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Opinion

We live in a mixed economy

Opinion

Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan keeps calling himself a capitalist. And the Democratic Socialists of America keep backing him. Why? Because the DSA understands that El-Sayed has to say that to win over even Democrats in a moderate state like Michigan. They firmly expect that once elected, he would do as they say. Confusing? Yes, on purpose. But let’s move beyond this war of labels. Let’s stop using socialist and capitalist as either compliments or denunciations. The United States has a mixed economy, as do most modern countries. It has an economic system in ...

The summertime political reruns

Opinion

When I was younger, so much younger than today (credit The Beatles for that lyric from “Help”), television networks would rerun programs that had originally been broadcast the previous fall and spring. A few still do, like “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy,” but those are syndicated shows. Still, it can be fun to watch programs you missed, or even ones you have seen, especially if you can impress someone with “Jeopardy” answers because you know them. Reruns that always annoy are the political ads, which start before primaries and continue until the day before the November ...

Without trust, officers can’t do their jobs

Editorials

The fuel that powers a police department is trust. It’s a symbiotic flow. The people trust the police to keep them safe. The police trust the people to call when they need help. The prosecutors trust the police to provide accurate information. The police trust the court to finish the job. Pull one cog out of that machine, and the whole thing can sputter. That trust is showing strains in Springdale. In April, William “Danny” Rosenmund attended a borough council meeting. He was taken to the floor and handcuffed when police said he exceeded an allotted three-minute speaking ...

Public service requires accountability

Letters to the Editor

Our representative seems to have no shortage of time for ribbon cuttings, ceremonial events, and photo opportunities. Those public appearances make for nice pictures, but they are no substitute for an open town hall where constituents can ask unscripted questions and receive honest answers. A town hall is one of the most basic responsibilities of an elected official. It gives people of all political views an opportunity to raise concerns, seek clarification on important issues, and hold their representative accountable. Carefully staged events with invited guests simply don’t provide ...

Pittsburgh among first to see DSA rise

Opinion

The rise of the Democratic left in Pittsburgh did not happen overnight. It was built over years through patient organizing, disciplined recruiting and a clear-eyed focus on the races that mattered most: low-turnout primaries where entrenched power was vulnerable. Mik Pappas’ 2017 race for Pennsylvania’s 31st Magisterial District judge offered an early hint that the local Democratic establishment was losing its grip on some of the contests it had once taken for granted. He was underfunded, openly aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America and not expected to mount a serious ...

American giving must be carefully evaluated

Letters to the Editor

Americans are among the most generous people in the world. Through our tax dollars, we provide billions of dollars in foreign aid each year to developing nations. That generosity, however, should not become a system of double-dipping and sudden riches. When the United States sends substantial financial assistance overseas and then also accepts large numbers of people fleeing those same countries — often requiring additional public resources for housing, education, health care and other services — we are effectively paying twice. If this approach continues indefinitely, America ...