Sounding off: Battling politicians, Israel, economy among week's topics

Violent rhetoric unacceptable

It’s time for all good people, regardless of party, to stand up against political violence and violent rhetoric. Recently, it has been reported that Rep. Kevin McCarthy purposely shoved a fellow representative in the back, Sen. Markwayne Mullin was ready to physically fight with a union leader during a hearing and Rep. James Comer verbally abused a fellow representative.

In the same time period Donald Trump posted a request for a citizen’s arrest of Judge Arthur Engoron. This would not be legal, and it would also itself be the crime of assault. Trump also continued to joke about the violent attack of Paul Pelosi by a man who has been convicted of assault. Amazingly, Trump’s followers laughed happily at these “jokes.”

If not for the attempted insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, and the recent polling indicating that nearly one in three Republicans think that violence may be necessary for what they want America to become, these might be seen as isolated or even silly incidents of immature people. Seen in the overall context, such violent behavior looks like something more serious and too much like the violence leading to the takeover of governments of other nations in the past.

With the same outrage Sen. Bernie Sanders displayed in calling out and stopping potential violence by Mullin, we must let the leaders of our parties know that even violent rhetoric is unacceptable.

Robert J. Reiland

O’Hara

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Israel hasn’t behaved as an ally

I commend the writer of the factual letter “U.S. complicit in crimes against humanity” (Nov. 10, TribLIVE) about 75 years of crimes against the Palestinian people. However, she fails to point out Israel’s history of blatant deception, duplicity and actual treachery against the U.S. itself.

I am constantly amazed how ardent U.S. supporters of Israel have forgotten — to name just a few instances: the 1960s theft of hundreds of pounds of weapons-grade uranium from the Apollo PA NUMEC plant; the 1967 deliberate attempt to sink the USS Liberty reconnaissance ship and kill all the U.S. military onboard; the 1980s solicitation of Navy analyst Jonathon Pollard, the most damaging traitor/spy in U.S. history who is now considered a hero in Israel; the Mossad fake intelligence on Saddam Hussein’s WMDs, which helped push President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney into the Iraq war debacle; and currently, the incessant outcry for the U.S. to enmesh itself in another disastrous Middle East war with Iran, Israel’s latest arch enemy. Are these the actions of a staunch ally?

Gerald Schiller

Penn Hills

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Mike Johnson and Democrats’ turmoil

Regarding the letter “Johnson as speaker bad news for America” (Oct. 31, TribLive): I find the left’s take on new House Speaker Mike Johnson quite interesting. The writer begins by rightfully stating how much turmoil there is in the world but descends into the usual liberal rhetoric about abortion, gay marriage and election denial. He fails to acknowledge that numerous Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters, denied the 2016 election, calling Donald Trump “an illegitimate president.”

He utters the left’s same divisive, magniloquent rhetoric about abortion. The Supreme Court rightfully sent the matter back to the states. (We are a constitutional republic.) Johnson has every right to believe what he believes.

As far as aid to Ukraine, Johnson rightfully saw that we are spending wrecklessly, and he got a stand-alone bill on support for Israel utilizing money allocated for 87,000 more IRS employees. Ukraine I’m sure will follow. So, Democrats, what’s more important, hiring more IRS agents or supporting Israel?

The writer said that having an “ultra-right-wing speaker is wholly inappropriate.” But I would guess he was fine with Pelosi, an ultra-left-wing speaker, holding the gavel.

The world is in turmoil. My question is, when did the turmoil begin? The Democrats’ failures are numerous. Two proxy wars, energy independence gone, interest rates over 8%, supply chains in disarray, China threatening Taiwan. But let’s focus our energy and political will on abortion, gay marriage and other divisive social issues. I’m sure those debates will have a big effect on the turmoil in the world.

Richard Bell

Ligonier Township

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Economy looking pretty good

The writer of the letter “What’s the real state of our economy?” (Nov. 13, TribLive) nailed it. But don’t take his word for it; use your own eyes.

