News-Record.com

I am a member of the Guilford County Tobacco Reality Unfiltered (TRU) Youth Advisory Board. Recently, we went on a picnic at Center City Park in downtown Greensboro.

When we got there, we were happy to see that the park was smoke-free. We saw a sign where we parked the car and several others at each entrance into the park asking visitors not to smoke while in the park.

We were happy to see the park was exceptionally clean, that children were laughing and playing and adults were enjoying their lunch breaks.

However, as we walked around the park, we saw a few people smoking, and our group picked up quite a few cigarette butts inside the park.

We would like to remind the community that when you are visiting Center City Park, please refrain from smoking inside the park area.

We do not want to breathe in the dangerous chemicals found in secondhand smoke when we are enjoying the afternoon. We hope that more parks will follow the good example set by Center City Park and go smoke-free.

Kristy Nguyen
Jamestown

With gas prices skyrocketing, we have big economic troubles. But we also have a huge opportunity.

Global warming is a serious problem, and we need to take action as a state. Cars and SUVs account for 25 percent of North Carolina’s global warming pollution.

Why not trim the fat? The secret to cutting that pollution is fuel efficiency, which also sounds great to my pocketbook.

Pricey Harrison, our local state representative, is calling for the Clean Cars Bill — tougher emissions standards for new cars and SUVs. Let’s get the rest of the legislature behind her, pass this legislation and curb global warming and our spending at once.

Liz Schmitt
Greensboro

I wonder why we (including the media) continue to call Barack Obama “black”? Isn’t the correct term “biracial”? His mother is white, his father was black. That does not make him black. If we accepted this fact, would it make a difference to those who are concerned about voting for a “black”?

My grandparents immigrated from Italy to the United States in the late-1880s. They were from northern Italy and had red hair, light skin and freckles instead of the usual dark olive skin one associates with Italians. I inherited this coloring, as did my three children. Does this make us “Italian”?

Suzannah Kleese
Greensboro

Impeachment is all over the media. It is on C-SPAN 1 and other TV channels, exposing the fact that impeachment hearings are a most important step in the process of setting our country in a new and better direction than it has experienced for the last seven-and-a-half years.

No future president should be allowed to shred our Constitution, and no future president should be allowed to bully us into a trumped-up and unnecessary war, leaving us in endless overwhelming debt with an economy that is on the brink of disaster.

Future presidents must be made to understand that an illegal act will not be accepted and will not be allowed to set a precedent for our country.

Impeachment will do this.

Robert E. Mersereau
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Deborah M. Johnson

The North Carolina Pork Council (NCPC) and our members were greatly disappointed that proposed legislation which would have sustained the economic vitality of our state’s pork industry failed to become law in the General Assembly’s recent session.

Our members are producers and good neighbors who care about the environment, animal well-being and being responsible business partners in North Carolina.

We have worked very hard to build an industry that has a major impact on our state’s economy, producing almost $7 billion in annual sales, more than $2 billion in annual income and more than 46,000 full-time jobs, or more full-time jobs than the entire Research Triangle Park provides.

This important legislation was designed to ensure that North Carolina’s pork producers continue to have the means to support their families and provide good jobs.

Much has been said and written about HB 822, but in reality it would have accomplished three fairly simple but important things to help producers maintain what they have worked so hard to build:

· Allow producers to rebuild in the same location if their operations are destroyed by fire or other acts of God.

· Allow producers to enhance their animal welfare practices by expanding barns to provide more room for pregnant pigs.

· Let producers make reasonable changes to their barns to allow them to respond to market changes and stay in business.

It is important to note that these proposed changes would not result in any buildings being closer to the nearest property boundary than today, nor would these changes move any hog lagoons or make them larger. We look forward to working with the General Assembly next year to accomplish these worthy goals on behalf of our members.

The writer is chief executive officer, North Carolina Pork Council.

Again, the News & Record accords “news” status to a poorly researched and transparently biased Associated Press analysis on the July 29 front page, except without the intellectual honesty to even label it as analysis.

Implying that George Bush is solely responsible for our red ink ignores an obvious point: Congress spends the money in this political system.

Cutesy graphics based on money thickness add drama but consume half a page that should have been used for more even-handed analysis. Using a graph that ignores the context of relationship to GDP is misleadingly biasing, even when acknowledged in the article’s text.

And I recall the stimulus package as being a joint administration-congressional initiative.

Finally, failing to isolate costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and costs attributable to the terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001, and following, ignores (deliberately?) a historical reality: Wars escalate deficits well out of proportion compared to more peaceful times. During World War II, for example, the national deficit averaged more than 22 percent of GDP for five years.

As long as you continue to be led by the nose by the Associated Press monopoly and its so-called “journalists,” you will continue to fail your constitutionally protected duty. People can get crossword puzzles elsewhere.

Jim Mooney
Jamestown

The following is a Counterpoint.

By Tony Moschetti

Your Ideas section July 27 focused on the energy debate. As usual, we were told by an anti-drilling “expert” that we are not going to be able to drill our way out of the energy crisis. This is the same mind-set that told us in 1978 that the world had 10 years of oil left and that drilling at Prudhoe Bay would destroy the environment, destroy the caribou herd, and provide oil for six months. Those “experts” were wrong then, and history tells us they are likely wrong now.

From 1968 to 1988 we produced an average of 8.85 million barrels a day domestically, peaking at 9.6 million barrels. In 2007 we produced 5 million barrels. In May ’08 we imported from our top five suppliers — Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria — 6.3 million barrels per day. If we merely matched that production today, it would wipe out all but 800,000 barrels that we import from our major suppliers. What would that do to the price of oil?

Then the renewable forms would likely make up the difference, further reducing or eliminating the need to send $400 billion to $600 billion a year out of the country. That would put a major dent in our trade deficit and create thousands of those high-paying jobs that the Democrats say they want.

None of this will assuage the radical environmentalists who want to destroy our capitalist society because they believe it is not “fair” that some should have more than others. This is not about “saving” the planet. They will continue to tell us of the danger to the environment, despite the fact that a recently released study by the Institute for Energy Research says that only 1 percent of spills come from offshore drilling, 63 percent from natural seepage, and 4 percent from transport. Offshore drilling is obviously the most environmentally safe method of getting our oil, and it appears that nature poses the most “danger” to the environment! A Coast Guard report says that the amount of oil spilled in the oceans has plummeted since 1970.

Ask yourselves why we are the only country in the world whose leaders refuse to permit us to extract our own resources, thereby forcing us to pay nearly $4 per gallon for gas? Start asking them now!

The writer lives in High Point.

There is a great controversy in the schools today whether evolution should be taught as an established fact or as a persuasive hypothesis. After listening to the evening news and reading the morning paper over the years, it becomes clear to me that mankind is indeed descended from the jackass.

Richard O. Gerlach
Greensboro

The Mental Health Association in Greensboro’s recent receipt of a national award from Mental Health America is truly a cause for applause.

The Betty Humphrey Cultural Competence Award, given in recognition of the local association’s Latino mental health initiatives, was one of only four national awards presented at the Mental Health America annual meeting in Washington.

The Cultural Competence Award honors outstanding achievement in creating services that address racial, ethnic and cultural disparities.

The Greensboro program, launched in 2006 and supported by funds from the Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation, United Way of Greater Greensboro, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Kathleen and Joseph M. Bryan Community Enrichment and Venture Grant Program, and Guilford Green Foundation, has successfully developed four mental health support groups offered in Spanish and a network of Latino advocates and bilingual service providers.

Congratulations are in order for the Mental Health Association staff and volunteers who pioneered and continue to offer this successful initiative.

Sara Anne T. “Cissy” Parham
Greensboro

The writer is a member of the Mental Health Association in Greensboro Board of Directors.

Regarding the July 22 editorial, “Go 55, but only if you want to,” and Peter Kauber’s comment of July 26 regarding voluntarily driving 55 mph to save fuel:

I have driven I-40, I-85, I-75, I-81 and I-77 as well as numerous non-interstate highways in a Jeep Cherokee and also in a motor home towing the Jeep. I drive in the right lane maintaining a speed of 55-60 mph and arrive at my destination relaxed and not “white-knuckled” and probably about 20 minutes behind Kauber.

Charles Miller
High Point

Once again, Bill Agapion has supplied the requisite villainy to sustain a multipage morality play in your July 27 edition, “Fixing the cracks.” I have read the Amanda Lehmert story, the Lorraine Ahearn column, and the editorial.

The writer of the editorial, “Rental program works,” seemed unaware of the acknowledgements by both Lehmert and Ahearn that the drop in the number of code violations might not have been entirely attributable to RUCO. Market forces, they conceded, might have had something to do with it.

In the wake of the regulatory crackdown, a Park Place apartment must generate $739 per month to turn a profit. But what of the fate of the tenant who was living there when Park Place was Brookfield Court, and the monthly rent was $499?

In one material respect, the legal landscape has not changed. There still is no law forcing anybody to do business with Agapion or any of the other landlords you find objectionable.

Barney W. Hill
Thomasville

In their July 26 columns, Cal Thomas and Kathleen Parker criticize Barack Obama for not admitting that the surge in Iraq has worked. But they are missing the forest for the trees.

Why aren’t they criticizing President Bush and Sen. McCain for not admitting that the Iraq war was a colossal mistake nor acknowledging that their desire to keep U.S. troops in Iraq forever violates the wishes of Americans and Iraqis? If the surge has worked, why aren’t Bush and McCain willing to talk about bringing U.S. troops home?

The truth is that Sen. Obama was right in opposing the war, and his plan for withdrawing U.S. troops within 16 months has been endorsed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Despite the president’s previous refusals, he was forced to agree to a “time horizon” for withdrawal of U.S. troops on the eve of Sen. Obama’s trip to the Middle East. The Iraqis will not sign the Bush and McCain treaty that would establish permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. Instead, the Iraqis want to govern their own country.

President Bush has said that if the Iraqis ask us to leave, we will. So why won’t he and Sen. McCain keep that promise?

Denise Baker
Greensboro

Renovations at Aycock Auditorium are complete. I have not seen it, but the pictures in the current UNCG Magazine indicate it is a gorgeous facility, reminiscent of the old opera houses but new and modern. Capacity is 1,600.

Why couldn’t the city partner with UNCG for joint use of Aycock rather than spending $50 million on renovating War Memorial Auditorium?

Jerry Weston
Greensboro

In response to your front-page coverage of ethanol on July 28, I offer the following:

The team at N.C. A&T is to be commended for its work in finding another source for the development of ethanol. The automobile manufacturers are doing their part in the development of using alternative fuel for their vehicles. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors have built thousands of vehicles, on the road today, that are capable of using E85 fuel (ethanol).

However, a major problem exists in the fact that there are no service stations in the Triad, Asheboro or Burlington that have E85 fuel available.

What we now need is an effort to have E85 fuel available in our area to capitalize on using this alternative fuel.

Bob Kroupa
Greensboro

In a front-page article (July 26), you covered Greensboro community leaders’ trip to Charlotte.

The purpose of the trip was to determine how Charlotte “was able to build corporate towers, shiny metro trains, a wonderful football stadium and a tendency to mow down the past for an endless tomorrowland.” It went on to say that, “as a result Charlotte attracts more people, jobs and companies than many other cities in the nation.”

The article gave credit for the incredible accomplishments to its “government, business and nonprofit leaders.” But there was no mention of its mayor, Pat McCrory, the man running for governor of North Carolina who was elected and served as Charlotte’s mayor for seven consecutive terms.

No one man can do it all, but it was McCrory who set the pace, and he also can do it for North Carolina.

Jacque Behrends
Greensboro

America is at war, and on two fronts — Iraq and Afghanistan — with major problem areas in a number of other countries where unrest is rampant.

I address this letter to all former and current servicemen and women, as well as the parents of servicemen and women. To you I have but one question as it relates to this year’s presidential election, and please think about it very carefully as it is of vital importance:

Whom would you rather be in a foxhole with, Barack Obama or John McCain?

As a former serviceman (Vietnam era) and a parent of a discharged Marine (Desert Shield era), the choice is a no-brainer.

Please, for the sake and safety of our young men and women, follow the paper trail.

Robert Bell
Greensboro

I hear a lot about people searching for alternative fuels, looking into wind technology, etc. That is all great, but it seems like the next step to take after we have mandated higher fuel standards.

Why look for new technology to solve problems when the Toyota Prius Hybrid is a reality at 60 mpg? Given the adverse effect fuel costs are having on our economy and the price of everything, not to mention that reducing oil dependence is an issue of national security, I cannot see why we do not mandate all vehicles coming off of assembly lines are hybrid ASAP.

The Republicans worship their false god called “the free market,” which is supposed to be infallible; however, we cannot wait around for the “free market” to wake up and start producing cars with the highest possible fuel efficiency, considering the economic, environmental and national security implications.

It is time for government to step in and fix this oversight.

Considering that other countries are subsidizing their fuel costs, I find this sort of government intervention benign in comparison.

Bill Garrot
Greensboro

I was very amused by the letter saying Hillary Clinton would be the best vice-presidential choice because of her experience in health care. Hillary had her chance with health care and it was a total fiasco! Of course, Democrats don’t let facts stand in the way of their drivel.

Hillary is very popular? Hillary has good standing in the Senate? You have to be there and work to have that. Go get another set of unproven, ill-supported comedy material and tell us how Hussein O’Nuthin has a long record of experience at anything for any reason in any country anywhere.

Marilyn Gideon
Greensboro

This is in response to Lisa-Ann Andrews’ letter (July 29) on the hiring of Maurice Green.

Only in America are people judged by the color of their skin, their gender or their class.

Only in America do people fail to realize that we do not have any control over the color of our skin or our gender. We are all products of God’s master plan. He created us in His image, not man’s. In my opinion, negative comments about a person’s skin color or gender are questioning God’s creation.

Andrews’ statement, “Once again we have bypassed a white woman for a black man,” holds no merit. Why can’t a person be judged by their character? Why is race and gender always a factor with appointed or elected public officials?

Her comments remind me of a statement our current president made about the Democratic-controlled Congress, which also holds no merit: “They have not passed one bill since being elected.” What he failed to add to that statement is, “Because I veto every bill sent to me.”

May God protect our country as we continue to strive for universal liberties.

Norma Burkes
Greensboro

In the July 28 edition, there was an article about Lee Hayes, 52, who was struck and killed by William Thomas Skinner. Skinner had failed to stop at a stop sign and struck Hayes on his motorcycle.

Cole Morton, a young Greensboro firefighter, was killed last year in a similar accident. This happens way too often and, while I understand that motorcycles are dangerous, they’re dangerous mostly because of people in cars not paying attention.

I ride a motorcycle for pleasure and to commute. I’ve seen multiple people not just talking on their cell phones but texting as they’re driving. I’ve passed people reading books, eating tacos, applying makeup, just about anything you can imagine. I’ve even been passed on the highway IN MY LANE.

What does it take for one such careless driver to be charged with vehicular manslaughter instead of “failure to yield”?

Two-wheeled vehicles are part of everyday traffic and will remain so. Those of us who choose two-wheeled forms of transportation are your neighbors, veterans of our military, doctors, firefighters, sons, fathers, daughters, mothers and grandparents. They come from all walks of life with people who love them and will defend them.

Keith Thompson
Ramseur

I keep hearing variations of “we ought to be drilling for American oil instead of buying oil from the Middle East.” I’d just like to point out the obvious here. There is no American oil until you and I pay Exxon for it! They own it and are a multinational company. They will sell it to us as well as to anyone else.

One other thing. Support your local farmers and buy organic if possible. Eating locally saves fuel, provides fresher foods, and helps your neighbors.

One last thing. Look into the Piedmont Land Conservancy. It’s a worthwhile organization working to keep local farmland in family hands and parts of our area concrete-free and green.

Bob Ponzoni
Greensboro

I keep reading where people say Jesse Helms was such a great senator. Where have they been living? I have been living here all my life and I believe he was the worst senator we have ever had.

My wife and I went to California several years ago and when people learned we were from North Carolina, they kept asking why we were continuing to elect Jesse Helms year after year when we were a Democratic state. Helms set our state back 30 years.

We now have another one similar to him in Elizabeth Dole. She knows nothing about North Carolina or the true needs of our people. However, we have the chance to change that by electing Kay Hagan to the Senate. We need her in Washington to help lead our state forward and undo the damage Helms and Dole have done to North Carolina.

Willie Duncan
Siler City

Congressman Howard Coble said, “Tobacco is a product that is lawfully grown, lawfully marketed, lawfully manufactured and lawfully consumed” (July 31) on the House floor during debate of a bill that grants the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate tobacco.

He did not state that tobacco kills 440,000 Americans annually. Or that the nicotine in tobacco is addictive. Most smokers start before age 18. Telling youngsters that something is “for adults only” only increases temptation. Later, after becoming addicted, smokers often face difficulties undoing their immature decision to start.

President Bush threatens to veto this bill, claiming the FDA already is overburdened with current tasks. Lorillard and Reynolds American claim the FDA is the wrong agency to provide regulation, but propose no alternative. The FDA would need additional funding to regulate tobacco, which is our leading cause of preventable deaths. Increasing the federal cigarette tax would provide funds and reduce consumption.

Rep. Coble stated the bill “could threaten what remains of the industry in North Carolina, including farmers and manufacturers.” After the buyout of tobacco farmers, only 25 percent of growers continue planting this poison. Philip Morris closed its plant in Concord. North Carolina’s economy seeks healthier avenues to prosperity.

