Why we should continue to help Ukraine

The writer of the letter “We’ve helped Ukraine enough” (Aug. 11, TribLIVE) states that although he feels sorry for Ukraine, we should stop aiding that nation because it just costs too much. He doesn’t seem to care that the consequences of such action would throw Ukraine to the Russian bear and end Ukraine’s freedom.

He also mistakenly believes we’re the only ones aiding Ukraine. He needs reminding that countless nations in Europe and around the world are also sending aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

He believes that because aid is going to Ukraine, our own people are getting nothing in return and uses Ukraine as a means of attacking President Biden. Yet in truth, the president’s programs have done much to help all Americans, with our economy booming, inflation down, jobs galore and unemployment at an all-time low.

Two world wars were fought because nations like Russia wanted to conquer their neighbors. To do nothing would surely invite a third one. Moreover, having Europe fall under Russian dominance would be far more costly than aid sent to Ukraine today.

So we can either pony up now or pay dearly later. To sell out a free people because of cost is abhorrent to say the least. Regarding Ukraine, American cannot abdicate its leadership role without spelling disaster.

Ron Slabe

Oakmont

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Expensive school doesn’t equal good education

The recent article on the incredibly high cost of the Hempfield Area Senior High School (“Hempfield high school project plan is millions of dollars over budget, must be revised,” Aug. 11, TribLIVE) brought a major, vital question to my mind — those kids are getting an exceptional education, right? What are their test scores? Publish them, now. Any school district that’s facing these beyond-belief costs for a “building” need to be assured that the students are being well educated, on subjects like reading, math, writing, human life skills (checkbook balancing, basic cooking, sewing, child care, etc.). And then there are the most vital ingredient, teachers! Get good ones and pay them well.

Schools are like people: It’s not what you see on the outside that really matters; it’s what’s inside that counts. A fancy building doesn’t equal good education.

Janet Schlemmer

Export

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Afghanistan accountability

It has been two years since President Biden’s disastrous retreat from Afghanistan, which I feel was recklessly staged purely for political theater.

Biden irresponsibly risked the lives of thousands of American citizens and Afghan allies to complete his retreat by the symbolic date of Sept. 11, 2021. He surrendered Bagram Air Base to the enemy at the onset of his rapid retreat, eliminating the possibility of a safe and orderly withdrawal. Instead, he relied on the Taliban for security at the chaotic evacuation scene at the Kabul airport. This resulted in the needless deaths of 13 American troops with scores more horribly wounded, over 170 Afghan civilians killed, and countless others wounded in a subsequent suicide bombing attack.

Biden also abandoned thousands of American citizens and former allies behind enemy lines in his hasty retreat, while leaving behind tens of billions of dollars worth of military equipment and weapons systems for the enemy to use or sell on the black market. To date, nobody in the administration or military leadership has been held accountable or lost their job for the incompetence of this operation, with the exception of Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller — a combat veteran with an exemplary 17-year military record who risked everything to ask for accountability. This ultimately cost him his job.

We all owe Scheller a debt of gratitude for being the one military officer, that I’m aware of, with the courage to publicly ask for accountability for this national tragedy.

Ed Davis

Greensburg

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We should all see Trump’s ‘evidence’

After his indictment in Georgia last week, Donald Trump scheduled a news conference for Aug. 20 at which he planned to issue a detailed report providing “irrefutable and overwhelming evidence” that the election there was stolen from him, resulting in his “complete exoneration” (“Trump trashes DA Fani Willis as ‘corrupt,’ vows report countering Georgia indictment,” Aug. 15, TribLIVE.) Now we learn that, on advice of his lawyers, this will not happen.

I think the Department of Justice and authorities in Georgia should subpoena this report and make it public. If Trump can indeed prove that he actually won the election, the authorities should want to know so they can withdraw the charges and save a great deal of effort and expense. Also, they can seek out the real culprits and act to safeguard future elections.

If Trump’s “conclusive” report proves to be just a compilation of slogans, falsehoods, conspiracy theories and unprovable claims, the public should know about this as well. To quote John Lennon, “Just gimme some truth.”

Richard Krepski

Highland Park

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PennDOT’s emissions nonsense

OK, here’s a little more government nonsense for ya. It seems only 25 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania have to have emissions testing on their vehicles. This is a problem. Either make the same requirement for every county or eliminate it for the others.

In addition, now PennDOT is changing its minimum waiver expenditure for vehicles that don’t pass. Instead of being able to spend $150 (its current minimum) trying to rectify the problem and get the sticker, as of Sept. 1, they’ll want you to spend $450 when the expenditure is increased.

This is an outrage and it’s complete nonsense. It’s not like this administration doesn’t already have its hands deep enough in your pockets, but now Pennsylvania is taking pages right out of its own playbook by picking your pockets even more. These politicians talk like they’re helping everyone so much and doing so much good for you when it seems they just want to line their pockets and watch everyday citizens go broke. Just a little more nonsense!

Dwayne Buffer

Youngwood

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A carbon-free future would be very lonely

In the letter “Leaders should take climate action now” (Aug. 8, TribLIVE), the author says leaders should “promote policies that will drive us to a carbon-free future.” Without getting into the whole climate change debate, does the author realize that all lifeforms on earth, plant, animal and human, are carbon-based? That plants, which all other life forms are dependent on for food and oxygen production, rely on CO2 to live?

Good luck with your carbon-free future, sir. It’s gonna be lonely.

Bob Anderson

Buffalo Township

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