Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.14.15
McCrory, Rucho need a dose of reality
In response to “Unemployment overhaul signed” (Sept. 11):
Most people on unemployment are hard-working people who didn’t ask to be laid off and are looking for jobs.
Cutting the maximum weekly benefit from $535 to $350 in 2013 and limiting the length of time it can be drawn were the first absurdities. Now this.
Should lawmakers such as Gov. Pat McCrory and Sen. Bob Rucho find themselves unemployed after the next election, let them try to make it on $350 a week for while. Maybe then they would learn what reality is.
Todd Panel, Belmont
Wage manipulation is voodoo economics
In response to “Time to fix America’s minimum wage mess” (Sept. 11 Opinion):
If government could mandate a “living wage” why stop with those earning the lowest wages? Why not also mandate higher wages for the middle class?
Bottom line: Government lacks the ability – not to mention the right – to mandate wage levels.
The belief that government can improve our well-being by mandating higher wages is the real “voodoo economics.”
Stephen Gilmore, Charlotte
Carson has what it takes to be president
In response to “Why Ben Carson is surging” (Sept. 11 Viewpoint):
Op-ed writer Clarence Lusane stated that Ben Carson is not qualified to be president.
In fact, none of the candidates are qualified to be president because there is no other job like it.
What Carson does have is the intellect and temperament to select advisers and cabinet members who would be the best in their field and to listen to them.
Our best presidents in the past have done this, and our mediocre ones have not. A recent classic example of mediocrity was having a Secretary of the Treasury who owed $34,000 in back taxes.
Christ Koconis, Charlotte
Davis’ beliefs aren’t only ones protected
In response to “Don’t vilify Davis, she stood for her beliefs” (Sept. 11 Forum):
If you are employed by the government, you are required by oath to uphold the Constitution.
When your job requires you to issue a marriage license to a couple that your religion considers to be a sin, you must obey the law and issue the license.
If the act is so distasteful you cannot perform your job, resign or let someone else perform the duty.
You are free to follow your religious beliefs by our Constitution, but you are not allowed to interfere with anyone else’s beliefs.
Our founding fathers were careful to preserve our freedoms. Politicians who cannot accept this are not fit to hold office.
Judy Amick, Indian Trail
Tillis comments on Iran lack credibility
In response to Thom Tillis “Why I’ll vote against the nuclear deal with Iran” (Sept. 8 Viewpoint):
Thom Tillis’ rejection of the Iran deal has no credibility. He categorically opposed it before negotiations ended.
His critique of Iran’s alleged involvement with terrorism has no value considering he never leveled similar criticism at Israel last summer when it killed 2,500 people in Gaza using American bombs.
His cries regarding Iranian human rights violations are meaningless when he hasn’t leveled the same complaint about Saudi Arabia, our “ally” which whips and kills its dissidents and doesn’t allow women to drive. Iranian women drive and participate at every level of society.
The agreement with Iran opens the door for western involvement with Iranians who strive for a more moderate government.
Cliff Homesley, Mooresville
War was about taxes, tyrannical burdens
In response to “Honor ancestors, but not Confederate flag” (Sept. 10 Forum):
True, the Confederate states did secede. But false, they did not fight “to preserve the institution of slavery.”
Most Southerners – estimates say 75 to 94 percent – never owned slaves, but were themselves slaves to the taxes, tariffs and tyrannical burdens put upon them by the U.S. government. That is why they fought and will forever fight to be free.
Donald Price, Charlotte
Root cause of the Civil War was slavery
This Southerner’s view of the Civil War: I honor my ancestors who served in the Confederate armies. Still, I know that the root cause of the Civil War was slavery.
I think the worst thing that ever happened to the United States was the Civil War, and the best thing that ever happened to the United States was the Union victory in that war.
James Rogerson, Charlotte
This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.14.15."