Richard J. Rosen, MD
Greensboro

I have some unasked-for advice for each presumptive presidential nominee.

John McCain refuses to concede that the Iraq war was a dreadful mistake, and he should. Most of the rationales for the war turned out to be pure hogwash.

Saddam Hussein did not have WMDs, did not align himself with al-Qaida and was not responsible for Sept. 11. Failure to concede this is not straight talking.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, will only reluctantly say that things are getting better since we sent additional troops to Iraq. He does point out, correctly, that things were improving before the “surge,” the Anbar awakening and the shutdown of some Shia militias, for example. However, he can’t bring himself to say he might have been mistaken on the surge.

Still, not everything is going well in our two wars, as the latest events in Afghanistan are troubling. Any improvements in Iraq are more than counterbalanced by the deterioration of the Afghan’s government’s security posture and the casualties of our service personnel.

This war should have been finished years ago, before another, unnecessary war was begun. On that important point, Barack Obama was absolutely correct and doesn’t need my advice.

Harvey B. Herman
Greensboro

It usually isn’t productive to debate qualifications of political candidates in a newspaper letter to the editor. The worse that usually happens is the expression of facts by a loose cannon.

We can understand the points presented in letters by Michael Northuis on July 8 (“Consider these points before choosing McCain”) and Andrew Symmes on July 14 (“Rational voting decisions require informed citizens”). We also are reminded that a fact is something said to have occurred but that has been checked for truth.

The Symmes letter was on target, but neither letter offered a way to become better informed as a concerned citizen. It is our suggestion that every American who intends to vote for the president in November should read the book “The Party of Defeat” by David Horowitz and Ben Johnson. The facts in the book are backed by 26 pages of notes and five pages of indexing.
And no party generals have contested the information.

Coyet Bolen
Ralph Hixon
Calvin Martin

Kathleen Parker’s column (“Why doesn’t Obama have big lead?” July 31) zeros in on the key word in Barack Obama’s political campaign — in big, black lettering — “CHANGE.” She then asks the question, “but change to what”?

That question should be the most important one, asked repeatedly every day by Sen. John McCain, “Change to what”? When considering voting, ask yourselves the same question.

Ed Poovey
Thomasville

With all of the talk about our weak economy and neither party having a good plan to balance the budget, how about some job cuts? Layoffs can be good if you cut the right people. Let’s start with the politicians.

• The spending stops for pork barrel projects.

• They can apply for the same unemployment benefits that we, the regular people, receive.

• We can stop their health benefits (a big savings) as well as their vacations and “business” trips.

This plan could work at all levels of government. We, the people, should demand that layoffs start now!

Businesses are laying off to survive. Why not politicians?

Let’s lay off hundreds of them now, and call them back in two years — if and when the economy turns around.

Glenn Andrews
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Barbara Foote

I enjoyed reading the article earlier this summer concerning African American children who are not able to swim (“YMCA hopes to bridge the swimming gap,” June 25). I am trying to learn to swim at age 55.

I really enjoyed the comments by N.C. A&T swim team member Aasiya Townsell about being on a white swim team since age 11. As a white, I’ve often wondered how I would feel and be treated if I were the only white person at church, etc.

I’d like to share with you how my husband and I (both white) have been treated at Hayes-Taylor YMCA, which is mostly black. I don’t think I would be treated with as much kindness in a mostly white YMCA.

When I am there, I do not think about my skin color being different from anyone else’s there and that is how it should be. We are all created equal by a Father who loves us all.

Justin and Stacey (our swim instructors) have been wonderful, patient and kind as they try to teach me to swim. They are the best. We also do water aerobics with instructor Jessica Fox, who also is the best. We have not only been treated with kindness by her but by all who are in the class.

In a world filled with hate and racism, it is a wonderful blessing to be with friends who see me as a person and who treat me as one of their own. I only hope that if they are ever in a group of white people they will be treated with as much kindness and respect as my husband and I have been.

I hope the Hayes-Taylor YMCA will get the grants it needs to continue being the YMCA that it is now.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole recently stood on the U.S. Senate floor and requested that the AIDS Relief Bill be named after Jesse Helms!

Alice Ashman
Greensboro

I commend Boy Scout Robert Travis for taking an interest in citizenship and voting (letter, “Don’t complain if you didn’t take time to vote,” July 15).

Yes, Mr. Travis. There are a number of people who do not vote, and they should not.
There are also some who have voted and who should have stayed home.

Those who need not go to the polls are the uninformed. They never read a newspaper, listen to the news on the radio or television. And then they go to vote.

There are the ones who went to vote in the primary only because of complexion, oratory skills and gender of the person running. There are some who even said they felt it was time to have a black person in office, even though his record in office leaves much to be desired.

Remember, his platform was on change, change, change. Well, he certainly is changing, just like the weather. He constantly hangs on to the word “black.”

This election has a lot of racism. When you have 90 percent of the black people saying they will vote for Barack Obama, you know that is not serious voting.

Olga Coble
Liberty

I am writing with a few random comments concerning the so-called Heart of the Triad. North Carolina now has the highest loss of farms in the country — 100,000 acres annually. Our sprawl is such that our “growth patterns gobble up 3.5 times more land per person than the national average” according to William Fulton, a nationally known planning consultant.

We have three major “core” regions in the Triad and each has groups now working on restoring their cores. Many studies show that this can be done without disturbing areas that produce food, furnish trees to absorb CO2, serve as wetlands to filter our drinking water and provide habitats for disappearing wildlife.

There are a few encouraging trends. A local dairy farm has been saved from city sprawl by an easement negotiated by the Piedmont Land Conservancy. The recently passed state budget included $50 million for “Land for Tomorrow” to preserve natural spaces.

We should let our elected officials and planners know that the Heart of the Triad is not a desirable outcome for the Forsyth-Guilford boundary area. Those farms, woodlands and streams, many forming the headwaters of our Deep River, should remain in nature.

Elizabeth H. Conner
Colfax

Why are so many McCain supporters so negative?

Instead of singing the praises of John McCain, they will try anything to tear down Barack Obama. I have seen and heard so much snarky malarkey on the tube, on the Internet and in the paper I have to wonder if some people care anything about the truth.

One recent letter to the editor asserted Obama was a socialist. Now, there is a time-tested old bogeyman!

Then there is the claim Obama is an elitist. That one puzzled me for awhile. How can anyone be an elitist who was raised by a single mother and started his career as a community organizer?

Then it dawned on me. They are calling him an elitist because in this day and age they cannot come right out and call him an uppity N-word.

Some people hope this election will be decided on the basis of name-calling and schoolyard trash talking. I would like this election to be decided by an intelligent discussion of the urgent and important issues facing our nation.

I hope this does not make me an elitist.

Mikel Taylor
Greensboro

I applaud Ralph Johnson’s Counterpoint (“Charlotte example is worth emulating,” July 30) about Greensboro’s growth or lack thereof. Greensboro is seriously lacking in leadership.

The city as a whole is a scattered landscape of half-empty strip malls. It has taken nearly 10 years for downtown to have anything more than a few nightclubs and offices. High Point Road was forgotten and cast aside while Wendover was left to spread and sprawl.

Business zoning and other decisions left up to the City Council are continually subject to the board’s personal and business interests while ignoring the needs of the city and its citizens.
As a small-business owner and operator, I get to see the changes every day. Economic trends come and go but one fact remains constant. People consistently express their distaste with City Council and its decisions. The city needs more money and the best solution proposed is to increase property and sales taxes? Is this a joke?

These so-called leaders seem to have no clue; they see that more tax dollars mean more money and they ignore the increased burden that it places on the market.

Greensboro has to have leadership to buttress our local economy and give it the environment it requires to flourish and succeed.

Easa Hanhan
Jamestown

The following is a Counterpoint

By William L. Coleman

Your July 29 editorial addressed the incident in Alamance County, where an illegal immigrant traveling on I-85 in the middle of the night with her three children and another passenger was arrested for traffic violations and, subsequently, is being processed for deportation.

The last sentence of the editorial indicated that “it was only a matter of luck that it didn’t have a tragic ending.”

Contrary to the editor’s belief, the incident does have tragic consequences.

The tragedy is that three children do not have a mother.

The tragedy is that three children are growing up in a society full of hatred for them.

The tragedy is that the father feels powerless to take care of his family.

The tragedy is that the approximately 500,000 immigrants in North Carolina have no societal support for their well- being while they work at jobs that pay as little as $5 an hour, 12 to 14 hours a day.

The tragedy is that the North Carolina legislature thinks that denying driver’s licenses to immigrants is curbing terrorism.

The tragedy is that the federal government and the state legislature have decided not to deal with the immigration problem and simply let local sheriffs and local police, who know very little about immigration issues, arrest and deport.

And finally, the tragedy is that the editorial writer puts the problem on the mother. The immigration problem is ours.

Indeed, the incident on I-85 in Alamance County was tragic. To say otherwise is irresponsible.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The following is a Counterpoint.

Duke Energy’s Save-a-Watt program poses as a hybrid, charges for a Lamborghini and runs like a Pinto. The author of the July 31 editorial has been misled.

Save-a-Watt is a bad deal.

Energy efficiency technology is the cheapest, cleanest and quickest way to meet new energy demand. Duke’s energy efficiency proposal, however, is a lemon. It ties the price for energy efficiency to the cost of expensive coal and nuclear plants.

Duke is going to charge customers for saved energy at the rate of 90 percent of the “avoided cost” of not having to build a power plant. Say what?

Duke is going to charge customers for the money it doesn’t have to spend to generate new power because of customers’ energy efficiency.

Save-a-Watt doesn’t make sense.

The analogy in the editorial to solar energy is misplaced.

Solar technology is priced at the market value of solar technology, not the price of multibillion-dollar coal and nuclear plants that Duke Energy doesn’t build because it builds solar plants instead.

Energy efficiency is cheap, not expensive. But for an energy efficient light bulb that retails for $1.65, Duke would reap $18.23 under Save-a-Watt’s compensation scheme.

It is of no moment that Duke is paid only for verified efficiency gains. At its proposed rates, it needs very little achievement to make Save-a-Watt profitable.

And very little energy efficiency appears to be the goal.

Top-performing energy efficiency programs save an average of 1 percent of energy per year. Duke aims for 0.23 percent for its first programs.

The bottom line on Save-a-Watt is this: It grossly overcharges for the woeful energy efficiency gains it proposes.

The writer is the staff attorney for the N.C. Public Interest Research Group.

Libby Thompson’s response (letter, July 31) to Mary Fontaine’s “brown yard” (“Turf war erupts over High Point yard,” July 26) shows the lack of understanding of the purpose of homeowners’ associations.

People who move into homes included in an association have the responsibility to know the covenants of the association as determined by the state of North Carolina before they buy their homes. If they don’t agree with the statutes, no one is forcing them to move there.

One main purpose of the board of directors of a homeowners’ association’s board is to enhance the property values of the homes and, hence, the entire neighborhood. Another, of course, is to provide maintenance and upkeep of homes for those residents who cannot or prefer not to provide their own.

Our board tries to work within the statutes while working diligently with individual home owners’ requests.

Finally, board members are elected with specific terms, and members serve without compensation and can be voted off by the resident owners.

Ed Travis
Greensboro

The writer is president, Cardinal Manor Homeowners’ Association.

More than 200 years ago, King George ranted, raged and thumbed his nose at the American colonists across the ocean. Our own King George is traveling to the opening Olympic ceremony in Beijing from where he will thumb his nose at his American citizens across the ocean.

What is the cost to us for this pleasure trip to China? How much does our Treasury pay for Air Force One, support personnel, Secret Service, security, etc.?

I think we are all due an accurate accounting of this private jaunt (ignoring all protests that he not go), especially with the deficit reaching the range of $482 billion.

So many Americans are suffering right now, and King George wants us to pay for his vacation. Really, King George Bush is just thumbing his nose at us.

Rodna Hurewitz
Stoney Creek

Sen. Barack Obama is in touch with people who work “for the survival of this country” (Yvonne Kane, letter, July 30). On the contrary, for those who view reckless immigration as an existential threat to the nation, Sen. Obama trips all the alarms:

“Nobody in the Senate, other than maybe Ted Kennedy, has been more consistent in saying we need to have a pathway to citizenship for those who are undocumented. ...” (Obama in an interview with Univision, the Spanish-language network).

“The system isn’t working when ... communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids. ...” (Obama speaking to the National Council of La Raza).

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, moderator of the CNN Democratic debate: “I take it, Sen. Obama, you support giving drivers’ license to illegal immigrants. Is that right?”

Obama evades. Blitzer rephrases. Obama ducks.

Blitzer: “This is the kind of question that is available for a yes or no answer. Either you support it or you oppose it. Yes or no?”

Obama: “Yes. But. I am going to be fighting for comprehensive immigration reform. ...”

Citizenship and drivers’ licenses for illegal aliens, reduced enforcement. Change he believes in. Should we believe in it? Will there even be a “we” in a few more years?

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

Every time I watch Sen. John McCain urging our country to start drilling offshore I cringe in disbelief at his cynicism, or else his ignorance.

Everyone who is familiar with the facts knows the United States possesses about 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves, but uses about 25 percent of the planet’s oil production.

It doesn’t take a genius to do the math and conclude that we will always be dependent on the oil of other oil-rich countries.

Until we accept the need to drastically reduce our consumption and pressure our government to start serious research on alternative means of energy, it will not matter how we destroy our pristine areas, contaminate our oceans or destroy the balance of our eco-systems. Drilling for oil won’t solve our energy problems. We will still be 22 percent short of our oil needs.

Facts are stubborn things. Perhaps someone on McCain’s staff could make him aware of the facts on oil.

Francesca R. Curran
Greensboro

Regarding the Life article, “It’s Howdy Doody Time” (Aug. 1):

As a kid, we had another verse for “It’s Howdy Doody Time”:

"It’s Howdy Doody time.
It isn’t worth a dime.
So turn to channel nine.
And watch a Frankenstein.”

Art Newnam
Greensboro

So our do-nothing Congress decides to take a five-week vacation without trying to solve our energy crisis. As one of the many employers of these slackers, I would suggest firing all of them who are running for re-election, no matter who they are or how long they have worked for us this coming November. As for those still on the job when the next election arrives, the same will apply to them if they can’t stop their squabbling and get something accomplished.

I’m sure if they were faced with the fact that they will lose their jobs, they would do what the majority of their employers elected them to do.

Milt Kraus
High Point

In response to Jerry Weston’s letter, “Make use of Aycock,” (Aug. 3), questioning why the city couldn’t partner with UNCG instead of renovating War Memorial Auditorium, there are many factors that affect hosting community and national events.

While Aycock is a truly grand facility for UNCG events, the capacity (1,600 versus 2,400 for WMA) is not sufficient, from an economic perspective, to generate enough revenue to host events such as touring Broadway productions or top recording artists such as recent auditorium performers B.B. King, Norah Jones and Daughtry.

From a booking perspective, it is not possible to accommodate the numerous community arts organizations that use War Memorial for an average of 140 performances annually (and also require rehearsal dates) in Aycock.

Additionally, from an operational perspective, Aycock doesn’t have sufficient on-site parking to host large public events commonplace to War Memorial.

Even if a few events could be relocated to Aycock, the issue of a deteriorating War Memorial Auditorium remains. The proposed retrofit is critical to maintaining a venue dedicated to local war veterans and also serves as a component of the Coliseum Complex, which generates more than $100 million in economic impact annually.

Andrew Brown
Greensboro

The writer is public relations manager, Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

The choice for the White House is easy. If you want a conservative Democrat, vote for John McCain. If you want a socialist, vote for Barack Obama.

Hank Powell
Greensboro

Regarding the question by Robert Bell (letter, Aug. 3, “Whom would you rather be in a foxhole with, Barack Obama or John McCain?”): Fortunately, we are not voting for a foxhole buddy.

A president is needed who has the will, wisdom, vision, pragmatism and intelligence to lead this country out of the unnecessary Iraqi war, and to focus on other threats. He must significantly break from the failed policies of the Bush administration.

The Bush administration dismissed the counsel of senior military officers, who said that Iraq was not an imminent threat because it was contained. Students of modern warfare know air superiority is a must to win. Iraq had no viable air force; nor did it have the feared Scud missiles capable of delivering chemical/biological agents. This administration had the incompetent arrogance to deny the Army’s request for 400,000 to 500,000 troops, instead sending only 160,000. The president must close that foxhole before my 2-year-old grandson is old enough to go in.

Yes, as a Vietnam-era veteran, and a combat veteran of both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, I believe Obama is indeed the “no brainer” choice.

James E. Copeland
Greensboro

My congratulations to the good people of Asheboro on their recent vote to allow alcohol sales. The citizens for the future of Asheboro have shown the positive impact that people can have on their community, even when confronted by closed minds disguised as religion.

The Rev. John Rogers’ reference to all who disagree with his beliefs as “non-Christians” is particularly troubling He may be a “man of God,” but, in the end, he is just a man. If he really believes that only atheists and “non-Christians” voted “yes” on July 29, then he is sadly mistaken.

From Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson blaming Sept. 11 on gay marriage and the ACLU, to Jeremiah Wright’s racial rants, we are reminded “men of God” are just as fallible as the rest of us. I hope the Rev. Rogers will stop the name-calling and get to the business of healing his community. It would be the Christian thing to do.

Billy Carter
Troy

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Deborah Kelly

I appreciate the clarity in the message that the News & Record editorial on immigration brought to the surface (“Ending illegal entry,” Aug. 2).

It is naive to believe nobody benefited from the entry of immigrants into this country. If so, they never would have been allowed to enter.

