Burr must speak out on Trump, court pick

Sen. Richard Burr, amongst all his colleagues, is closest to the Trump/Russia investigation and the other criminal activity surrounding this president.

Does he truly see fit to allow Donald Trump – an accused co-conspirator to a felony offense – to pick another Supreme Court justice when those justices may very well determine Trump’s fate?

What do you say, Sen. Burr? Are you going to continue to meekly stand by while he continues to wreak havoc? Or, might you finally stand up and do the right thing for the country and the Constitution you swore to uphold? It’s about time you made that decision.

Chris Porier, Charlotte

Stop bashing, look at Trump’s triumphs

We’re in a period of great economic growth, low unemployment, lower taxes, more jobs than people to fill them, yet the left and the Observer want to concentrate on collusion with Russia and Trump’s so-called sexual past.

It’s time to concentrate on how we can achieve greater prosperity.

Paul Hassler, Denver, NC

Trump’s Manafort, Cohen quips baffling

The president of the United States praises a convicted felon for not bowing to pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice and for not ratting on him, and condemns his personal lawyer for “flipping” on him. This is tragic news in Crazyville.

Sam Roberson, Fort Mill

Keep monuments; learn from history

In response to “At UNC, deciding not to wait for change” (Aug. 22 Editorial) and related articles:

Monuments are historical artifacts and need to all remain in place. They represent the good of history, but more importantly remind us of the ugly side.

Silent Sam, the buildings in Washington DC built by slaves, the Great Pyramids, and Auschwitz all represent some part of humanity’s checkered past and should offend some or all. But more importantly, they need to stay to remind us and future generations to never let those events happen again.

Robert Adler, Charlotte

Liberty and justice? Not for NC slaves

In response to “Silent Sam should not have come down” (Aug. 22 Forum):

Forum writer Jonathan Varnell claims UNC student soldiers fought for the “right of state sovereignty.” This is the tired states’ rights argument that always ignores the fact that the Confederacy was formed for the “right” to enslave black people. The secession articles written by Southern states make this crystal clear.

Mr. Varnell also suggests that removing Silent Sam is “insulting those who stood for individual liberty and justice.”

What liberty and justice were afforded the nearly 4 million slaves in the seceding states?

All monuments erected to “honor” such “heritage” have no place in our United States of America.

Tim Foskey, Charlotte

Don’t thumb your nose at rule of law

It is one thing being against a statue and advocating for its removal, and quite another to condone this lawless act.

We may not like all of our national, state and local laws, but we are a nation of laws. When we thumb our noses at the rule of law we are on the road to anarchy.

Robert Cassell Jr., Charlotte

Let’s expand that plastic bag ban

In response to “Harris Teeter parent company to phase out plastic bags” (Aug. 24):

Kudos to Kroger/Harris Teeter for pledging to stop using plastic bags. Let’s hope Food Lion and others follow suit.

Indeed, city and county politicians should pass ordinances banning plastic bags. It has been done along the coast and in other major cities. If incentives are needed, stores should charge for plastic or could have a short-term rewards program for customers by providing a cloth bag if they buy, say, $25 worth of goods.

Kent Rhodes, Charlotte

ABC system wastes taxpayer money

In response to “State ABC control protects public” (Aug. 23 Forum):

State-controlled ABC stores have cost the taxpayers a fortune by being improperly run for years.

We taxpayers would come out ahead if we could pick up a bottle of liquor with our weekly groceries and not spend tax dollars on the operation of ABC stores, which includes all the salaries and health insurance paid to the employees.

Carol Shubkin, Charlotte