Pat’s being pragmatic, by trying to catch up with legislature

In writing about the governor, Associate Editor Peter St. Onge asks “Where’s ‘Pragmatic Pat’?” (Feb. 24 column). Good question but wrong answer.

The ideologues have been doing their odorous business in the legislature for two years now. Pat McCrory just became governor, and he’s not in control. He’s being very pragmatic trying to catch up. The game is early, so hopefully in time – before it’s too late for North Carolina – he can get his hands on the reins and slow down those wacko cowboys on Jones Street.

John H. Clark

Charlotte

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Gov. McCrory, why so silent on Charlotte airport question?

The writer is a former Charlotte mayor pro tem.

Does anyone else want to know Gov. Pat McCrory’s position on the bill in the legislature to have our airport governed by an authority? Mayor Pat, where are you on this issue? It’s your town. Are you going to sit back and say nothing and let it happen without input from you?

Lynn Wheeler

Charlotte

Republicans trying to seize control while they can

People are asking “What’s the rush?” regarding state government’s push to take over Charlotte’s airport. It’s quite simple: power and money. The current Republican majority has the power, and “our representatives” want all the money they can control to use in promoting their agenda. Forget the “We want to reduce government” statements. It is what it always is: Those in control want to “do unto others” as forcefully as they can, before “the others” take advantage of the pendulum’s swing and do it unto them.

Mark Selleck

Mineral Springs

Airport a city unto itself; let full-time authority govern it

Charlotte’s airport success and expansion is extraordinary. There should not be a controversy over the property’s future management. Don’t mess with Jerry Orr’s success and keep politics out of it. A full time Aviation Board is the only solution for this massive future task no matter how many years Orr has left. The airport is almost a city unto itself and I’m in favor of an airport authority which will require full time attention.

H.A. Thompson

Charlotte

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If Obama can’t cut 2 percent of budget, we’re in big trouble

President Obama exaggerates the effects of sequestration. This is only a 2 percent cut to a $3.6 trillion bloated federal budget. If our elected leaders cannot cut 2 percent of the federal budget in a responsible way, then how can we ever expect to reduce an annual $1.6 trillion deficit let alone $16.5 trillion in public debt?

Jerry K. Sammons

Unionville

Not catastrophic? Then you’re not among affected groups

The headline on David Lightman’s article in Sunday’s Observer indicates that “analysts say (the sequester’s) effect on public won’t be catastrophic.”

It’s not clear how these analysts define “catastrophic,” but I doubt many in North Carolina will agree with this assessment when unemployment benefit cuts by the state kick in alongside projected sequester cuts.

Some analysts predict that the sequester will lead in North Carolina to 1) some 2,000 fewer people with disabilities receiving services from Vocational Rehabilitation, 2) more than 18,000 children and mothers losing WIC nutrition aid, and 3) $9 million cut from Head Start.

Shirley Anderson

Charlotte

In response to “Cursive tops ‘Basics’ agenda” (Feb. 25):

Like it or not, state law protects print as a legal signature

It was interesting to see N.C. Rep. Pat Hurley denying the legitimacy of printed signatures – which are defended by the laws that she is sworn to uphold.

N.C. General Statute 25-1-201 (37) says “‘Signed’ includes using any symbol executed or adopted with present intention to adopt or accept a writing.”

Further, N.C. General Statute 12-3 (10) states, for use in statutes: “Provided, that in all cases where a written signature is required by law, the same shall be in a proper handwriting, or in a proper mark.”

Rep. Hurley may exclude printed handwriting from the category of “a proper handwriting;” if so, she has not pointed to any legal defense for such exclusion.

Kate Gladstone

Albany, N.Y.

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In response to “Sens. Feinstein, Graham to be honored for their civility” (Feb. 22):

Allegheny College folks must not be watching Graham much

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is getting an award for civility? That’s like Chris Christie getting an award for fitness. I respectfully suggest the good people at Allegheny College use the money instead to get themselves a cable package that includes C-SPAN. Because, as anyone who watches C-SPAN knows, Lindsey Graham is brutally uncivil to any one he disagrees with.

Ida Tarbell, the great Allegheny alum whose investigative reporting famously broke up the Standard Oil monopoly, will be spinning in her grave over her alma mater giving an award to a man who is famous not for investigating special interests, but for protecting them.

Greg Carr

Cornelius