Why I want Bernie to keep campaigning
Why I’ll go from Bernie to Hillary
In response to “Best thing for Sanders’ cause? Dropping out of the race,” (May 20 Opinion):
I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary, but unless the world gets turned inside out I’ll vote for Hillary Clinton.
Still, I want the senator to keep campaigning. Why?
I want Californians, New Jerseyans, South Dakotans, etc. to have the same opportunity to register a preference for Sen. Sanders that I had.
I want to push Clinton so hard that when she’s president, even the nation’s richest and most powerful can’t persuade her to renege on promises to us.
I want party reforms adopted before 2020. And after this election, I want a long-term, respected spokesman for liberal causes, which Sanders could be.
Cynthia Ricketson, Charlotte
Hillary makes clear she’s not up to task
The first thing Hillary Clinton wants to do is hand over our economy to Bill.
She has really shown her colors the last few weeks, especially with her comments on the coal industry.
It would be a serious lack of voter judgment to put her in the White House!
She wants to hand off an important campaign issue before she is nominated. What does that tell you?
She is already aware that she is not up to the task.
Linda Nowlin, Richfield, N.C.
With GOP, Obama never stood a chance
In response to “Clinton, Obama to blame for voter anger” (May 18 Forum):
Forum writer Howard Honeycutt asked why this administration’s economic goals haven’t been met in eight years.
The answer was in an-op ed on the opposite page: “A lawmaker’s quixotic effort to reform Congress” (May 18 Opinion).
Congress, where all legislation starts, is controlled by Republicans and is the most unproductive in history. Early on, the GOP vowed to make Obama a failure.
To paraphrase Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla.: Instead of getting elected to represent the people you actually get elected “to be one more marble on our side of the aisle to keep the majority.”
Betty Hassler, Matthews
One degree has huge impact on climate
In response to “Don’t allow turbines to kill more birds,” (May 20 Forum):
Yes, some wildlife may be slaughtered in the name of stopping climate change. But what is saved?
“One degree” is not just a lighter sweater and Carnival cruises to the North Pole. “One degree” could inundate the Everglades and Bangladesh.
“One degree” could start the cascade that disrupts the Gulf Stream and changes human and animal life from the Bahamas to the Canaries and adjacent continents.
“One degree” will mean the end of hundreds of endangered species.
William C. Barnes, Charlotte
DEQ gave itself a political out on ash
DEQ gave itself a political out on ash
In response to “Duke Energy must dig up ash, at least for now” (May 19):
It’s easy to read between the lines of the Department of Environmental Quality’s decision that Duke Energy must excavate all coal ash ponds, but that this decision should be revisited in 18 months.
If former Duke employee Gov. Pat McCrory is re-elected and his appointees continue to lead DEQ, we can be sure that the decision to excavate will be reversed and most of the hazardous coal ash will remain on site to threaten our water.
Steve Copulsky, Charlotte
Wind and solar are solutions, not threats
Wind and solar are solutions, not threats
In response to “NC bill takes aim at wind power and solar energy” (May 19):
Our legislators have gotten away with spinning wind and solar farms as dangerous to the environment.
These solutions to our environmental crisis should not have stricter regulations than coal-burning and nuclear power plants.
Personally, I would be much happier living near a progressive, renewable energy plant, than I would near a dirty, coal-burning power plant.
Carmen Allison, Charlotte
It’s all about profit for green energy too
If you have never lived near a wind turbine farm you have no idea how ugly they are and how much noise they make, and by the way how many birds they kill every year.
The state has a right to heavily regulate them.
The owners of the green energy companies are in the business just like Duke Energy is, to make money. Please remember that.
Dick Meyer, Charlotte
This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Why I want Bernie to keep campaigning."