Sounding off: American flag, next president, Fetterman, homeless among week's topics

Flag flies for U.S. and defenders of freedom

We fly the American flag all year long, not to show support for President Biden as the writer of the letter “Flags fly in support of Biden” (Sept. 24, TribLIVE) alleges, but for the United States of America and to show our respect for those who defend our freedom, past, present and future. He does not speak for every family flying the American flag, and certainly not for my family!

Joanne Hartzell

Youngwood

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Look past party, gender, skin color for next president

Why can’t people keep their personal opinions personal? I don’t care what your opinions are about politics, religion, sexual preference or spaghetti sauce. We’ve had three years of Trump/Biden bashing, and I for one am sick of it.

It’s probably time to start looking at who might actually be a good candidate. And let’s not look at political party, color of skin or gender. Those factors have nothing to do with “fitness for duty.” We need someone who has had life experience, perhaps a candidate of 45 years old but not more than perhaps 65. Then choose a person whose beliefs are similar to our own, whatever that may be.

Let’s demand that their campaign and speeches are all about what they believe, will do, have done, etc., and not one negative word about another candidate.

Perhaps most important is that we, each and every one of us, get out and vote. Then, after the election, accept the victor and hope for the best. We’ve already seen that you cannot overturn the election results.

Make a list of the most important issues to you, then track how each candidate feels about those issues and vote accordingly. Keep in mind: We have to save America in this next election, or it will be too late!

Eileen Condie

Hempfield

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Fetterman is an embarrassment

Sadly, the letter “Fetterman making PA laughingstock of country” (Sept. 27, TribLIVE) is true. There has been so much coverage of him that everyone knows who he is, and he’s an embarrassment. Whenever I am out of state and people ask where I’m from, I reply, “Pennsylvania, but I didn’t vote for Fetterman.”

Sandra Sikora

Murrysville

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Trump challengers have no shot

It took me a couple days, but I finally watched the Republican presidential debate. Seven people with zero chance of being elected president. It should have been advertised as auditioning to be President Trump’s next VP.

Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis have no shot because very few Trump supporters want them. Tim Scott, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy just have no shot. Only a handful of people outside of North Dakota have heard of Doug Burgum. Chris Christie is probably the most seen on TV outside these debates, but he criticizes Trump too much. We still have 13 months to go till Election Day.

Russell C. Fenton

Ligonier

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Homeless problem on Downtown bike trail

Regarding the article “‘Our Downtown is doing well,’ but there’s still work to do, Pittsburgh mayor tells forum” (Sept. 24, TribLIVE): Recently my wife and I biked on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. While we have grown used to seeing homeless people along the trail, we encountered them in three different places, along the Allegheny River near the 16th Street Bridge on the North Shore, along the Ohio River past the casino on the Ohio River (including a large dog on a chain) and, most disappointing, near the George Floyd painting along the Allegheny Downtown. The stench from urine and human feces was overpowering in the last location.

Several folks I have talked with have stated that they no longer will bike alone from Millville into the North Shore or Downtown because of concerns. The city used to take pride in this bike trail; not so much now. I hope the mayor and City Council can restore the Downtown area.

Don Pellegrino

Robinson

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Privatizing our public services

It feels like Big Money has targeted Pennsylvania to become a corporate friendly and working middle class unfriendly place. Look at what happened in New Stanton. Our local government gave subsidies to Amazon, which has spent millions trying to destroy unions and is known for its abuse of workers and destruction of the environment.

Look at what is happening to our public schools. Millions of dollars are flowing into the state to try to convince our lawmakers to privatize public education. They have come up with one scheme after another, from scholarships and vouchers, which give taxpayer money to individual parents to pay for private or religious schools, to expanding charter schools, which takes desperately needed funds away from our school districts to benefit private corporations.

Look at what happened in 2016 when our lawmakers made it easier to privatize our water and sewer services. Those systems that privatized have significantly increased the cost to consumers.

If your lawmakers are promoting a privatizing scheme for our essential public services, will your continue to vote for them? What if they are promoting an anti-union, right-to-work (for less) plan? Do you support lawmakers who promote tax breaks and subsidies for companies who disregard our health and environment (fracking), abuse and under pay its workers and weasel out of paying their fair share of taxes?

Don’t let the rights of corporations and the super-rich overshadow those of we the people.

Joanne Garing

North Huntingdon

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School buses should have seat belts

strongly believe all school buses regardless of size or capacity should be required to have seat belts for all student. Last month, there was an accident in Dravosburg where some students were ejected from their school bus. Tragically, one young lady died. This never would have happened if the students would have been secured in their seats.

This is not rocket science, it is common sense. We have known for the past 50 years that seat belts save lives. Similarly, installing seat belts in school buses will save lives.

Dr. Gregg Goldstrohm

Unity