If it were not in the self-interest of the powers that be to have low-wage workers in this country, this situation never would have presented itself.

It’s probably hypocritical at best that, when the general perception becomes that these people are no longer of use to this country, we cast aside a whole generation, or two, of immigrants who have made the United States their home.

It’s important to consider that, although it was not all of our doing, we played a lead role in the situation at hand. It’s also important to consider that laws are supposed to reflect the moral imperative of the land and, in this case, they don’t.

We cannot, in good conscience, say, on one hand, “Work for us,” and on the other, “Don’t be human. Do not bring with you the weary or the tired. Do not misbehave, for we will hold the many accountable for the few.”

More importantly, we shouldn’t say, “We are done with you. Go back to where you came from because you have become more trouble than you are worth.”

When we say that, we are creating the environment of hate for which we condemn other countries.

I also believe it is a fallacy that, because many of us advocate for immigration reform, that we, somehow, do not wish safety in our streets or for criminals to be held accountable. One issue does not void the other. It is not all or nothing.

Comprehensive immigration reform must reflect reality. And, until these laws are reformed, we will continue to separate families and send youth back to countries they did not envision in their futures. These individuals did a job well, were not a drain on our social services, created family and were a part of our community.

It’s sad that it should be OK not to address these issues with some semblance of compassion.

The writer is a health educator who lives in Greensboro.

Olga Coble’s letter, “Some voters should not vote” (Aug. 6), is a sad commentary on the erosion of personal rights of our citizens. She presumes to know that some people who vote are uninformed. While a few people go to the polls with specifics on issues, the rest of us know where we stand on the rising cost of living or concern for the safety of our families by, well, living. My current fuel bills and medical expenses alone are enough to send me out to vote for the man who pledges to make both more affordable.

Sometimes even we middle-class and poor folk listen to radios, watch television and read newspapers (yes, we can read) to get our information. We may like a candidate’s personality or character, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t learned where he stands on the issues.

Coble’s belief that some people haven’t earned the right to vote sounds more appropriate for countries where tyrants and despots rule. Every U.S. citizen who can vote should do so. That’s our right. That’s our freedom. And frankly, we don’t owe anyone an explanation of why we vote the way we do.

Mary Coyne Wessling
Greensboro

Former Olympian and gold medalist Joey Cheek used poor judgment and displayed selfishness in his attempt to use the 2008 Beijing Summer Games to spotlight the issue of Darfur. Cheek had his day at the Winter Games in 2006, but he and “Team Darfur” are stealing the hard-earned spotlight away from the current Olympians by using these games to protest.

Cheek has made it very clear that he has future political aspirations. Championing the Darfur cause will boost his resume with Democratic big-wigs and the ultra-left.

But now is not the time, or place, to steal the limelight from those who have worked their entire lives for this bright, shining moment.

Thomas Noell
Winston-Salem

Regarding Clyde Hylton’s comment on the topic, “How well did the Guilford County school board handle the superintendent search?” (Question of the Week, Aug. 3):

Hylton writes, “At the risk of being deemed a racist, I wonder if Maurice Green had been a Caucasian with the same resume would he have been selected?”

Allow me to explain to him how I was able to conquer that neurosis. I was asked a while back, “Who is the best basketball player, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?” It presented me with a dilemma because in that era I was a closet racist. My answer was that it depended on what team they were on.

Guilford County has a good team. So don’t worry, be happy!

Philip Lindsay
Greensboro

As a resident of the Roanoke Valley, I am optimistic about this region’s future. And I am proud to say we have a remarkable theater in Roanoke Rapids. It is an asset, both in itself and as a tool to encourage other businesses to locate here.

We have had issues, and it will take a while for this project to develop into the dream we believe it can be. Positioning ourselves for a new economy takes a lot of risk, time and patience, and it is not for the faint of heart.

This region has already felt the positive impact of the developing theater district, having added more than $50 million in new investments, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Peebles and Tractor Supply. Currently under construction are Sav-A-Lot, CVS Pharmacy, Farm Fresh and more. This area continues to grow and to enjoy the improved quality of life that growth brings.

Boston and Styxx will be in concert in Roanoke Rapids on Aug. 16. I invite you to join us for a great show. We have high expectations for our future, and in a few years, I am confident you will be amazed at our progress.

Allen Purser
Roanoke Rapids
The writer is president/CEO, Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce.

I found it interesting that the News & Record printed the AP story obliquely implying that Exxon’s big profit was the result of gouging and how the politicians are slamming “big oil.” There is no documented gouging. On the one hand, we seem to be crying recession when there is none, and on the other, we seem unhappy that an American company that employs thousands is doing well.

At the same time, there were no articles how the Congress is going on a five-week recess without taking any action on energy at all.

The U.S. public is fed up with Congress, as exemplified by its lowest approval rating ever. We are sick of the finger-pointing and blaming the other party — just get something done.

Of course, there is a school of thought that says Congress is most effective when it’s on recess.

Tom Gavin
Greensboro

Thanks for the Associated Press hit piece on John McCain (“McCain parlayed POW status into victory,” Aug. 4, A3). Yep. You’re in the tank. No subtlety involved.

Elaine Monroe
Greensboro

Jim Schlosser’s article on Edward R. Murrow (July 28) reminds us that we need to do more in Guilford County to keep Murrow’s name and the memory of his stellar accomplishments alive. He should be remembered, above all else, as an educator — an educator of mankind.

He was the first radio and TV journalist and, very possibly, the best ever. He was in the forefront on producing programs on the Korean Conflict, civil rights, migrant labor conditions and the effects of smoking.

On the 100th anniversary of his birth, there could be no more fitting tribute than a high school named for him in Guilford County, his birthplace.

Joe Stafford
Greensboro

Congratulations for exemplary reporting regarding the existing conditions a Heritage House Apartments, an Agapion Family/ARCO property. North Greensboro has lived with this blighted complex far too long. As I stated in Lorraine Ahearn’s follow-up article to her expose (July 30), Heritage House has gone beyond its usable life. It is time to clean house at Cone Boulevard and Summit Avenue.

For more than 30 years, I have watched this complex go through various stages of deterioration, neglect, shoddy repairs and “upgrades” made with very cheap materials.

The community’s hope is that a forward-thinking planner will draw up a cutting-edge, mixed-use complex which can be located on three or four corners of land at this major intersection. We need low- to moderate-income housing which is also affordable, functional and attractive with creative technical oversight and a financial partnership my neighbors could live with in happy dignity.

Nancy Cavanaugh
Greensboro

The writer has been a resident of Summit Avenue for 37 years.

So much for John McCain’s vow to run a positive campaign. Before Barack Obama secured the democratic nomination, Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, sent out a memo stating, “It is critical that we all follow John’s lead and run a respectful campaign focused on the issues and values that are important to the American people. ... Overheated rhetoric and personal attacks on our opponents distract from the big differences between John McCain’s vision for the future of our nation and the Democrats’... John McCain will continue to run a respectful campaign based on the issues.”

All we are now seeing from McCain are sleazy attack ads that are nothing but “overheated rhetoric and personal attacks,” much of it, as NBC’s Andrea Mitchell stated, “literally is not true.”

This is no surprise because Karl Rove’s disciples are now in charge, and running “a respectful campaign based on the issues” is not in their playbook.

Yes, the real John McCain has finally emerged, and he looks a whole lot like George W. Bush. Is anyone really surprised?

Anthony S. Caldwell
Greensboro

The Jeri Rowe column headlined “Gate City needs to discover its vision” (Aug. 2) seemed to contain an answer in the headline.

I have long thought that Greensboro’s real strength lay in its role as a highly connected and accessible node of economic activity. Of course, the Gate City slogan derives from our past strength as a railroad hub.

Yet today we are reinventing that niche — witness the new interstates (I-73, I-74), the FedEx hub, HondaJet and Old Dominion Trucking.

Sure we have problems, but check out the headline that ran on the same page as the Gate City story: “Cities compete for FedEx ground hub.” Greensboro is one of three cities in the running for a $100 million FedEx Ground facility that is expected to generate 259 new jobs. Could our vision be “Gate City: the Sequel”?

Keith G. Debbage
Greensboro

Maurice Green, the new Guilford County Schools superintendent, is the best choice to manage more than half a billion dollars. I presume that he went through the public schools; this makes him more than familiar with teachers and their work.

I hear teachers complaining about students who are unmotivated, ill-prepared and disruptive. Students have always been like this. Two movies, “The Blackboard Jungle” and “To Sir, With Love,” highlighted these same issues.

Green has a large educator staff to help reach his goal. His main problem is staff members that he can’t fire.

This is why inexperienced new graduates are placed in the poorest-performing schools with the most severe behavior.

Discipline is a priority, and the district should consider using selected security guards to assist the police assigned to schools. Suspensions are just plain stupid. You take a poor student, remove him from school so that he falls even further behind, and then expect improvement.

Green can succeed, but he also can be sabotaged by his staff and school board. Educators need to consider the classic motto: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

Ed Philpott
Greensboro

This is in response to the editorial “Ending illegal entry” (Aug. 2). You cannot offer college educations to people here illegally.

First of all, you are training them for jobs that are illegal for them to have.

Second, there is only so much room in our colleges, so, when you put an illegal alien in that seat, it is taken from a taxpaying American. Not to mention that some are trying to let illegal aliens get in-state tuition when Americans have to pay out-of-state tuitions when they cross state lines. Our nation’s taxpayers have footed the bill for illegal aliens from kindergarten through high school.

Our nation’s focus needs to be on our children, elderly, veterans and all the victims of illegal immigration.

You hardly ever hear about the victims of identity theft or drunk driving. It seems the sympathy is always for the poor immigrant who is breaking the law.

It is time for our nation to enforce our immigration laws as it is the duty of our politicians to the citizenry. Those who can’t do this need to be booted out of office. Only we the citizens can accomplish this task.

Tammy Greene
Asheboro

Sen. John McCain is scaring me. He seems to be out of touch with reality as he totters onto stage holding a microphone and saying very strange things about Barack Obama.

In his TV ads McCain wants us to believe that there is a link between the celebrity of Obama and Paris Hilton? Paris Hilton? Did she graduate from Harvard? Was she the editor of the Harvard Law Review? Did she teach law at a prestigious law school for many years? Did she work with the poor in Chicago? Did she become a U.S. senator? Is she now running for the highest political office in our land?

McCain says we should see the humor in his ludicrous TV ads, but I just see the weirdo side of John McCain.

Incidentally, maybe McCain should get bigger shirts. While he is tottering about on stage, holding his microphone, it looks as if his tight collar is cutting into his neck. Maybe he isn’t getting enough air into his body, and that could account for his completely irresponsible remarks.

Douglas Kelley
Greensboro

After reading the McClatchy article, “The question of the ages” (A12, Aug. 3), I was left with only one question: Was the Obama campaign billed for a half-page advertisement, or was this just another pro bono campaign contribution?

Take, for instance, the photos used, a beautiful photograph of Obama in full rock star mode, juxtaposed with a picture of the back of John McCain’s white head. Surely, in the vast archives of the News & Record, two roughly comparable photos could be found.

Secondly, the entire supposition of the article is ridiculous. To say that experience doesn’t matter is nothing short of a desperate attempt to prop up a significantly flawed candidate who has none.

Finally, to even run this clear opinion piece as a “news” article shows the bias of your news staff. This is not news at all, but an amalgam of opinions cobbled together. The intent of the author is clear from the opening sentence, in which he concedes that voters are concerned by Obama’s lack of experience. He then uses half a page to try to convince us that experience doesn’t matter.

I’d be interested to know whether the Obama campaign received a discounted rate on their half-page ad or if they had to pay the full rate-card amount.

Tim Tessier
Greensboro

Get facts straight on oil

The letter from Francesca R. Curran (Aug. 7) suggests someone on John McCain’s staff should make him more aware of the facts on oil. Curran says the United States possesses about 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves and uses 25 percent of the planet’s oil production. Then she uses those figures to suggest that drilling for oil would still leave us 22 percent short of our oil needs.

Oil reserves are the known oil supply still in the ground. Oil production is the amount of oil being pumped out of the ground.

Curran is using the old trick of comparing apples and oranges and calling it facts. Much of that world oil reserve is here in the United States and the liberals won’t let us drill for it; that is the real problem.

Jack York
McLeansville

In reference to the bonds being placed before the citizens of Greensboro in November, I have an idea: Why not separate the issues and give the citizens true choice? After all, a referendum is “a mechanism which allows voters to make a choice between alternative courses of action on a particular issue.”

Bonds are a means of ensuring that elected officials do not lose touch with the preferences of the electorate. If this is true, then let’s make the choices for the citizens transparent and simple. Wasn’t this the premise that most of the elected officials touted last year — transparency?

For example, place the Downtown Greenway on a bond by itself, and then put the Aquatic Center on a bond by itself. Take the issues, one by one, and let them stand alone. If they don’t make the cut, then so be it. The citizens have at least had the opportunity to buy in on the issue, or not.

Is the concept of actually giving the voters true choice absurd? Is the concept of government “of the people, for the people and by the people” totally meaningless? I think not.

Cyndy Hayworth
Greensboro

Yvonne Kane’s letter, “Obama is more in touch with most Americans” (July 30), represents typical liberal whining and requires comment.

She mentions our suffering under the “reign of the dictator Republican untouchables and that a “suppressed people are easier to rule.”

Elections removing them from office prove that Republicans are not “untouchables.” Where is “suppression” when “dictator” George Bush peacefully relinquishes power in 2009?

She saw no “need to list all the suppressed conditions we live under.” The question is not “need” but reality: No such list can be compiled.

We, in fact, are not “suppressed.” Our government functions with either party in power, although the party out of power may not like programs enacted by those in power.

The problem is not the country’s “survival” but liberals not having power. They cannot bear Republican leadership. I never heard “bipartisan” and “mean-spirited” until the Democrats lost Congress.

Kane enjoys this newspaper, printed without government censorship. We both are free to submit letters to it without fearing government punishment. This is “suppression”?

Kane need not worry with television “news” featuring Barack Obama first each night and NBC’s Brian Williams stating that Obama could be president of Germany and even Europe itself.

Charles A. Jones
Norfolk, Va.

The writer is a Greensboro native.

Jim Mooney’s national debt re-analysis (Aug. 1) appears to be more “pass the buck.” Just as the Iraq war is now known as Bush’s war, the national debt is also part of his legacy. They both happened on his watch.

Mooney probably forgets Truman’s famous desk sign, “The Buck Stops Here.” Bush has, in fact, left our country with a huge red-ink legacy.

Bush is the first U.S. president in history to ignore proper funding of his war. He did not increase taxes, thus limiting the toils of war to a very few. He inherited a surplus budget and took it downward from there by $718 billion.

The Bush administration’s inability to see over the horizon has cost us dearly. The world has basically implemented a Reverse Marshall Plan to try to bail us out. The United States is now the world’s Bear Stearns.

The Marshall Plan and similar National Security Council plans after the five bad Gross Domestic Product years of World War II allowed both Republican and Democratic administrations to celebrate foreign-policy gains and benefit from employment and economic growth. We were headed right back into depression prior to implementation of these plans.

Bush’s true legacy comes as a result of his privilege serving as both our president and commander-in-chief.

Paul King
Jamestown

To the woman who parked her black sedan at a convenience store on East Wendover Avenue on Aug. 6:

I walked by your car on the way to mine. Your car had all the windows down, engine running. Inside was a small child and your purse. Perhaps you were only planning on being gone for a minute or two. That is more than enough time for someone to take your purse, car, child or all three.

What were you thinking?

Tom Imbus
Browns Summit

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Dale J. Metz

Every fall in Guilford County, it’s like a new birth. Like something coming alive for the first time, and yet the sights and sounds are as familiar as can be. If you live or work near a college campus, you know exactly what I am talking about; the students are coming “home.”

Ever since I moved to Greensboro 35 years ago to attend UNCG and work in the school system, I have loved this time of year. Especially knowing that freshmen were starting a whole new part of their lives — a part of their lives that will shape the rest of their years and create some of their best (and toughest) memories.

We are so fortunate in Guilford County to have the amazing proliferation of higher education that many people take for granted. Where else can you find this range of colleges and universities?

* Our extraordinary GTCC, which can change on a dime to meet the needs of those who need new technical skills when their jobs are lost, while also responding to the need of new industries arriving in the area.

* The historic N.C. A&T, whose students and faculty have blazed a trail of true democracy for all people in our nation through dedication and excellence of spirit.

* That quiet Quaker College down the road, Guilford, whose students have gone on to change the world because quality faculty gave them a quality education.

* And the two exceptional schools, where I have had the honor to serve as adjunct faculty, High Point University and Greensboro College. Both shine and are appropriately on hilltops to serve as beacons of liberal arts and science where students are known by first names and treated like special people, because they are special.

The economic impact, the jobs, the intellectual gift to the community, the traditions, and so much comes back to us from our colleges and universities in Guilford County. We need just now and then to say thanks!

So if you see me wandering around College Hill near my office and my continually growing, best-of-the-best, alma mater, UNCG, and I am just standing and watching and listening, it’s not just my senility. I am celebrating the return of our students!

And, by the way, I can prove they are starting to come back: The lines at Yum-Yum doubled today!

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Recently, the Los Angeles City Council imposed a one-year ban on new fast-food restaurants in the city’s poorer parts. Why? Because few options are available in these areas where obesity is rampant.

The Aug. 4 Short Stack piece, “Not so fast,” asks the question, Would this work in Greensboro?
Am I missing something here?

