A difficult time for democracy
One might argue Karl Marx was mistaken; it’s not, as Marx predicted, oppressed workers who are smashing capitalism, but bored billionaires. “Move fast and break things,” the guiding principle of Facebook, was adopted by billionaires across business and financial sectors.
As I see it, an oligarchy composed of said billionaires, detached from the reality the rest of us confront, has taken over our government and, with hubris-bred incompetence, are dismantling the very system that has brought them immense wealth. Look at the rampage through our government led by the ketamine-fueled head of DOGE as he destroys livelihoods and lives across the United States. Watch as the hireling in the White House shills cars, takes vacations, alienates allies and courts dictators.
Clearly, this is a difficult time for our democracy. Hardworking people are suffering dystopian consequences brought about by the implementation of the billionaire-conceived Project 2025 experiment. Until We the People fix this, as we must, I suggest, without irony, vegetable gardens in every yard.
Most importantly, I believe we should ignore social media, disregard political rhetoric and objectively assess how this administration’s policies impact our daily lives. After all, the Declaration of Independence promises everyone, regardless of status or wealth, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Let’s put aside our differences, band together and act accordingly.
Kathleen Acklin
Highland Park
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Liberals using scare tactics on tariffs
President Trump has imposed tariffs on many countries. The stock market is down. The liberal news and pundits are forecasting inflation, unemployment and recession. It is not that bad. They are trying to scare the American people. Trump is correcting a problem.
I compare his tariffs to a drug addict. The addict has a real problem. If the addict is wise enough to seek rehabilitation, there is much pain in the withdrawal process. However, the addict will live a better life afterwards.
For years, foreign countries, big and small, have imposed tariffs on us. As a result, manufacturing jobs have declined in this country. In the future, we may be held hostage by our enemies. We may have to get into global conflicts to protect our supply chain.
Trump is using tariffs to fix these problems. There will be pain, some unemployment and inflation. The affected countries will howl and raise their tariffs on our goods. Wall Street will be unhappy. Inflation may go up. Could it be worse than it was under President Biden?
After a short time, more businesses will build in this country. The job market will improve. Inflation will be lower. Most important, we will be more self-sufficient and less dependent on other countries.
Don’t let the liberals scare you. Give Trump a chance. We will weather the storm and the skies will become blue.
Kathleen Bollinger
Fawn
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McCormick helping to keep us safe
It been a little over 100 days since David McCormick became Pennsylvania’s newest U.S. senator. I felt that electing a self-accomplished senator would give us a senator ready and able to take on the challenges of leadership in Washington. Sure enough, he has taken on several Senate leadership responsibilities, including chairmanship of the key Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism. As a U.S. Army officer and global business executive he knows these areas and “hit the ground running.”
In his book “Superpower in Peril — A Battle Plan to Renew America” he draws on decades of leadership to address the path forward. McCormick is a leader who will from the chaos of politics make America strong again and represent the interests of Western Pennsylvania.
Robert Howard
Marshall
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SAVE Act is about discrimination, not integrity
The GOP-led Congress has passed a bill called the SAVE Act that purports to safeguard the integrity of future elections. Let’s do the math. Election integrity equals voter suppression equals racial discrimination. Always has, always will. This is a racist bill. If you don’t believe me and think that there is a big problem with illegal voting, you’re being duped. If you agree but still support regressive legislation like the SAVE Act, for shame.
John Meyer
Cheverly, Md.
The writer is formerly of Delmont.
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Politicians should talk to their constituents
In order for elected officials to truly understand the concerns of the communities they represent, it is necessary for them to interact with their constituents.
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According to the Council of State Governments: “A common thread shared by all constituents is their reliance on elected public officials to serve as their advocate, voicing concerns and interests to the government on their behalf.”
It is my understanding that town hall meetings provide a platform for open communication between elected officials and their constituents, allowing for the sharing of important updates and gathering feedback. They encourage accountability, engagement, connection and participation in our democracy.
I encourage our U.S. representatives and senators to come back home occasionally and meet with their constituents.
Mark Korn
Greensburg
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Voice of America not best use of taxpayer money
Can you hear me now or is anyone really listening? The writer of the letter “We have silenced ourselves” (April 11, TribLive) grieves the purge of Voice of America from the U.S. taxpayers’ checkbook.
I guess baseball, hot dogs with Coke and Chevrolets will make the huddled masses see the light to want to remake themselves in the image of the USA. Except the advertisement comes with a cost — $267 million annually.
I get it, freedom of expression and worship are wonderful things, but when most of the world does not know when or where the next meal is coming from, a radio (if one can be had) extolling the virtues of the land of the free to listen to a broadcast punishable by death by the reigning regime isn’t very practical. So, what’s your point?
In Vietnam, this same experiment cost the USA 58,000 lives and $1 trillion in blood and treasure. In Iraq, it cost 4,500 American deaths, over 200,000 Iraqi deaths and $757 billion mortgaged by “We the People” at the Bank of the People’s Republic of China.
Yet the last I heard 50-plus years on, the people in those countries still don’t celebrate the Fourth of July.
David A. Scandrol
Lower Burrell
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How about some concessions in the Pirates lineup?
Did anyone see and listen to Bob Nutting’s pre-home opener interview with broadcaster Greg Brown? I sure hope Brown was wearing boots and carrying a shovel. I haven’t heard that many falsehoods and bull cookies since an Alejandro Mayorkas news conference.
Let’s face it: The Pirates are never going anywhere under the current ownership. Nutting spouts all the correct jargon and all the correct promises, but they’re nothing but contrived sound bites to pitch to the media.
I’ve been a Pirates fan since 1954, so it’s a little late for me to change my stripes, but it’s not to late for me to call out an organization whose main interests seem to be the menus at the concession stands. How about a few concessions in the Pirates lineup? Wrong player in centerfield; wrong man at first base; wrong relief in the bullpen; wrong man in the dugout; wrong man in the front office; and the wrong man in the owner’s suite.
Alvin Moore
White Oak