Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 12.17.15

Skains’ severance pay carries a price

In response to “Piedmont CEO to receive $14.4M severance” (Dec. 16):

I was incredulous to read about Piedmont Natural Gas CEO Tom Skains’ $14.4 million severance package!

Guess I can’t blame him for taking the money – $5 million in cash, $8.6 million in equity, and a bonus of $749,297.

Mr. Skains is now rich, and we, the energy consumer, will likely be paying more for our heating and cooling costs because gas and electricity now comes from one, and only one, company – Duke Energy.

Think I’m going to quickly start researching solar panels for my roof.

Gary DeShazer, Charlotte

Don’t disadvantage wealthy parents

In response to “Make affirmative action class-based” (Dec. 16 Forum):

Forum writer Julie Tuggle proposes that college applicants be given preferential treatment based on economic class as a transparent substitute for racial preferences.

Millions of parents strive to succeed economically, among other reasons, to maximize their children’s opportunity to attend college.

Conferring advantage to children of lower-income parents would punish the offspring of financially successful parents.

Work hard so your children will be disadvantaged? This makes no sense at a logical or moral level.

Philip Van Hoy, Charlotte

I want answers on I-77 toll contract

In response to Our View “Passing the toll-lane hot potato” (Dec. 16 Editorial):

After following the toll road issue, your editorial summed up my questions.

You said “Regional officials have supported tolls, to be sure, but they had no formal say on the ultimate deal.”

My questions remain: Who decided this particular contract? Who signed it? Who read it and approved it?

We need some clarification.

Catherine Connor, Mooresville

GOP has selective memory on Iraq

In response to “Replace Obama now, don’t wait until 2017” (Dec. 16 Forum):

I guess Forum writer Herb Corday forgot that George W. Bush ignored pre- 9/11 intel, and that the Iraq invasion helped create ISIS.

More than 4,400 U.S. service members lost their lives in Iraq, as did more than 150,000 Iraqis.

Herb, you sure we need more of that?

And remember, President Obama was popularly elected twice. Or, do just GOP votes count?

Chip Potts, Mooresville

Replace Obama? Not a realistic option

Forum writers and others who call for the president to resign, or for his impeachment, do not see the danger in either happening.

He would need to be replaced.

Currently there is no one aspiring to the position who is either capable or qualified to perform the job effectively.

Those intellectually prepared, or with the necessary experience required to do so, wisely wouldn’t touch it with the proverbial 10-foot pole.

William Wortman Jr., Statesville

Debaters miscast Iran as our enemy

There seemed to be one cohesive point shared by GOP candidates in Tuesday night’s debate: that Iran is the designated boogeyman to fuel fear that pushes funds into the pockets of the military-industrial complex.

In reality, most of the 9-11 attackers were Saudi citizens, and a Pakistani killed people in California.

Meanwhile, Iran has an advanced, educated society with more than a semblance of a democracy.

Iran does not walk to the dictates of American politicians and this infuriates those politicians.

But Iran is not our enemy. Continued rhetoric and action by the U.S. against Iran may make it our enemy.

Cliff Homesley, Mooresville

Support needed to prevent child deaths

In November, Eric Frazier wrote a poignant column about The Reach Every Mother and Child Act. (“Let’s stop preventable child deaths” Nov. 2 Opinion)

I want to extend much gratitude to the bipartisan support of the current 51 House representatives who have signed on to co-sponsor this proposed federal legislation.

Twenty-four are Republicans, including N.C. Reps. Robert Pittenger and Patrick McHenry.

At this time of year when we remember another Mother and Child, I ask them to call on their colleagues in the House and Senate to also sign on.

Barbara Rulf, Charlotte

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 12.17.15."