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In response to “Battle over city budget in Charlotte stops at streetcar” (June 20):
Dumbfounded by rationale
for $119M streetcar extension
The Charlotte City Council thinks a $119 million streetcar is a good idea because potential riders will feel better about riding it than about riding a bus.
Their rationale as stated by the Observer is “the city believes people will be more likely to use it (a streetcar) because its overhead wires and rails give it a sense of permanence. …people are more comfortable waiting for a train than a bus, certain that it will eventually come.”
This has to be the dumbest thing from a Charlotte City Council in the last six months.
Come on folks, really?
Richard A. Bobay Jr.
Charlotte
In response to “Perdue staffers altered letters on road projects” (June 19):
Garden Parkway sure doesn’t smell like a rosy deal to me
If the rosy-sounding Garden Parkway proposal could stand on its own merits, it would seem unnecessary for such underhanded, deceitful and manipulative ploys to get the thing funded.
This whole project does not pass the “smell test.”
We, the people, are subject to being taken for a billion-dollar ride. Well-connected politicians and their cronies are trying to use public funds to enrich themselves, while spoiling beautiful countryside and irreplaceable wetlands. That really stinks.
We need to say “NO” – not now, not ever!
D. Mark Perkins
Belmont
Parkway offers valuable lesson: Don’t elect career politicians
One of the most disconcerting revelations in this article was that one of the candidates running for Congress conveniently owns about 2,000 acres at four Garden Parkway exits.
How fortunate that he happened to purchase those properties. Or is this another case of a career politician using insider information to feather his nest?
Will we ever learn to stop electing people whose primary purpose is to look out for themselves? The last thing we need in Washington is another career politician.
We need to elect people whose first priority is to do what’s right for whatever level of government they represent – not what’s right for their re-election.
Xenophon J. Koinis
Matthews
IOC must do the right thing
and honor 11 slain Olympians
Israel wants the IOC to approve a minute of silence at this year’s opening ceremonies to honor the 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian extremists at the 1972 Olympics, but the IOC is refusing.
Many organizations are urging the IOC to reconsider.
On June 8 the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington unanimously passed a resolution urging the IOC to approve a minute of silence for these athletes at the opening ceremonies of every future Olympics.
Is one minute too much for the IOC to spend in remembrance of 11 innocent lives brutally cut short at the 1972 Games?
Rita Eilenberg
Charlotte
In response to “How Republicans think differently” (June 17 Viewpoint):
Not enough to say free market is the answer, reveal GOP plan
David Brooks states that conservatives offer a transformative vision for re-creating America’s health care, welfare and educational systems, as well as its tax codes.
I’ve seen detailed innovative proposals from some Republicans, such as the energy and immigration policies of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Unfortunately, I believe the majority of conservative proposals rely blindly on “the magic of the marketplace.” While privatization and free markets are usually a benefit to our society, they don’t always help us.
I’d like to see conservative leaders develop not only a vision, but also a coherent strategy for using the free market to solve our problems.
I don’t see that in health care, welfare, education or the tax code. Until I do, I will primarily vote for the Democratic Party.
Brandon Travis
Charlotte
In response to “Bishops vow to fight Obama mandate” (June 14) and related articles:
Obama birth control mandate no affront to religious freedom
The Affordable Health Care Act is civil law.
The United States didn’t change the law regarding plural marriages or give an exemption to the Mormon Church.
Why do the Catholic bishops think their beliefs are more important?
There’s always Mexico.
C.G. Kilburn
Pageland, S.C
Money spent helping foreign nations better spent at home
Why are we still handing over billions to the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and all the other nations?
The European Union says everything that is happening there is our fault, not that their austerity caused it. Billions going out to them and they hate us.
Isolationist? Maybe it’s time?
We are wasting our money. It would be better spent here to get us out of this hole that not only our members of Congress have gotten us into, but also leaders in Charlotte.
Nance Woods
Charlotte
