Ranking Biden and Trump

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey was published in February. The ranking system is based on opinions of historians and political scientists, which focus on presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults. The following are the top 10 presidents: No. 1 is Lincoln, followed by F.D. Roosevelt, Washington, T. Roosevelt, Jefferson, Truman, Obama, Eisenhower, L.B. Johnson and Kennedy. The survey rated President Biden as the 14th best president, and President Trump at 45th is the rock bottom last, making him the worst president in our history.

Biden signed several key pieces of legislation and aggressively handled the covid-19 pandemic and the economic recovery. But his most important achievements may be that he rescued the presidency from Trump.

Trump was voted the most polarizing president ever. In my opinion, he weakened the presidential office. His foreign policy was a failure and undermined America’s position in the world. His callous, inept and inadequate response to covid-19 explains why over 400,000 Americans died while he was in office. The flawed response caused millions of jobs and businesses to disappear.

His biggest damage was to American democracy, with his efforts to demonize his opponents and the media, violate established norms, promote lies, question the authority of the courts and incite his incitement and instigation of unlawful and violent activity on Jan. 6.

Who will you vote for, No. 14 or No. 45?

Joanne Garing

North Huntingdon

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HB 1660 dangerous invitation to lynch mobs

Interesting read about House Bill 1660 (“Lower Burrell child predator sting by citizens raises safety, legal issues,” March 29, TribLive) allowing private citizens to engage in sting operations now in the domain of various law enforcement agencies.

House Bill 1660 invites legally sanctioned “lynch mobs” every bit as frightening as sexual predators.

Investigation and protection from sexual predators belong solely with law enforcement that have the training and expertise to enforce the law.

Lack of resources is no excuse, as most everything funded with taxpayer money can be classified as under-funded or under-staffed.

The U.S. Army did not meet recruiting goals. What next? Proposed legislation by the state Legislature sanctioning roaming bands of people wearing camouflage, carrying AR-15s and calling them “militias”?

House Bill 1660 needs to die, be embalmed and buried in committee.

I am amazed of the number of elected officials engaged in legislation and law-enforcement officers enforcing the laws who do not have a clue about the U.S. Constitution and the individual liberties contained therein.

Ben Franklin once said: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

David A. Scandrol

Lower Burrell

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Abortion hypocrisy

On March 2, Pennsylvania State Police announced that a 52-year-old man from Corry was arrested in connection with the murder of a pregnant Amish woman. He has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass.

Isn’t abortion “criminal homicide of an unborn child”? Wait, no, my bad. The commonwealth’s official website tells us “Both medication and in-clinic procedure abortions continue to be legal and available in Pennsylvania.” (See www.health.pa.gov.) Thus, in Pennsylvania abortion is the sanctioned homicide of an unborn child.

One person faces prosecution for homicide of an unborn child while the other is free to commit the act without consequence.

Let that hypocrisy sink in.

Julie Rebitch

Salem

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Commissioners should reverse ruling on drop boxes

Regarding the article “Westmoreland GOP commissioners again nix drop boxes for mail-in ballots” (March 28, TribLive): They need to reverse this ruling and provide free access to voting. I don’t believe that we the voters approved this! This ruling is way too political.

Dave Bonazelli

Unity

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Shapiro not upholding his oath

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s refusal to uphold his oath as described in the Constitution once again shows why he is a failed leader. This time, he refuses to send the National Guard to the southern border to help stop what I consider an insurrection caused by the Biden administration.What is the purpose of the National Guard? To protect the country; that’s why they’re called National Guard.

The governor says he doesn’t want to put troops in harm’s way. He would rather let terrorists, murderers and other criminals in to wreak havoc in our state and country? How can we send troops to places like Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries and not send troops to protect our own country? The governor did not score any points with veterans and caring Americans!

Steven Ignatz

West Mifflin

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Term limits needed for Congress

For many years, citizens have been asking Congress to set term limits for its members. Would you kill the goose that laid the golden egg? Terms should be like the president’s — twice. If you feel that your congressperson is doing a bad job, vote him/her out. If you feel, however, that they are doing a good job, keep him/her in, but only for two terms.

Gerald Mazur

New Kensington

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Energy plan is just another tax

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal for a revised energy plan is just another tax (“Shapiro’s proposed energy policy needs GOP support,” March 24, TribLive). The proposal is to have utilities pay the state a fee whenever they exceed state-established carbon emission levels. Utilities would then have to either pay the fee or buy electricity from more expensive renewable sources to avoid exceeding carbon emission limits. With either alternative, electricity costs would increase for both consumers and businesses because utilities must pass on any increase in their costs to their customers.

The revenue the state would get from penalties would go to people to help pay their electric bills. Thus, the funds would just go to offset increases in utility bills.

What makes Shapiro’s proposal even worse is the revenue would (begin ital) not (end ital) go toward improving the environment. What’s being touted as fighting climate change is just another tax to redistribute money.

Tom Cerra

Latrobe

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