Pennsylvanians weigh in on socialism, courts, govt and free of charge speech
More than enough gridlock, our lawmakers ought to get the job done to solve our complications
This is a challenge to our elected officials: It is time to end the gridlock. It is time to consider as a citizen of the United States. As citizens, we share a common perception that democracy is the very best form of federal government. Rather of creating division, consider the time to hear to all opinions. The founders of our govt encountered distinctive thoughts and set up our democracy to let for healthful discussions.
It is time to do your career. Vote to assist each and every citizen by way of this challenging time. Grow to be a problem solver and not a gridlock creator.
Martha Kosiorek, Wattsburg
Fake rhetoric about ‘socialist’ Democrats needs to stop
It is time to cease the disinformation and wrong narratives unfold by the former president and appropriate-wing media. One of the most glaring falsehoods is this weary, persistently repeated trope accusing Democrats of seeking a socialist and communist takeover of the place.
Socialism is previously a common, essential aspect of our establishments and way of lifetime. The fundamental definition of socialism is “team possession.” Let me list for you establishments that are relished by all Us residents: The military regulation enforcement organizations fire departments area, condition and federal governments the U.S. Put up Workplace govt community operates, transportation, well being, building and food items safety corporations community libraries and education Social Security Medicare veterans’ hospitals unemployment protection public parks, lands, monuments and museums disaster and emergency reduction Federal Deposit Insurance plan Corp. financial institution insurance border safety highways and streets.
These are all socialistic. Even churches are a kind of socialism. I saw a sign for the duration of the election that stated, “100% American, % socialist.” That is wholly unattainable except you reside off the grid and in no way go everywhere outdoors of your individual home and develop your possess foodstuff.
Democrats obtain communism repugnant. Any financial program of government — capitalism, socialism or communism is doomed to failure if taken over by a human being or political organization bent on grabbing electricity and distorting the truth. North Korea is formally the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” Does that sound like a dictatorship? No, but it is. Words and phrases make any difference. Real truth issues. Specifics make a difference. Defend our democracy. End the lies now.
Michael Dunlavey Jr., North East, U.S. Army, retired
Regionalized judicial elections would politicize our courts
Republicans in the Pennsylvania Legislature are trying to pass a constitutional modification that would transform how we elect Supreme Court docket justices and other appellate court docket judges. In its place of electing them statewide, the Typical Assembly would decide by drawing districts for each and every justice and choose.
This constitutional modification would help the legislatures to have manage around district strains, providing them undue electrical power around how judges are elected, and which judges are elected. It would help them to stack just about every district, and the courts as a whole, in favor of a single social gathering or one more.
This opens our courts up to partisan energy grabs, as very well as undue and dangerous legislative influence. Statewide courts make statewide choices about our lives and our communities that effect just about every resident of the Commonwealth. They need to provide all residents, not political or regional constituencies. And hence each and every voter should really be capable to vote for every single a person of them, not just a handful of of them.
Anita Winer, Lebanon
Social media businesses need to not repress our cost-free speech rights
In response to the present censorship mentality, do those people who aid this notice that quite a few social media companies have turn out to be, by their business enterprise procedures, a “public square”? Although they are private firms, they provide a bigger require, specially in a free culture where we must have a absolutely free trade of strategies and the ability to freely agree or disagree.
These social media websites are much more than non-public. And social media companies have grow to be much more than private providers by rigid definition. When a enterprise that obviously serves the “public good” employs the “private company” argument to squelch dissenting thoughts, it is by definition training what the Very first Amendment safeguards all People towards.
Jeff McAninch, Erie
Judicial election monthly bill strips Pennsylvanians of their legal rights
Pennsylvania legislators want to get absent just one of your fundamental rights. You should really be mad.
HB 38, a constitutional modification, will take away your right to pick all 31 Pennsylvania appellate judges and let you to choose only a few judges in your compact slice of the condition.
The sponsor, state Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, thinks that the courts require regional representation. He is confused. That’s his job. A judge’s career is to be impartial, independent and real to an oath to protect the structure of the entire commonwealth.
HB 38 with judicial districts is a terrible proposal. It will dilute your vote and grow the corrupting influence of endless campaign dollars and guide to serious partisanship. We have that dysfunction by now in the Common Assembly. HB 38 will also distort the stability of electric power amongst the a few co-equivalent branches of federal government.
A lot more states are going to advantage assortment with nonpartisan retention votes. This gets rid of the influence of donors, parochial interests and judicial districts drawn to favor the condition the greater part party. This solution is not nevertheless offered in Pennsylvania.
Superior to remain with our present-day program. It spreads the influence of cash and partisanship across the complete state and helps prevent gerrymandering entirely.
Never permit them acquire absent your right to vote for all Pennsylvania judges. Voting for only 3 of 31 judges is unacceptable. Contact and email your condition senator and representative. Inform them not to steal your vote with HB 38.
Debbie Trudeau, State Faculty
