Stop sniping at each other, Democrats. Limit the grenade throwing to Trump.

Democrats, stop sniping at each other

I am a Democrat — for now. I don’t care what Elizabeth Warren thinks of Mike Bloomberg. Nor do I care what Joe Biden thinks of Bernie Sanders or what Sanders thinks about anything.

In Donald Trump we are facing a real existential threat to our democracy, and the Democratic candidates are trying to attract voters with relentless, childish insults and accusations toward fellow candidates. Please, please limit the grenade throwing to Trump and focus on communicating your plan for America. Use your allotted debate time to give us hope and “we the people” will rid this country of the legislative rot in the Republican Senate and the moral rot in the White House.

Wayne McGee, Cornelius

Don’t count out Bloomberg just yet

On Wednesday night in Las Vegas the Democrats exposed one chink in Mike Bloomberg’s armor after another, making him look impotent when you take away his billions of dollars.

However, during the debate Bloomberg raised an interesting question to the other candidates: “I’m the only one here that I think has ever started a business. Is that fair?” There was silence.

My point: Don’t count Bloomberg out of the running yet. He’ll be back with a vengeance.

Barry Marshall, Charlotte

Consensus among Dems? Just a dream.

I had a dream after the Democratic debate. The candidates got together and said, “OK, let’s agree on which of our ideas will actually work and get behind whichever one of us can actually beat Trump.” Sigh...

Kay Lane, Charlotte

Trump’s revenge and retribution

We are all witnesses as President Trump stacks the federal courts, seizes military, diplomatic and judicial power, and usurps our Constitution, proclaiming he “can do anything” he wants.

Indeed, he now flaunts his power by freeing those convicted of his same dishonest transgressions, those who will no doubt pay back their liberator with acts to please him.

Make no mistake, if Trump succeeds in securing a second term America will become an “authoritarian democracy” with revenge and retribution the likes of which we have never seen. Wake up!

Hardin Minor, Charlotte

Buckle up for the rule breakers

As a retired teacher, I respect rules. Rules keep us safe and keep society unified.

Others have a different opinion. Rules have only gotten them in trouble or kept them from making quick profits; they’re meant to be broken.

This “screw the rules” mentality now infects the highest levels of our government. Classroom experience teaches that if you excuse or ignore rule breakers, expect behaviors to get worse. Buckle up kids! The road ahead is about to get bumpy.

Alan Hoyle, Denver, N.C.

Trump tax cuts worked as planned

Regarding Billy Maddalon “The GOP endgame with the national debt,” (Feb. 20 Opinion):

According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal tax receipts went up over the previous year in both 2018 and 2019. Therefore, the federal revenue was not “gutted” as this op-ed writer claims. In fact, the deficit increase was a result of increased spending.

Additionally, he says “some accuse the Republicans of magical thinking when it comes to the impact of the tax cuts.” The goal of the tax cuts was to drive total tax receipts up by lowering corporate taxes that would then drive economic activity to increase both individual taxes and payroll taxes, so the total of all three would increase. That is exactly what happened.

Richard Reeves, Charlotte

So this is how the world sees us now

Regarding “German gunman calling for genocide kills 9,” (Feb. 21):

A shooter went on a rampage killing nine people in Germany. Here’s what Kadir Kose, who runs a cafe near the site of the killings said: “This is a whole other level, something we hear about from America.” That is what the world thinks of us. Not a good legacy.

Holly Saftner, Charlotte

Now, empty store truly is a dinosaur

In December, Harris Teeter announced that its Mallard Creek store was closing. A supermarket analyst said the store was “a dinosaur.”

Mistake! This free-standing store lived up to Harris Teeter’s moniker: “Your neighborhood food market.” It was an urban planner’s dream, connecting business and community. It was in walking distance of transit, three banks, medical offices, five apartment complexes, a drug store and neighborhoods with an eclectic mix of generations.

The empty Mallard Creek store now sits like a fortress — a true dinosaur.

Pamela C. Mills, Charlotte