Vote to retain Supreme Court justices

More than 30% of eligible voters did not vote in the last presidential election. About 30% of eligible voters cast ballots for the current administration. All of us are now being affected by the erosion of our rights, the attacks on our economic security and the eradication of what makes us American. Facts are negotiable in this current climate of slick marketing and lies. But you can do something — you have a voice.

Despite misleading advertising, the true motivation behind the current ad campaign against retaining three of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court justices is not based on benefit to you. It is for the sole purpose of replacing three judges who have stood up for voting access, fair redistricting and reproductive rights. Those currently in power in Washington want to redistrict Pennsylvania in their favor to roll over the rights and interests of ordinary Pennsylvanians. Please vote yes to retain the current justices who are standing up for you!

Cherie Raub

Upper Milford Township

Protect Arctic lands from drilling

America’s Arctic is one of the last places we should risk for oil and gas drilling. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Western Arctic Reserve aren’t empty spaces; they’re home to the Gwich’in and Iñupiat peoples, caribou, polar bears and birds that many of us can see from our own homes during migration season.

Oil and gas companies want to drill here, which would cause even more damage to our climate and the people and animals who live there. The Arctic is already warming much faster than the rest of the planet. If we allow drilling, it will only get worse for wildlife, for Native communities, and for all of us who care about clean air and water.

People from all parts of society, whether they are scientists, veterans, faith leaders, or everyday citizens, are coming together to say enough is enough. We must convince our members of Congress to step up and create permanent protections for these Arctic lands. We all have a stake in protecting these places for the future of our families and the planet.

Sophia Pappalardo

Bethlehem

Trump elicits fear, not respect, from world

A letter to The Morning Call opined that President Trump has brought the world’s respect back to our country. However, I read a few days ago that a senior foreign diplomat at the United Nations texted a Washington Post reporter, regarding Trump’s hourlong speech before the General Assembly, that “This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?” OK, that foreign diplomat was granted anonymity, so his comment can’t be confirmed. And delegates to the U.N. General Assembly did applaud after Trump’s speech. But fear is not at all the same thing as respect. My own take is that, rather than having garnered much respect, our country will be a very long time coming out from under the fear, hostility and ridicule that President Trump has elicited toward us from the rest of the world.

John Groff

Allentown

Trump isn’t earning the world’s respect

A recent letter writer wrote that President Trump brought back the world’s respect. I beg to differ. Since his second inauguration, he has exposed himself as a buffoon. He insults the leader of Ukraine so badly that when he had his next meeting with him, the leaders of several European countries had to come along for support. No one knows where he truly stands because he waffles constantly on multiple fronts. Foreign tourism to the United States is down with him as president.

John Kostick 

Whitehall Township

Governors model leadership in wake of political violence

I’ve always been a believer in the old saying “out of a crisis, good things can happen.”

I also remember that in times of crisis, our presidents comforted and reassured us, as Ronald Reagan did after the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. Bill Clinton did the same after the Oklahoma City bombing, as did Barack Obama after the murder of first graders and teachers at Sandy Hook

Now a series of targeted violent acts against political figures culminating in the murder of political activist Charlie Kirk have shocked the nation and created a new crisis. But our current president’s response has been one of retribution and division, blaming only “the radical left” for the violence. The current administration’s response is symbolic of how unhealthy our democracy has become.

But real moral and political leadership has emerged from Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. Both governors have called on Americans to take a breath, turn down the temperature, and turn away from political violence. Cox has also urged Americans to turn off social media and do good in their communities. Bravo, governors.

Daniel A. Nickischer

Lehigh Township

Political party leaders make compromise difficult

Every elected official, state and federal, should be ashamed of themselves for not being able to pass their respective budgets. This is just one more example of what happens when they have to obey the few party leaders. Unfortunately the first thing every elected official has to think about is how to be reelected. And they cannot do that without the blessing of those few party leaders who tell them how they better vote. How else could every major issue come down to a vote with everyone voting exactly in line with their party?

Peter Stahl

Hanover Township, Northampton County

Writer uses divisive language

Regarding Nolan Finley’s commentary in the Sept. 16, 2025, edition of The Morning Call, he starts his tirade with the sentence “Liberals are different from you and me.”

Remind me again who is working to divide us as a people?

Paul Kraft

Bethlehem Township

ELECTION LETTERS 

Letters to the editor about candidates and issues in the Nov. 4 general election must be received by 10 a.m. Oct. 27.  Election-related letters will not be published after Oct. 30.

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.

Town Square Cartoons

https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/05/letters-pa-supreme-court-justices-are-standing-up-for-your-rights/