Since when do the poor have to eat out at fast-food restaurants when it is cheaper to eat at home? A family of four eating at a McDonald’s would easily spend more than $20. You can prepare a great meal for that amount at home.

Bob Slone
Jamestown

In her Aug. 1 letter (“Why call Obama black rather than biracial?”), Suzannah Kleese wondered why we (including the media) refer to Barack Obama as “black” rather than 'biracial.” The simple explanation of this is the historical colloquial term known as the “One Drop Rule.” This rule, adopted by North Carolina in 1923 (and by other states around the same time), states that a person with any trace of African ancestry can’t be considered white.

The rule’s purpose was to prevent interracial relationships, thus keeping the so-called white race “pure.” Although it was all but abolished by 1967, Hawaii introduced it in 1980. It is interesting to note that the One Drop Rule doesn’t apply outside of the United States.

I understand why it is now fashionable (and accurate) to identify someone of mixed parentage as “mixed-race” or “biracial.” Both parents’ racial heritages should be acknowledged, especially if a child loves and respects both parents.

My question to Kleese is this: Why be concerned about whether or not Obama is black? If he had the same vision for America and was another race, would it matter?

The bottom line is that racism between blacks and whites is America’s dirty little secret. Unfortunately, this will affect the election, regardless of the outcome.

Rupert Burton
Greensboro

Sen. Elizabeth Dole suggested naming a bill that would fight AIDS for the late Sen. Jesse Helms. I never voted for Helms, as I disagreed with his political philosophy and considered him a mediocre advocate of the needs of North Carolina. But Helms strongly supported U.S. support for fighting AIDS in Africa.

Helms liked Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and I suspect she convinced the senator what all scientists know to be the truth: The more people who are infected with AIDS, the greater the chance any individual may contract the disease.

I suspect a recent letter writer who seemed to express surprise about Dole’s action didn’t realize that transmissions of AIDS in Africa are usually the result of heterosexual sex.

I think Dole is an outstanding senator for North Carolina. Reading the news, I conclude our state must now get back a larger proportion of the money it sends to Washington than it did prior to Dole’s election. Dole seems aware of the needs of our state and has been able to use her knowledge of the government to divert money from bridges to nowhere in Alaska and collapsing tunnels in Boston to improvements in our interstates and grants to our universities.

Henry Drexler
Greensboro

I timed the commercials on a one-hour show and found that I paid the cable company to watch 23 minutes of commercials. I didn’t want to watch them, so I also wasted time while paying.

I remember when WFMY, WSJS and WGHP were the only stations we could get with an antenna, but for free. Commercials paid for the shows. Now we have been tricked into paying to watch commercials, thinking we’re getting a deal for $40 to $100 a month. I watch mostly History, Discovery and news shows. The rest is trash and the cause for much of our decline as a culture. All are about half-commercial advertising.

Does anyone else smell a rat?

Chris Corry
Greensboro

The nonstory of the John Edwards sex scandal should remove any doubt about the liberal bias of the mainstream news networks and newspapers.

Guy Sinclair
Graham

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By John A. Johnson

Regarding the Aug. 3 column by Charles Davenport Jr. on the black male achievement gap:

Finally, someone is willing to forgo political correctness and tell it like it is in our classrooms.

Droves of good teachers are leaving or have left the education field in disgust after being forced to try to accommodate and/or confront disruptive students, which include many black male underachievers.

Our classrooms and teaching environments are often in shambles because of the flawed idealistic policies which dictate that teachers forgo academics in favor of “social promotion” and “self-esteem” issues. We now have third- and fourth-graders who can barely read and write their names — promoted nonetheless either to avoid damaging their “self-esteem” or because teachers must be sensitive about holding back a student, especially if the student is black.

Also, some teachers (our daughter for one), with 20-some students to teach, spend a large portion of class time dealing with two or three disruptive black male students who show no respect for authority, ignore the teacher’s instructions, use gutter language, curse the teacher, fight and even throw desks across the room. Variations of this type of behavior are almost daily occurrences in many classrooms. (Ask the teachers and believe it, school board members!)
How can we possibly expect good teachers to continue to tolerate situations like this? We can’t and they won’t. If we are to keep good teachers, and have a functioning educational system, all disruptive students must be removed from normal classrooms regardless of a student’s color, class, gender, race, weight or shoe size.

We need to give teachers the freedom to speak out on this subject, then listen to and act upon what they say. They are the ones best qualified to offer solutions concerning this subject. We especially need to disregard the social activist gibberish and associated air-headed scholastic guidelines mentioned in Davenport’s column.

Finally, and primarily, more black leaders should muster the courage to follow Bill Cosby’s leadership, stop using racism as an excuse and address the root causes of this achievement gap head-on. These causes appear more cultural than racial when nearly 70 percent of black children are born out of wedlock, sometimes two or three to a mother, some with different fathers and, as reported, no father present in 63 percent of black homes. These are major factors that contribute directly to the black male achievement gap and can only be solved by the black community.

The writer lives in Siler City.

In the Aug. 9 News & Record, we read that John Edwards has finally owned up to the fact that he had an extra-marital affair. For months, he vehemently denied he had betrayed his marriage vows. While judgment on Edwards’ behavior belongs to a Higher Authority, I question an observation made by Edwards’ former campaign manager, David Bonior. In the same edition, Bonior said in response to Edwards’ indiscretion and outright denial of an affair, “You can’t lie in politics and expect to have people’s confidence.”

While I agree with this statement, why doesn’t this also hold true for Bill Clinton? Our former president was in an almost identical situation of lying to the public regarding Monica Lewinsky. So, please Mr. Bonior, explain to the public why Clinton will be addressing the electorate at the upcoming Democratic National Convention? Some of us have very little confidence in anything he has to say, yet the Democratic Party continues to pay homage to the man.

K. L. Hommel
Stokesdale

So much to say, so little space.

The election. About all we have learned from this drawn-out campaign is that each candidate has more flaws and shortcomings than the other. Each should beg our forgiveness.

Obama. He of the golden voice. Smart, articulate, a quick study. Millions are mesmerized by his vision of Heaven on Earth. Voter registration has soared.

McCain. Slowly he moves forward, seeking the middle ground. To this aging voter he has the credentials — character, integrity, common sense. His handlers should let him speak for himself. He’s been there and done that.

The media. My objective bias concludes that Obama has gotten far more coverage, mostly favorable, than McCain.

Be of good cheer. Less than three months to go, and the Republic will survive. Remember that life without laughs is not well lived.

Bill Beerman
Greensboro

I fully agree with the editorial on PART expansion into Alamance (July 26). Every day I commute from High Point to Burlington, as does a neighbor. Unfortunately, we work different shifts, so carpooling is out of the question. Instead, we each make the 80-mile daily round trip separately. And every day, we share the interstate with PART buses that depart from a depot five minutes from our neighborhood and drive past Burlington on their way east to Raleigh.

Would it not make sense for Ala­mance to get in on this great service, particularly for Burlington, home of LabCorp, one of the largest employers in the county? Burlington also has a great downtown whose merchants, I am sure, would appreciate the added traffic bus service could bring.

How about it, Alamance? Will you take PART?

Debbie Cook
High Point

I strongly disagree with the Chinese government’s decision to revoke Joey Cheek’s visa. This man has been a voice for people who have no voice. My limited knowledge of the charter of the Olympics is that politics and religious beliefs are not to be used as the yardstick for participation. This was to be a venue that looked at athletic ability, not personal convictions.

I am asking that, when you make a purchase, look for items made in the USA. I know this might be hard, but it’s one way to send a message to the Chinese government that what it did to Cheek is wrong.

Everyone also should send a postcard to the Chinese Embassy in Washington bearing the words, “We love Joey Cheek.” After what this young man did for this community and the global community, we should support him.

Charlie Connolly
Greensboro

Regarding the article by Jeff Mills, “No chance to explain” (Aug. 5), Dennis Burgess certainly has a right to his feelings about how he was treated by the two policemen and two paramedics attempting to help him, but not knowing how to communicate with him, thus causing him to become frustrated and embarrassed. But how many of us would have done the same thing in an attempt to help?

How many of us have ever had the personal experience to know someone with the disability Mr. Burgess has and how many of us have ever seen, or heard, a laptop computer with synthetic-voice software and speakers?

Yes, I think police officers and paramedics should be trained in how to assist people in this type of situation, but I also think that these special people should also have patience when approached by those who aren’t. This is truly a case of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Mr. Burgess is wise to now have a note on his computer explaining how to communicate with him.

Marlene Lowe
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Terrance McConnell

Cal Thomas (Aug. 2) writes about Randy Stroup, a 53-year-old Oregonian with prostate cancer but no medical insurance. Thomas tells us that Oregon refuses to pay for Stroup’s chemotherapy but has “offered” him death. Moreover, he says, Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law “allows taxpayers to pay for someone to kill Stroup because it’s cheaper than trying to heal him.”

Thomas’s mistakes are so numerous and flagrant that one must conclude they are deliberate.
Oregon does not “offer” assisted suicide. Patients must initiate the request from their physician. No third party “kills” patients; it is suicide, not euthanasia. A physician writes a prescription for a barbiturate, which the patient may choose to have filled if he wishes. A diagnosis of prostate cancer alone does not ensure that a patient may opt for assisted suicide. To be eligible, two physicians must concur that the patient has six months or fewer to live, and the patient must be examined to determine if he is suffering from treatable depression.

Thomas argues that this case proves that pro-lifers who warned about the “slippery slope” were right. Data show just the opposite. During the 10 years assisted suicide has been legal in Oregon, 341 terminally ill people have ended their own lives. That represents approximately one-tenth of 1 percent of all deaths in Oregon during this time. All but three of these patients had medical insurance. Opponents had warned that bus loads of sick people would flock to Oregon to end their lives. It hasn’t happened.

What is even more bizarre, Thomas says that all this proves that the “socialized medicine” favored by the Democrats would exacerbate this problem. He seems unaware that, if Oregon did pay for all medical treatment, that would be what he calls socialized medicine.
So in Thomas’s universe, Randy Stroup would have neither chemotherapy nor access to assisted suicide. I guess he would have only our prayers.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Jeff Pickett

Deborah Kelly’s argument (Counterpoint, Aug. 8) seems to be that if government fails to properly enforce a law, people should be allowed to break it with impunity.

Kelly is right that illegal immigration benefits moneyed interests. The solution is to imprison anyone who knowingly hires illegal labor and confiscate their businesses.

All immigration does to working people is depress wages and increase taxes. Kelly’s assertion that illegals don’t cost tax dollars is ludicrous. Just visit any emergency room, prison or English-as-second-language-class.

Amnesty proponents are fond of using the word “immigrant” in discussions without the adjective “illegal.” If someone stood in line, got their green card and came here legally, bienvenidos. If they slipped in illegally, they are a criminal and should be immediately deported.

Finally, concerning the word compassion. Until fairly recently, liberal was an honorable term, until political leftists linked it to big spending, big government and an amoral agenda.

Now liberal is such a pejorative term that even liberals won’t apply it to themselves. If amnesty proponents insist that compassion means we should ignore our laws and give tax money to illegals, compassion may soon join the once-noble word liberal as a term of abuse.

The writer lives in Franklinville.

In response to Douglas Kelley’s despicable personal attack on the way John McCain appears on stage and holds the microphone (letter, Aug. 11), the reason is because of all the times his shoulders were dislocated during his torture in Vietnam. Look it up, Mr. Kelley. What a disgrace.

Eric Lintz
Greensboro

The best presidents, like the best teachers, are born, not made. We’ve all known teachers with experience and credentials who will never become outstanding educators while others step into a classroom, often with fewer years and certificates, and make a difference.

Likewise with presidents. Our country has periodically chosen exceptional leaders who lifted us up when we were down. An experienced Roosevelt intoned, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” while an inexperienced Kennedy urged, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

There was something special about these presidents, something inborn that reached people in their hearts and souls. Such presidents were touched with flame. They brought us through hard times and helped us believe in ourselves and in our goodness.

Our current chief executive, who served nearly two terms as governor of Texas, has performed poorly as president, and the experience of his first term has not helped him in his second.

So I question the suggestion that “experience” in this high-stakes election means too much. And those who devalue the importance of inspiration have forgotten our human need to hope, love, dream, think, believe and rise above ourselves.

Maureen Parker
Greensboro

While I enthusiastically agree with Dale Metz’s premise in his Counterpoint, “Colleges are a gift to our community” (Aug. 12), I fail to see how he could not have mentioned Bennett College for Women, one of only two colleges in America historically founded for black women that is here in Greensboro and has contributed so much to this city since its founding in 1873. What happened to his point about range?

Ironically, in the same paper, there is a terrific story about Julia Charles, the former foster child who has just published a book and received her education at Bennett and recently graduated.

Just a correction for his notes: The shining hilltops of education extend to many Bennett graduates across the city, the nation and world.

Linda B. Brown
Greensboro

The writer is distinguished professor of the humanities, Bennett College for Women.

All buildings that house a government office should have a solar installation, or both hot-water and photovoltaic.

Money being given to the oil industry should cease and those funds used to provide solar panels on homes that meet usage/installation criteria.

The post office should go to a three-day RFD policy. (I certainly can live with a Monday, Wednesday, Friday delivery.)

Cease the foolishness of putting so-called emergency oil reserves in the ground. Release all patents that relate to energy innovations.

Listen to people with alternative ideas, they might actually work. They will not hurt.
Terminate government credit cards. The next government official who says, “I accept full responsibility,” gets fired.

All “aid” packages that we give to other countries should be in the form of American-made products. Stop paying for renting military bases overseas.

In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, post signs on the lectern at the front of the chambers. They should say: Stop it!

Finally, I thought John McCain was an honorable man. I also thought Barack Obama stood for changing things. Silly me.

John Burns
Stoneville

We all should thank the Guilford County school board for the great job they did hiring the new school system superintendent. Not!

Did any of you folks really think they would do the right thing? Hire a lawyer with no educational experience and next to no time in his last school system, or a former schoolteacher, award-winning superintendent and someone with a true educational background? This should have been a simple decision, but some folks had to play a card that is being worn out by certain individuals. The race card.

There is clearly one reason for the new superintendent we find ourselves being forced to accept. Skin color. This world would be a better place if we would hire folks for their abilities, knowledge and background, instead of the color of their skin.

I realize I will be labeled a racist because of my comments and tone. It will be hard, but I don’t think I will have any difficulty sleeping at night because of my words and beliefs. I guess it’s the trend for the new Guilford/Greensboro area. It’s pretty clear who is racist here and who isn’t.

John Terry
Gibsonville

I believe Douglas Kelley’s letter (Aug. 11) on Sen. John McCain was completely out of hand. By saying that McCain’s collar must be too tight and describing how he toddled on stage, Kelley showed no compassion or feeling for a war hero who cannot raise his arms above his shoulders because of the torture he suffered in Vietnam.

Also, I suggest that Kelley isn’t capable of understanding the Paris Hilton ad. This is typical of liberal Democrats who themselves would stoop to any level for their candidate.

The News & Record is in bed with the Democrats. I know this from reading the article (Aug. 10) about Kay Hagan in which she stresses clean energy even though she invests in oil-drilling operations.

This letter will never see the newspaper because it does not reflect its views.

George Smith
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Tom Kak

Recently, two of my daughters, my four grandchildren and I were kicked out of the dog show at the Greensboro Coliseum. No! We had not been raucous, nor had we made disparaging remarks about the Chinese Cresteds in attendance. Our crime? Three of my grandchildren were in strollers.

Now, I hasten to add that there were no signs forbidding the use of strollers posted anywhere in the coliseum: not at the ticket window, not at the entrance to the show area, not around the show rings or even near the kennels where the dogs rested before their showings. Even the staff of the coliseum must have been ignorant that strollers were taboo as they kindly and smilingly helped us through the gates into the show area.

We had spent some time enjoying the various breeds, conversing with a very mannerly chow, delighting in an Irish wolfhound, laughing when one of the corgis made an unkind remark about the hairdo on some continental fop. It wasn’t until we had made a circuit of the room that we were accosted by some strange (and I would assume of dubious pedigree) minor official who managed to scare and anger all of us.

A little later, after we had complained to coliseum employees, another official of the sponsoring group tried to justify their actions. It seems that strollers bring out the worst in some dogs, and the sponsoring group had no intention of being liable if a dog misbehaved.

Driving home I considered that argument from every possible angle and I simply do not buy it. No dog, no matter how handsome he or she might be, no matter how rare or valuable, should be in the coliseum if his behavior is that suspect. Or putting it another way, if you couldn’t trust the dog to walk a city street without being tempted to attack a child in a stroller, you should not trust him to walk the aisles of a dog show.

Actually, though, I would, were I a booking agent at the coliseum, be much more willing to invite the dogs I met at the show back to Greensboro if they would have the decency to leave their humans at home in their kennels.

The writer lives in High Point.

I don’t understand how someone can call himself or herself a Christian and say I’m not voting for him because he is black.

I don’t understand how some preachers-pastors-evangelist leaders told their congregation to vote for Mr. Bush and now won’t come out and say forgive me for asking you to vote for a man who has caused people to die, caused people to lose their loved ones, caused people to be disfigured, caused people to become emotionally unstable based on a lie.

I don’t understand how some people say it’s OK to make fun of someone because that person has done better than him or her politically.

I don’t understand how someone will believe a lie and tell a lie just to uphold what he or she wants to be true. I don’t think that God likes it when you give credit to the devil for something that God has done. Think about it.

