Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.26.16

Voters won’t forget McCrory’s tolls

Gov. Pat McCrory suggests local leaders were for the toll project before they were against it. But when did the local leaders know all the pertinent facts? Such as, it’s a 50-year exclusive contract, there’s a $100 million to $300 million cancellation penalty, the toll rates will be determined by Cintra, and the approval of this contract is tied to numerous other projects.

I know many people who voted for McCrory because they thought he would do great things for this region, or at least “do no harm.” Instead, we are locked in to a 50-year contract on this strategic transportation artery.

Even though McCrory keeps trying to shift the blame, N.C. voters will remember him come election time.

‘Single-issue’? Yes, and there are many

As Gov. McCrory’s campaign spokesman, Ricky Diaz, so glibly stated regarding the toll plan’s effect on the governor race: “There will always be a small percentage of voters that are single-issue voters.” What Mr. Diaz doesn’t seem to grasp are the many “single issues” that voters are unhappy about with the governor. The fracking gamble, the coastal oil drilling gamble, breaking campaign promises regarding abortion, disdain for teachers and education, cronyism with Duke Energy, the Medicaid debacle and the elimination of the medical expense tax deduction, just to name a few, are some other “single issues” that McCrory and his minion should consider before exhibiting such hubris.

Safeguards protect on nuclear energy

Because worst-case nuclear accidents are catastrophic, extreme safeguards should be in place. And they are.

It’s useful to know that Chernobyl was a bad design with no containment building, Fukushima was a very early design nearing its shutdown, and the safeguards at Three-Mile worked pretty well. Modern reactors are many orders of magnitude safer. And there are designs on the drawing boards that are safer still.

Unlike op-ed writer William Schlesinger, my motto: Up and atom!

Angry voters? I’m a frightened one

I, too, am an angry voter, but I’m also a very frightened one. Republican presidential candidates spewing misogyny, xenophobia, bigotry, and hate, and no one challenging them concerning it, scares me to death. I have been surprised that there is so much hate in America for people who are of different colors, religions and ideas. I truly thought that diversity was what made America great. That’s the America I love. Obviously I’ve been living in a fool’s paradise.

Kudos to Fowler on Luke, TD story

Scott Fowler has done it again. I am not a sports fan, but I nearly always read Scott’s articles. He writes about more than the game. He brings in the reasons for their success. He writes about the “person” not just the “player.”

In this article, Scott has focused on the relationship between Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly – two young men of different ages, colors, backgrounds and family. He shows how the differences come together to complement each one. Scott’s article deserved its front-page play.

Myers Park Methodist could set example

Does James Howell, minister at Myers Park Methodist Church, in speaking of the Catholic Church’s “conspicuous opulence in the face of poverty” and the “papal palace” not see the hypocrisy in not likewise denouncing his own church’s opulence and palatialness, being, as it is, located on some of the most valuable real estate in Charlotte and built to rival some of the cathedrals of Europe?

My recommendation of how he can be more like Pope Francis: lead his congregation to sell its prime real estate, keep enough from the proceeds to help defray the cost of conducting its activities in a nearby school or a building of inexpensive construction. I’m sure they can think of good uses for the rest of the millions.

If Myers Park Methodist would take that step, maybe all houses of faith could do likewise.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.26.16."