Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.18.15

‘Clean power’ plan costly and ineffective

True to form, Gina McCarthy and the EPA won’t own up to this latest example of EPA- wrought damage on the environment, economic health and affordable and attainable energy.

Likewise, McCarthy and President Obama’s “clean power” plan will raise energy rates, force high cost and unreliable energy on us, raise inflation and kill jobs.

McCarthy even admits that the trillions of dollars in lost GDP and reduced standard of living will do virtually nothing to change planet temperatures. In other words, lots of pain with no gain.

UNC woes part of a larger NCAA issue

The writer is an author of books on college and professional sports.

Based on types of NCAA violations, UNC-Chapel Hill and likely other major universities recruit and then admit academically inferior men’s basketball and football players and also women’s basketball players each year.

Although these student-athletes somehow remain eligible to play games, less than 50 percent of them actually graduate in four years. Meanwhile their coaches and athletic directors and staff are rewarded with higher salaries and other benefits primarily subsidized by taxpayers.

The NCAA needs to more thoroughly investigate athletic programs and severely penalize those who cheat and exploit athletes.

Still time to use voice for N.C. education

The writer is an Iredell-Statesville Schools teacher.

This state budget boondoggle is frustrating for education, but it is also the perfect time for all educators to take action on what is important to our profession.

We need to let the N.C. General Assembly know that teaching assistants, driver’s ed, raises, and more spending per pupil are essential to our curriculum and classrooms.

Let your legislators hear your voice while negotiation is still occurring.

No Iran deal would bring consequences

If the nuclear deal with Iran is voted down, what do people think will occur?

Without this agreement, Iran will have enough weapons grade uranium for about eight nuclear weapons within three months.

Iran has already said that if this deal is voted down it will begin producing weapons grade uranium immediately.

I would rather have 10 to 15 years without a nuclear armed Iran than three months. That would mean Iran could have nuclear weapons by December 2015. Merry Christmas everyone.

Mayor’s job justifies high-dollar race

Observer Editorial Page Editor Taylor Batten’s column belittles the office of Mayor of Charlotte and the election process.

Voters have a right to be informed when going to the polls next month.

Our mayor is the face of our city to the rest of the country and world. He or she provides vision and leadership for the city that affects us for years or even decades to come.

Our government is not a charitable institution and should not be thought of as such.

We’re up all night at Rea Road and I-485

Want to hear your tax dollars at work? Come join us in our neighborhood anytime during sleeping hours – midnight, 1:30, 3:30 a.m.

Beep-beep, boom-boom, splat-splat and that constant shudder vibration of trucks is exhilarating.

We live along I-485/Rea Road and crews are resurfacing I-485 – all night.

I have talked with the police, DOT, City, contractor, foreman. They are all nice people who told me this is just temporary and that the city’s noise ordinance for after 10 p.m. does not apply to highway construction noise.

So, if you hate sleep, join us at I-485 and Rea Road.

A column that lived up to its headline

Theoden Janes had my attention with the title of his column. Mr. Janes demonstrated one can be outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny without being hurtful. It was a great Saturday morning read.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.18.15."