We’re going backwards by cutting agencies that made America healthier | Opinion

In the early 20th century, Americans regularly died of diseases and causes that now rarely trouble us. In 1905, about one in six children died before their fifth birthday. They died from communicable diseases like diphtheria, whooping cough and measles, which had been nearly eradicated in the U.S. by vaccine programs.

In 1905, typhoid and other foodborne illnesses were common. Poisoning, from manufactured food containing arsenic, lead-based coloring and other contaminants, was common. Malnutrition, from things like chalk and water mixtures sold as milk, was common.

As the new administration dismantles our federal agencies, firing the scientists that investigate cancer and infectious disease, firing teams that guarantee food isn’t contaminated and contains what the label says, I wonder — Do Americans want to go back to 1905? Or did federal agencies keep us so safe we forgot why we built them?

Cynthia Gibas, Charlotte

City council

The role of the Charlotte City Council is to wisely prioritize spending our tax money and enact ordinances to ensure a vibrant, fun, affordable, safe and easy to traverse community. That’s all we ask!

Lately, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Now we have amorphous, uncorroborated allegations of corruption and nefarious, unethical, immoral and illegal activities at the highest levels of our city government by one of its own. This city council dysfunction only serves to tarnish the jewel that is our Queen City.

An election looms large in November. It’s time for us to wisely prioritize our votes. We deserve better!

Ken May, Charlotte

Clean air cuts

As a Huntersville resident living with lung cancer, I rely on regular doctor visits and medications so that I can stay healthy enough to work, enjoy family and live life. My lungs after surgery are sensitive. My chance of recurrence is high. It’s critical I have quality, affordable healthcare and clean air to breathe.

Unfortunately, in April, Congress finalized a plan for extreme spending reductions that can only be achieved by making significant cuts to Medicaid and harms to clean air programs. The Medicaid policies Congress is considering — including adding work reporting and reducing funding for expansion — are ideas that will terminate healthcare coverage for people like me. Cuts to clean air programs will worsen air quality. I urge readers to contact senators Tillis and Budd to demand they protect Medicaid and clean air programs.

Julie Kelly, Huntersville

Griffin

After a recount which confirmed that he lost the election, Jefferson Griffin attempted to subvert the will of N.C. voters and find an illegal way to overturn what was a lawful, fair election. Instead of definitively denying a patently ridiculous argument that election rules can be changed after the fact, the hyper-partisan state Supreme Court attempted to create a path to do so. Kudos to Republican Justice Richard Dietz for following the law in his dissent.

Thankfully, a federal judge, appointed by Donald Trump, followed the law and ended this pernicious farce. When admitted to the N.C. Bar, Griffin swore an oath to “support, maintain and defend” the N.C. and U.S. constitutions. His failure to fulfill his sworn duty to protect one of our most basic constitutional freedoms renders him unfit to continue to serve as an attorney in North Carolina, and he should be disbarred.

William Small, Charlotte

Tariffs

America is quickly heading toward higher prices, empty shelves and loss of jobs. It’s all because Donald Trump doesn’t understand tariffs. He’s locked into the belief that it’s the country we import from that pays. Not so, it’s actually paid by the American purchaser of the imported product, a fundamental fact of tariffs.

This absurd misconception, among others, leads to painful, disastrous economic consequences. Think of tariff as a six letter word for tax. Countries don’t pay taxes, they only impose taxes. The only folks who can stop this runaway train are the folks who voted for this man, three times.

Your Republican representatives are waiting to answer your calls to impeach. And you, the Republican voter, won’t get any push back from that unduly bullied body of politicians. Make those calls.

Wayne McGee, Cornelius