PSO management has the wrong strategy
I find myself heartbroken and frustrated at the current state of the relationship between the management and the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony (“PSO Cancels More Concerts Amid Strike,” Oct. 18).
The management and board of trustees have a very tough and often-thankless job to make sure Pittsburgh can sustain the worldclass orchestra that has been built over the past 120 years. In my opinion, however, the management has arrived at a strategy to save the orchestra that will ultimately undermine its mission.
Instead of fighting together with the musicians and the public to move the orchestra forward, they have chosen a silent standoff, placing their faith in a shortsighted plan of deep cuts and constraints, fighting against the very musicians who make the Pittsburgh Symphony the world-class orchestra it is today.
I ask the board of trustees to engage with management to end the standoff, return to the bargaining table and demonstrate what it means to come together through differences of opinions to find a solution. Our world today is broken by too much ideological positioning and inability to compromise. Let’s show the world what it means to be from Pittsburgh: That we can work together, fight together and win together. Our musicians, our orchestra and our city deserve that chance, our love, our respect and our support. They have mine. TOM SANDS
Sewickley
We welcome your opinion
by teaching the next generations at universities here. If we lose these musicians, our universities will suffer, too. ERIN HEINTZINGER
Greenfield
The Oct. 13 Perspectives commentary by Daniel Bonevac (“Egghead for Trump”), which first appeared in The Washington Post, exemplifies what is wrong with modern American politics. Mr. Bonevac is a Ph.D.educated man who pines for the days when he could have political discussions with students and faculty. He now fears repercussions when they find he is a Donald Trump supporter.
Perhaps Mr. Bonevac’s fears are founded in that his candidate has yet to clearly define how he will accomplish his lofty goals. According to this commentary, Mr. Trump has given “serious speeches detailing his vision on the economy, foreign policy, crime, immigration,” yet even on Mr. Trump’s own website I cannot find specifics. All I see are broad statements such as “we’re going to have more jobs, the best jobs” or “I’ll defeat ISIS” and “I know more than the generals.”
Mr. Bonevac should stop and think about these statements. They represent no policy and lay forth no action plan, nor do they resonate well with collegeeducated folks. Why? Pushing emotional hot buttons to elicit responses are really only platitudes and pompous declarations. Not policy. Not progress.
Mr. Bonevac points out the Obama administration’s federal regulations that he thinks are strangling some industries, particularly coal. Coal-mining jobs are becoming more scarce because fracking has delivered a cheaper and cleaner energy option to the public. Here’s a good analogy: It’s like blaming stringent workforce regulations on the dangerous work environment of propeller engine jobs as the reason those jobs are being lost while the jet-engine turbine takes over the skies. The propeller jobs are going away anyway. SCOTT VIGDER
Beaver Falls
While volunteering at the Republican center in Lower Burrell, I have shared concerns regarding America’s political future with more than a few local visitors. Remarkably, their concerns are not personal such as more entitlements or lower taxes. Rather, it is the power structure of our current Washington administration, the Clinton political machine and the bias of the national media.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is a lifelong politician who will continue this corruption of power.
As a private citizen and businessman, Donald Trump felt compelled to seek the presidency to break the chain of this corruption of power. In this process, the media have attempted to tear his life into shreds.
My victory center visitors and I, a 91-year-old volunteer, can only wonder how this election will affect our children and grandchildren if Ms. Clinton becomes president. Be informed. Pray. Vote.
RUTH COX Lower Burrell