Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 10.25.15

Regulate peanut butter, but not guns?

Forum writer Daryl Richardson is mistaken about the government having “no right to dictate what firearms you own.”

Fully automatic weapons have been restricted since 1986 and the Brady Bill (1994) sets limits on assault weapons.

If the FDA can dictate no more than one rat hair per 100 grams of peanut butter, shouldn’t we consider restrictions on the types of firearms in the marketplace?

A caveat emptor on Carly Fiorina

When she was in Rock Hill last month, Carly Fiorina said “Leadership is about service and a leader produces results.”

As a former Lucent Technologies manager who knew many associates who lost a vast majority of their 401(k) savings in 2000, I take exception in Fiorina’s case.

While a senior executive, Ms. Fiorina and the rest of the Lucent executive team made millions using “dubious accounting and sales practices,” (See Lucent in Wikipedia) to bolster Lucent’s stock until it crashed in 2000.

Her devious leadership style, shown again as CEO of Hewlett Packard, indicates results should be attained at any and all costs, regardless of the impact on those they lead.

Caveat emptor!

What we get when too few vote: Berry

It is very clear that having Cherie Berry serve as N.C. Labor Commissioner is akin to having the fox guard the hen house.

She is unwilling or unable to do the job that she was elected to do: use the power of her department to represent workers who have been treated unscrupulously by employers.

She holds an elective office. When people don’t bother to show up to vote in elections, this is the kind of leadership we get.

Hard to explain our politics to Europeans

Last month, I was in a tapas bar in Barcelona and struck up a conversation with two women from Australia.

I had to admit I couldn’t understand either.

UNC taking right steps to get better

I was hardly surprised at another negative editorial regarding Carolina. While we clearly made many mistakes with the AFAM Studies easy grades courses, for five years Carolina’s administration has diligently worked to correct this and ensure that nothing like this could ever reoccur.

The new guidelines are part of this process. It would seem you would be pleased about these positive steps, but apparently not. What will it take for Carolina to make you happy?

Money blinds on climate change

Jay Ambrose – did ExxonMobil pay you to write that?

The process used by ExxonMobil and other oil companies to create confusion and muddy the waters of the climate change debate was the same as that used by the tobacco industry.

The honest debate on climate change has already taken place. And amongst the honest scientists of the world, there is little doubt that mankind is strangling the planet.

It’s only those whose opinions come attached to a paycheck that can’t see this. And it’s their misinformation and propaganda that hurt free speech.

Belk tower a part of UNCC student life

Without a new multi-million dollar tower at UNC Charlotte, students would have no place for relaxation, debate and protest.

I am willing for the taxpayers to pay for a new tower or for the students to borrow more money and pay higher tuition and fees. This is a necessary part of the students’ education.

This story was originally published October 24, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 10.25.15."