know they encourage Americans to buy American products, but are they also like when a church has a flea market and charges sellers $25 to sell their goods? The vendors don’t pass the charge to the customers. When a vendor asks 50 cents for an...
Letter to the editor: Celebrate an animal-free Easter
This Easter, let’s celebrate with compassion by leaving animals out of our traditions. Giving baby chicks as gifts or using real eggs for hunts may seem harmless, but these practices often lead to neglect and suffering. Instead, try reusable eggs and plant-based treats that everyone can enjoy. A vegan Easter...
Editorial: For college students’ sake, let’s be reasonable with visa enforcement
Imagine for a moment having your whole life derailed by a traffic ticket. You decided to study business in Mississippi, and, after getting that degree, you applied to graduate school. You looked at all of your options and picked Carnegie Mellon University. Just getting in is a coup. Carnegie Mellon...
Letter to the editor: A difficult time for democracy
One might argue Karl Marx was mistaken; it’s not, as Marx predicted, oppressed workers who are smashing capitalism, but bored billionaires. “Move fast and break things,” the guiding principle of Facebook, was adopted by billionaires across business and financial sectors. As I see it, an oligarchy composed of said billionaires,...
Jonah Goldberg: Whitmer’s party should learn from what she did in the Oval Office
Kudos to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She managed to generate the most negatively iconic photo of a Democrat since Michael Dukakis wore a helmet atop a tank. Whitmer, long considered a promising presidential prospect by Democratic insiders, was at the White House to discuss state business. But when President Trump’s...
Letter to the editor: O’Connor for mayor
I’m glad I didn’t jump into Pittsburgh’s mayoral race too early. Watching this campaign unfold gave me time to evaluate each candidate — not just their record, but their values and how they campaign. I respect Mayor Ed Gainey, and I’ve worked with him to deliver for my district. But...
Greg Fulton: Penn State branch closures would harm communities
The announcement by Penn State that it plans to close up to 12 of its 19 branch campuses, of which four are in Western Pennsylvania — Beaver in Monaca, Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, New Kensington and Shenango in Sharon — was disheartening to people in those communities and current and...
