Sounding off: People's goodness, late police officer, lack of workers, politics

The whole of our society is less than the sum of its parts

Whenever I interact with individuals, I find that they are for the most part decent, caring, kind and generous. And yet, I find that our culture as a whole has become more and more mean-spirited, violent and vile. Why is this so? Why is it that our society is so much less than the sum of its parts? I can only conclude that the shapers of our culture, the influencers, the shakers-and-movers, tend to occupy the lower percentiles on the scale of human decency.

Can anything be done about this? It is easy to just shake our heads and say that it’s always been that way and probably always will be. But perhaps the time has come to insist on accountability from our elites.

The politicians who lie about everything and then excuse it as “embellishment” and “hyperbole”; the ultra-rich who pay nothing in taxes; the spreaders of conspiracy theories and misinformation; the war-mongers and the hate-mongers — can we finally rise up and say to them: “enough is enough?” If not, the downward spiral of our cultural evolution will culminate in a disastrous crash.

Richard Krepski

Highland Park

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Homeowner’s obscenity contrasts with neighbor’s generosity

I visited a super light display on Bernice Drive in North Huntingdon. Kudos to the folks who spend the time and effort to present this display each year and provide an opportunity to raise funds for a great cause.

While enjoying the light show, my curiosity drew my eyes to the other homes around the display. I wondered how well they were handling the extra traffic, music and lights. Directly across from the flickering Christmas display there was a large sign displayed on the front of the house that used a four-letter expletive in front of President Biden’s name to publicly display their disrespect.

What a conflict! On one side of the street, a public show of caring for others, and on the other, a flagrant abuse of free speech. Why are these people not being cited for public obscenity? Ponder for a moment the kind of folks that would hang a sign like that at their front door!

Phyllis Gerber

North Huntingdon

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Religion is about being a good person

I’m sitting north of Pittsburgh this evening near where one of our local police chiefs was shot dead. As if that’s not bad enough, I turn on the football game, and I see that one of the Buffalo Bills players may have died on the field tonight. I am praying for his recovery.

But these two events remind me that none of us ever knows when our life will end. And it is extremely important that every one of us is ready when that time comes.

To that end, it is important that we begin to teach our children the truth about science and God. During these past 25 years or so, science has persuasively developed the evidence to demonstrate the reality of God’s existence.

What we now know about the molecular biology of life processes, up to the observations of astrophysicists peering through their orbiting telescopes, clearly demonstrates the undeniable truth of God’s design and presence in our daily lives.

Religion is not about popes, organizations or even attending local churches. Religion is about forming that personal relationship with our creator God. Knowing that he “has your back” and devoting yourself to implementing his will. That is, being a good person.

If we continue to withhold this truth from our young people, who are we really serving? Not them. That’s for sure.

Richard J. Krauland

Kittanning

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Lest we forget — Apollo Police Officer Leonard C. Miller

Apollo police Officer Leonard C. Miller was a distinguished graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy. He began his full-time tour of duty Jan. 1, 1980.

Miller, the first Black police officer for Apollo, was killed at age 21 in the line of duty on Jan. 3, 1980.

Miller was genuine by nature with a congenial personality and had an exceptionally good rapport with young people, especially troubled youth. He listened to people intently, talked with people about their problems and resolved matters amicably — a shining example of community policing.

The greater Apollo community will never forget Leonard C. Miller.

Several fitting tributes honor Miller: an annual scholarship for an Apollo-Ridge High School graduate majoring in criminal justice; the Leonard C. Miller Bridge; and the Leonard C. Miller Memorial.

Historical artifacts are displayed at the Apollo borough office and police station, the local historical society, and the Center for Law Enforcement Information Technology, Lenape Technical School.

The humanity of police work is challenging and difficult. Now more than ever, police officers deserve more respect and support for putting their lives on the line every day. During these uncertain times, 227 police officers — 59 by gunfire — died in the line of duty nationally in 2022.

