We need a permanent fix for gerrymandering

The ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on our gerrymandered political districts is a good start to fixing some of the ineffectiveness of our government (Jan. 23, “State High Court: Pa. Congressional Map Is Illegal”). Redrawing districts to be more compact will give all candidates the same opportunity to win among their neighbors and will also hold them accountable to a broader spectrum of voters.

However, we need a more permanent fix to assure that these same corrupt districts do not get redrawn in 2021. The only solution is to change our state constitution to allow a nonpartisan committee to do this work. House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22 have been sitting in committee because our representatives are more interested in spending money on court cases than fixing the system.

We need to get Rep. Daryl Metcalfe and Sen. Mike Folmer to let the State Government committees take action in the House and Senate, respectively. Both bills have many co-sponsors but are still being blocked by these chairmen. We all need to contact their offices to find out why they are not moving these bills forward. These bills need to pass soon so that we don’t have to keep wasting our tax dollars on court cases. ALEXANDRA KAVOULAKIS

Mt. Lebanon difficulty recalling most of his statements and deeds and shows such gleeful pride when displaying his prejudices.

The Department of Justice has to pick its battles. It should put all of its efforts into ending the horrible opioid problem that kills so many Americans every day, instead of spending time and (my) money on targeting legal or decriminalized recreational and medicinal marijuana users. C.A. KELLY North Side

Of all the content in the “Reason as Racism” editorial (Jan. 15), the one point that people seem to be missing, on both sides, is the last sentence: “We have to stop calling each other names in this country and battle each other with ideas and issues, not slanders.”

Yes, of course. Wouldn’t that be grand? On the same page where this editorial appeared, letter writer Fred Bortz called for issues-based campaigns in the special election to fill the 18th Congressional District seat (Jan. 15, “Candidates in the 18th District Race Should Commit to Finding Climate Solutions”). So there’s something of a theme here.

Where the editorial missed the point, though, is this: the new normal. Gone are the days when we talk about issues and policy … instead, one side is racist, and the other,

We welcome your opinion

dripping with sarcasm, is decried as liberal. Discussion has been replaced with outrage, and the only thing that cuts through the noise is epithets, insults and even untruths, stated in as few words as possible, before our short attention spans distract us from even that discussion.

It’s long been said that a democracy provides to the electorate exactly the government it deserves. So, submitted for your approval, I give you Washington, and Harrisburg, and even those who inhabit the confines of the City-County Building. We got what we deserve. Now, if you think we got a bum deal, look only to yourself to explain why. BOB HABERKOST

Ross