I just don’t understand that because someone is better at doing some things than someone else, then that means that he or she is an elitist.

I don’t understand how the person who has read this or half of this passage will be mad at me for expressing my thoughts.

I just don’t understand.

Margaret Blackstock
Eden

Shame on the News & Record for printing a blatant attack on someone’s physical disabilities (letter, Aug. 11). But to allow such an attack on a disabled veteran indicates a serious defect in the editorial board of this paper.

Sen. John McCain suffered horrific injuries while serving this great country in time of war and has overcome unimaginable pain, providing inspiration to the thousands of our returning veterans who must now learn to live life with disabilities. Saying that Sen. McCain “totters” is an insult to those who, because of their injuries, must learn to walk again, any way they can.

As for his “tight collar,” under that covering of cloth lie a mass of scar tissue and poorly mended bones that give testimony to the courage and fortitude of Sen. McCain.

To all of our returning brave veterans, I can only say this paper does not speak for me or the vast majority of this country. We understand what costs we have demanded from you and see any wounds you suffered for us as badges of honor.

Godspeed to you all.

Lucy Pugh
Bennett

The writer is a veteran of World War II.

The “R-word” or “retard” has found a place in common language and seems to be accepted by many. In fact, it is said 16 times in one scene in the film “Tropic Thunder,” which opens in theaters this week. On behalf of Special Olympics North Carolina, we hope our community will avoid seeing the movie. This will send a message that it is in poor taste to make fun of a segment of our population that is limited in its ability to defend itself.

The word hurts, even if it is not directed at a person with intellectual disabilities. For too long, people with intellectual disabilities have had to overcome the challenges society has put forth through stereotypes.

Help make much-needed change, which will bring acceptance and inclusion to our community. Don’t say the R-word. When you hear that word, think about North Carolina’s 38,000 Special Olympians who participate in year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports.

Take the movie off your summer movie list and show Hollywood that it is time they understand the impact of their actions.

To learn more about how you can be a fan of dignity, visit www.r-word.org.

Keith L. Fishburne
Morrisville

The writer is president/CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina.

Progress is best achieved through true dialogue, while remaining observant to the fact that we all deserve respectful, civil treatment at all times.

Councilman Mike Barber’s attempts to appear jovial and witty while making petty, punishing and demeaning statements to the mayor, manager and fellow council members are decidedly not funny.

Barber would do well to listen more and speak less. He could also benefit from education concerning effective communication and consensus-building. He would be greatly served by following the very wise, open and tolerant style of Mayor Yvonne Johnson and other council members, rather than viciously bird-dogging their every step.

Steve Ahlquist
Greensboro

I’m sure glad to see “mixed-use” developments are on the increase here (story, Aug. 10).

Suburban sprawl is so lonely and monotonous, let alone wasteful in land use and resources. Oh, it’s just too bad that many developers “don’t have the patience” to bother with thinking it out, and it’s really too bad that the government tolerates their laziness and lack of imagination.
If the city can tell homeowners where to park their cars on their own property, then it should also be able to dictate more efficient development as well.

Your article forgot to mention the worst byproduct of single-use sprawl, and that it, along with pervasive “drive-thru” dining, are major contributors to the national epidemic of juvenile obesity. This, along with its increasing air pollution and national gasoline consumption, should override all those trivial arguments of the “sprawl-advocacy mob”!

Duncan Mitchell
Greensboro

I wish to thank the News & Record for permitting the inclusion of a replica of the American flag in the obituary section for area residents. Many years ago, I asked the editor to consider a request to include this special recognition of military veterans and received a very curt reply reminding me of the then-obvious inclusion of a star in the individual funeral establishments listings, stating this to be sufficient recognition. It is good to know times have changed, and I thank you.

Joseph T. Quinn
Greensboro

I was a bit surprised and pleased to read the column “A candle for those oppressed” (Aug. 8) from one of our prominent religious leaders in Greensboro (Rabbi Andy Koren, Temple Emanuel), criticizing the actions of another country (communist China) rather than our own (America).

Clyde L. Hunt Jr.
Greensboro

Why does John McCain insist on presenting offshore drilling platforms as symbols of hope?
My wife and I took our daughter to Long Island recently. When we were caught in one slowdown after another on the Jersey Turnpike, we could see why gas prices are so high. Most of the vehicles around us were models that get 10 to 20 miles per gallon. When the highway widened to 12 lanes, most of the drivers were going 10 to 20 mph faster than what the law allowed and, therefore, getting lower gas mileage. As Pogo used to say in Walt Kelly’s comic strip, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

If McCain thinks offshore drilling is the answer, he’s missing the point. Show us cars that get 50 (or 60!) mpg, improved mass transit, and communities where we can walk to the store. The platforms will mostly benefit McCain’s friends in the oil industry.

John York
Greensboro

Regarding “Edwards’ self-analysis creepy” (Aug. 12): Columnist Maureen Dowd wastes time writing about the sexual dalliances of a failed presidential candidate. Democrats decided John Edwards’ political future in the primary. His private life is not the public’s business! Dowd needs to work for “Tabloidman” John Hammer and The Rhinoceros Times, where “trash talk” is always, well, creepy!

Bill Burnett
Greensboro

I watched the police video on YouTube and it reminds me of the Keystone Kops. It’s disappointing to see such poor performance by a Greensboro officer. However, it’s hard to decide which is more disappointing, the behavior of Officers Jackson-Stroud and Alexander or the judgment of Capt. Holder.

Are the tactics employed by the two officers really what the department wants to describe as “real-world response to make training fit into the real world”? You have to be kidding.

Why did the officers allow a subject who “is considered a deadly threat” to continue to walk around with his hands free? No take-down attempt and no attempt to control his hands until the third officer appeared? The tall officer demonstrates, by slapping and kicking the subject and his profanity, that he has lost control of the situation and himself. His behavior caused additional contempt for the police in that neighborhood.

I’ve worked with effective cops and taught defensive tactics, including firearms. Holder is mistaken that this is real-world training.

This is an example of two unprepared officers who could not make a simple arrest. They are lucky they aren’t dead.

Michael Tellekamp
Jamestown

The writer is a former law-enforcement officer, certified Basic Law Enforcement trainer and baton, chemical weapon and firearm instructor in North Carolina.

Ryan Seals’ article, “No motive yet in shooting of local gang leader,” was a good start on accurate reporting of the facts. At the same time, it diminished the truth by its omissions.

Seals rightly alluded to Jorge Cornell’s call to “... gang leaders to turn away from violence and put their energies into combating racism.” However, along with the other journalists present at the Beloved Community Center media conference on Aug. 11, Seals completely missed the real question of the afternoon: What does it mean for our community when a man who is assaulted and shot immediately continues his calls for peace, from his hospital bed, and expressly forgives his attackers?

The real news story here is not about apprehending criminals and bringing them to justice — that’s not news but an everyday occurrence. The real story is about what Nelson Johnson so eloquently addressed at the media conference: Greensboro’s (and the world’s) need for restorative justice, which embodies both forgiveness and peacemaking.

Responsible reporting would include all of the facts relevant to the news conference, and especially those aspects that are unusual and hence indeed newsworthy.

Bob Foxworth
Greensboro

On Aug. 11, I was shocked with the article about the “national laboratory.” Where are our senators? Kannapolis and David Murdock are spending millions and reinventing the area, and Sen. Dole is pictured leaving the new buildings in Kannapolis in her re-election ad. She should be pushing for the new laboratory.

It seems to me that this new facility in Kannapolis, in partnership with many colleges, would be the perfect place for this research facility.

But then it would save the taxpayers money, create new jobs and put more than one egg in a basket. Now that is a dumb idea.

Jim Price
Asheboro

Having watched all previous televised Olympics, I considered the Beijing opening ceremonies to be a quantum leap above everyone. I was enthralled by the awesome beauty, and the electronic, hydraulic, lighting and other technical effects were wondrously conceived and flawlessly executed.

They obviously expended tremendous effort in making an outstanding impression. So, one wonders why they denied a visa to one American ex-Olympian just before the Games, thus emphasizing for all the world to see the negative Chinese activities in Darfur. Otherwise, this might have been little noticed.

Most of us probably think of the Chinese as a horde of peasants and low-paid producers of cheap exports. “Made in China” is an often-used pejorative here. Actually, they have a rich culture extending back for many millennia. Many important accomplishments have been credited to them. Their cuisine is regarded as the world’s best.

Maybe we should beware. They not only vastly outnumber us but are on the way to outsmarting us. Their billions invested in our deficit-producing bonds give them leverage over us. In the last eight years, their notable advances and our lamentable declines have triggered a trend we must reverse — if we can.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

Americans are in a panic about gas prices.

Sen. John McCain is trying to take advantage of our pain by calling for an end to the ban on most oil drilling off our coasts. But what he offers is the panacea of the day.

Offshore drilling will not solve America’s energy problem. The federal government’s Energy Information Administration projects that McCain’s proposal would have no impact on gas prices in the near term. And, even when production is at its peak, it will be too little to have any significant effect on oil prices.

The days of cheap oil and gas are over. It’s time to look to new technologies.

Barack Obama is for funding new technologies. McCain is for old solutions that don’t work.

Lee Baker
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Bill Toth

The state should fully fund the ABC bonuses for teachers. As the Aug. 12 editorial pointed out, a promise should be kept.

But, speaking as a North Carolina teacher who will enter his 26th year in a few days, I have to take issue with the bonus policy, indeed, the whole ABCs of education agenda. It’s a travesty. It’s unfair. It sends the wrong message to all concerned and needs to be done away with.

End-of-grade tests in elementary and middle school prove little except test-taking ability and usually reflect little more than the values and the socioeconomic levels of the homes students come from, not their overall “proficiency” in subject matter.

The notion of “proficiency” has been a sham to start with. Some years ago, to score a “level 3” and be declared “proficient” in middle school math, for example, a student needed only get between 25 and 30 percent of the test problems correct. A student conceivably could do that by marking all choices “C” on the multiple-choice format. What did that prove?

But the worst travesty of all is that some teachers, at schools with high “at-risk” populations and students coming from homes where education is just not valued, work themselves into a tizzy every year, but because of the clientele they serve, will never see that bonus money.

Inversely, schools with middle-class clienteles have teachers who work hard, but also others who merely go through the motions but usually can count on that bonus because their students come from homes that think education matters.

Where is the justice in this?

Rather than spending millions trying to entice teachers into doing the good job they should do anyhow, why not use those funds to lower class sizes or provide a pay boost to our rookie teachers who often have to work two jobs to make ends meet?

Education and “achievement” should not be yoked to the outcomes of multiple-choice tests that give skewed results and provide egotistical bureaucrats and administrators bragging rights.
Is North Carolina into education or numbers games?

The writer lives in Greensboro.

The answer to Suzannah Kleese’s question, “Why call Obama black rather than biracial?” (letter, Aug. 1), probably can be seen as an example of institutionalized racism that we hardly even notice.

In Plessy vs. Ferguson, the Supreme Court decision in 1896 that upheld a Louisiana law defining a “Negro” as having at least 12.5 percent Negro blood, Homer Plessy’s lawyer argued (and lost) that his client had a constitutional right to use a “whites only” railroad car. While such restrictions are no longer legal, racism remains pervasive.

A good place to continue fixing the problem is, perhaps, by looking at what sociologists call “out-group homogeneity.” This describes the process by which we see any group as all the same. Within our “own group,” we experience no difficulty in seeing significant differences.

However, our perceptions work very differently when we have to deal with “groups” we know little about. That makes it oh so easy for us to label them.

Only one problem remains: We’re usually either wrong or simply offensive (and usually both).

Kevin Haggerty
Summerfield

Regarding Marlene Lowe’s letter (Aug 14) about Dennis Burgess, the man who had more help than he bargained for from police and paramedics on his way to get a Coke:

Lowe probably is unaware that Mr. Burgess, an advocate who works at the Joy A. Shabazz Center for Independent Living, is able to clearly express “yes” and “no.” Assistance from police, paramedics and the public is highly valued, especially by a person who has disabilities and faces huge challenges when traveling in the community. Their rapid and efficient response saves lives.

The point is, anyone who is uncertain about the need for help should begin with a simple question, “Do you need help?”

Claire Holmes
Greensboro

Regarding your article on Jack McCall Jr., who was arrested and charged in connection with an animal abuse case involving the kicking and throwing of four dogs chained in his backyard:
The abuse was captured on video by a neighbor.

The trooper who was hanging his dog, kicking him and shocking him with a stun gun, also was captured on video, but he never has been charged.

The rest of the State Highway Patrol K-9 unit personnel who used those training methods never have been charged. They all should be charged with animal abuse and assault on a police officer. Abuse of a police dog is considered an assault on a police officer.

It looks as if the State Trooper K-9 unit is above the law.

Ann Williams
Greensboro

Regarding the Counterpoint, “Colleges are a gift to our community” (Aug. 12):

I agree wholeheartedly with the writer that indeed colleges are gifts to our community. However, I would like to remind the writer that the words “colleges” and “our” are plural

Since that is the case, please enlighten me as to why Bennett College (founded in 1873) was not included.

Today, Bennett is a four-year liberal arts college for women located a few blocks from downtown.

Perhaps if there had been fewer “I’s” “me’s” and “my’s” included, there may have been room for Bennett.

I rest my case.

Pauline H. McNair
Greensboro

Joan Stratton’s letter (July 25) included the words 'liberal” in a less-than-complimentary manner. This word is often used by politicians and others to negatively portray someone or some issue.

That being said, I thought it might be helpful and useful to offer the dictionary definition for “liberal” and a related word, “liberalism.” According to the American Heritage College Dictionary:

* “liberal” means “tending to give freely; open to new ideas for progress; broad-minded; free from bigotry; tolerant of the behavior of others; generous; favoring proposals for reform.”

* “liberalism” means “(a) political theory favoring civil and political liberties; government by law with the consent of the governed; protection from arbitrary authority.”

To be liberal and embrace liberalism are very American and also reflect the faith values which are a guide for many as they strive to serve God and those in need.

Bob Kollar
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Bryan Chitwood

I applaud Rebecca Kabatchnick’s decision to travel by train (First Person, Aug. 9) but take exception to her assertion that “trains are never going to be the ultimate answer to the oil crisis. …”

Really? There was a time in this country when passenger rail service was an affordable and efficient means of transportation for millions of Americans and it remains so for hundreds of millions of people in the rest of the world. There are other old-fashioned means of transportation that work equally well — just not in Greensboro.

I experienced American train travel before Amtrak. The railroad companies were more than highly profitable freight-hauling monopolies free of regulatory oversight. Many U.S. railroad companies were actually required to provide passenger service in return for the incredible amounts of land they were given by the federal government to create rail service, particularly in the West.

Trains delivered the mail, hauled freight and moved people, and government made sure that they did. Government believed business and government were in the business of serving the people.

It’s hard to believe now, but the American government also opposed torture and murder, and tried war criminals in open court, showing the rest of the world that American justice was just, fair and transparent.

Things changed. Artificially cheap gasoline became public policy and government’s motto became “private-sector greed is a good thing.” The railroad companies were allowed to forego their obligation to provide passenger service and a massive, federally funded cancer known as the interstate highway system was born.

Ugly, auto-centric America has been sprawling across our cherished open spaces and farmland ever since. There’s been a revolt against this disaster across the country for more than 30 years, but there’s too much money being made here by the building and development community to allow that — and it controls local government.

Elsewhere, communities have returned to old-fashioned ways to reduce pollution and create livable and sustainable environs. As a boy, I engaged in a quaint activity known as “walking to school” and rode my bicycle everywhere I went in the hilly southwest Virginia town where we lived. And we rode the train a lot, whether it was a trip of 20 miles or 200. Cities such as Washington, D.C., had trolleys. Amazingly, these things happened in post-World War II America — they still do in France, Germany, Japan and Portland, Ore., to name a few places. Just not in Greensboro.

The writer lives in Greensboro.

Your article, “Discovering a need, blogger takes action” (A1, Aug. 14), contained incorrect information. It stated, “Hospitality House is the only place in the city that serves breakfast to the homeless.”

I have the opportunity to serve breakfast every Thursday morning at Greensboro Urban Ministry, where between 70 and 150 homeless people are served each morning. These breakfasts are prepared and served by members of First Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church of Our Father, the Episcopal Churches of Greensboro and others.

Each church/organization is responsible for one morning a week. Volunteers arrive at 6 a.m., cook, serve, clean and provide an uplifting message for the guests.

The opportunities in Greensboro to help those in need are endless. Let’s all do our part to show we care.

Susan Wilson
Greensboro

This past week was one of the most memorable weeks in the history of Greensboro.

The return of the Wyndham Championship to Sedgefield Country Club was an overwhelming success. Greensboro and the Triad rose to the top and put on a marquee event that received rave reviews. To all who made this possible, from the leadership of Bobby Long and Mark Brazil, to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of fans who attended the event, I tip my hat and say, “well done.”

Then, Greensboro’s Caroline Lind won a gold medal at the Olympics on Sunday as a member of the U.S. women’s eight rowing team that captured the sport’s signature event. We all should be proud of the tremendous accomplishment of this outstanding young lady who represented the United States and Greensboro on the world stage.

And, at a time when economic development and building the tax base have never been more important, the announcement that Mack Trucks is moving its corporate headquarters and close to 500 jobs to Greensboro is a headline event.

Greensboro has a reputation as “a great place to live, work and play” and these exciting events helped us shine in the national spotlight.

