Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 10.23.15
Spellings should steer clear of UNC
In response to “Board of Governors set to elect a system president Friday” (Oct. 21) and related articles:
If Margaret Spellings is as competent and smart as the presidential search committee of the UNC Board of Governors thinks she is, then she’ll demonstrate it by heading home to Texas and never look back.
John H. Clark, Charlotte
Learn from West Virginia’s mistake
UNC Board of Governors beware: Appointing unqualified politicians to lead public universities can end in scandal.
Look only to my alma mater. In 2007, during the term of then-governor, now U.S. senator, Joe Manchin, such a candidate was selected to lead West Virginia University.
What followed was the awarding of an unearned master’s degree to Manchin’s daughter.
When exposed by the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette it led to a wide-reaching, years-long investigation, the results of which rocked the foundation of a great institution.
Jason Huber, Charlotte
Spend now to fix I-485 bottleneck
NCDOT intends to spend $202.9 million more to convert the now existing I-485 fourth lane into a toll lane.
But that’s not going to fix the bottleneck between Rea Road and Independence Boulevard and the traffic jams will continue.
Why can’t we use some intelligence and spend the $202.9 million on widening at the bottleneck and opening the fourth lane, which would alleviate the problem?
Why do the people in charge seem more interested in raising tax revenues than solving problems?
Barry Eaves, Charlotte
Don’t take aim at innocent gun owners
In response to “How to put teeth in current guns laws” (Oct. 20 Forum) and “Great idea; tax gun owners to pay for it” (Oct. 21 Forum):
There is a saying: “Nothing is foolproof because fools are so ingenious.” Ditto on how to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Forum writers Harvey Cohen and Bernie Hargadon offer no solutions to what the evil criminals do, nor what they use.
Rather, they infringe upon Constitutional rights and tax perfectly honest, innocent, law-abiding citizens – who happen to be firearm owners.
Besides, firearm background checks are a federal matter, nothing to heap upon our over-worked local police or sheriffs.
Stop blaming the tools (firearms); start blaming the fools who use them.
Tom Hodge, Denver, N.C.
Vote on energy tax credits irresponsible
In response to “The tax cut N.C. Republicans rejected” (Oct. 20):
Not providing tax credits for renewable energy is just plain wrong.
North Carolina deserves so much more, and we should demand accountability from our governor and legislature.
We spend millions of taxpayer dollars to attract businesses, and we now have a leading market share in renewable energy, which brings jobs and new skills to our state.
Republicans cut tax credits in this market to slow our growth in this field.
Let’s elect people who are accountable to the citizens of this state, and who demonstrate integrity.
Daryl Solomonson, Troutman
No benefit hike? It’ll haunt you at polls
In response to “No benefit hike next year” (Oct. 17):
No Social Security cost-of-living increase in 2016?
Thank you Mr. President and Congress.
You promised us “change” and change we’ll have – as in nickels, dimes, quarters and pennies left as food and medical costs spiral upward.
We senior citizens promise real “change” will occur on Election Day 2016!
Herb Stark, Mooresville
Let prisoners work to shed felon label
Prisoners need to feel they have a possibility for a normal life.
Have a pre-incarceration contract for nonviolent inmates.
The prisoner’s obligation would be to behave and learn a trade or skill. Upon release he/she would not be labeled as a felon.
We need to overhaul our prison system to make useful citizens out of people who otherwise would end up in society’s junk heap.
The opportunity to lose the felon label is great incentive to try to change one’s life.
Barry Mendelson, Waxhaw
This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 10.23.15."