By electing candidates like Mark Robinson, NC sends a message to states like mine | Opinion
NC beware
The truth of the old saying “all politics are local” has nearly vanished as national and local Republican Party groups, like those in North Carolina, give your state and the country the likes of Madison Cawthorn, Mark Robinson and Michelle Morrow. The election of Cawthorn alerted many that doing business in or visiting North Carolina, was ill-considered. The election of Robinson and/or Morrow will demand it. Morrow’s extremist agenda, projected on children, will render them unfit for hire or life outside the old Deep South.
Randal McChesney, Bellevue, Wash.
Transit talks
Charlotte City Council member Malcolm Graham said on April 10 that using hospitality funds for public transportation is a “terrible idea,” and that “it creates more problems than it fixes.” Council member Ed Driggs said “a diversion of hospitality funds would be a bad idea here.” Instead of offering such vague platitudes as “This isn’t Asheville,” it would be helpful if these two council members and others would clarify their opposition to at least bringing this subject up for public discussion. For instance, what problems exactly would it create? Do you mean problems like more accessible and affordable transportation to and from jobs, schools, shopping, medical care and, yes, entertainment venues?
Amy and Terry Keith, Charlotte
Public schools
Public education in North Carolina is on a precipice and about to go over the edge unless the state legislature comes to its senses.
Teacher turnover is inexcusably high with over 10,000 teachers not planning to return next year. Teacher pay is 46th in the nation for starting teachers and 36th for average pay, all while pressure on teachers to do more increases.
Couple the facts with the legislature’s increasing political ploys to wrest control of the State Board of Education from the executive branch and it portends more problems.
In addition, Republicans have grossly expanded funds going to private schools and are putting forth a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michele Morrow, who home schools her children while criticizing public schools.
It’s a recipe for disaster. More moves to destroy the state’s reputation.
Kent Rhodes, Charlotte
Online gambling
It appears North Carolina is for sale.
First, the lottery came. Then, gambling. Now, Disney-owned ESPN has partnered with PENN Entertainment to create a betting app called ESPN Bet for use in North Carolina.
I don’t think any of these things will be beneficial to North Carolina’s residents, especially not people of color. These entities often use high-profile Black personalities for their commercials.
North Carolina needs more solutions, not more problems for our underserved communities.
Becky Russell, Charlotte
Student debt
How is it fair to transfer the responsibility of educational debt from individuals who willingly took on the debt to the taxpayer? It’s truly quite perplexing. There are debatable subjects in politics, but the concept of shifting the burden of voluntary educational debt onto taxpayers is one that is especially difficult to wrap my head around. Expecting your neighbor to foot the bill will not address the underlying issues of continuously rising higher education expenses.
Mike Howard, Waxhaw
Loan forgiveness
If the government forgives a student loan (actually then paid for by taxpayers) because an 18-year-old is not capable of making a good decision to borrow the money, then couldn’t a real estate mortgage taken out by an 18-year-old also be forgiven and paid for by taxpayers?
Rodger Parker, Huntersville
Climate pessimism
Stephen Moore’s April 4 Opinion piece decrying Biden administration efforts to transition from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources was conservative alarmism disguised as common-sense reporting. Moore’s pessimism reflects the lack of confidence conservatives have in our ability to develop efficient, cost-effective power generation and transportation fueling systems. Conservatives elites like Moore don’t seem to believe in America’s talent for working to achieve future goals. How unpatriotic is that?
Michael A. Clark, Charlotte