The tide will turn on white male dominance
White-male control is diminishing
Notwithstanding the unfortunate Supreme Court ruling that effectively demonizes people who happen to be Muslim, we are still, thankfully, and on a larger scale, witnessing the passing of the white male hegemony in American society. The demographic-change train left the station a long time ago; no presidential or congressional effort can slow its progress.
John B. Doherty, Salisbury
Our state constitution is under attack
Our state constitution is under attack
In response to “A blatant power grab, and a hidden one” (June 27 Opinion):
The Republican leaders in the General Assembly continue to push the boundaries of what a responsible citizenry should find acceptable. Their latest stunt is egregious.
Buried in the text of one of their proposed constitutional amendments is a provision which transfers the power of appointments from the governor to the legislature. As the editorial board wrote Tuesday, this alters the longstanding construct of our state: how can the governor faithfully execute laws when he cannot appoint members of the various boards and commissions?
When the NCGOP loses in the courts, they redraw judicial districts, adjust the number of judges, and make the races partisan. But, just to be safe, they now hope to rewrite the state constitution itself. This is an affront to every citizen of the state.
Kirk Kovach, Rockwell
CMPD, help protect Charlotte’s bicyclists
In response to “Where is the Mercedes that a witness says ‘seemed to accelerate’ as it hit cyclist?” (June 27 charlotteobserver.com):
Awful news of another car/cycling accident adds some perspective to the City Council’s recent decision to spend $4 million on improving cycling in Charlotte, a first.
As a 25-year-plus cyclist in the city, I applaud possible measures such as connecting bike lanes. But there is a law enforcement piece of this that needs to be addressed. As everybody knows, traffic has gotten horrendous in Charlotte, where speeding, running red lights and changing lanes quickly has become a sport. Cyclists are too often seen as annoying impediments with no rights to the road. I’ve been yelled at, had things thrown at me, cursed — but thankfully never hit.
Our police should be ticketing these cowboys, for the safety of cyclists and everyone else. Hopefully, too, they will find the callous Mercedes driver who ran from the scene of an accident.
Richard Maschal,
Charlotte
Supreme Court widening wage gap
What a great United States Supreme Court!
When I became a member of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers at the International Paper Company in Corinth N.Y. in 1960, I knew little about the union that would help put me through college. I did not know about any political action; I did know that I was paid double-time on Sundays. The union was looking out for me.
Now the Supreme Court decides 5-4 to decimate the unions. Pay dues if you like; get negotiated benefits like everyone else. Does anyone hear the drip…drip…drip of income inequality becoming a fire hose water onslaught. Carry on venerable Roberts Court.
Tom Murdock, Charlotte
It’s the GOP that stands for fairness
In response to “Liberals are calling out Maxine Waters” (June 27 Forum):
My immigrant parents came thru America’s front door and earned their keep. A correction to Forum writer Jack Hankins’s letter: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and conservatives, all stand for fairness, equal access, and equal treatment. Liberals stand for taking money from the earners and giving it to the non-earners. Therefore, why work?
Ed Mesko, Charlotte
Can we really sleep safe under Trump?
Now that the president has seen into the soul of Kim Jong Un, we have survived the nuclear threat from North Korea’s murderous dictator.
But can we survive the self-obsession and ignorance of our own man-child dictator as he leads us into ruin in so many ways?
Sleep well, America, says Donald Trump.
Leslie Tompkins, Charlotte
President Trump should hear my rule
In response to “Trump criticizes restaurant for refusing Sanders” (June 26):
Trump wrote: “I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!”
I also have a rule: if a mouth speaks dirty things on the outside, it comes from the dirty brain inside!
Dave W. Cook, Charlotte