Kevin Green
Greensboro

For almost 30 years, I have had a North Carolina insurance license. For years I have asked Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others, to stop the cruises, trips, huge bonuses and other incentives they give to agents to help keep rates affordable. They have responded that $6 million here or $5 million there will not make that much difference.

Today I received a large box in the mail that contained a nice Blue Cross backpack and several other trinkets.

I don’t even want to guess how many millions of dollars it cost to send those to all the agents in North Carolina.

With the rising cost of food and gas, not to mention the health insurance rate increases, it is time for Blue Cross and United Health Care to realize that if they save $5 million here and $5 million there, before you know it they are talking real money.

I encourage all readers to call Blue Cross and their agents and tell them enough is enough and we want the waste to stop so that health insurance can be affordable to all North Carolinians.

Mark Whitehouse
Greensboro

Everyone knows the story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest who took from the rich to help the poor. I am of the opinion that our George W is disguised as Robin, but is actually the reverse.

He and his Merry Men of the Pentagon have stuffed the pockets of the rich at the expense of the less fortunate.

With dubious motives, they instigated a war of unjust invasion which has caused catastrophic repercussions in loss of lives, limbs, anguish, destruction of property and enormous cost.

I hope that in November, when we enter the voting booths, we will consider the lesson contained in Robin’s story. It may tell us which kind of Robin Hood we want for the next four or eight years. May the Almighty guide us!

Dorothy Meehan
Graham

Your editorial, “No to open enrollment” (Aug. 15), is both surprising and dismaying, especially since you sound the dismal and forlorn hope that Congress should try again. When was the last time Congress solved a societal problem?

Let’s suppose an illegal immigrant is admitted to a community college, gets training or education, goes on to citizenship, gets a job and begins paying taxes. We would praise such an individual.

On the other hand, suppose an illegal immigrant with lofty aims is denied community college entrance. Such a refusal would breed discontent and make employment difficult or impossible. Gang life would become attractive, and criminal activity, tempting. Should a jail sentence follow, we would pay 10 times or a 100 times more than the cost of state-funded education. Classes to teach English as a second language are not merely a social or business accommodation.

Common sense says we should give support at the state level without waiting for weasel-worded congressional action designed more to garner votes than solve a problem. Anyone ambitious enough to seek more education deserves unqualified support.

Politicians can rant against illegal immigrants to curry favor from voters. I expect more from an enterprise whose writers are themselves graduates of institutions of higher education.

Pete Petrea
Greensboro

The cost of college textbooks is cause for concern to students and their families (“When buying textbooks, do the math,” Aug. 15). During my term as an A&T student, the university rented books to students. Textbook rental was affordable, and books were also available for purchase. The practice was not popular with most faculty, who wished students to purchase major field texts in order to build professional libraries.

One instructor required purchase of texts (not available in the bookstore) for his class, and demanded proof of purchase. Having been spoiled by the rental system, some balked at this policy (Yes, I did!), but resentfully conformed. I was, however, prepared to buy books for graduate school, but totally shocked at the cost.

College textbook rental is now a relic; A&T and her sister UNC institutions may never again employ it. Textbook revenue is specifically budgeted, and rental would be difficult to implement. Still, mandatory text purchases for non-major courses may be questionable.

Comparing the book-rental program used during my tenure at A&T to the purchase system used when my daughter attended, I can truthfully say, “I’m so glad I went to A&T”... once upon a time.

Crystal S. McCombs
Greensboro

This relates to Leonard Pitts’ column titled “10 years later, Edwards is Bill Clinton” (Aug. 14).

Let me preface my comment about the article by saying it has taken me a while to give Pitts’ columns my time because I have had a sense his commentaries were written with a pro-African American slant. I believe this sense has not been unfounded. However, within the last year, I find myself drawn more and more to his columns because I see more and more unbiased truth. He is calling ’em like he sees ’em.

His article on Aug. 14 was accurate, interesting, totally unbiased and right on target. As a North Carolina citizen, I felt John Edwards betrayed not only his wife and the American public in general, but in particular, the citizens of North Carolina. Kudos to our local newspaper, the News & Record, for running Pitts’ columns. He is quickly gaining my trust.

Michael Hall
Oak Ridge

Issue 1: I have a question for airline CEOs: Why are you charging our military troops baggage fees for the gear that goes with them? Shame on you! Welcome home, troops.

Issue 2: Why doesn’t the Guilford County Tax Department answer its mail when questions are being asked — for instance, why seniors can’t get better property tax breaks? Must be over their heads. Who can answer the question?

Issue 3: Thank you, Congress, for going on vacation now when a major problem faces each American in the United States: the energy problem you feel wasn’t important enough to stay until it was settled.

We, as your employers, should remember this in November. You were put there by us, and we will remove you.

Dale Jacobs
Greensboro

At the risk of drawing attention to an article in the Aug. 17 paper that I hope most people overlooked, I want to respond to Jim Schlosser’s comments for those who read his poor comparison of Sedgefield and Forest Oaks. Unfortunately his criteria for “grading” the two neighborhoods was the size of the homes in each and the prices of those that are for sale.

In short, Jim makes Sedgefield sound like a place where snobs live and Forest Oaks sound like a place where time has stood still since the 1960s. Both observations are erroneous and misrepresent the people who live in each neighborhood.

Homes are what matter, not the size of the houses we put them in. Nor does the size of a house determine the value of the people living in them. To suggest otherwise indicates a value system from the dark ages.

Thankfully, most of the people I know in Sedgefield share that sentiment. I apologize to Forest Oaks for this skewed view. It is unfortunate that this article spoiled what was otherwise great coverage by the News & Record of the Wyndham Tournament and Sedgefield’s history.

Denise Tolton
Greensboro

Recently someone made the obvious observation that uninformed people shouldn’t vote.

Someone else angrily wrote that everyone has the right to vote — well duh! No one said their vote should be taken away. Let’s look at facts. We have a choice between a dashing, superficial, empty suit who makes a rousing speech and a gen-u-ine war hero who has never held a job outside of government. Isn’t it plain that a lot of people have already voted who shouldn’t have?

Larry Emory
Greensboro

Regarding a story in the Rockingham County edition about the superintendent of Rockingham County Schools receiving a bonus and raise (Aug. 13): My letter is to offer praise to both the superintendent and the school board for making the right decision.

I know many people will question the timing of Rodney Shotwell’s bonus and raise, but only due to the current economic conditions. I believe he is well-deserving of this increase in pay; not only is he incredibly dedicated to the students and staff in our school system, but he also is very quick to answer parents’ questions and concerns.

It was not so long ago that I addressed a concern with the school board via e-mail. I was delightfully shocked to receive replies from almost every member of the school board, including Dr. Shotwell. My concerns were addressed immediately.

With all the bad publicity schools and school boards are receiving in the Triad, it is very refreshing to see a system that appears to be run so well.

My congratulations to Dr. Shotwell and to the Rockingham County Board of Education. Your work is greatly appreciated.

Laura Love
Summerfield

I seldom take Maureen Dowd seriously and almost never agree with her positions. However, John Edwards is fair game.

As a failed candidate in 2004 who couldn’t even carry his own state and then was trounced in the ’08 primaries (by a questionable and arrogant presumptive), his dalliances are certainly fair game. He’s not the first and won’t be the last public figure to exhibit such dastardly behavior.

He is living proof for tort reform as he fleeced medical professionals, hospitals and insurance companies out of exorbitant judgments for his own greedy enrichment.

Trash talk, incidentally, is not what The Rhino Times dishes up. I can’t imagine what Bill Burnett has been reading (letter, Aug. 17).

John Hammer backs up his observations with facts, and readers’ views may or may not be in tune with that paper’s views as is the case with the News & Record.

We need both publications.

Bob Guertin
Jamestown

Congressmen need to be statesmen, not just rubber stamps for their party. From 2000 through 2006, when Howard Coble was a senior congressman of the majority Republican Party, and now during the last 18 months when he’s been in the minority, he has rubber-stamped virtually everything the Bush administration has proposed.

Coble rubber-stamped the starting and continuing of an unending war, a federal budget that has ballooned to the out-of-control monster we have today, tax breaks for the rich, unprecedented pork-barrel access to the federal treasury by special interests and on and on.

Coble has had numerous opportunities to question, to lead investigations into Bush policies such as no-bid contracts, illegal domestic spying, torture and more, but his vote or silence just supported Bush policies. His most inexcusable breach of responsibility has been abdicating his constitutional mandate of checks over the executive branch by allowing the hundreds of signing statements that Bush has written when signing bills into law.

A member of Congress is not supposed to be a rubber stamp or a lifetime appointment. Teresa Sue Bratton can be the statesman we deserve for the 6th District.

John Furnas
Greensboro

I am writing in response to the letter, “In choosing a president, experience is overrated” (Aug. 15), by Maureen Parker. I fully agree with what she wrote, especially the part referring to our 43rd president.

This is part of her quote: “The experience of his first term hasn’t helped him in his second term.”

I believe she told it like it is.

Ray Miller
Greensboro

I’m supposed to be for Barack Obama. My ideals align with his. His sense of optimism is refreshing and urgently needed in a country that seems to have lost its sense of purpose. He exudes confidence and charm, radiates intelligence and good will, and seems like the total package.

So, why am I still feeling reticent about his candidacy? I can’t be certain, but I think it may be this:

1. Obama’s experience is minimal. What a tragedy if he were to be the liberal equivalent of other inexperienced chief executives.

2. Public fascination with Obama has raised him to the near status of savior. No one person can fix our problems; rather, we must all look to ourselves, our neighbors and our communities for collective action.

Yes, we need hope and we need to have a reason to have faith in the future again. No one man can do that for us, however. If we count so heavily on a quick fix by a charismatic leader, we deny our own responsibility. We, the people, must regain our sense of ourselves as a force for hope and change. That can happen if we start caring for each other again in word and deeds.

Chris Webster
Greensboro

While I am hesitant to trust any former or current head of state, I am grateful you printed Mikhail Gorbachev’s article regarding the Russia/Georgia debate (Ideas, Aug. 17).

I find it odd most other articles I have read about Georgia describe the excessive use of force of the Georgian military upon the citizens of South Ossetia but then vilify Russia for coming to their aid. At first I thought I was reading the stories wrong, but no, it was true: The democratic Georgian military wounded, killed and terrorized its own citizens because they wanted to make their own decisions.

So I don’t really care about which military power was justified in bombing, shooting and killing the citizens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. I care more about the citizens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and their desires to decide their own fates. Where are their voices and what are their stories? And what good is a democracy if, when you raise your voice to speak, your government meets you with tanks, bullets and terror?

Brian Heagney
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By George F. Sowers

About 50 percent of the people in America really care about the well-being of America. The other half couldn’t care less.

Small portions of our elected officials are in politics for their own personal gains and couldn’t care less about America’s well-being. Now, we will see who really cares and those who don’t care.

I do not know any elected official who cares who would not support the law that I’m going to suggest. Seldom can a law be passed that helps everyone.

I am proposing that a federal law be enacted that within 12 months would require that all licensed vehicles of all makes and models, except emergency vehicles, be equipped with governors that will only allow a vehicle to travel at 55 mph.

Persons found to be driving a vehicle without governors would have their licenses suspended for three years on the first offense.

Please, America, see what this law will do.

It would save lives, save gas, reduce serious injuries and accidents, save on auto repairs, save on insurance claims and premiums, save on law-enforcement expense, reduce the overload in our court system, reduce road rage, reduce racing and save on attorney’s fees.

No amendments, please, to this proposed federal law.

I have spoken to a lot of people personally about this proposed law and have not found anyone yet who would oppose it. Most of them say it should happen but it won’t happen because of bureaucracy in Washington.

If we all take this attitude, I know it will not happen. Only the citizens and the elected officials who care can make this happen. If it doesn’t happen, I have wasted my time writing this letter.

It is up to you, America. A copy of this letter has been sent to all members of Congress, in both the House and Senate, and both presidential candidates.

The writer lives in Arcadia.

Regarding Thomas Friedman’s trip to Denmark (Aug. 12):

He left out a few facts. Denmark is not only flat, it sticks out in the ocean with plenty of wind from east and west. It should in fact be able to produce more than 20 percent of its electricity from wind. It is ridiculous to compare it to America.

And it has always, at least since the invention, been a bicycling country, again because of its peculiar terrain. So that is nothing new and certainly did not start because of the oil crisis.

Of course they do not complain about a $10-a-gallon gasoline. They are not dependent on automobiles as we are. And that goes for the rest of the European countries. Even where they can’t as easily bicycle, they have plenty of public transportation.

Their recycling, however, is impressive. But the most impressive is that revenue generated from energy taxation will be used to cut taxes on personal income.

Unni Dahl
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By David Cay Johnston

A June 6 letter to the editor inaccurately described what I wrote about incomes in “Free Lunch,” my best-selling expose of government policies that take billions of dollars from the many and give them to the very rich. While I am thankful for the kind words, I want to correct the record.

The top 10 percent of wage earners do not earn 90 percent of the money.

The top 10 percent earned almost half of all income in 2006, up from a third of all income in 1980.

Federal tax records show stagnant incomes for the bottom 90 percent, while the top tenth of 1 percent have seen their incomes soar so high that these 300,000 people now make almost as much as the 150 million people in the bottom half.

In 2006, the top hundredth of 1 percent (30,000 people) earned more than a nickel out of each dollar of national income, up from a penny in 1980. Adjusted for inflation, this group’s average income skyrocketed from $5.1 million per taxpayer to $29.7 million in 2006.

“Free Lunch” shows that the real average income of the bottom 90 percent peaked decades ago. This vast majority averaged $29,143 in 2005, IRS data show, which is $825 less than in 1975.

The June 6 letter suggested, correctly, that the rich pay a smaller share of their income in federal taxes than those down below, contrary to what an earlier letter asserted. Official data show that the middle class bears a much heavier tax burden than the very rich.

“Free Lunch,” using figures that the Bush administration declared “reasonable,” shows that people making $50,000 to $75,000 per year pay a larger share of their income in federal taxes than people making $88 million or more. The lower group paid 18.9 percent of their income in taxes while the top group paid 17.5 percent.

Warren Buffet later proved this. He asked his top staff what portion of their income was paid in federal taxes. Buffet paid 17 percent. His aides all paid more than 30 percent.

“Free Lunch” reveals a $100 million taxpayer gift to one of Mr. Buffet’s companies, a little-known example of the many ways that the middle class is now forced to subsidize the super rich.

The writer lives in Rochester, N.Y.

Horses can also catch and spread the very dangerous disease of rabies. Any animal with rabies can infect people. Rabies is in our area and horses need to be vaccinated once every year.

Unfortunately, the vaccine is not proved to last as long in horses as in adult dogs. It is easy to forget to vaccinate our pasture horses that we no longer ride regularly, but these horses can bring this deadly disease to our family and friends.

Horses with rabies can show a wide variety of symptoms. Symptoms are progressive and will lead to death.

As responsible pet and horse owners, please rabies-vaccinate your cats, dogs and your horses!

Dr. Cindy Kimbrell
Dr. Jessica Manzak
Liberty

As our presidential election nears, I realize how much the race factor may affect this election. Many people (including a lot who are newly registered) will vote for Barack Obama just because he is black. Perhaps as many will vote against him because he is black.

I urge voters to judge both candidates based solely on their qualifications and attributes, not on their skin color.

Quite frankly, my candidate of choice is no longer an option, and I haven’t decided yet who will receive my vote. I am keeping my eyes, ears and heart open. I urge others to do the same. This election and our country are too important not to do so.

Dinah Flippin
Greensboro

Am I the only one concerned here? Just when I thought the corrupting influence of the religious right — which brought us eight years of secret government under Bush and Cheney, as well as the likes of Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff and a federal judiciary clad in hypocritical cloaks of biblical justice and compassion — was beginning to wane, Obama and McCain agree to be “interviewed” by Pastor Rick Warren? Are you kidding? Haven’t we had enough?

In his second inaugural address and while trying to save the Union, Abraham Lincoln said, “We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.” Today, by virtue of the “compassionate” evangelical movement and its domination of our political process, I fear we are losing what Lincoln saved. Our freedom under an American theocracy would be severely limited, and it’s obvious that the process of establishing one is well under way.

For a glimpse of what our future could hold for us, refer to that gleaming bastion of freedom in the Middle East: Iran. Let’s take our government back!

Mike Gentile
Greensboro

Regarding the ongoing comparisons your reporters make between Forest Oaks and Sedgefield:

Why is it necessary to continue your negative rhetoric about Forest Oaks? Sedgefield now has the PGA Tournament. Understandably, politics drove the move back to Sedgefield (just as politics drove it out of Sedgefield when that community became disgruntled with it).

What is this continued negative narrative regarding Forest Oaks? It is irresponsible reporting by Ed Hardin and Jim Schlosser. The slanderous harassment in the spring of this year left a bad taste in the mouths of volunteers who spent long hot, cold, wet or sunburned hours for the event that offered our city and county some of the best national coverage ever — and they did it year after year! Forest Oaks Country Club hosted the tournament for almost 30 years, some good, some not so good.

Our family has personally enjoyed 20 years of living in the chaos during this exciting sports event. If you have a personal vendetta then have at it, but leave the Forest Oaks homeowners out of it. If you want to prove yourselves as responsible reporters, then it is time to own up and offer a public apology.

Carol Dail
Greensboro

I cannot believe that an organization like the Greensboro Rotary Club would vote to fund such a frivolous $2 million project for, of all things, a carousel. These are supposedly mature men and women who voted to go forth with this scheme at a time when the economy is in the toilet, thousands of people have lost jobs, and thousands more are without health care insurance. Come on, people! Snap out of it.

