NC lockdowns are destroying businesses, lives. Governor must find a better balance.

NC governor must find a balance

I have read comments complimenting the governor. Freedom includes the right to protest. If protesters are wearing masks or maintaining the prescribed distancing, they should have every right to stand on their soap box and shout their opinions.

This was supposed to be about flattening the curve. We have done a solid job pursuing a worthy objective. However, now the narrative is changing to don’t come out until the virus is gone and the threat eliminated.

Peoples’ lives are being destroyed. There has to be balance. More than half of small business owners say they may not survive. Up to 80% of Americans work there.

James Warren, Matthews

Owners like me need a lifeline, not loans

My bar, Isaac Hunter’s Tavern in Raleigh, has been shuttered for over a month due to COVID-19 and we are running out of money. I’m not in favor of reopening North Carolina until it is safe to do so.

What I am in favor of is throwing the small business owners in our country a lifeline, not just loans we can never repay. We need targeted aid that is specific to the hospitality industry. We need more relief, and we need flexibility on how to use it.

We need the government to find ways to compel banks and landlords to work with their small-business tenants until we can get back to full capacity. We need to find a way to weather this storm together.

Zack T. Medford, Raleigh

I see flaws in that reopening plan

Regarding “NC counties want to reopen on their terms, not Cooper’s” (April 15):

Can Lincoln County board chair Carrol Mitchem and Gaston County chair Tracy Philbeck secure their borders from all non-essential travelers during a multi-week reopening trial period?

That’s really the rub. If a bunch of Mecklenburg, Iredell and York County residents want to risk intermingling in an open store or restaurant in Gaston or Lincoln counties until their counties open up, are Gaston and LIncoln up for it? Are their nursing homes and hospitals?

I’d like to know how county-specific incremental opening is expected to remain “incremental” in 100 ways across the state.

Robert Matthews, Davidson

It’s time to put partisanship aside

The crisis we face is frightening, but we have a responsibility to join our elected officials instead of finding more ways to criticize.

From Donald Trump down, oppositionists decry actions without valid alternatives. Hard choices between keeping the fabric of our nation vital and succumbing to anarchy face us every day. Media hype isn’t the answer. Blame isn’t the answer. The president isn’t the cause.

So why keep attacking? Put aside partisanship and recognize that strong collaboration is the true key toward solving the problem, together. Our elected president is just that - elected. Don’t we have a duty to honor the election?

Robert Engel, Fort Mill

I hope young people are paying attention

Regarding “EPA guts rule credited with cleaning up coal-plant toxic air,” (April 16):

I hope young people are paying attention to what President Trump and his Republican cronies are doing to your future. You will not only be stuck with the bill for his poorly designed, ill-timed tax cut for the wealthy and businesses but will also suffer the brunt of the damage he is doing to the environment.

I thought we were supposed to leave the world in better shape for the next generation.

Dave Ballenger, Monroe

Privatizing USPS is not the answer

Unfortunately, the U.S. Postal Service is nearing bankruptcy due to years of neglect and years of the federal government not doing what’s responsible to improve its condition.

To cut costs the USPS should close all unprofitable post offices. The majority of these are in Republican-leaning, low population areas, according to USPS data. Does Fleetwood, N.C. need a post office? Does Kaycee, Wyoming (population 274)? It may serve a larger area, but if that post office is not profitable, why is it open?

If we want the USPS to operate effectively, efficiently and profitably, some tough decisions will need to be made by the federal government. But privatization, as suggested by the current occupant of the White House, is not the answer.

Patrick Miller, Fleetwood

Will 2020 election be a fork in the road?

Will we be lucky a third time?

If Lincoln had not been elected would there be a United States?

If FDR had not been elected would the fascists be ruling half the world?

Will the election of 2020 be looked back on as one of those profound forks in the road?

Greg Finnican, Charlotte

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 3:35 PM.