As a Republican, I wonder what it will take for us to see the damage Trump is doing | Opinion

If you’ve been to a grocery store you can tell Donald Trump’s campaign promises to lower prices on day one have turned out to be a joke. The Trump administration’s insane tariff policies and draconian deportations are also a bad joke.

But Trump isn’t all to blame for these impulsive, baffling actions. Those who elected and support Trump must shoulder some blame. North Carolina GOP senators and Republican state legislators who refuse to accept that their leader has failed are part of the problem.

This registered Republican voter asks – what will it take to wake up to the economic, social and political damage the Trump Administration is doing to our country?

Michael A. Clark, Charlotte

Medical licensing

North Carolinians deserve the highest level of patient care and safety when undergoing medical imaging or radiation therapy treatment. A trip to the emergency room to confirm your child’s suspected broken arm, imaging following a serious car accident, prescribed rounds of treatment from your oncologist, is not the time one should be learning the person performing your procedure is not trained, educationally prepared, and clinically competent.

North Carolina is one of five states that currently has no standards or licensing structure for medical imaging and radiation therapy. North Carolinians should have the right to expect highly trained, educationally prepared and clinically competent health care professionals when seeking medical attention.

North Carolina House Bill 590 and Senate Bill 415 are long overdue and will help deliver high quality patient care and safety to anyone undergoing medical imaging or radiation therapy treatment.

Kelly McCowan, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Radiography Program Director, Salisbury

Energy

As Congress finalizes a budget, they must preserve tax credits to grow America’s clean energy economy. Reducing excessive spending is a worthwhile goal, but we must avoid cuts that harm our economic progress in clean energy. Clean energy programs save taxpayers money on utility bills, encourage investment in this industry and provide stability for existing clean energy investments.

I applaud Sen. Thom Tillis for joining other Republican senators in expressing support for clean energy tax credits. I urge N.C. residents to contact elected officials to encourage clean energy incentives in the budget.

Deb Douglas, Norwood

Gerrymandering

Both political parties are guilty of gerrymandering, although the Republicans have taken it to new levels of surgical precision. It is unlikely our legislators will see how simple it would be to fix and ensure that N.C. elections are free and fair.

Rosalie Spaniel, Charlotte

Immigration

Congress has the responsibility of passing laws that address immigration and border security. We are in a crisis because Congress failed in their responsibilities. Prior to Donald Trump’s election, a bi-partisan bill addressed immigration and border security.

Trump, through intimidating Republicans, scuttled this bill. Now, we are paying the price and maybe with presidential lawlessness. This bi-partisan bill likely would have gone a long way in solving immigration and border security problems.

Congress’ abdication of their constitutional responsibilities is more than border security and immigration, and it has left this country in a crisis of Congress’ making.

Ed Terrell, Charlotte

2026

What other possible outcome could one expect regarding hardships caused by massive tariffs, reduction of government services and mean-spirited actions toward government employees from a man who recently discovered the word “groceries.”

It’s obvious Trump has never had to shop for food nor had the hard choices consumers must make as a result of his reckless executive orders. Surely voters have seen enough to know that the dire predictions about democracy’s fate in this president’s hands were not fantasy.

Surely voters will be laser-focused on 2026 elections to get a Congress that will reverse these damaging and unreasonable changes.

Lucille Howard, Charlotte

The poem

In 1946, Martin Niemöller wrote the poem “First They Came.” I urge everyone to read it. As you read, you can insert demographic groups from today, as we read and hear about actions taken by the administration.

These demographics include Hispanics, Muslims, journalists, judicial representatives, college students using their First Amendment rights and any that dare question the actions of this administration. The final line of the poem reads, “Then they came for me.”

Bruce Wynocker, Denver