Opinion category, Page 98
Amir Sommer: Our words about Israel-Hamas war can add to hostilities — or help on path to peace
The language people use to talk about the Israel-Hamas war has power: It can contribute to misunderstanding and alienation, but it can also bring about appreciation for concepts that can seem impossible during this kind of conflict, such as peace. I was born to a Palestinian Arab father and an...
Letter to the editor: Good riddance to Biden
Regarding the letter “Thankful for Biden’s accomplishments” (Dec. 26, TribLive), here are some additional “accomplishments” to that list: a 22% rise in inflation; a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan; an unsecured southern border allowing millions of illegal migrants, including criminals and terrorist invaders, to enter the country, resulting in murders of...
Letter to the editor: 1 commissioner could get the job done in Westmoreland County
By the time the next primary rolls around, our three Westmoreland County commissioners will be earning over $100,000 each. Those three plus their staff will cost the county over $500,000. Why do we need three people to make a decision? One commissioner and two staff members would save the county...
Editorial: Republican budget gimmicks: Just say no
The Republican Party’s new majority has become deeply split over the legislative path ahead. Some lawmakers want to prioritize defense, energy and immigration. Others want to focus on taxes first. Still others want everything, all at once, preferably while humiliating their opponents. A more modest agenda would better suit their...
Letter to the editor: The dangers of K2/Spice at Allegheny County Jail
The synthetic drug K2/Spice is illegal and dangerous, and it is being used at the Allegheny County Jail as well as other jails across the country. A person can get “high” from the drug, but the drug can have very serious side effects: tachycardia, convulsions, kidney failure, hallucinations, paranoia and...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Jan. 6
.Editorial cartoons for the week of Jan. 6...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Jan. 6
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Jan. 6....
Letter to the editor: Why are we letting the fox guard the henhouse?
Think about the fable of the fox guarding the henhouse. Now think about the guy who took billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayers’ money to design and build electric cars with batteries that go boom. Now think about giving him a government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, that has...
Letter to the editor: Resolve to be healthier with plant-based diet
New Year’s resolution, anyone? How about one with multiple benefits for our health, our planet and the animals? Eating more veggies, fruits, legumes, grains and nuts helps us stay healthier, reduce global warming and stop animal suffering. It requires no exertion or deprivation. And it saves money too! The abundant...
![Editorial: The burden of the [egg] yolk](https://assets-varnish.triblive.com/2025/01/8082086_web1_7973719-362d44dcac9c48bfb97c27a6873d1199.jpg)
Editorial: The burden of the [egg] yolk
The price of eggs was political in 2024. The breakfast staple and baking building block often came into the conversation over the cost of groceries. Vice President-elect JD Vance provided an inadvertent chuckle for some when claiming a carton cost $4 — while standing in front of a display with...
Letter to the editor: Natural gas drives benefits across Pa.
I would like to respectfully disagree with the writer of the letter “Fracking falsehoods” (Dec. 18, TribLive). Natural gas development is a vital driver of Pennsylvania’s economy and energy security for the nation. It is difficult to ignore the benefits and disregard the truth in the numbers. While critics continue...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: President and Mrs. Carter made America better
Jimmy Carter became larger in defeat. That’s not easy to do, but it is especially rare in politics. For many politicians, losing the big one is enough to push them into the background forever. For Carter, his one-term presidency was just one step along the way to greatness. Carter’s presidential...
Point: Democrats have an opportunity to rebuild
As this historic 2024 political year comes to a close, many Democrats are crying in their eggnog. Not only did we fail to win back the House of Representatives (this prospect seemed likely in January), but we lost the Senate and frustratingly lost the White House again — and the...
Counterpoint: GOP disarray is a positive for Democrats
As Democrats look to 2025, several factors provide them with a sense of hope and optimism for regaining and maintaining political power. The landscape of American politics can be unpredictable, but the current climate offers promising avenues for Democrats to explore as they prepare for coming elections. One of the...
Sounding off: Minimum wage, Biden, Trump at top of week’s letters
Pennsylvanians need a raise State Rep. Jesse Topper hit the nail on the head when he said Pennsylvanians need more money in their pockets (“We can stop the pinch who stole Christmas,” Dec. 20, TribLive). But he was tone deaf with his answer. We, the struggling middle class, need a...
Letter to the editor: Pennsylvanians need a raise
State Rep. Jesse Topper hit the nail on the head when he said Pennsylvanians need more money in their pockets (“We can stop the pinch who stole Christmas,” Dec. 20, TribLive). But he was tone deaf with his answer. We, the struggling middle class, need a pay increase to deal...
Editorial: What does Biden’s block mean for U.S. Steel?
Pittsburgh is a steel town. Pennsylvania is forged from coal and coke and iron. Maps are peppered with the words “furnace” and “mills.” The history of metal production in the Keystone State began in the 1700s — before America was a nation. Did the end of that identity come Friday...
Letter to the editor: Biden is no hero
I find it interesting the accolades the writer of the letter “Thankful for Biden’s accomplishments” (Dec. 26, TribLive) bestowed on President Biden, and I’d like to share what else Biden has done. His history of lies goes back to his Senate days, and when he thought he was going to...
Jonah Goldberg: The ‘deep state’ and ‘the swamp’ are both favorite Trump targets. Here’s the difference.
Donald Trump has promised to do many things once he reoccupies the White House. Among the most famous, and most desired by his biggest fans, is his vow to “drain the swamp” and “demolish the deep state.” The first and arguably most important challenge for such a project is definitional....
Letter to the editor: Why is parking so difficult at Acrisure Stadium?
Why does almost every football stadium I see on television have adequate parking, as opposed to Pittsburgh? I guess it’s because the Rooney family preferred mega-bucks development income to parking convenience at Acrisure Stadium. Greed. Mark Miller Murrysville...
Letter to the editor: Cost of covid treatment evidence of drug companies’ gouging
A few months ago, a friend of mine contracted covid. Soon after, her medical insurance company issued a statement stating they had paid the drug company $1,453.55 for the Paxlovid treatment. The high cost of the antiviral was a little concerning, and I decided to do some research into the...
Letter to the editor: Remembering Officer Leonard Miller
Officer Leonard C. Miller, the first Black police officer for Apollo, was a distinguished graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy. He began his tour of duty Jan. 1, 1980, and was killed at 21 in the line of duty Jan. 3, 1980. Miller was genuine by nature...
Paul Kengor: My Top 5 Most Astonishing Political Moments of 2024
When it comes to politics, 2024 was an insane year. So much so that your faithful columnist has conjured up a list of the Top 5 Most Astonishing Political Moments of 2024. Here we go: Number 5 is President Joe Biden’s shocking appearance at the presidential debate. Pretty much any...
Editorial: Pittsburgh needs to show urgency in addressing police staffing
On Wednesday, New Orleans was primed for a party. That’s not surprising. The city starts celebrating Mardi Gras on Monday for an event that doesn’t take place until March 4. The French Quarter ratchets up to a fever pitch of music, parades, beignets and alcohol. And so it makes sense...
Sharon Pillar: Renewables reliable, economical
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is often referred to as insanity. As we enter our 4th consecutive year of wildly escalating electricity prices, it should be clear by now that what Pennsylvania has been doing in terms of energy is simply not working...
