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In response to “Foxx, federal officials go forward with streetcar” (Dec. 13):
Some on council lack vision; streetcar advances city’s plan
Republican U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood cut to the chase on the streetcar controversy when he stated Wednesday that the leaders of Charlotte must have vision.
Any leader must look beyond a current situation and then articulate a vision to those who have trouble seeing beyond what now exists.
Mayor Anthony Foxx has a vision of an integrated urban transportation network for Charlotte, one that will continue the economic development that is already being seen along the Lynx Blue Line.
Unfortunately, some members of the Charlotte City Council are apparently lacking in the vision needed to lead a growing metropolitan area.
Lex Jones
Charlotte
Enough already, stop raising taxes; don’t spend on streetcar
It is beyond belief that the city is even considering raising taxes to pay for this streetcar, especially after the fiasco with ridiculous property tax increases that put an undue burden on all of us!
It seems like the Charlotte City Council is obsessed with making more and more improvements, and it’s breaking the backs of its citizens!
Who cares if the streetcar goes to Eastland Mall or wherever? People will get where they need to go. Smaller towns survive without every single improvement their city councils can think of. Why can’t Charlotte?
Sydney Stimpson
Charlotte
Can’t believe what I saw along I-85; shame on N.C. legislators
Wednesday I made the trip from Concord to Salisbury via Interstate 85. Our N.C. elected officials should be so proud that they choose the billboard industry over the environment.
With all the trees cut for 200 feet on both sides of the huge billboards that dot I-85 in this area, it looks like crud. And no wonder this country is so fat. Each sign advertises another place to eat an unhealthy meal.
We now look just like an entrance to Hillbilly Disneyland.
Grant Eagle
Concord
In response to “Bailout over, U.S. plans to sell AIG holdings, with profit” (Dec. 12):
Republicans can’t ignore success of bailout, AIG profit
The U.S. Treasury Department just announced that the bailout of AIG has ended and resulted in $22.7 billion profit for taxpayers. In addition, 90 percent of the $418 billion from TARP has been recovered thus far.
These are facts conveniently ignored by the tea party and other Republicans. They see only what they want to see.
Where do Sen. Jim DeMint and Grover Norquist stand on a $22.7 billion profit?
Ralph Cochrane
Charlotte
Going over fiscal cliff a win-win for Obama, lose-lose for GOP
No one seems to grasp the fact that President Obama would prefer the U.S. heads over the fiscal cliff.
He can then blame the GOP for the automatic spending cuts – cuts he knows are needed for fiscal responsibility – and pass a selective tax cut for the middle class, which would be hard for the GOP to vote against.
The real economic losers are those taxpayers at or slightly above President Obama’s arbitrary income line. They will bear the brunt of the tax increases.
The “real” wealthy will avoid higher taxes through the lack of reform in the tax code and the ability to defer or shelter income.
Tom Quigley
Charlotte
Fiscal cliff simply a struggle
for power at your expense
The one observation we should take away from the fiscal cliff debate is that the cliff is not the primary issue.
The real issue is a government that is more concerned about who “wins” than about the American people it is supposed to represent.
The era of the professional politician must come to an end to resolve this disconnect between those we hire and the animal we have in Washington today. Those in Washington today do not view themselves as employees, but instead see themselves as modern day monarchs.
Michael P. Carte
Charlotte
In response to “Same-sex marriage, changes like it eat away at our morality” (Dec. 13 Forum):
False logic to equate gay marriage with pedophilia
Forum writer Jeff Rothe wraps himself in the same false moral equivalency that opponents of gay marriage have long used to convince themselves they harbor no prejudice.
Neither bestiality, necrophilia, nor pedophilia involve a consensual, loving relationship between two adults. Before Mr. Rothe’s logic can be given serious consideration he should explain why he equates gay marriage to non-consensual acts which are solely sexual in nature.
Jon Moore
Charlotte
Shorten time it takes packages
to get to U.S. soldiers far away
I have difficulty understanding why it takes the government two weeks to deliver mail to our troops overseas when you can send a package to a street address in, say, Kuwait, in two days. I guess when our president said nothing is too good for our troops, the postal service only heard the “nothing” part.
Mail sent via the APO system should be given priority, which would in turn boost morale.
Alan Boles
Concord