“There is no greater love than this: that a man lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Leonard C. Miller loved people, loved his community, and loved life.

Lest we forget Miller and his duty, honor and courage to the greater community.

William H. Kerr

Apollo

The writer is former mayor of Apollo.

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Where are the workers? They’re gone.

The writer of the letter “Where are all the workers?” (Nov. 28, TribLIVE) suggested Americans don’t want to work. The simple answer is that the pool of eligible workers is maxed out.

As of November 2022, the number of people employed was approximately 160 million, which is at or above pre-pandemic levels. The eligible labor force, defined as the number of people available for work, including both the employed and the unemployed, is currently around 220 million people.

This means that 72% of the eligible labor force is working. Unemployment remains historically low at 3.7%, meaning about 6 million people are unemployed. There are 10 million job openings, so even if all the unemployed were to find work, there would still be 4 million open positions.

Where are the workers? Early retirement removed 3 million people from the workforce. Loss of child care caused another 3.5 million people, mainly women, to stop working. Between 2 million and 4 million people have left the ranks of the employed because of the health effects of long covid.

So, if a line takes a little bit longer, take a deep breath. Everybody’s working hard, and you’ll have a better day.

Kathleen Ervin

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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The USA belongs to all of us

In the letter “Republicans, it’s time to pull together” (Dec. 29, TribLIVE), the writer interweaves the theme of bringing back “our country.” It begs the question, whose country? The writer, in her narrow worldview, appears to want to “bring back” her version of the USA. In the process, she spouts several untruths and conspiracy theories.

In one fell swoop, she manages to bash migrants seeking asylum at the border and also introduce the conspiracy that undocumented immigrants are eligible for public assistance, including “free health care.” She demonstrates a lack of basic economics by blaming inflation on spending, despite worldwide inflation attributable to the global pandemic.

What exactly are these “unbelievable things” that she apparently believes are being taught in schools and colleges? She tips her hand with her next sentence about statues and monuments — the mistaken belief that as a society we should honor those who supported slavery and the confederates in the Civil War. It is this logic that allows Republicans to continue their “bring law and order” chant while they also support the Jan. 6 insurrection and the insurrectionists.

While she worries about Hunter Biden and the Biden family, I wonder if she stares glaringly at the grifting gold (plated) idol of Trump and his grifting family — ignoring every single violation of law and norm they have flouted and broken.

The USA motto is “e pluribus unum.” The writer would do well to remember that: the idea of the USA belonging to everyone, not just the Republicans.

Kevin Hoover

West View

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Two-party system failing

Our two-party democracy is not working! The U.S. economy for middle-income Americans is hanging by a thread with the rate of inflation of food, housing, utilities and fuels at 42-year highs. Stock market retirement savings are down about 25%, and federal spending and debt are at massive high levels.

The southern border is on fire with record drug (fentanyl) deaths. Criminals and illegals spreading over the entire country. Shootings, killings and homelessness on our city streets are exploding while our police, border security and military are at record low recruitment.

Meanwhile, the left-wing socialists driving the Democratic Party have an extreme agenda about more spending, taxes and regulations, no fossil fuels, less punishment for criminals, less border security, more gender and sexual identity, and extreme climate change concerns, all that most moderates of both parties now reject. And to get home for Christmas, the Nancy Pelosi-led Democrats just passed a mammoth $1.7 trillion (yes that’s not million, or billion), over 4,000-page spending bill that few in Congress read, and that our country clearly cannot afford.

Pure big government socialism never worked in all the countries it was tried. It leads to big government spending, record handouts, debt, hyper- inflation and protests, and can often evolve into an authoritarian government with fewer personal freedoms, as in Russia, China and Cuba. If we don’t stop electing left-wing, big-government socialists into power, we may soon be seeing the destruction of the strongest, most free and most successful democracy the world has known.

Ron Raymond

Buffalo Township