Why not give the $2 million to organizations like the United Way, Healthserve, The Women’s Resource Center, not to mention teachers’ salaries? There are too many worthy causes where these dollars can do some real good. Where are your values, people?

If you want to ride a carousel, go to a carnival, but please stop this insanity just to satisfy one man’s ego.

Shay Rumsey
Greensboro

I read “With college growth, lines are crossed” (Aug. 17) with great interest because I truly feel that High Point University is my university. Unlike Larry Chason of Guyer Street, who is apparently greatly distressed that High Point University has moved into his neighborhood, I chose to move into High Point College’s neighborhood in the mid-1980s.

Certainly, High Point University has changed over time. It’s not growing older, it’s only growing better. The changes that have taken place over the past three years have astounded me.
This new High Point University is a beautiful and student-centered institution. Gone are the chain-linked fences covered with poison ivy and in their place are the beautiful brick and wrought-iron fences. From the dorms to the classrooms to the athletic facilities, the institution is immaculate.

But the real changes in the university are far more than changes in bricks and mortar, acreage and equipment.

High Point University has a renewed vision and mission. Its slogan, “Choose to be Extraordinary,” is far more than a slogan — it is a daily challenge to its students, its faculty, its administration and its governing boards. I take great pride in being a neighbor to High Point University.

Anita Hill Bowman
High Point

In his Counterpoint, “Entire state ABC bonus system unfair” (Aug. 19), teacher Bill Toth hit a bull’s-eye.

As a former teacher and student, and the father of four children who went from kindergarten to college, I agree with the excellent points he made.

In addition to those points, the system encourages “teaching to the test,” which adds little to the knowledge and life skills of the student, and takes time away from teaching the basics.

Elmer Billman
Greensboro

On Aug. 18, my wife and I stopped at the IHOP on Battleground for breakfast. Soon after we were seated, another couple was ushered to seats across the aisle from us.

The gentleman was wearing a baseball cap with the Combat Infantry Badge on it, so I asked him what war he had been in. He answered that he had served in Europe in World War II. As I am a World War II veteran, we began to talk.

There was a young man seated behind us, whom I did not see. After he left, the waitress came to tell us that he had paid for our breakfast and that of the other couple as well. We were all surprised and very thankful.

Thank you to that generous young man, and blessings on him!

Allen D. Minter
Greensboro

On his Web site, Mel Watt claims that “for 14 years Congressman Mel Watt has served the citizens of the 12th Congressional District.”

However, who is Mel Watt serving away from Washington without helping to secure a vote for more domestic drilling to one day reduce the price of gasoline at the pump?
It’s time for a change.

It’s time for Ty Cobb in the 12th District!

Vote Ty in November!

Kenneth McClamrock
Concord

In response to your editorial addressing altered driving habits (Aug. 21), I don’t know how to say this charitably. You people are idiots!

Your usual left-leaning, liberal response to any issue is to raise taxes. I really don’t know if you morons get it. The U.S. economy is based on petroleum. The world economy is based on petroleum. It has been, is and will be for a long time to come. We don’t have real viable alternatives now in any meaningful way, and until they are developed on a national and international scale where petroleum can take a second seat, this is what we have. If you can’t figure it out, let me help you.

Right now, we need more petroleum, not less, and as quickly as possible. Thanks to liberal, environmental hand-wringing and stalling, we have not been able to drill for more oil or build new refineries or nuclear power plants for decades. Your idea to tax oil more only compounds the issue and raises prices on everything, exactly the opposite of where we need to be.

Oh, and your idea of taxing us for driving now is sublime. Great thinkers, you.

Steve Gorden
Kernersville

This is in response to the picture that accompanies the article, “Russian pullback drags on” (Aug. 21). I wonder if your readers recognized that the larger-than-life-size portrait on the outside wall in front of which Georgians are playing backgammon is that of Stalin.

Let me get this straight: The key American ally in the Caucasus still worships Stalin? Yet, this is true. There is also a statue of Stalin in Gori, revered by the locals. Am I the only one who sees something wrong with the picture?

Let us not forget that at one point Osama bin Laden was considered to be an American ally. Would you have a problem with Germany if they still prominently displayed a portrait of Hitler in public places? The U.S. would be wise to do some background checks on countries it considers its friends.

Svetlana Krylova
Greensboro

There is no doubt in my mind that we are in an energy crisis. There is also no doubt that as many bad ideas as good will be proposed in Congress to address the problem. One of the worst ideas floated by the Democrats is that the government should tax U.S. energy companies even more for their production. Why punish energy producers when all that will result is higher prices at the pump? These companies will either pull back from production or pass the new taxes on to consumers in the form of higher prices for gasoline and heating oil.

I hope Sen. Burr will fight against the Democrats on this one and prevent this silly proposal from seeing the light of day. More importantly, I hope he will continue to press for a real solution to the spike in gasoline prices, such as expanding domestic exploration and offshore drilling.

Joyce Krawiec
Greensboro
The writer is N.C. Grassroots Coordinator, FreedomWorks.

In her letter published on Aug. 15, Maureen Parker tells us that John F. Kennedy was “inexperienced” when he was inaugurated as president. She implies that since JFK was inexperienced, it would be OK to elect the inexperienced Barack Obama.

Before becoming president, JFK had served as a combat officer in World War II (e.g., the PT 109 incident), six years in the House of Representatives (1947-53) and eight years in the U.S. Senate (1953-61). That’s inexperience?

These facts kill Parker’s argument. Also, Parker states that President Bush served “nearly two terms as governor of Texas.” Wrong again. Bush was elected governor in 1994 and re-elected in 1998. He served only two of four years of his second term as governor before becoming president.

Al Shumard
Greensboro

Last week we read that there is a school budget “crunch” with a board member calling it a bad situation. New positions and other services are being put on hold while the board tries to figure out where to make the cuts.

And they just hired a new superintendent at a more than generous salary, including quite a few perks, making almost $50,000 a year more than his predecessor. Isn’t this an excessive amount to pay a first-time superintendent? I’m assuming his salary package is paid from the same budget that is having the “crunch.”

Wouldn’t it have been wiser to pay less to begin with and add more after they see what kind of job he does?

Nancy L. Poulos
Greensboro

Leonard Pitts’ Aug. 21 column, “Don’t mistake simplicity for wisdom,” helped clarify my thoughts about our presidential candidates. Pitts wrote that McCain’s answers at Saddleback Church were “crisp and concise,” whereas Obama’s were “long and thoughtful.” That is a way of saying that Obama was reflective and nuanced as he engaged in serious conversation about important questions, while McCain blustered, spoke in sound bites and fear-mongered.

It seems that with McCain it’s all hyperbole and “Chicken Little.” What do we do with evil? Destroy it! What do we do about our energy crisis? Drill everywhere, and right now!

Haven’t we been talked down to like this before? Isn’t this why we’re trapped in Iraq? And broke? Our problems today are not simple and will not yield to knee-jerk reactions. Lord help us all if we get another cowboy in the White House!

Paul Mitchell
Greensboro

I believe John Terry demonstrated his attitude but lost his argument (“School board played race card in hiring,” letter, Aug. 15). Had he focused only on the credentials of the incoming superintendent, he may have had an argument against their decision, and maybe not.

Perhaps the school board considered his successful experience in the larger Charlotte/Mecklenburg system and his legal background as strengths necessary for challenges confronting Guilford’s schools. However, Terry decided to focus on Mo Green’s most obvious physical characteristic: his skin color.

It is unfortunate that no matter how much folk work to be viewed beyond their obvious physical characteristics, there are others who can’t. We should not blame him for this, though.

Prejudice is a learned behavior that exists in every corner of the world.

Fred Cundiff II
Greensboro

Many of us were heartened to read Jeri Rowe’s good piece on Nathan Wainscott and the fledgling Marcus C. Rizzo Center for Musician Enrichment (Aug. 7).

Recently, Center supporters hosted a Sunset Hills jazz festival drawing more than 1,000 — young and old, well-to-do and just getting by — to hear local jazz musicians “jam on the Rizzo riff.” Plaudits to the News & Record for its sidebar support of an event grounded in a deep need of our youth and a benefit to those of us who care about Greensboro’s kids and its cultural strength.

Wainscott plans to give young musicians a safe place to hang out and jam, one with adequate rehearsal and recording space. The enthusiastic turnout of a culturally diverse cross-section of our city boosted my faith in how a few can make a huge difference.

Broad support from Greensboro’s leaders and business community will open the doors of the Rizzo Center. Then kids all over Guilford County can grow their musical aspirations in Wainscott’s dynamic incubator. A full-fledged Rizzo Center would rock out Greensboro’s downtown arts scene and let our young people’s dreams groove into more than one night of great music in more than one neighborhood.

Barbara D. Van Cleve
Greensboro

I am writing on behalf of all Guilford County citizens, or for anyone else who is forced to visit the Guilford County Courthouse.

I recently had to attend traffic court for the first time since I started driving 15 years ago. Upon parking, the meter allowed me to deposit only two hours’ worth of quarters. Remember, this is the courthouse parking lot. Court was overcrowded, so much that at least 30 people were standing, and the first case was called at 10:45 a.m. I arrived at 8 a.m. as instructed and I was the first case, but I had already been there past what my meter allotted.

When I see my car, alas — a parking ticket. Go figure. What a trap.

Is it really ethical to trap people parked at a building they can’t leave legally until their case is heard? By issuing parking tickets to citizens who complied the best they could? Why hasn’t the city changed the meters to allow more time if they know of the overcrowded dockets?

Guilford County shouldn’t want to set up citizens for a few extra bucks.

Nicol Jacobs
Kernersville

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Lewis Pitts

The Aug. 18 editorial, “At what cost parental involvement?” reflects a lack of knowledge of parental-involvement issues. Worse, it ends by insulting the parents from the poorest schools, whose main issue is the deliberate barriers they face.

These parents were addressing the school board’s continued refusal to send parents to a national conference in Alabama designed to empower parents to advocate for their children.

Parents, community supporters and several board members wanted to send a parent from each of the 41 schools selected by the district to be at high risk of student failure. In a split vote, the board decided to send only four people to Alabama.

Had the writer attended that meeting, he would see how his editorial dutifully regurgitated the distortions and spin of district officials charged with serving these 41 schools.

Parents have been complaining that the school system is hostile to their meaningful involvement, and board members, both black and white, have repeatedly voiced the same complaint. The editorial wrongly sides with the bureaucrats to say these parents don’t care enough to get involved and simply want some money-wasting, fun trip to Alabama.

Federal Title 1 law requires that schools involve parents as equal partners, allowing them to make suggestions, offer criticism and, as appropriate, participate in decision-making. These 41 schools repeatedly suffer from racial achievement gaps and terrible end-of-grade test scores.

Yet, parents who ask questions or want a say in the agenda of “parent involvement meetings” are labeled as troublemakers.

The editorial’s suggestion to “bring the experts here to reach more parents for less expense” parrots the line of the district Title 1 office: control the agenda and bring “experts” to talk at the parents while never giving parents a chance to speak those annoying facts or offer solutions about the gross failure to provide their children a sound basic education.

I expect more from this newspaper.

The writer is a managing attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, which is assisting Title 1 parents.

Why is it that whenever someone says something negative about John McCain, the right gets all bent out of shape (“Letter was in poor taste,” Aug. 16)?

I wonder if they would react the same way if this was said about Barack Obama. I doubt it, because they do not condemn all the other lies about Obama that are out there.

Just because you printed a letter from someone who is not a McCain fan does not mean you are biased. You have also printed letters that are negative about Obama.

When this campaign started, I remember McCain saying he wanted a clean campaign because the American people deserved it. Yet, he hires the same people who make a living destroying other people’s character from previous campaigns.

The Obama camp did not start his negative war of words and pictures. The McCain camp did. The right can dish it out but can’t handle the return.

I’m glad your newspaper shows no favoritism toward either candidate.

I am a veteran myself. I served my country with honor and was proud to serve, but this does not mean I can run the country as president.

Jasper Thomas
Reidsville

While in North Carolina the other day, Barack Obama stated that every child was precious.
Before the televised forum the other evening, he stated that abortion was a serious matter and that the decision to abort a child should not be made lightly.

Last year, Barack Obama made a speech in front of NARAL, stating that if he was elected, that his first action as president would be to fight for the repeal of partial-birth abortion ban. If there is nothing wrong with abortion, why should it be taken seriously?

If every child is precious, why would anyone want to repeal a ban on partial-birth abortion?

Dan Holsenbeck
Greensboro

Being a lifelong resident of Greensboro (more years than I would want in print), my heart breaks at some of our city’s expansion.

On the first day of school for some students in Guilford County, I was reminded once again of our city’s zoning and planning commission’s lack of thought and foresight. Highway 220 North (Battleground Road), north of Horsepen Creek Road, is just one example of how our city continues to grow with no regard to our historic beauty and calmness. Strip malls in the midst of beautiful, long-time residential neighborhoods are popping up everywhere, but the traffic associated with the Greensboro Heritage Academy on Battleground creates havoc and potentially dangerous accidents, not to mention raising blood pressures to near stoke level for early morning commuters from late August until school closes in early June. Yet the date for highway expansion for 220 North continues to be put further and further out.

I invite our city planners to join the fun between 7:30 and 8 a.m. any weekday morning.

Vinnie Gordy
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint
By George M. Coates

More than 100 college presidents, including the president of Duke University and chancellor of the University of Maryland System, have signed the Amethyst Initiative, which asks, among other things, for a rethinking of the drinking age. The Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition does not favor a lowering of the minimum legal drinking age.

Underage drinking is widespread. Approximately 12.5 million youth drink each year. In 2005, students in grades 9-12 reported:

• 74 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more days during their lives.

• 26 percent had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.

• 43 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days.

• 26 percent had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row (i.e., binge drinking) in the past 30 days.

• 4 percent had at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.

Underage drinking cost the citizens $60.3 billion in 2005. Costs include medical care, work loss and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol. Excluding pain and suffering, the direct costs of medical care and loss of work total $21.1 billion each year.

This month, the News & Record has reported on two star college athletes who have had problems with underage drinking and nine teens who were charged after a fight that left one man in intensive care.

If we are to discuss, let’s discuss some positive things to influence young people. Let’s support activities like those of Pastor Otto Harris of the Greensboro Police Athletic League and others that provide positive alternatives.

Our college administrators should work with local authorities to actively enforce the rules that already are in place regarding alcohol purchases and consumption. Let’s focus on more effective policies and procedures, changes in advertising, and locations where alcohol is available.

Our choices make the difference! Let’s help our young people make good choices rather than make it easier to make bad ones.

The writer is executive director, Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition.

Regarding the McCain/Obama forum at Saddleback Church:

This was an interesting and informative forum for the two presidential candidates. The format was fair and objective and the moderator was excellent.

Some observations by an old-time Democrat — Obama was polished, spoke well but skirted the issues with political statements, figure skating around the answers.

McCain was direct, informed, honest and trusting in his manner and his answers.

On the moral questions, Obama committed to satisfying all viewers with his convoluted and circular responses. McCain answered the question with reason and logic. His positions are unquestioned.

On foreign policy, McCain demonstrated his command of facts and information, referencing personal experiences pertinent to the situation. Overall, McCain showed he is a commander-in-chief now, ready to assume command on his election as president.

Obama showed his inexperience, lack of facts and apparent lack of real knowledge of the real-world conditions. He spoke well.

One final note: A Democratic commentator, in analyzing Obama’s presentation, advised that Obama had been on vacation, had to fly back to Chicago and then fly to California for the forum. Are we to assume then that Obama was not prepared for this important meeting or what?

Don Mulligan
High Point

The post-Reagan Republicans have been highly successful in brainwashing the American public into believing that government has no right to tax, no right to regulate, and no responsibility to provide services.

Under Republican rule, the government does have the right to: 1) wage pre-emptive war for the benefit of corporate interests; 2) loot the American treasury and transfer the people’s money to private interests; 3) neglect the environment and the country’s infrastructure; 4) lie to and spy on the American people; and 5) torture its enemies. Republicans did this while America slept.

How?

It’s the old shell game: Focus the country’s attention on “us versus them” fear topics: illegal immigration, gay marriage, abortion and “terror,” while they rape the country.

It’s time to wake up, America. Obama and the Democrats may not be perfect, but they are our only realistic hope for turning this country around, serving the needs of the people, bolstering the economy, providing adequate medical care and energy independence, restoring our country’s honor and waging peace.

Obama and the Democrats are our only hope for returning a constitutional government to this country, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Harol Hoffman-Meisner
Greensboro

The current drinking age makes very little sense for several reasons.

First, it is hypocritical, as the government simultaneously says that men and women 18 years of age can enlist, sign legally binding documents, vote and live independently of their parents but cannot have a beer.

Furthermore, under the current system, young men and women are suddenly exposed to virtually limitless alcohol immediately upon entering college and becoming independent. These young men and women then learn about drinking from their peers in closeted parties and relative vacuums of knowledge and experience. If they can develop a healthy relationship with alcohol while still under the supervision of their parents, young adults are far less likely to binge drink, drink and drive, or otherwise irresponsibly abuse alcohol when they are independent.

Finally, when the ages are as close as 18 and 21, qualitative differences in levels of responsibility are negligible. To most effectively ensure that alcohol is not abused, rather than assign arbitrary age restrictions, require classes similar to driver’s education to obtain a drinking license, which could easily be revoked or suspended, should the bearer behave in an irresponsible or illegal manner.

