The US should stop bailing out industries that create financial messes

US must stop bailing out corporations

Congress should help the average American, not big business. Boeing spent $60 billion on stock buybacks and dividends over the last six years and wants $60 billion from the government. Airlines spent $44.5 billion on buybacks and want $50 billion-plus.

The government should not reward poor fiscal management by corporations. Let them go into bankruptcy. Much debt will be wiped out, new investors will take over, former top management should be replaced. Warren Buffet has $122 billion in cash to spend, let him buy Boeing at a discount.

The U.S. should stop bailing out the people who create financial messes and support the average American with increased and extended unemployment insurance. One-time checks should go to those at the bottom. It’s time to correct the mistakes of the 2008 bailout of the banks.

Edmund Bujalski, Waxhaw

Lockdowns over this virus are absurd

Regarding “Residents must take COVID-19 more seriously, officials say,” (March 23):

This is absolutely absurd. Everything is closing, the third largest manufacturer in the Charlotte region is closing its plants by the end of the week. We have 60,000 flu deaths in the U.S. per year and don’t close annually. Not even 300 coronavirus deaths and we have a quasi-curfew. Life sometimes brings hard choices. The inclusive policies of the left now put everyone in lockdown for the “most vulnerable,” instead of isolating those.

Peter Fischer, Charlotte

Lockdowns will keep more people alive

So the new coronavirus might only be deadly to 3% of those infected. But what if you’re in that 3%? I’m glad government is trying to decrease that number even if they can’t fix the problem.

Rosalie Spaniel, Charlotte

Yes, Sen. Burr should resign. Now.

I seldom agree with FOX News’ Tucker Carlson, but his opinion about Sen. Richard Burr’s continued service to the country resonated with me. I, too, feel Burr should resign over his alleged insider trading. His actions reflect a gross self-concern that is incompatible with his role as a senator.

He had an opportunity to share the seriousness of coronavirus with all of his constituents. Instead, he used the exclusive information he received as a senator to benefit his private finances and to alert high-dollar luncheon guests to the risks the rest of us now face.

This is a great time for him to spend more time with his family. He can self-isolate and count his money while the rest of the country suffers.

Scott Shuford, Weaverville

Trump just doesn’t seem to get it

President Trump just doesn’t get it. Monday, he said: “You look at automobile accidents, which are far greater than any numbers we’re talking about. That doesn’t mean we’re going to tell everybody no more driving of cars.” When roads are covered with black ice from a raging storm, yes indeed, we do tell people to stay home and not drive.

As Bob Dylan once wrote: “...how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died.”

Jerry Withrow, Charlotte

So a government check is OK now?

I find it extremely ironic that many of the same folks who only a month ago were adamantly opposed to the possible rise of socialism in America based on the views of several presidential candidates are now anxiously awaiting a check from Uncle Sam. Nobody wants to walk the high wire without a safety net. We are all in this together.

Rich Lyman, Charlotte

‘No’ to Duke Energy’s rate hike

The writer is a climate activist in Charlotte.

The coronavirus has thoroughly disrupted our lives, forcing our urgent attention and reactions. The outlook is for millions to be impacted long-term globally.

By comparison, climate change is a slow-moving train. Let’s recognize, however, that millions are already affected by climate chaos on a daily basis, with the looming prospect of large-scale, deep, and long-lived impacts in the future.

Duke Energy is seeking a substantial rate hike from its customers with an of 6.7% increase to residential rates. All of that is related to fossil fuel use – nil to renewables. No customer dollars should be devoted to coal ash clean-up. No more dollars to climate-killing fracked gas.

Jerome Wagner, Concord

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 4:32 PM.