Don’t be fooled by NC amendments
I read the proposed constitutional amendments for North Carolina in the Judicial Voter Guide 2018. They are full of obfuscation and misdirection – the truest bellwether of the present GOP.
The “Right to Hunt and Fish” amendment is a failed magician’s act to misdirect the public’s current hunting and fishing enthusiasm for an obvious reason – to increase firearms purchases and membership in the NRA.
Mike Jackson, Mooresville
Reid’s kneeling isn’t a 1st Amendment issue
Reid’s kneeling isn’t a 1st Amendment issue
Commenting on Panther Eric Reid on Wednesday, Coach Ron Rivera said: “I believe in the First Amendment and that’s all he did.”
The millions of us who disagree with Reid – and Rivera – are not saying he does not have the right to kneel. We are saying we believe he is not right in kneeling.
Please, let’s stop using the Constitution as a means to an end.
Eddie Goodall, Weddington
Focus on his deeds, not his kneeling
Even if one disagrees with Eric Reid’s decision to kneel for the anthem, we must agree that he has the right to do so, especially if it’s done with the permission of his employer, David Tepper.
Reid’s reason for kneeling, however, would be better served by the media if they focused on what he’s actually doing to effect change in areas of social injustice.
If we dwell on the kneeling rather than the causes for which he kneels, all that will really matter is how he does his job on Sunday afternoons.
Tim Eichenbrenner, Charlotte
Consider a return to student bus drivers
In response to “All bus drivers get raises as CMS struggles to get kids to and from school on time” (Oct. 9) and related articles:
In the not-too-distant past we did not have a school bus driver shortage. In many places buses were driven by responsible high school juniors and seniors.
There were a lot of drivers, the school system saved money, and student drivers received a valuable training in responsible work.
Why did we ever abandon that? It was a win, win, win and we can go back again.
All it takes is imagination.
Jim Williams, Charlotte
Scientists, Trump agree; now act on it
Recently the Trump administration released a startling projection of a 7-degree temperature rise this century. This is almost identical to the consensus of the scientific community.
Disastrous climate effects will take place. Will the NC legislature and Congress address this now-agreed projection or ignore it? Those who vote for politicians who continue to support fossil fuels will be complicit in future climate disasters and will be held in contempt by future generations.
Lee Brinson, Charlotte
Don’t let votes come back to haunt you
The late Tip O’Neill often said “All politics is local.” I’ve discovered this year, he was wrong – all politics is personal.
My husband’s melanoma returned with a vengeance after six years in remission. Thank God for government programs that made it possible for James P. Allison, 2018 Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, to discover the treatment that is saving my husband’s life.
Thank God for the Affordable Care Act that makes those same treatments affordable for us.
As you consider candidates, think seriously about the value each would place on your own and your loved ones’ lives. When devastating things happen to you, the votes you cast may very well come back to haunt you.
Mary Englebert, Statesville
Kavanaugh: A proper outcome in the end
In response to “Senate narrowly confirms Kavanaugh after bitter battle” (Oct. 7):
Whatever teenage bad behavior did or did not occur, Judge Brett Kavanaugh has grown himself into a decent, able person deserving of our esteem.
While I deplore Congress’ “party-above-all” stance, I believe the appointment of Justice Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court was the proper outcome for this mess.
Nancy Ballenger, Matthews
Politicians who lie? Let the irony sink in
In response to “Another elitist view of Trump supporters” (Oct. 12 Forum):
Trump supporter Mac McCall writes to tell the Forum that the Observer has a condescending view of President Trump’s base. Then he goes on to say that the reason people like him lifted Donald Trump to the highest office of the land was because they were tired of politicians who lied. Let’s just take a moment to let all the irony of that sink in.
Tommy Conder, Charlotte