Politicians don’t fool me when they say Build Back Better is fully paid for

An unrealistic bill

Any politician who says the Build Back Better Act is paid for should be removed from office. The U.S. government runs a huge deficit every year, so how can one add costly new programs and with a straight face say they are fully funded?

Tax dollars are fungible. It is meaningless to distinguish between funded and unfunded programs.

Every new program should be proposed with a corresponding increase in taxes sufficient to fully cover the costs. Make a vote for the program tied to a vote for the requisite tax increase. This would force the same kind of cost/benefit analysis responsible individuals use in their personal lives. I wonder how many people would support the Build Back Better Act under those conditions.

Lance Patrick Sprowls, Mint Hill

Not ‘chippy’

On Jan. 2, 2021 Donald Trump attempted to coerce the Secretary of State of Georgia into finding the exact number of votes required to overturn the presidential election outcome in that state. Four days later Trump helped incite the Capitol riot.

On Jan. 5, Rep. Jim Jordan sent a text message to Mark Meadows, then Trump’s chief of staff, outlining a plot whereby then-Vice President Mike Pence could disenfranchise millions of voters in multiple states by refusing to certify their electoral college votes.

A Dec. 16 Forum writer praises Republicans Meadows, Trump and Jordan as being “chippy.” I view them as treasonous and a genuine threat to the democratic principles that have served our country since its founding.

How have the standards for acceptable behavior in our representatives fallen so far so fast?

Arnie Grieves, Charlotte

Great for America?

To the Dec. 16 Forum writer who said he voted for Trump and believes Trump and the Freedom Caucus have been “great for America,” I say: Seriously? Since when has attempting a coup been “great for America?” Donald Trump was the first presidential candidate who refused to concede and encouraged his “ flock” to “fight” — and we saw what happened on Jan. 6. How sad that this Forum writer believes Trump has been “great” for America.

Laura Reich, Matthews

Guns in schools

“Halfway into year, CMS sets 10-year high for guns in schools, (Dec. 16)... Is anyone surprised? When we have people running around the country inciting white supremacy, disrespect for truth, and justifying violence why should we expect that students in our schools would act differently.

Everything from refusal to accept election results, wear a mask or get vaccinated screams of defiance. Unless and until we see the “adults” in our society conducting their lives in a civilized manner, we cannot reasonably expect more from impressionable kids in schools.

It’s not just a local or temporary problem. Until reasonable behavior is restored to society as a whole, we must expect things in our schools to get worse, and be prepared to face the consequences that follow.

Michael A. Watson, Charlotte

Prison pardons

The writer is an activist with the NC Poor People’s Campaign.

In the final days of 2021, Gov. Roy Cooper needs to pardon Howard Dudley, Michael Parker and Glen Edward Chapman. All three have been fully exonerated after being imprisoned for at least 15 years.

They are owed thousands of dollars in compensation for years stolen but cannot receive one cent until Cooper issues an official pardon For three months, people have been protesting outside the Governor’s Mansion calling for these pardons. What is stopping the governor? ‘Tis the season to right the wrongs of years past.

Samantha Turner, Charlotte

Gerrymandering

Thomas Hofeller, Republican strategist known for his gerrymandering, once said: “Usually the voters get to pick the politicians. In redistricting, the politicians get to pick the voters.”

North Carolina voting districts are one of the best examples of political gerrymandering. More than once the N.C. Supreme Court has had to step in in and demand a change in districts to better reflect the population and geography localities to insure fair representation. Now, the courts have suspended candidate filing in contested districts.

N.C. citizens need to take a closer look at how our state is governed and be more pro-active in demanding legislation that is fair for all citizens.

Mary Ann Evanoff, Midland

Nature’s weapons

Mankind, in its egotism, thinks meeting the challenges of climate change is all about its survival. Climate change is really nature’s way of deciding which life forms will continue to exist on Earth.

Nature has only begun to display the awesome weapons she has to deal with mankind’s avarice and lack of self-restraint. If mankind is to preserve its niche in the uniqueness of life forms on our planet, we must adapt to nature’s laws by limiting our population, restraining our short-term gratification fulfilled by the burning of fossil fuels, and actively implementing all steps necessary to ameliorate our impact on our environment.

If we fail, nature will eliminate us and use the billions of years remaining in Earth’s existence to evolve life forms which conform to her laws.

Will Graves, Charlotte