I’m amazed. Thom Tillis stood up in the Senate and showed some backbone. | Opinion

I can not remember many issues over the years where I have agreed with Sen. Thom Tillis. Whether it was during his time in state government where he supported budget cuts for our struggling public schools or as a U.S. senator where he has constantly supported Donald Trump, I have not found myself agreeing too many times with Tillis.

So I must say, I am amazed to be writing this letter. I commend Tillis for his bravery last week when he stood in the Senate and told the truth about Ukraine and Russia. It is dangerous for a Republican politician to disagree publicly with Trump, but Tillis showed backbone when he supported Ukraine.

Thanks for doing the right thing, Sen. Tillis.

Benjamin Harris, Charlotte

Thanks for nothing, Tillis

Some may have seen Sen. Tillis espousing his staunch support for Ukraine. Lovely words, but as usual for Tillis, they are completely meaningless.

President Elon Musk and felonious Trump are (again!) extorting Ukraine — in this case, to steal its natural resources or shut off their internet access and hand the country over to the war criminal Vladimir Putin. Gonna do anything about that, Senator?

Chris Porier, Charlotte

CMS funds

The Department of Education cuts to funding otherwise due to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools underscores the ongoing attack by the Republican Party on public education. It is already a disgrace that NC ranks among all the states 48^th in per student expenditure, 38^th in average teacher pay and 42^nd in starting teacher pay, but to have the GOP controlled federal government add further cuts to expenditures is reprehensible.

Added to the student voucher given to parents regardless of their income to support charter and private schools which are unaccountable for their results, our state legislature is already leading the charge to assure the failure of public education.

Will Graves, Charlotte

National debt

The anger directed at an outsider like Elon Musk auditing our federal government is astonishing. Where is the outcry regarding our staggering $36 trillion national debt?

For those who are so troubled by the current situation, I believe it stems from one of three reasons. They either don’t pay federal taxes, don’t have children or are personally benefiting from the wasteful, corrupt spending within the federal system.

Mike Howard, Marvin

Griffin should pay

North Carolina is the only state that has an election undetermined from 2024. Justice Allison Riggs won the election. You know, the most votes win. Now, we live in a Trump world where only Republicans can win unless an election is rigged.

The taxpayers of NC continue to foot the bills for Judge Jefferson Griffin to appeal and appeal, like Trump, so the Republican-slanted state Supreme Court will agree with votes being purged. We have two parties that participate in elections, not one. The election had two recounts, Riggs remained the winner. If this election is overturned, more will come.

I hope the NC Supreme Court will follow the state Constitution and believe in democracy. I think Griffin should pay all legal fees when he loses.

Willa Hackney, Charlotte

Emperor Trump

Emperor Trump has brought shame and dishonor upon this country by throwing Ukraine to the Russian bear. He did it using the false pretext that Ukraine started the war. This is another Big Lie of his. Everyone knows it.

This is appeasement of Russia. And we should know what happens when an aggressor like Putin is appeased — he wants more. Don’t we study history anymore? Don’t we remember Europe in the 1930s?

Thomas Jefferson said this: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” We tremble with you, Mr. President, and pray for the swift awakening of his justice.

John Cox, Charlotte

This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.