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In response to “Biden: U.S. can't dictate to Israel” (July 6):
Mr. Vice President: U.S. can
and should dictate to Israel
Excuse me, Joe Biden, but as long as Israel is dropping U.S.-made bombs from U.S.-made F-16s supplied with U.S. (taxpayer) aid money, we can and should dictate to Israel exactly what they can and cannot do – particularly when their actions are contrary to our interests.
Richard Shipman
Concord
In response to “How to fix a broken United Way” (July 8 Viewpoint):
Kudos to Tom Cox for giving great thought to thorny issue
How refreshing to read Tom Cox's column. Cox's ideas display a rare combination of intelligence and common sense.
He should be applauded for the large amount of time he spent exploring solutions to this thorny problem.
Lynn McIver III
Charlotte
In response to “Perdue seeks 1-cent hike in sales tax” (July 8) and related articles:
Gov. Perdue must cut billions more from the state budget
Gov. Bev Purdue wants to raise the sales tax a percent with a promise to sunset it in 2010, and says trust her. Please. (Been there, done that with the Big Easley.)
Slash and burn, Bev. The public is out of money. You'll just have to cut your budget another couple billion.
Vince Saccardi
Charlotte
In response to “Don't take chances on coal-ash ponds” (July 8 Editorial):
Price we pay for coal greater than total seen on monthly bill
Since we are often reminded by the utilities that claim coal is cheap, we need to realize that coal-ash ponds are one of the unseen costs for Carolinians enjoying this “cheap” electricity.
To accept this cheap power, we must also be able to bear the added expenses to health costs in the state resulting from bad air quality and the damage to our children's brain development caused by the mercury which results from burning coal.
And coal is cheap as long as we don't mind blowing up the mountaintops of Appalachia to extract it.
It's time to seriously question the real cost on our electricity bills for all this “cheap” energy.
It's not as it appears on the monthly bills we get in the mail.
Alan Burns
Charlotte
In response to “Throwing darts is fun, but fix DSS problems first” (July 5 Editorial):
Those who spend at DSS should report to comptroller, not Jones
The Observer's editorial falls far short on fixing the Department of Social Services.
The real fix to DSS, aside from hiring competent, intelligent, experienced managers, is to make structural changes in the organization that will give specific limits and requirements of various levels of authority for every management level.
In my company, a public utility, this is called Executive Instructions.
Second, separate all money transactions and associated approvals and payments from DSS to the Comptrollers Department.
Any sloppiness, mismanagement or criminal intent will be stopped cold by the CD. The CD answers only to, in this case, the county commissioners. It should not answer to Harry Jones.
This is the only way public trust can be restored in DSS.
Robert Douglas
Charlotte
Jake Jacobsen arrangement sets bad example for DSS
Misusing taxpayer money is an inherent problem of government.
In the case of DSS, misuse is relatively rampant by those without authority.
But they're only following the leadership of the county commission and County Manager Harry Jones, who've arranged to pay the incapable Richard “Jake” Jacobsen full pay for doing nothing.
With that example, who can fault the lesser ranks for trying to get their share?
Lewis Guignard, Jr.
Crouse
In response to “Teen accepts Wheeler's help and is now bound for college” (July 7):
Inspiring to see kindness Humpy Wheeler displayed
Humpy Wheeler's willingness to help a stranger is just the kind of story that makes one smile and be grateful that there are good people out there who display the kindness to make others' dreams come true.
Lorraine Stark
Matthews
In response to “If loopiness qualifies, Palin's ahead of the curve (July 7 Opinion) and “McNamara's legacy: needless deaths” (July 8 Viewpoint):
Palin, McNamara columns proof Observer becoming irrelevant
By following Maureen Dowd's drivel on Sarah Palin with Bob Herbert's sophomoric hate-filled rant on Robert McNamara, you continue your inevitable march toward irrelevance.
H. Gene Lockaby
Charlotte
In response to “Sen. Hatch calls for probe of BCS” (July 8 Sports):
Why aren't S.C. senators taking hint from Hatch's playbook?
If Sen. Orrin Hatch can use the authority of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Justice Department to browbeat the NCAA into letting Utah play in the Bowl Championship Series, I think Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint should get crackin' on getting the Gamecocks in the BCS championship game.
Since there are no other pressing matters facing the country at this time, let's hear a big, Go Gamecocks!
Lynette Rinker
Cornelius
