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In response to “Prosecutors join police to target repeat offenders” (July 8):
States pass along career criminals; people get hurt
I support Mecklenburg District Attorney Peter Gilchrist's efforts to target repeat offenders.
In 2000, I was attacked by a homeless man during a robbery attempt in a Charleston parking garage. He fractured my shoulder and tore my rotator cuff, requiring four surgeries.
He was a career criminal and had committed so many crimes in Washington that someone paid for a bus ticket to send him to Charleston.
States pass hardened criminals on to other states, and it becomes that state's problem.
Criminals should be kept behind bars. The fact that prisons are overcrowded should not dictate early release of violent, habitual felons.
Karna Schantz
Charlotte
Police discouraged by judges who give a slap on the hand
Peter Gilchrist said he's noticed a drop in the number of cases presented by the police.
Officers are probably sick and tired of seeing their hard work go for naught because the district attorney's office won't prosecute, or if they do, judges then simply slap offenders on the hand.
Franklin Trammell
Stallings
In response to “Serial killer spent last days partying” (July 8) and subsequent articles:
Stop already with huge photos of the accused Gaffney killer
Please stop putting huge pictures of the accused Gaffney killer all over the place.
Do you think people in the Gaffney community want to keep seeing his face posted in gargantuan size on your Web site and news pages?
Why not put photos of Michael and Terri Valentine, the couple who called 911, on there? Or the people who worked day and night to solve these crimes and bring peace to a community?
Enough sensationalism!
Kelly Macaluso
Tega Cay
‘Justice' system failed; killer should have been behind bars
I've heard it 100 times this week from co-workers, strangers, neighbors: Why was this man on the streets?
It's heartbreaking to know all these innocent people were victims of someone who should have been behind bars.
There's something terribly wrong with our “justice” system.
Dorie Rickard
Charlotte
In response to “Perdue seeks 1-cent hike in sales tax rate” (July 8):
Do you really believe tax increase will be temporary?
Don't let the Observer headline fool you. The 1-cent increase Gov. Bev Perdue is asking for is a whopping 22.2 percent increase in the N.C. sales tax rate (currently at 4.5 percent).
And, who is fool enough to believe it will be temporary?
Bill Fesperman
Huntersville
In response to “Palin, McNamara columns proof Observer becoming irrelevant” (July 9 Forum) and “McNamara legacy: needless deaths” (July 8 Viewpoint) and related columns:
Hard to imagine some people
still defend the Vietnam War
Forum writer H. Gene Lockaby should be gratified that the Observer still carries an occasional Bob Herbert column.
The column taking former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to task may well be Herbert's best, most courageous one yet.
That there are still people out there who defend the Vietnam War is stupefying.
As for Maureen Dowd teeing off on Sarah Palin, I say: Bring it on. Let us all celebrate having dodged this bullet that John McCain and the Republican Party came so close to inflicting on all America.
Bernie Hargadon
Charlotte
In response to “If loopiness qualifies, Palin's ahead of the curve” (July 7 Opinion):
Liberal media perplexed by strong, conservative woman
Sarah Palin knows exactly what she's doing and is an extremely intelligent woman. She has governed the largest state in the nation, with an extraordinarily high approval rating.
It seems as if the liberal media don't know what to do with a strong, successful, conservative woman who won't go away and who can relate to the people.
Maureen Dowd's column says more about her prejudice against Palin than anything else.
Sherwood Page
Charlotte
In response to “Local media's cold shoulder to Tea Party shows liberal bias” (July 7 Forum):
Objectivity lacking in coverage of local July 4th Tea Party event
The Observer probably would not have covered the Boston Tea Party back in 1773 either.
Come on, where's your objectivity? Your “political correctness” is embarrassingly obvious.
Jim Lashua
Charlotte
Forum writer missed the point about neighborhood parade
Forum writer Greg Joseph missed an important point concerning the Elizabeth neighborhood's long-running annual Fourth of July parade.
There are rarely spectators, due to the fact that all are encouraged to participate.
Unlike the “Astroturf” organization that the Tea Party really is, this is a true grass roots event of diverse citizens coming together to celebrate the birth of our wonderful Republic.
Jim Belvin
Charlotte
In response to “With ship foundering, wake up” (July 9 Viewpoint):
Public health option would reduce drain on economy
Columnist Michael Gerson must have stock in health insurance, pharmaceutical or energy corporations.
He claims we cannot afford a public health care option, which would reduce the hidden costs to our system by half. It would also provide affordable care to citizens forced into emergency rooms and bankruptcy.
We should give members of Congress (and Mr. Gerson) the same benefits the least of us have – nothing – until they pass either a single-payer or public option health plan.
Deb Arnason
Wadesboro
In response to “Ending Spanish classes? Excellent idea, if you ask me” (July 5 Forum):
Ending Spanish classes puts local students at disadvantage
Regrettably, I have lived to see the day when a fellow North Carolinian thinks that a lack of funding for foreign language instruction in public schools is cause for celebration.
Our children need all the tools available to prosper in the world, including foreign language instruction.
Students who can master more than one language always have enhanced employment opportunities.
Dave Thompson
Charlotte
In response to “Don't forget, 40 million people voted for Sarah Palin last time” (July 8 Forum):
Gov. Mark Sanford 'fessed up; maybe Gov. Palin should, too
Gov. Sarah Palin's and Gov. Mark Sanford's situations can easily be equated. Front-runners for the 2012 Republican nomination both essentially ruined their chances.
The difference is that Sanford admitted his wrongdoing.
Palin, on the other hand, told an Alaska newspaper that she's resigning because of ethics complaints against her.
It's obvious she's trying to hide something that would ruin her 2012 campaign.
Ashleigh Rogers
Rock Hill
Longing for the days when uptown fireworks dazzled
We saw the fireworks in uptown Charlotte on the Fourth of July, and honestly, they were pathetic.
Why can't Center City Partners (and whoever else makes such decisions) make peace with WBT radio so that next year we can have the kind of SkyShow we used to have?
Jack Hackler
Charlotte
