In response to "CMS board needs to work on relationships" (Jan. 17 Editorial):

Waiting for day I can take pride in CMS system, all its schools

I am not worried about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board's relationships, I am worried about the negative reports I read about each day.

When can we have a school system we can be proud of? Not just a few schools, but all.

Nancy Jean Campbell

Cornelius

In response to "Schools need power of the EpiPen" (Jan. 15 Viewpoint):

Shackled by legislation, we've forgotten to think for ourselves

The sad truth is no amount of legislation will prevent tragedies similar to the death of first-grader Ammaria Johnson.

Every day, people encounter choices, in a plethora of circumstances, where they must discern between the intent of the law and the letter of the law.

What we need are people who can think for themselves. How hard would it have been for the school nurse to say: "Forget the law, I'm saving the child"?

Joyce A. Vukela-Mayer

Sherrills Ford

In response to "Fair vote is too sacred for rushed judgment" (Jan. 12 Editorial) and "S.C. DMV chief: 900 dead people may have voted" (Jan. 12 CharlotteObserver.com):

'Cemetery' vote on the rise; quash it by requiring photo ID

The recent S.C. voter audit has shown that Democrats moving to the South from Chicago, Philadelphia and other Yankee cities have brought with them their practice of encouraging a large cemetery voter turnout. This is not fair, it is fraud. Both Gov. Bev Perdue and the Observer facilitate voter fraud by refusing to endorse voter ID laws. A fair vote is sacred, and it cannot be secured without a photo ID.

Becky Moline

Charlotte

In response to "Holder rips new voting laws" (Jan. 17):

Holder wrong; making voters produce ID not discriminatory

Yes, voting is a legal issue and moral imperative, but producing proof of who you are when voting is no more unjust than showing your passport at a TSA security checkpoint.

May I also remind Attorney General Eric Holder that most Americans, black and white, want to do the reasonable and sensible thing: Producing a photo ID at the ballot box is just that.

Barry Marshall

Charlotte

In response to "Environmental fears follow wreck of Italian cruise ship" (Jan. 17):

Focus should be on human toll, not on environmental impact

Tuesday's headlines concerning the ship wreck in Italy focused on rising environmental concerns. Neither the front-page headline, nor the one on page 3A, referenced the rise in missing persons from 15 to 29.

Like many environmental organizations, the Observer's concern for our environment seems to outweigh its concern for humans. The paper's misplaced values are troubling.

Why doesn't the human toll grab the headlines?

John Shea Jr.

Charlotte

In response to "Free-market capitalism: It works, if we let it happen" (Jan. 13 Viewpoint):

Already seeing consequences of barriers to free market

The writer is a former Pfeiffer University economics professor.

If we continue raising barriers that prohibit free-market capitalism from working, there are consequences. For example, the United States ranked 10th among 179 nations in the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom. Because of excessive government regulations and stimulus spending, huge welfare programs, and a bloated public debt especially since 2008, America ranked inferior to such countries as Chile, Ireland, and Mauritius.

On the index's Freedom from Corruption Indicator, the U.S. also worsened in rank. This was primarily due to new federal laws and government bureaucracies that created incentives for political graft and cronyism by individuals and businesses trying to remain optimistic, competitive, efficient and productive in a market economy.

Frank P. Jozsa Jr.

Tega Cay, S.C.

In response to "I've got Eastland Mall in my prayers, wish everyone did" (Jan. 15 Forum):

Little hope after living amid Eastland, east side decline

Eastland Mall stands as a reminder of the devastating effect government-subsidized housing has had on a once-thriving part of town. Such programs give people money to rent homes in neighborhoods they otherwise could not afford. This often brings a criminal element to neighborhoods where responsible, tax-paying homeowners try to live in peace. I've watched it happen in my modest, middle-class east side neighborhood.

Until Charlotte's planning geniuses stop using the east side as a subsidized housing dumping ground, you can expect further decline.

Emilio Poindexter

Charlotte

More uptown drivers ignore pedestrians, signals these days

For over 16 years I've lived, jogged and walked in uptown. The disdain for pedestrians has always existed but recently has gotten out of hand.

Saturday evening as I crossed Stonewall at Mint Street, three cars ignored the walk signal and just missed hitting me.

I suggest Chief Rodney Monroe, in civilian clothes, walk one weekday evening from College Street to BofA Stadium on the south side of Stonewall . If he has more than two close calls, you can bet we'll see stepped up traffic enforcement uptown - at least through the DNC.

Terrence P. McFadden

Charlotte