D.A. Scandrol’s letter “Trump as messiah” was the most sacrilegious drivel I’ve read in 84 years of living. To admire and support President Trump is one thing; but to even remotely compare him to Christ is utterly ridiculous.

Trump came to make America great again. America was already great, only slipping because of politicians not trying to come together. Trump has added to the chasm.

Jesus came as a teacher with authority; Trump seeks to be a dictator.

Trump came to flaunt the Constitution.

Trump attempted to be a Caesar and a Pilate.

Trump offended the political elite because he wants to be the sole political elite.

Trump’s popularity is growing. Obviously, the writer does not read nor hear about the percentage who do not believe Trump is doing well.

Trump resurrected the economy. Our economy is an ebb-and-flow entity. Trump happened along at the right time.

Trump has only made the political “swamp” harder to navigate.

Trump is condemned because of his mouth, insulting and slandering all who disagree with him.

Trump was elected to save America from itself. Who is going to save America from Trump?

Jesus at 12 stunned the elders of the temple. Trump at 18 eluded serving his country.

Trump is rejected by many because he is slanderous, a liar and rejects all who disagree with or criticize him — plus his stance on gun control, his attitude toward blacks and Latinos, and his “stealing” money from other sources to build his wall.

Trump is no savior; he’s become a pariah.

George A. West, Ligonier Township

Democrats are not socialists

With all due respect to my fellow Americans, most of us simply don’t know that a “liberal/progressive” is not the same thing as a “socialist.”

A true “socialist” is someone who wants all of the businesses and workplaces to be owned and controlled by “the state” or “the government” or “the workers” or “the people” and not by individuals and groups who run them for profit as we have here in the USA.

The overwhelming majority of Democrats want our federal government to spend more on social programs to help the lower and middle classes as they struggle to survive. They are not “socialists.” They are “liberals/progressives” who want our market-based capitalist economy to become more humane (and not replaced).

They know that there has never been a truly “socialist” society in which socialism produced enough wealth to meet people’s basic needs. Thus, while conservative-Republicans and the conservative news media do not want the American people to be aware of this, most Democrats want our federal government to be more like those of almost every one of our traditional allies which spend more than we do, in proportion to their population sizes, on helping the lower and middle classes. None of our allies are “socialist,” and they know it.

President Trump and the conservative news media who are calling Democrats “socialists” are either lying to the people, or are poorly informed and just plain wrong.

Stewart B. Epstein, Rochester, N.Y.

The writer is a former Squirrel Hill resident who taught at West Virginia and Slippery Rock universities.

Media’s bias is dangerous

The Democrats have focused on impeaching President Trump with an obsession that seems manic. First collusion, then obstruction of justice. When Robert Mueller’s report did not support their allegations, it made them even more manic. Now we have a telephone call leading to an impeachment inquiry.

There is something even more troubling and dangerous than this irrational behavior: The aiding and abetting of the effort to undo a legal election by unelected bureaucrats and most of the media. It is the media’s bias that is most dangerous, since they were trusted by the Founders to factually inform citizens so that they could hold elected officials accountable.

I believe more than 90% of what is on the internet is inaccurate or outright fiction; radio and television is more biased opinion than factual news. The Sept. 25 front-page Associated Press article headlined “Impeachment probe ordered: Pelosi authorizes inquiry as Democrats ramp up pressure) dealt with the transcript of the call. I read the transcript, and the biased tone of the article bears no resemblance to the actual transcript. The majority of the article consists of the writer’s opinions and unfounded conclusions/insinuations.

I encourage those with open minds to read the transcript and the article and judge for themselves. I have lost what was left of my diminishing faith in the printed media and conclude with an opinion of my own: When we can no longer rely on the media to keep us informed, we are truly in danger of losing the American dream.

Michael Bitterice, Freeport

Assault sentence sets bad precedent

Regarding the article “Greensburg man sentenced to 4- 8 years in prison for assaulting 7-year-old”: Regardless if there is a plea agreement or not, 4-8 years in prison and seven years of probation for multiple counts of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old is reaching an all-time low. This sets standards for other child sexual predators to use the excuse of hallucinating for three days on methamphetamines and crack cocaine. Accepting responsibility now is too late for ruining the life of a 7-year-old.

It was curious that this article was on the page after the editorial page, where there was an editorial titled “Pirates, politics and accountability.” The editorial stated, “People have to pay more attention to the evidence. There has to be a demand for accountability as a practice instead of as a buzzword. Blame has to be something that is shouldered and not ascribed.”

Judge Feliciani, if you had many reservations in accepting this plea agreement, I would advise that you always follow your instincts.

Milyssa Ross Sassos, Greensburg

Trump no messiah; proud to be Democrat

Regarding D.A. Scandrol’s letter “Trump as messiah”: Donald J. Trump should not be interpreted as a messiah. To infer that Trump might be the messiah is an affront to Jews and Christians. Scandrol’s interpretation of Christ’s life on earth as Trump’s life in the political arena is profane and contemptuous. There will always be those among us who worship “golden calves” and the “I, me, mine” philosophy. I belive that is why Christ died for mankind.

In response to Frank Novotny’s letter “Democrats deceitful, deranged”: I’m a Democrat and have been an active voter since 1972. Mr. Novotny, do you remember Richard Nixon and his abuses of power? Trump’s term in office has been one abuse of power after another. The Trump era will be recorded in U.S. history as a blight on our republic — impeachment or not. Labels don’t bother me — Trump’s narcissistic and tyrannical dictum does.

My pride in being a member of the Democratic Party began with my grandfather. He immigrated here from Italy in 1900. He became a citizen and understood what democracy meant. My grandfather lived his American dream and voted Democrat.

Jamie L. Penich, Greensburg

Not a member? Can’t vote.

If you are not a member of a club, you have no right to vote in its internal elections — i.e., primaries. However, if you are forced to pay for those primaries, you do have a right to vote in them. If the members of one party don’t want people who are members of another party to vote for their least-likely-to-win candidate, they should pay for their own primaries. That’s what libertarians do.

Nick Kyriazi, Deutschtown

Strange way to treat God’s creatures

It is a very peculiar use of religion to bless a pack of dogs who are egged on by humans rushing on horses, chasing a fox to utter exhaustion and then watching them tear it apart (“Fox hunting returns to Ligonier Township this weekend.”) If it is a female, its kits will probably starve. Is this any way to treat “God’s creatures,” as they call them?

Lynne Henry, Greensburg

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