Opinion category, Page 69
Letter to the editor: Support New Stanton firefighters
Dedicated volunteer firefighters are harder to come by today. The New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department conducts a seven-week fish-fry fundraiser during Lent each year. This past Friday, numerous volunteers spent eight to 10 hours frying fish, making cole slaw and serving our loyal customers to raise much-needed funds for a...
Letter to the editor: Politicians should talk to their constituents
In order for elected officials to truly understand the concerns of the communities they represent, it is necessary for them to interact with their constituents. According to the Council of State Governments: “A common thread shared by all constituents is their reliance on elected public officials to serve as their...
Letter to the editor: Schumer’s weakness means Pa. kids go hungry
In March, 10 senators crossed party lines to vote with Republicans on a budget resolution that razes public programs to pay for tax cuts for the rich. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted “yes” to the Trump/Musk budget that strips agriculture programs of $230 billion, potentially gutting the Supplemental Nutrition...
Editorial: Right to Know Law can be fixed, if lawmakers would do the right thing
A Pennsylvania court has decided the people don’t need to know about communications between state lawmakers and lobbyists who court them for influence. Nonprofit newsroom Spotlight PA asked for communications between some state senators or their staff members and lobbyists. It was part of a corruption investigation involving the city...
Letter to the editor: Tariffs and our national debt
Greetings, Mr. Guy Reschenthaler, How about being honest with yourself and your constituents? We do need a congressional representative who acts for us as well as for our beloved country. The No. 1 problem we have in the USA is still the debt that has accumulated and the need to...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s assault on natural resources
Supporters of Donald Trump who enjoy Pennsylvania’s outdoors likely did not expect him to launch policies so harmful to clean water, wildlife and public lands. If they are paying attention now, they’re fearful of our outdoors’ future. Trump’s gutting of natural resource and environmental agencies is something we’ve never seen...
Cal Thomas: Tax Day, time to again feed the insatiable beast
America’s annual rituals and observances include days we usually celebrate together (July Fourth, Memorial Day, Veterans Day) or as members of special groups (Passover, Easter and Christmas). The one annual ritual it can be safely said most Americans despise is April 15, when the half of us who pay federal...
Stephen Mihm: The atomic bomb set the stage for the college funding fight
In recent weeks, the nation’s most selective universities have been waking up to a new reality: the billions of dollars in federal funding that have long sustained them now come with strings attached. The Trump administration has put Columbia, Harvard and Princeton on notice, threatening to withhold research funds unless...
Letter to the editor: You and I will pay for Trump’s tariffs
Who does Donald Trump think he is hurting with these tariffs? We are going to pay for them. Do you wonder why no one else came up with the idea? This is a tax on the American people and that is that. Do you think these other countries are just...
Letter to the editor: Sadopolitics and the bullying of Lesotho
President Donald Trump plans to impose 50% tariffs on Lesotho, a tiny country entirely surrounded by South Africa. Why? Lesotho’s population is 150 times smaller than America’s, its land mass 324 times smaller, its gross domestic product 4,221 times smaller. It doesn’t pose much threat. But then why bash Lesotho...
Letter to the editor: Norwin nearing bond debt limit
What kind of society bestows huge amounts of debt upon their youth? The USA is $36 trillion in debt, $18 trillion of which was incurred during the most recent administration. Who can possibly pay this? Certainly not us senior citizens. It will be the burden of our children and grandchildren....
Editorial: Political violence must be decried every day
During Passover, the Jewish people remember the liberation of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. It is a time of reflection and rejoicing. It is marked by solemnity and celebration. On Saturday, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family celebrated at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence with guests. At 6:07 p.m., he...
Letter to the editor: Saddened by removal of Bucco Bricks
My grandfather bought a Bucco Brick when PNC Park opened. His father was born in the early years of the franchise and was a lifelong fan. He would often make the trek from Westernport, Md., after his shift at the paper mill to root on the Bucs. He passed on...
Letter to the editor: Oil prices vs. gas prices
Why aren’t gasoline prices following the downward trend in oil prices? West Texas crude oil lost $12 per barrel March 31 through April 8. Falling from $71 to $59. On April 9 it was trending lower. Gasoline prices locally have stayed mostly between $3.59 and $3.69 per gallon with some...
Lynn Schmidt: Missing Mike Pence
I miss Vice President Mike Pence, and you should too. That is, if you appreciate the second in command standing up for his oath to the Constitution instead of a man, and if you long for the days when America respected our European allies and was a proud member of...
Jason W. Park: American Dream or American Nightmare? Choose wisely!
For many people living and working in this country, the American Dream defines their aspirations. By hard work and meaningful sacrifices, Americans can reach their lifelong goals, whether a short-order cook or a NASA astronaut. The “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” that our Founding Fathers penned seems to...
Letter to the editor: How about some concessions in the Pirates lineup?
Did anyone see and listen to Bob Nutting’s pre-home opener interview with broadcaster Greg Brown? I sure hope Brown was wearing boots and carrying a shovel. I haven’t heard that many falsehoods and bull cookies since an Alejandro Mayorkas news conference. Let’s face it: The Pirates are never going anywhere...
Letter to the editor: Don’t cut services to veterans, America’s heroes
I have a message for the Trump/Musk administration: Hands off veterans’ benefits! DOGE is planning drastic cuts to the Veterans Affairs Department which include: • Narrowing the list of qualifying medical conditions. • Replacing VA hospitals/clinics with privatized outpatient centers. • Eliminating 80,000 positions at the VA. • Terminating telehealth...
Letter to the editor: Voice of America not best use of taxpayer money
Can you hear me now or is anyone really listening? The writer of the letter “We have silenced ourselves” (April 11, TribLive) grieves the purge of Voice of America from the U.S. taxpayers’ checkbook. I guess baseball, hot dogs with Coke and Chevrolets will make the huddled masses see the...
Editorial: University funding should be reformed, not reduced
Six months before World War II ended in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a letter to his top science adviser. Could the wealth of technical knowledge developed for combat, he asked, spur the peacetime economy and improve public health? The resulting treatise, presented to Congress in 1945, established the...
Letter to the editor: Mystery of Chinese companies
Did you know that tens of millions of Americans have been investing in Chinese companies involved in advanced military weapon production, surveillance technologies and egregious human rights abuses? Unwittingly, I’m sure. For the past 25 years, approximately 5,000 Chinese companies have entered the U.S. capital markets without being properly vetted....
Letter to the editor: Destroying Social Security
Initially, I was perplexed about why Elon Musk and President Trump seemed to be targeting Social Security before other entitlements. Typically, Republicans advocate for cutting spending to reduce taxes. However, Social Security pays for itself with FICA, and because there is a cap, at most, each billionaire pays a little...
Editorial cartoons for the week of April 14
Editorial cartoons for the week of April 14....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of April 14
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of April 14....
Letter to the editor: A closer look at Trump’s tariffs
I encourage everyone to look at President Trump’s tariff tax chart and compare his tariffs to the tariffs we are paying to other countries. Trump’s new rates are still a lot lower than the tariffs most countries are charging us. It’s about time somebody is looking out for the American...
