Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.03.15

Fund driver’s ed, local drivers need it

Tuesday, while waiting at a green light for a fire truck on call to clear the intersection, the driver behind me blew his horn as if I should go!

Minutes later, I saw a car pull out in front of a fire department car with its red lights and siren on.

That’s two potential accidents and possible tragic results.

And our legislators think we don’t need driver education classes in school?

What stupidity!

Time to face some I-77 toll realities

The writer is CEO of the Charlotte Chamber.

In response to growing opposition from elected officials to I-77 toll lanes, let’s keep these salient realities in mind.

▪ Our elected officials asked for this method of financing infrastructure as a way to add capacity that otherwise will take decades to realize.

▪ Our state government has been responsive to our request and taken on the risks of moving forward.

▪ Breaching the existing contract would cost N.C. taxpayers $100 million.

▪ Investors have committed in excess of $200 million to this project.

To change our minds after the deal has been struck makes us look silly in the eyes of the state and investors.

And, it makes the challenge of employing similar public/private partnerships, such as for roads and the completion of our transit system, that much harder.

Biden isn’t only one with big-money ties

Amusing to see front-page news that Joe Biden’s ties to Wall Street may hinder him. What about everyone else running for president who is being financed by big business, the Kochs, drug companies, insurance companies, corporations, etc.?

‘Power parent playbook’? Get real.

Who is Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer kidding?

Her $59 million salary and CEO position have allowed her the luxury of building a private nursery at the job, hiring as much help as she needs, and forgoing maternity leave.

And while doing so, she’s reducing family-friendly options for the women she employs.

Who really gets to the end of their life and wishes they had spent more time at the office?

A few weeks or days off to relish in the glory of her newborn twins might do wonders for her and open her power parent playbook to a whole new chapter.

Accept only top tier of immigrants

We have a right as citizens of the greatest country in the world to accept only the top tier of immigrants.

When we relax on that, we lose our country. When we fail to assimilate new citizens to our way of life, we lose our country.

There’s nothing wrong with America, as evidenced by how many people want to come here.

So I wonder why we’re so willing to break rules to give unlawful illegal aliens residence here?

GOP cherry-picks on gay marriage

N.C. legislators voted to override Gov. Pat McCrory’s veto of Senate Bill 2, so we can’t blame him this time. I guess Republicans put away their pocket Constitutions when it comes to the rights of gay people.

This is just another example of the way they cherry-pick issues that offend their “deeply held Christian beliefs.”

Otherwise, wouldn’t they refuse to issue marriage licenses to those who have been divorced? After all, that’s something Jesus actually spoke about!

Hot-head Trump will set back diplomacy

Donald Trump has proven himself to be a braggart and a bully who seems to think his money excuses his insensitive and outrageous rantings.

If he’s elected, I cringe to think of the trouble this country will experience when he starts insulting leaders of other countries, as he has American people.

This country needs an assertive leader with strong diplomatic skills, not a hot-head.

Ticket prices too high; I’ll watch on TV

With the exorbitant ticket prices, I’d say Belk College Kickoff organizers have done well to be looking at 50,000 attendees.

High prices to see two middle-of-the-pack teams who likely won’t do much to change their status?

I’ll watch on TV. Cheaper, and much less hassle.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.03.15."