The high court delivers a victory for all voters

Congratulations to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, a Republican appointee, for his decision to allow Pennsylvania to redraw legislative district boundaries more fairly (Feb. 6, “U.S. High Court Won’t Intervene on State’s Voting Map; GOP Lawmakers Say They May Not Give Up”). Of course Republicans and Republican lawmakers, fearing the loss of legislative clout, are still making noises as if they want to keep gerrymandered districts as they are, because they are looking at only the short-term consequences of his decision.

Justice Alito, however, correctly sees the issue as one that hampers both parties, not only here but across the nation. I’m sure there are places, perhaps even in urban Pennsylvania, where Democrats have had the upper hand for far too long due to gerrymandering.

For Republican lawmakers to cast this as a partisan issue obscures the true nature of Justice Alito’s decision. As a registered Democrat, I am saddened when I go to the polls and see any candidate of any party — my own included — running unopposed because they have been guaranteed an unfair voter registration advantage.

Gerrymandering effectively disenfranchises voters of both parties even before stepping into the voting booth. That’s not how I was taught to understand the democratic process. The decision is a victory for voters of all parties,now and into the future. TONY DeCAROLIS

Point Breeze all those frivolous and selfpromoting trips to Mar-a-Lago and other properties that violate emoluments clause restrictions.

How long can we continue printing money before the dollar becomes worthless and our financial system collapses?

It is high time we remove the punch bowl from the president’s reckless party. ROBERT J. BAHL

South Fayette

Dems, define goals

We are all too familiar with the sideshow that is our federal government. It’s scary and embarrassing to think about what is going on in Washington, D.C., currently.

For those of us who did not vote for this person in the Oval Office, I know we are just trying to survive his four years in office. Sadly, with that train of thought, I am brought to the scary realization of this: What plan do the Democrats have?

First, let me note that I believe the two parties have failed us greatly, but sadly, I must side with the Democrats. The Republicans have put all their stock into our current president, and that should not be forgotten. As we turn toward the future, I am becoming increasingly worried that the Democrats don’t have a successful plan. What sets them apart from the status quo? Their votes toward leftish ideas? Yes, but that’s it! They are still mostly super-rich people who are controlled by their donors. How are we to put our trust in these people for change when they are really just more of the same?

Maybe at least making a change of leadership will help, but I think this party really needs to start defining what it stands for and what it wants to accomplish. Right now, the only thing we know about the Democrats is that they oppose Donald Trump. Although that’s extremely necessary with his policies, what are their goals for the future? BRIAN POHLAND

Penn Hills