Dems need to face their own extremism

In response to “Divisiveness a cup of coffee won’t cure” (July 27 Opinion):

Community columnist Justin Perry goes through a litany of his non-negotiable ideals and grievances without once mentioning the fundamental humanity and right to exist of a child in the womb. Liberal Democrats need to face their own extremism and monstrous blind spots.

I don’t disagree with Perry’s basic ideals, but in his own words, “ending divisiveness will never occur as long as fundamental questions of humanity remain.”

Tom L. Bowers, Charlotte

Trump support grows more cult-like

I am a small business owner, registered unaffiliated, and make a conscious effort to understand arguments on both sides of an issue. While I understand and respect many Republican policy positions, I am not able to understand the level of support for President Trump.

Any Republican president would have nominated conservative Supreme Court justices and supported the tax cut bill. President Trump is a pathological liar, impulsive, and consistently mean-spirited. He is laying waste to relationships with allies, has an inexplicable admiration for dictators, and a long and continuing history of racist and misogynistic statements and deeds.

Support a conservative agenda if you like, but support for Trump specifically looks increasingly more like a cult than a reasoned decision.

David Basri, Charlotte

Time has come for Medicare for all

In response to “Medicare is turning 53. Here’s best way to celebrate” (July 27 Opinion)

As founding president of what is now Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, I celebrated the day hospice was included in Medicare’s reimbursement program in the early 1980s. Without Medicare, we’d still be dependent on private health insurance and fund raising.

I totally agree with Dr. George Bohmfalk’s fiscally conservative reasons for extending Medicare for all. Medical costs should not be the No. 1 reason pushing families and businesses into bankruptcy. Health crises can occur at any age.

Like hospice, Medicare for all is an idea whose time has come – and will never go away. We’re all in this together.

Zach Thomas, Charlotte

It’s now democracy vs. socialism

We are no longer Republican vs Democrat, conservative vs liberal. We are democracy vs socialism.

Democracy: Power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation.

Socialism is governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. More government control equals more money for more bureaucrats. Government becomes a monopoly.

Socialism is failed political philosophy.

Ed Mesko, Charlotte

Trump’s ‘reality’ sure doesn’t match mine

After seeing Jeff Sessions enjoy chants of “lock her up” and listening to the president inform us that what you see and hear is not reality, I was foolishly thinking that the premeditated demolition of American democracy by this administration should be concerning a troubled nation. Silly me.

On Nov. 6, 2018 get out and vote as if your life and our democracy depends on it – because it does.

Dot Meixler, Charlotte

Wildlife’s red wolf plan is outrageous

In response to “Are NC’s red wolves a species? Answer may doom them” (July 24):

The writer is Southeast Program Associate for Defenders of Wildlife.

The biggest threat to our red wolf population is the very agency tasked with saving the species – the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Recently, FWS announced a plan to shrink the red wolf’s current territory by about 90 percent, force most of the last wolves into zoos, and allow landowners to kill any wolf that wanders onto private land.

Under this outrageous proposal, the red wolf will vanish from the wilds of North Carolina long before the scientific debate is resolved.

We must all act today and demand that FWS recommit to the red wolf.

Christian Hunt, Charlotte

Spread the word on rip current safety

This is the season of rip currents. We hear almost daily about lives lost to this terrible phenomenon. What is so concerning is that after some news reports on television and in newspapers, nothing is mentioned about how to save your life.

Inform the public that a rip current is 25 to 80 feet wide. To get out of it swim sideways, parallel to the shore. Once out, rest, then ask for help or slowly swim or float toward shore.

Pam Williams, Charlotte