Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.11.16
It’s the NRA that threatens democracy
Polls show that not only a majority of Americans but a majority of gun owners support comprehensive background checks.
So, stop this nonsense about the president “governing against the will of the people” and that he “rules by decree.”
When a Congress is bought and paid for and lives in fear of the NRA, they fail to act on behalf of the people. This is what threatens our democracy.
Obama didn’t invent the executive order, don’t cry when his constitutional use of power subverts the will of the NRA.
Kelly Stevens, Charlotte
Obama’s unwelcome executive orders
Given President Obama’s speech justifying his executive action for gun control, we should understand why the Second Amendment was written into our Constitution in the first place.
Was it solely so that Americans could be allowed to hunt, protect themselves, engage in sport, or simply randomly kill people? Not exactly.
It was put into there so Americans would have recourse if we inadvertently elected a dictatorial government, similar to the British government that we fought a bloody war to become free of.
Does imposing too many unwelcome executive orders ring a bell?
Barry Marshall, Charlotte
Face facts on those executive orders
In response to “Stop letting Obama rule by decree” (Jan. 8 Forum):
Forum writer Frank Harrington echoes the claim that President Obama is acting like a monarch issuing executive orders.
For a little perspective, here are some facts – those pesky little things so often lacking in rants and accusations – on the approximate number of executive orders issued per year by recent presidents, according to the National Archive:
Carter: 80; Reagan: 48; George H.W. Bush: 42; Clinton: 46; George W. Bush: 36; Obama: 34.
Maybe we have unknowingly been ruled by kings all along.
George Anderson, Charlotte
Don’t let Cintra have monopoly on profits
For 33 years I worked at Duke Energy – a regulated monopoly.
Had Duke been offered a 50-year concession to build and operate an electric system and charge whatever the market would bear we’d likely have snapped it up. That’s an unregulated monopoly.
Microeconomics is clear: the monopoly will constrict supply so it can raise prices (tolls) for its service (use of toll lanes).
We’ll have higher tolls and more congestion. Cintra will have monopoly profits.
Congratulations to Mecklenburg’s County Commission for recognizing a bad deal.
Richard J. Osborne, Charlotte
Solution may lie in raising gas tax
Gas in North Carolina costs more than in neighboring states South Carolina and Virginia.
There are many long distance drivers, especially truck drivers, who use I-77 and I-95. Most know it’s cheaper to fill up before entering our state. Even North Carolinians fill up before returning.
All of these drivers cause wear and tear on our roads. Instead of toll lanes, maybe North Carolina should look at its gas tax.
Christ Koconis, Charlotte
Give young black fathers a better shot
In response to Our View “Common ground on unwed parenting” (Jan. 7 Editorial):
As an over-incarcerating nation, particularly of young black men who more often are not married to their child’s mother, we ignore the family damage done by incarceration.
It should be the last resort for non-violent offenders, especially nonviolent offending parents.
These parents can get far better job-training, anger management, counseling etc. if kept in their homes.
We cannot continue to warehouse parents in prison and not care what happens to their children.
Joan Gauker, Monroe
System perpetuates unwed parenting
The Brookings and American Enterprise Institute report failed to identify a major obstacle which thwarts solutions for unwed parenting and other social ills.
Our legislative system is mostly responsive to lobbyists and special interests when crafting legislation, so laws tend to benefit those at the top while ignoring those at the bottom.
This system creates political inequality which perpetuates income inequality, poverty, unemployment and unwed parenting.
While noble, the report recommendations are unlikely to be implemented in our lopsided system.
Joseph J. Salerno, Charlotte
This story was originally published January 10, 2016 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.11.16."