Take a ride down Route 30 between Jeannette and Greensburg nearly any day of the week, but especially on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Chain restaurants and fast-food establishments are packed; there are hundreds of cars at the Live Casino, where people appear anxious to donate their money to Baltimore’s casino-running billionaires.

It seems at least one in five vehicles is a gas-guzzling, $50,000 truck or SUV. The lines are long at Starbucks and Dunkin’ (popping up all over the area) to buy $6 cups of coffee.

All of this, and unemployment is at less than 4%. Average pay for a McDonald’s cashier is nearly double Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.

If these observations are a reflection of “suffering through inflation,” tell me what people would be doing if the economy was great.

Don’t waste time reading this; you need to help meet the National Retail Federation’s prediction of $967 billion to be spent on the holidays, and you only have a few weeks to do it.

Thomas C. Spallone

Hempfield

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Biden has not done a ‘very good job’

In his op-ed “I sent $1,000 to the Dean Phillips’ Democratic presidential campaign — here’s why” (Nov. 13, TribLIVE), Bruce Ledewitz stated that “Joe Biden has done a very good job as president.” Where has Ledewitz been for two years?

He says that “Millions of Americans have doubts about Biden, who will be 81 on Nov. 20.” I believe that millions have doubts about Biden because he is mentally challenged, not merely because of his age; you don’t need a doctor to know that it will never get better.

He says “Biden is making good … decisions.” Did he forget Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan? Shutting down the (protected) wrong airport, leaving personnel and all our millions of dollars of equipment behind for our enemy’s use? Or on Day 1, his overturning the previous work to secure our southern border, which has turned into utter chaos across American cities (human trafficking, drugs and the potential of illegal immigrants who that may want to cause America harm)? Shutting down oil pipelines (letting them deteriorate in place — what a waste!) and withdrawing drilling permits — after we reached energy independence in 2020 for the first time in my life — while he “begged” our “friends“ in Venezuela, Iran and Russia to sell more of their oil while we depleted our oil reserves for political reasons? And he released the previous administrations hold on supplying Russia for their European oil pipeline?

He says Biden hasn’t been “effective in defending his record” on inflation. How do you defend the indefensible? When you screw with energy, you screw with the whole economy. When you spend more than you take in — Econ 101 will tell you that it will cause inflation. Not at these levels - since the Jimmy Carter era in the 1970’s.

William Iski

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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We should value life over guns

When Russia attacked and killed Ukrainians, we acted by sending weapons and supplies. When Hamas attacked and killed Israelis, we acted by sending weapons and supplies. When our own domestic terrorists or criminally insane kill Americans, we act by sending thoughts and prayers. Why are we unable to act as forcefully at home as we do abroad?

We know we have a gun violence problem. This year, as of Oct. 29, the U.S. endured 565 mass shooting in 298 days, almost two every day, and more than 35,000 Americans were killed by gun violence resulting in 118 gun deaths daily. More than half of these deaths were suicides. Firearms are the leading cause of death in children, the majority of which occur in their homes.

We know what reduces gun violence. We must have strong gun safety measures. The majority of Americans support gun safety laws. Your right to a gun does not trump my right to life. If your lawmakers vote for guns over life, vote them out.

We also need to address our inadequate mental health care. Poor mental health leads to an increase in violence, homelessness, substance abuse, inappropriate incarceration and suicide. We need more awareness, resources and facilities devoted to improving our mental health.

Julia Bojalad

North Huntingdon

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Trump should be in jail

I have to agree with those saying that Donald Trump is being treated unfairly during his indictments — anyone else would already be in jail, fined and treated like the pariah they are for such unlawful conduct.

I strongly urge everyone to read the actual court document from Jack Smith outlining charges, arguments, etc. It is clear after reading it (and not having my opinions told to me by talking heads on cable “news”) that lies and criminal activities dominated Trump’s 2020 election loss. And he clearly lost. But now a majority of Republicans want him back in office?

It’s so hard to believe that my fellow Americans want an embarrassing, cruel and divisive criminal back in office. Surely we can elect a real conservative who knows the flag flies for (begin ital) all (end ital) Americans and that “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Karla Thomas

Hempfield