3 fixes state and local lawmakers can make right now to reduce inequities in NC

Three immediate fixes NC can make

Now that most Americans have come to realize the reality of inequities in our society, this leaves them asking what can their government/community can do to fix existing problems. In North Carolina there are quick fixes staring us right in the face.

Our state government should immediately vote to approve Medicaid expansion — as 37 states have already done — to address serious inequities in health care.

In Charlotte, the City Council should repeal the 2011 law that banned the “occupy” strategy for peaceful, citizen demonstrations. Any laws that curtail a citizen’s right to demonstrate are immoral and unconstitutional.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation should immediately discontinue the use of toll roads to fund road construction. Those roads are government-sanctioned inequality. How soon a citizen gets home for dinner shouldn’t be connected to their economic status in this society.

Jim Godfrey, Charlotte

Ways to reduce police misconduct

Police officers should be required to wear body cams and have them on at all times while on duty. We need accountability and change. We also need to establish a permanent state special prosecutor’s office for cases of police violence. We should also defund police and fund low-income housing, community services, education, etc.

At the federal level, we need to lower the standard of proof for Department of Justice civil rights investigations of police officers by eliminating the requirement that an officer must have “willfully” deprived another’s rights. This will allow federal prosecutors to successfully prosecute police officers for misconduct.

Haley Dugger, Charlotte

That was a cheap shot at Pat McCrory

Regarding “America is rethinking Confederate symbols. Will Republicans let NC do the same?” (June 14 Editorial)

The Editorial Board’s gratuitous insult of Pat McCrory in Sunday’s editorial was a cheap shot. Although you may disagree with Pat’s decision to sign the monuments legislation with which he said he disagreed, pray tell what life experiences in bravery have now qualified you to judge another person’s “courage,” or lack thereof. I suspect that the truthful answer is “not much.”

Richard Vinroot, Charlotte

On changing names and removing statues

I am 80 years old and retired Army. There is a big difference between feeling good and doing good. I recognize the racial injustice we have in this country and want our current leaders to do something about them. But, I believe that “history is history” and we need to learn to live with it and change in the future.

Removing statues might make me feel good, but what does it do for changing environmental, educational, housing, or policing practices? Changing the names of military bases where millions of soldiers were trained and sent off to fight in WWI, WWII, Vietnam and today’s battles does nothing for actually improving racial and environmental injustices.

Let’s take actions that do good, not just make us feel good.

Barry Thomas, Matthews

Denounce wrongs, don’t multiply them

The violence, looting, arson, rioting, and chaos must be denounced. The horrible wrong committed by a police officer does not justify such a display of crimes. That’s not a solution.

The anger is understandable; express it productively, not destructively.

Everyone is responsible for doing the right thing. The police. The mob. No exceptions, even in exceptional circumstances. To have a sane, moral, and safe society we must denounce wrongs and support responsibility and doing what’s right. Don’t multiply wrongs; minimize wrongs.

John Frazier, Matthews

Blame for loss of the RNC lies with Cooper

Regarding “Charlotte host committee blasts GOP over ‘broken promises’ after RNC moves to Florida,” (June 12):

The only responsible party for the Republican National Convention moving to Florida is Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. He failed North Carolina!

Susan Fennell, Belmont

Burr and Tillis are part of the problem

It’s time for Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis to publicly say the emperor has no clothes. If they continue to support this president they’re not upholding their duty to the Constitution, nor to their constituents.

They’re supposed to be in Washington representing the people of the state of North Carolina. Instead, they seem to only be interested in enriching themselves and blindly supporting Donald Trump and his administration. Our democracy is in peril, and they are part of the problem. The people of North Carolina are watching.

Carol McKee, Harrisburg