Letters: Women to suffer in Mastriano’s PA; Time to admit Biden’s policies aren’t working

Women to suffer in Mastriano’s PA

Republican Gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano has said banning abortion is his No. 1 issue.

If Mastriano is elected governor, he’ll sign a fetal “heartbeat” bill banning abortions after six weeks, and work toward a total ban without exceptions for rape, incest or to save a mother’s life (from his website and April debate).

What would life be like in Mastriano’s Pennsylvania?

In Mastriano’s Pennsylvania, poor women will be most affected (the No. 1 reason for abortion is lack of finances). Six-week bans mean a woman has one week to: make a crucial life decision, find payment, make travel and work arrangements (mostly without paid time off), and child care (most women seeking abortions already have children).

In Mastriano’s Pennsylvania, more women will die in pregnancy. Many life-threatening complications occur after six weeks. Women would be unable to get health care abortions if they need chemotherapy.

In Mastriano’s Pennsylvania, health care professionals would be deterred from offering women miscarriage treatments. (Would women be jailed for a miscarriage that’s misconstrued as an attempted abortion?)

In Mastriano’s Pennsylvania, women, forced to bear a child, as well as their families, will suffer economically. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. Women who can’t access abortions are three times more likely to end up below the Federal Poverty Line.

Abortion bans like Mastriano’s do not lead to fewer abortions, but rather later-stage, expensive and unsafe abortions.

A politician should not be making women’s health care decisions.

Rally folks to register and vote against Mastriano, who says, “My body, my choice is ridiculous nonsense.”

Time to admit Biden’s policies aren’t working

I find it deeply offensive to be lectured by another myopic economist wannabe. Yet another LTE condescendingly preaching about supply and demand as it relates to energy prices. There’s no room for this misinformation (and I’m being generous calling it such). Hurry, hurry, call Nina Jankowicz. She can set this straight. No wait ... she resigned. This administration’s energy policy is directly responsible for the price we’re paying at the pump. Throw in some incompetent monetary policy and we’re heading for shortages, rationing, skyrocketing inflation and yes, possibly a depression. Where’s the Nobel winning ideologue Paul Krugman when we need him? Even Krugman could explain — when you cut supply and demand remains constant the price goes up. If demand increases price really goes up. Never a critical word except when we’re spoon fed “it’s the war in Ukraine and Putin’s fault.” Heaven forbid we have to acknowledge President Biden’s policies aren’t working. They’re making things much, much worse. Ever wonder why, with the abundance of economic knowledge concentrated at PSU, an objective professor or undergrad doesn’t chime in? Any chance we could get an actual economist to explain? I’m not really concerned; if I’m wrong I’ll just pull a Janet Yellen and say, “I was wrong — perhaps I made a mistake.” I’ve certainly had enough. And to think all we wanted is an adult in the White House. People need help not more rhetoric.

A duty to watch the January 6 hearings

Our country has experienced severe turmoil since the 2020 election, with the January 6 insurrection being our lowest point. The hearings held by the House January 6th Committee begin June 9, and I hope everyone tunes in to listen to the facts presented. For the health of our democracy, we must all be willing to listen to the facts gathered about the event. C.S. Lewis said it more directly and eloquently:

“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.”

Please tune in to one of the local stations and watch on ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC and CNN; FOX has decided not to air them.

The hearings on June 9 are at 8 p.m., June 13, 15, 16, 21 at 10 a.m., and June 23 at 8 p.m.