Sounding off: Taxes, elections among week's topics
Don’t vote for tax increases
Much local outrage resulted as raging inflation and depleting reserves triggered the Westmoreland County tax increase that averaged $120 annually per household. In November, we can vote for or against significantly larger tax increases. President Biden has promised to allow the Trump tax cuts to expire while also increasing other taxes.
If you support paying increased taxes to support Biden’s policies to pay transportation, lodging and food for immigrants; student loan forgiveness; incentives on EVs and other “green” projects; health care for Dreamers; and possibly the importation of Palestinian refugees, then Biden and his always loyal Democrat supporters, Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Summer Lee, are your clear choices.
Federal spending increased significantly during the pandemic, but with the massive Biden spending programs and despite his “booming” economy, federal debt is currently increasing by about a trillion dollars every 100 days. This equates to additional and unaffordable debt of about $3,000 for every resident every 100 days (not $120 per household per year).
It’s obvious to anyone who is financially literate that spending under the Biden administration is totally out of control and that increasing taxes would be very harmful to the economy, jobs and our pocketbooks.
The Republicans have not been guilt-free on spending, but Donald Trump, Dave McCormick and James Hayes each have extensive financial expertise to cut wasteful spending so that Biden’s destructive massive tax increases would not be required. The choice is yours on Nov. 5. Choose wisely.
Larry Schultz
Murrysville
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Supreme Court’s election meddling
Once again, the Supreme Court is meddling in our elections. Not too long ago a Republican court ordered the state of Florida to stop counting the people’s votes for president while their Republican candidate happened to be in the lead. Even though recounts are a very common occurrence. They included in their opinion the warning that their decision should not be considered precedent, and not be applied to any other future case.
Now the Supreme Court is again placing its thumb on the scale. By agreeing to hear the absurd claim of total presidential immunity from the law, but postponing arguments for 12 weeks after the appeal, the court is delaying justice for Donald Trump’s horrendous actions. They also refused Jack Smith’s request to preemptively hear the case in December of last year. Justice delayed is justice denied.
At the time of writing this, we still haven’t heard their ruling. It’s been five months since they first had an opportunity to hear the case. Compare this to the case to keep Trump off the Colorado ballot: It took less than two months from the time of Trump’s appeal to declare a ruling. They can move fast when motivated.
Supreme Court justices are given lifetime appointments, in part, to keep them from making partisan rulings. It doesn’t seem to be working.
Michael Garing
North Huntingdon
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Take care of the bees
With spring in full bloom, it’s time for a reminder about the importance of bees to both humans and nature.
Bees don’t just pollinate the flowers in your garden; they pollinate the myriad crops we eat and protect the environment by promoting biodiversity. This has a number of effects, such as preventing soil erosion, preserving soil quality and keeping water clean.
However, bee populations have declined worldwide, jeopardizing our food systems and the natural balance.
While it will take large-scale institutional changes to ensure the recovery of our bee populations, here are some things you can do to be an ally to the bees:
Make your yard a bee-friendly habitat. Plant some plants that bees love, such as pansies, elderberries and cornflowers. Make sure they have access to water.
Try to avoid using pesticides, but if you need to use one, follow this rule: If you don’t have the time to create a bee-friendly habitat, the easiest action is to mow your lawn less frequently. This allows dandelions and clover to grow, which the bees greatly benefit from.
Do what you can to support people and organizations. Go visit one of Humane Action Pittsburgh’s pollinator gardens in Swissvale or Edgewood and post on social media to let your friends and family know, too! Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities at these centers. They are a great way to do your part while enjoying these beautiful gardens.
Michael Steinfeld
Squirrel Hill
The writer is a volunteer with Humane Action Pittsburgh.
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Vaccines and masks saved lives
The writer of the letter “What would Reagan think?” (May 20, TribLive) asks, “Did the government help anyone by mandating multiple injections of an experimental drug … and requiring masks?” The intelligent answer is an emphatic “yes.”
Regrettably many American lives were lost because these requirements didn’t come soon enough. President Trump mocked people who wore masks and spread much misinformation about vaccines, even suggesting ingesting bleach. Talk about experimental cures! Trump is not an epidemiologist and could have saved many lives by letting the experts, like Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, take charge. Fortunately, President Biden enacted the measures the letter-writer complains about, and now covid is under control. Places where people congregate, such as schools, had to be shut down for a time. A minor inconvenience that saved many lives.
The writer also complains about Biden allowing “illegal” immigrants to “flood the country.” That’s wrong, but as for the title of his letter “What would Reagan think”, if you Google “Reagan’s statement on immigration,” you find that President Reagan was very much in favor of immigration.
Recently the House passed a bill that would have controlled immigration, but was tabled at Trump’s request. He needs the immigration issue, since he can’t credibly run on the economy. After all, his tax cuts for the rich added trillions to the national debt, and contributed heavily to the inflation we are experiencing.
Remember Trump promised to eliminate our debt? The words just fall out of his mouth, and the stupid among us will apparently believe anything he says, despite his more than 30,000 verified lies during his administration.
Fred Durig
Delmont
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Those who served made it OK to enjoy Memorial Day
I suggest the writer of the letter “Remember the real reason for Memorial Day” (May 26, TribLive) do some learning about Memorial Day before scolding the public on this federal holiday. Be careful when ranting from atop your soapbox, it may be badly built.
First, Memorial Day was originally to remember Civil War Union soldiers and sailors, and as a descendant of a Union soldier, I remember this.
Second, those citizens having a beer and burger on Memorial Day include us military veterans who gave our time, energy and often our health for holidays to be observed, celebrated and enjoyed by ourselves, our family and our countrymen. We don’t need to be reminded of the true meaning of the day.
So, just be mindful of this, and say “Thank you!” to ease your “pain” or conscience if you need that.
D’Anthony Kennedy
Plum
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Protecting access to Alzheimer’s treatments
As the saying goes, “You can’t choose your family.” The same can be said for not being able to choose which chronic disease will impact you and your loved ones.
Millions of families across the United States have loved ones who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and have quickly seen the toll this disease takes on performing daily habits and activities — things we often take for granted.
Luckily, through the dedicated work of researchers and scientists, significant advancements have been made in the last two years, with the FDA approving two Alzheimer’s treatments that slow down the progression of this debilitating disease.
While research and innovation continue to remain at the forefront, the FDA recently announced there may be a significant delay with access to a third innovative new drug to help patients living with mild Alzheimer’s.
Despite this delay, we must continue to make sure barriers standing in the way of patients accessing lifesaving treatments are addressed, such as coverage restrictions and patient-registry requirements imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Patients and their families are counting on these new innovative treatments. CMS can help by removing the coverage with evidence development requirements and ensuring Medicare beneficiaries can access these therapies.
Ruth Merchant
Imperial
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Finding middle ground on abortion
Donald Trump is being criticized by the left and right regarding abortion. He doesn’t want to lose his voters, and is not trying to find some middle ground to keep the nation from falling apart.
No one has tried to find that middle ground. Those who wanted to keep Roe vs. Wade and want abortion on demand for any reason, and those who believe life begins at conception, are tearing America apart.
I was one of those who follows the biblical teachings, that there is no reason to end the life of the unborn. I’ve thought about it and wrestled with trying to find some middle ground. I now believe that abortion should be allowed in cases of rape, incest and the life of the woman. I say “woman” and not “mother,” because a mother would not hurt her child.
A woman has the right to prevent a pregnancy by taking a “morning after” pill to stop fertilization. But if for some reason the fails to take the pill and growth begins, the baby in the womb must be protected. This is my view on abortion now.
William S. Weiss
Latrobe
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