Thad Eagles
Greensboro

The writer is a Grimsley High School graduate and a 20-year-old junior at Haverford College.

The guest column, “What Obama might have seen in Ramallah,” by Max Carter (Aug. 16) should be read by everyone, not only for what it says but for what is between the lines.

The comment about the longing for a Palestinian state might have been possible in 1946-’47, when partition was being discussed, but now the concept is only a pipe dream.

To create a state two things are needed: land and a people of like mind. Once the Palestinians had land but no “like mind,” whereas the Jewish people had no land but did have a “like mind.” They succeeded.

Gaza, the main part of the envisioned state, is 25 miles by 4 to 7 miles containing 131 square miles. Guilford County has 658 square miles.

A national state one-fifth the size of Guilford County? How much of the West Bank would the Israelis give up? Very little.

These sections of land would not be contiguous, and the corridor would be controlled by the Israelis. Gaza has no seaport worthy of the name. For their security, the Israelis would control the sea and air spaces.

A Palestinian state, though much desired, is not a logical option.

John W. Taylor
Greensboro

In this instant information age, with 24-hour news channels and the all-knowing, all-seeing Internet, there are no excuses to remaining ignorant about your presidential candidates, namely Barack Obama. The fact that I still run into people, both black and white, who think he is a Muslim is beyond belief.

Ignorance truly is bliss. It relieves people of the responsibility of being enlightened.

The sad truth is, if Barack Obama’s name and skin color were different there would be no doubt about his ability to lead this country.

I want to break away from the American ideology of, “quick to judge and slow to change.” I know we are better than that. It is my hope that we put our petty differences aside and come together to elect the best candidate.

While his name may sound funny and his skin color may label him a minority, the only people I want labeled minority during this election are the ones that choose to remain ignorant.

Felton Foushee
Greensboro

Politicians continue toward the bankrupting of America. They’re calling it “our children’s future.”
Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that public schools and social and welfare programs aren’t working. Never have. Never will.

Politicians think if they throw enough money down the drain, they’ll build character, morals, integrity and respect. Ain’t gonna happen.

It’s apparent, after watching a recent school board meeting, they have too much time on their hands. Title 1 is where the majority of the students qualify for free lunches. Taxpayers would like to know why they should be responsible for food, let alone a parent trip to Alabama for a “training” conference.

Most of these people know the “system” and how to get taxpayers’ money they’re not entitled to. What further “training” is needed?

In the business world, daily layoffs happen; therefore, isn’t it time for layoffs and cuts in the political world?

What an insult to the business world, working and struggling to make ends meet, while the politicians conduct useless meeting after meeting trying to take control. Millions of taxpayer dollars could be saved by not having to pay for the building you’re occupying.

Shirley deLong
Jamestown

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Merry Jeanne Millner

It was disturbing to read Tom Kak’s Counterpoint, “Pleasant visit to dog show ends in snarl” (Aug. 16). My husband and I are longtime dog fanciers and have been actively involved in American Kennel Club (AKC) dog shows for 20 years. One of the most important aspects of an AKC show is to educate the public about purebred dogs and help breeders showcase their dogs. To be treated rudely as a spectator is not the norm at AKC dog shows.

Mr. Kak is correct. There should have been signs posted at the entrance to the building letting spectators know about “no stroller” rules.

What is most disturbing is the explanation given about why strollers are not allowed. Our kennel also has a “no stroller” rule but for very different reasons. We are in a smaller area of the coliseum and there is just no room for a large entry of dogs waiting to enter the show ring with baby strollers in the aisles. To try to maneuver a stroller around 10 Great Danes at ringside is not in anyone’s best interest.

Mr. Kak is correct that the overwhelming majority of dogs at a show are totally trustworthy and have no issue meeting a baby in a stroller on a sidewalk but doing so in a very narrow aisle at a dog show is a very different scenario. Let’s also remember these are “show dogs,” so adrenaline is pumping in the dogs as well as the handlers and an accidental tap from a stroller could set up a dog to react in a negative way that would not happen under normal circumstances.

I hope Mr. Kak will not let the actions of a few ill-mannered folks taint his view of the American Kennel Club or its member clubs. Mr. Kak has my personal invitation to attend the Furniture City Kennel Club show on Nov. 8 and 9 at the Greensboro Coliseum. I would love to show him our version of Southern hospitality at a dog show.

The writer lives in High Point.

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Nina W. Upchurch

I am a teacher, and I happen to like my job ... a lot. However, I do feel embarrassed sometimes (every summer) when the legislature and the State Board of Education do their bogus money dance regarding teacher raises and bonuses. The idiotic and condescending “bonus carrot” needs to go away. They need to stop talking about it, reducing it and wiggling it around. It has nothing to do with what we teachers do or why we do it. The state needs to give that money (if it exists) to teachers for classroom supplies since that is what many of us do with it anyway.

You know, my students actually like coming into a classroom that is clean and has paper towels, tissues, pens, pencils, paper, journals, markers, page protectors, cleaning supplies and plenty of classroom sets of novels.

I am happy to spend my bonus — when I can get it after the state has mysteriously reworked (changed) the formula by which academic outcomes are measured each year — on those things because my students and I deserve no less than an inviting, well-equipped environment in which to learn.

I know that some people think we should be grateful for a piece of chalk (per semester) and a slate board, but I happen to think that we can do a little better than that for our teachers and students. I will not allow my students to be shortchanged in any way, if I can help it.

Fortunately, I work for a principal who has been a teacher; as a result, he “gets it” and does everything humanly possible to see that we have whatever we need to teach our curriculum. I doubt that he has ever heard many outrageous supply requests from teachers because most ask for so little. They are creative magicians who elevate begging to an art form and will find a way to get supplies from parents and community donors. For some teachers, just having enough paper and well-maintained copiers is a dream that is never realized ... year after year after year. It is just so embarrassing.

My incentives come walking through my classroom door. They haven’t asked if I got a bonus or a big raise. They do, however, have expectations, and I plan to be ready — bonus or not.

The writer lives in High Falls.

First, Republican presidential candidate John McCain called for more domestic drilling while his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, said we need to tax oil companies’ profits and develop alternative forms of energy. Now that oil prices have begun to fall, both seem to have abandoned this issue.

Next, McCain’s camp exposed the Obama “celebrity” phenomenon in an attempt to link Obama to Paris Hilton. Following this, Hilton released a Web response calling McCain an “old, white-haired dude.” This nonsense seems to have derailed the national debate about issues that need solutions.

Then Obama attacked McCain for being rich and out of touch, because McCain said he didn’t know how many houses he owns. Now we know McCain has seven houses and Obama lives in a million-dollar home. I was worried they might be among the millions of Americans who are in danger of losing their homes or are homeless.

There are four other presidential candidates: Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney, Brian Moore and Ralph Nader. Use the Internet to see what these candidates have to say. Never forget: It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don’t want and get it.

David K. Baird
Apex

No wonder Elizabeth Dole is 93rd on Congress.org; there’s no room at the top for Republicans.

According to the Web site, our legislators are rated on criteria that are subjectively evaluated by the site’s team. Let’s see what the team comes up with: Seventeen of the top 20 (85 percent) senators are Democrats. Forty-five of the top 50 (90 percent) representatives are Democrats. The average standing is 38 for a Democratic senator and 62 for a Republican senator; 152 for a House Democrat and 297 for a House Republican.

As a statistician, I’d say this bell-shaped curve is skewed sharply to the left. Figures don’t lie. Liars figure. Looking at who is at the top of the list (Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy), it’s apparent that one criterion is how liberal a Congress person is. Sorry, Sen. Dole, you’re too conservative to rank high in this poll.

Dan Flak
Greensboro

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has taken a curious line of attack on opponent Barack Obama. His early commercials highlighted that Obama is articulate and popular. Rotten qualities for a politician, I guess. They really hurt John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

What’s next? Will he point out that Obama is intelligent and thoughtful? That’s change I can live with.

McCain’s latest commercial rightfully states Washington is broken and we’re worse off than we were four years ago (or 7 1/2 years, for that matter). McCain should know. He supported every policy that led us into the mess we’re in.

The end of the commercial states that McCain is a maverick. In a way, that’s right. He has stuck with the policies of George Bush long after most everyone else has figured out what a failure they’ve been.

McCain served his country honorably 40 years ago. I respect that. That doesn’t mean he deserves to be president. If you like the way the country is going, McCain’s your man. If you want to change America’s direction, it has to be Obama.

Marshall White
Archdale

On behalf of people with Alzheimer’s disease, their loved ones and caregivers, I applaud U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and U.S. Reps. David Obey, D-Wis., and Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., for their leadership in proposing the largest increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in five years.

Much of the world-class research conducted in the United States and the scientific advances that our health care system relies on are made possible through the NIH. Its vital work gives hope to U.S. families facing terrible diseases like Alzheimer’s, now the sixth-leading cause of death in America. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that has no cure or effective treatment to halt or delay its progression and costs Medicare and Medicaid more than $100 billion annually. With as many as 5.2 million Americans living with it, we depend on elected officials to make Alzheimer’s a national priority.

This proposal signals a renewed commitment to eliminating diseases like Alzheimer’s, but more is needed. North Carolina voters are calling on Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole and Reps. Howard Coble, Virginia Foxx, Brad Miller and Mel Watt to make this proposal a reality and vote for its passage.

Ralph E. Graetz
Greensboro

The writer is on the board of the Western North Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

An Aug. 19 editorial asked the question “At what cost parental involvement?” I offer a rethinking of the question.

In 2005 several Title I parents attended the national conference and returned with detailed plans for increasing parental involvement. They were met with resistance from GCS personnel. The changes were never effected.

They and other Title I parents want to “make regular trips” to their children’s schools. Why don’t they?

• School hours and work hours clash. Teachers offer evening meetings but such meetings don’t allow parents the chance to see their children interact with classmates and the teacher, or to get a sense of how best to be a partner in their children’s schooling.

• School personnel sometimes respond to parents dismissively, critically or disparagingly, discouraging parental involvement.

The enthusiasm of returning parents to revitalize parental involvement is priceless. What would be gained if 41 parents attended the conference and returned as motivated as their predecessors were and still are, to be active participants in their children’s schools — and to enlist other parents?

Title I parents care as much about their children’s education as more economically fortunate parents. Money spent to support their involvement will be repaid many times over.

Claire Morse
Greensboro

The push to lower the legal drinking age to 18 is an affront to all caring parents. It means that all students can join in college parties or binges with impunity and those away from home for the first time can learn at full speed the extent of academic freedom and freedom at large.

Most parents don’t live under a rock. They already know the ever-present danger of their underage children having access to alcohol, even though they may live in an alcohol-free home. The only consolation they have is that the children acted against the parents’ wishes and upbringing.

Some of us count on those who make the laws of our state and nation to use some moral sense along with legal sense. Which accomplishes the greater good: to try to protect the lives of our youth a few years longer and perhaps some innocent beings who happen to get in their path if they are intoxicated or to help them lose their senses and possibly their lives being happy clowns at our colleges?

Please think about it, all of you who hold the power that we lack. Please don’t give parents another cross to bear.

Chris Myott
Eden

I was a visitor in Burlington when I read the Aug. 16 letter, “I don’t understand.” I was especially drawn to the sincerity of the statement, “I don’t understand how some preachers-pastors-evangelist leaders told their congregations to vote for Mr. Bush and now won’t come out and say forgive me for asking you to vote for a man who has caused people to die.”

Yes, untold thousands have died in Iraq, but more than 36,000 human lives were erased by abortion in North Carolina last year. Why are Christians who hold sacredness of life as an uncompromising issue demeaned as “single-issue voters” or “God, gays and guns” fanatics?

I don’t understand why, in North Carolina, 130 license plates extol everything from sea turtles to NASCAR, yet we have been left begging for the “Choose Life” plate for six years. In fact, not a single piece of pro-life legislation has passed the N.C. Senate since 1996. Perhaps this will help the writer understand why pro-life Democrats are unwilling to support candidates whose idea of accommodation is to accept our contributions, pat us on the head and ignore us after the election.

Eva Ritchey
Hendersonville
The writer is president, North Carolina Pro-Life Democrats.

Tucked away at the end of an article on downtown Greensboro (Aug. 22) was the suggestion that the Farmers’ Curb Market be moved from Yanceyville Street to the center city. If there ever was a need to insist on the principle “If it works, don’t fix it,” this is it!

Moves to improve downtown must not come at the expense of an institution that’s just great the way it is, and which would only stand to be harmed if clumsy, bureaucratic hands were allowed to mess with it. I know I speak for the greater (and great!) market community when I say, “Leave it alone!”

It’s truly the best thing Greensboro has going.

Ken Caneva
Greensboro

The following is a Counterpoint:

By Joseph E. Lyons

Bryan Chitwood is correct when he observes that “passenger rail service was an affordable and efficient means of transportation for millions” and mourns its passing (Counterpoint, Aug. 20). He then sets forth what he sees as the reasons for the decline of passenger rail service. But he has picked the wrong villains.

It is certainly true that railroads transformed the nation. By the turn of the 20th century, trains literally went everywhere, and you could go everywhere as a passenger. But then the real villains, Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers, soon revealed themselves and were allowed to flourish without any real government intervention on behalf of railroads.

Rail service peaked in the mid-1920s and the reason is obvious — Model Ts for the masses and paved roads. This was decades before the interstate highway system — Chitwood’s “federally funded cancer.”

By the late 1930s, passenger service as function of numbers of passengers was in decline. World War II deferred the end and also deferred infrastructure maintenance — the railroads had made a truly heroic contribution to victory, but at the cost of future success. Interstate highways did offer travel alternatives that competed with passenger rail, as did air travel, but the interstate system was more a national defense initiative than the boon to commuters it incidentally turned out to be. It was not designed to kill rail travel.

Post-war dieselization offered promises of greater efficiency in railroad operation compared to steam. But the steam work rules on crew time remained, as did the now-redundant locomotive. Passenger service declined, but the massive Union Stations in all the major cities were still there and cost as much to operate with one train a day as a hundred. The death spiral had begun.

Chitwood, like others comparing all sorts of services in the United States with that elsewhere, sees the European model regarding rail travel as superior. Indeed it is, but it’s easier to do a national rail service in countries smaller than North Carolina and many other states. It has been observed that one way to build great rail service is to have ours destroyed in a war — that happened in Europe and the Marshall Plan arguably helped to fix the problem. But travel U.S. scale distances in Europe, where time is important, and you fly. Just like here.

The writer lives in High Point.

I’m a junior at Southwest Guilford High School, and we are entering our second year of a dress code that is stricter than most, as it bans any denim, any shirt that lacks a collar and hoodies. The dress code misses the big picture entirely.

Last year, our “goal” for the 10th-grade writing test was around 70 percent passing. It should be noted that passing the writing test is a requirement for advancement to the next grade. Also, numerous incentives were offered for passing the test. Shouldn’t passing your grade be a good enough incentive?

When the problems faced by a school are not only behavioral but academic as well, a dress code isn’t necessarily the best option. Increase the punishments for not meeting expectations (which should be set higher anyway) and increase the incentives for going above and beyond. It’s a hard world out there. Miss one day at work with no excuse, you risk losing your job. Miss one day at school with no excuse, they slap you on the wrist and send you to class.

Some kids are going to be in for a reality check when (and if) they graduate. They need that reality check earlier.

Roger Burton
Greensboro

Let’s drill here and buy oil from ourselves before buying it from Middle Eastern countries.
When we have to purchase the majority of our oil from Middle Eastern countries and they end up with most of our money, they could potentially come over here, buy up our oil that is still in the ground and sell it back to us.

There will be new technology for power and autos developed in the near future, and hopefully our dependence on oil will go down at that time.

In the meantime, the only thing that is going to make the oil cartel reduce the price is the threat that we possibly could become oil-independent through using our own resources. This takes the approval of our Congress and the president, and I hope they will do something about it soon.

William Pharr
Greensboro

Last Sunday morning, I picked up a flier in my driveway, thinking it was advertising. It was not what I expected. The flier heading: The “16 Critical Facts that your kids will not learn in school.” In these 16 facts are given all the reasons why the white race is in decline in America, and that the Ku Klux Klan has the answers to this problem.

If you received this same propaganda sheet, don’t be fooled. Read the history of these white supremacists and discover their hate list. Like al-Qaida, they claim to worship God, then they use terrorist tactics to advance their supremacy. Both groups want the destruction of democracy in America as it now exists. The KKK claims they are the true believers of the principles set up by America’s Founding Fathers, but they lie. They are trying to improve their image so that many people will join their crusade. Their leaders are ravenous beasts whose crusade is to destroy anyone who disagrees with their agenda to eradicate all who are Catholic, Jewish, homosexual and nonwhite.

I oppose this agenda. I hope all of Greensboro does the same.

Calvin Weimer
Greensboro

Biking in the Carolinas can be a dangerous sport. My husband and I are from Florida, where there are sidewalks and lighted streets everywhere in Fort Lauderdale. When we got here more than a year ago, we noticed that many of the streets are very narrow and dark even though they are posted for bikes. There is little or no shoulder, and biking on the road is extremely dangerous.

My bike store informed us of Rails to Trails, and we started to check them out in the last few months. We are completely excited about them and have loved exploring the safe and comfortable rides that are available through this wonderful program.

We would totally love to see more and more of these trails available so we can stay in shape and be safe at the same time. We are getting some of our friends involved to keep it a healthy and fun way of staying fit.

Please help us to keep the trails going and continue to open more and more.

Michelle Sculthorpe
Pleasant Garden