We all must wake up to the ‘budget beast’ problem
Thank you for addressing the dilemma of the escalation and growth of the military/industrial/espionage complex and its effect on the lives and treasure of the United States of America (Jan. 22 editorial, “The Budget Beast”). Both major political parties, as well as the media, have been complicit in this expansion, which has led to endless wars and our role as policeman of the world. Fueled by fear, presented by our government through the media, this “budget beast” is fed without limits and has no boundaries.
It is the responsibility of a free press that has not been totally corrupted to point out this dilemma and to continue addressing it until the people of our nation rebel against this beast and hold our leaders accountable for it. Again, thank you for your leadership and please continue delivering this sobering message. LEONARD BENCH
Ligonier Township
We welcome your opinion
Walking While White” (Jan. 20), highlights the culture of impunity among off-leash dog walkers, one need not go to a park to see roughly the same behavior — and demographic — among cyclists, many of whom ignore traffic rules, ride on sidewalks, etc., despite the extraordinary efforts made to not only accommodate but also promote cycling.
Unlike dog walking, however, the city’s promotion of cycling has come without any obvious enforcement mechanism such as those applying to motor vehicles and has put pedestrians at increased risk. I will leave to others the question of whether this is also a demonstration of white privilege. HENRY POSNER III
Oakland people laws”: traffic regulation.
His data say that black people are pulled over more than white people and that demonstrates racial profiling. Jumping to that conclusion on this thin data shows a significant misunderstanding of statistics.
But Mr. Braham’s main point is really his outrage about pot laws. It is clear he considers drunken driving way more serious than pot possession. I agree with him. This is a serious discussion that can stand on its own merits. There is no need to race-bait and inflame the already serious divide between blacks and whites. Mr. Braham, racist tendencies are showing. GREG MOLINDA
South Fayette
In response to the Jan. 17 front-page article “Developer Looking for Grocery Store to Fill Void Downtown”: I have a serious suggestion, namely, Wegmans. This grocery has a major presence in Erie (at least two stores), in eastern Pennsylvania (at least four stores), in multiple locations in New Jersey across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and elsewhere in the state, in Maryland and Virginia (multiple locations), and no doubt in multiple locations in New York state, its home base.
It’s way past time for Wegmans to invade Pittsburgh. It winds up in polls, near No. 1, as the best place to work, in customer satisfaction and in employee satisfaction. It offers a complete array of standard national brands of food and paper products at prices, on average, below those of Giant Eagle, as well as generic and Wegmans brand products. It has pharmacies and sit-down cafes, offering a large variety of menu choices (no tips required).
So what about it, Pittsburgh? Bring in the No. 1 grocery, in many counts, to the area, and give Giant Eagle some real competition. STEVE SISKIND Cecil