In response to Sen. Kay Hagan's "20 percent down rule could douse any housing recovery" (May 18 Viewpoint):

Making loans easy caused this mess, let's not go back there

Talk about a short memory... Must Sen. Kay Hagan be reminded that it was the Community Reinvestment Act in concert with Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac doing the bidding of congressmen Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who forced banks to make unsecured loans that got us into this economic mess in the first place?

What a novel concept that we should have to save our money to make a down payment to qualify for a loan - i.e. borrow someone else's money. Owning a home is an earned privilege, not a right.

J.B. Hall

Charlotte

In response to "UNC system may cut student slots" (May 16):

'Growth at any cost' mindset saps entire UNC system

The pressing debate about quantity vs. quality is long overdue. Various elements of the University of North Carolina system should not be permitted to grow to gargantuan dimensions with a "growth at any cost" mindset which drains resources from the entire system.

The structural changes ahead should be viewed as an opportunity for the politically connected board to prove it can manage the UNC system during what promises to be a long-term environment of limited financial resources.

P.A. Williams

Matthews

In response to "Bad bargains that funded bin Laden" (May 12):

U.S. must stop taking care of the world, spend more at home

I was upset to read that since 9-11 the U.S. has given $11 billion to Pakistan, most of it in military aid. When is the USA going to stop funding every other country and start taking care of its own? Eleven billion dollars would have helped so many people here who have lost jobs and homes due to downsizing, storms, etc. We can't take care of the whole world. Charity begins at home.

Linda Clark

Charlotte

In response to "Senate must recognize need to keep sales tax" (May 15 Editorial):

Growing tired of taxpayers vs. school children argument

Your editorial pits the taxpayers against the school children. This argument is getting old, and frankly, I'm sick of this comparison. We all agree education is extremely important. Here is how you solve the problem:

First, have the N.C. legislature fully fund all the educational needs. Then, choose the next priority and fund it. Then, choose the third priority and fund it. Eventually, you will have some projects that go unfunded. That's life. Then you can discuss the taxpayers' versus the politicians' pet projects and/or non-essential projects. This would be a more relevant discussion and one we should have.

David G. Van Hellemont

Charlotte

Muslims should take a hint from Freedom Riders

"What would we do if they kicked us off the plane because we are Muslim?"

This is the question my daughter posed to me. Those of us who are Muslim know the difficulties associated with "flying while Muslim." The extreme profiling and denial of service is a new civil rights struggle.

To answer my daughter's question, maybe what we need to do is take a page out of history and take those lunch counters out of museum displays and put them on planes and start some new sit-ins, or perhaps some "Freedom Flyers."

As I teach my daughter American history, I'm preparing her to go back to the '60s if that's what it takes to go forward into the future and gain justice for all.

Jibril Hough

Charlotte

In response to "Whose pockets are these high oil prices filling up? Speculators" (May 15 The Big Picture):

Shine a light on oil speculators, publish their names, faces

Finally, an article with the courage to say what everybody has known all along - that speculators caused our oil price woes. Don't let these thieves and scoundrels hide behind the anonymity of "investment banker," "financial consultant" and "hedge fund operator." Put some names and faces to these people.

Like rats, they hide in the sewers doing their dirty work, getting filthy rich while actually risking little or nothing. Bring them into the light of day and expose them to the public eye.

Ted Smith

Hickory

In response to "Pay-as-you-go insurance considered" (May 8):

Give drivers a break for driving less, taking AARP safety course

Apparently the N.C. Department of Insurance must have a powerful lobby in opposing "pay-as-you-drive" car insurance policies which would benefit those driving fewer miles. North Carolina is also one of a small number of states that does not give a mandatory car insurance discount to seniors who have completed the AARP driving safety course. I recently completed it and was impressed. I didn't realize how much had changed since I learned to drive decades ago. Any senior completing this course would be a safer driver. This makes the roads safer for all. I hope the General Assembly will consider both issues in a favorable light.

Joanne M. Bryla

China Grove