News-Record.com

The bailout amounts to $2,333 for every American, all 300 million of them. Is this correct? I don’t want to rush into another thoughtless decision that will cost everyone with no benefit to the people.

If I make bad decisions, then I must deal with it. No big brother to bail me out. Is this the right thing to do, or could the money be better spent on the average American?

The tax I pay is already too high and going up when it really should be going down. The government needs to run like a household. What you have needs to pay the bills and saving some for a rainy day. If the average person ran their finances like the government does, we would all be living like in the 1920s.

There needs to be something in effect that looks at what we are paying for stuff as compared to what an average company would pay for the same thing. If this were known, I bet it would be shocking. We need to operate more efficiently and quit selling the U.S. to other countries.

Jay Jones
Greensboro

It is both hilarious and sad that Sarah Palin’s answers in her ABC interview last month reminded most of us of the answer given by Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 on the question of why a fifth of Americans can’t locate the United States on a world map. The teenager answered by saying, “... I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”

Palin’s obvious stumble over the Bush Doctrine question was so revealing. Joe Biden has been a valued and respected member (by both parties and independents) of the Senate since 1973, with a wealth of experience, especially in foreign policy.

The selection of Palin by McCain and Biden by Obama tells much about their judgment, I do believe.

Kent Benfield
Greensboro

This year’s presidential campaign has given us the most qualified candidate we’ve had in decades, a clear choice to anyone who looks beyond the superficial mudslinging.

Graduating near the top of his Harvard class, Barack Obama could have enjoyed a cushy law firm job. Instead, he applied his outstanding skills to meeting Chicago’s pressing human needs.

Having tasted and witnessed poverty and injustice, he carried true compassion into state and national legislatures, where he continued to work for citizens’ rights, resisting the urge to kowtow to lobbyists.

Obama’s intelligence, integrity, love of country and people, and understanding of our 21st-centrury economic, energy, environmental and health care needs, as well as his emphasis on international cooperation, add up to our best hope of solving the massive problems created under Bush.

Business-as-usual John McCain, in contrast, possesses none of these sterling qualities. He would follow Bush’s policies even deeper into disaster than we are now.

America’s destiny hangs in the balance, and only the most dedicated, intelligent, compassionate candidate can be trusted to lead her. That person, without doubt, is Barack Obama. May he win by a landslide.

Valerie Putney
Greensboro

It seems clear to me that recent events do not support the notion that Republicans are the more fiscally responsible party. The two most recent major financial crises in American history occurred under Republican administrations.

The savings and loan debacle occurred under President Reagan’s administration, and the current crisis is after eight years of leadership by President Bush.

Our two highest levels of deficit spending and national debt increases also occurred during the terms of these two presidents. I remember Barnaby Jones (popular TV detective) once said, as he studied the evidence, “There’s no such thing as a coincidence.”

As a fiscal conservative, I think it’s time to take the national “credit card” away from the Republican Party. It clearly shows preferential tax treatment for big business and for the super-rich, and not for properly managing our monetary resources. As things stand, I’m ashamed at the mess we’re leaving for our grandchildren to pay off.

Bob Tilyard
Greensboro

This is in reference to the article referring to John McCain’s request to postpone the scheduled presidential debate so his efforts could be focused on a solution to the most important crisis facing all Americans, the bailout legislation. The spin put on this request by Barack Obama’s camp was troubling.

Presidents have to deal with many issues at once, but to put a debate in the same category as this economic crisis is wrong. McCain has to be saluted for putting aside his ambition to be president and for having returned to his job of senator and committing to this issue. The action he takes as a senator on this issue will be under scrutiny and may help or hinder his chances for the presidency.

Howie Claeson
High Point

In response to editor Allen Johnson’s comments (News & Record, Sept. 21): Burnett Opinion Poll (BOP) announced today a presumed fact — the Alaska governor will be “PALIN” comparison to Joe Biden in the upcoming vice presidential debate on Thursday.

BOP also announced another presumed fact: Obama-Biden ’08 will win the election in November.

Seriously.

Bill Burnett
Greensboro

With the unprecedented problems awaiting the incoming national administration, we urgently need a strong pair of candidates to face them competently. Do we have one?

The Republican leader has voted with the present administration 90 percent of the time, which translates to a large error rate. He is 72 years old and has had cancer and other problems, so his continued health for four stressful years is questionable.

His improbable running mate has served several years as councilwoman and mayor of a small Alaska town and briefly as governor of that sparsely populated state. If she became president, I cannot imagine her dealing successfully with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Mideast fanatics or even the rampant intrigue in Washington — especially with a large brood of children to nurture in their formative years.

The Democratic presidential candidate is sometimes discounted for relatively limited governmental experience, but he has served as state senator and U.S. senator for a key state. He has shown considerable executive expertise in leading and winning a highly competitive and complex campaign. And his running mate is possibly the most solid of the four.

Perhaps we have a Hobson’s choice, but the better bet is Democratic.

Dan W. Maddox
Greensboro

The “Democrat” Party and its willing participants in the mainstream media, newspapers included, sicken and disgust me. They constantly mock and impugn conservatives, Christians, pro-life supporters and most anything good, upright and righteous. We “right-wingers” are not perfect nor are we stupid and uninformed.

Beyond my scope of understanding is how any clear-thinking American can support Obama, Biden and the “Democrat” platform. Before you discount me as an ignorant hayseed racist, let me list for you four competent black Americans I admire whom I would have supported for president, had they announced their interest: Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, J.C. Watts and Alan Keyes.

Bill Clinton’s administration was a mere annoyance to me. But an Obama reign terrifies me. My fear of him has nothing to do with his race, but rather his socialist, Marxist ideology. He is a pompous, arrogant, pandering, smooth-talking, an empty suit, an icon, an image with little or no substance. I do not hate the man. I despise his extreme liberalism.

America has serious problems and the Republican Party isn’t blameless. But, Mr. Obama has neither the experience or know-how to even begin to address the challenges we face.

Chuck Hurley
Belews Creek

We are suffering the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. People are losing their jobs, their homes and their retirement savings. How could this have happened? This fiasco is the culmination of a quarter-century of Republican, Reaganesque deregulation which dismantled the protections established by the New Deal.

During his 25 years in Congress, John McCain has endorsed this dangerous policy. McCain brags about being a deregulator. He believes Social Security should be privatized. His economic plan was devised by Phil Gramm, the former senator responsible for the deregulation of commodities markets and investment banks that caused this crisis. The taxpayers must now pay the bill for Republican recklessness. Ironically, the party that rages against universal health care as socialized medicine has socialized trillions of dollars of private corporate debt. McCain claims that we can trust him to solve the crisis he and his party created, but the country cannot take a chance on another Republican.

We need Barack Obama. He believes in protecting the people, not corporations and CEOs. He will provide the vision and leadership required during this time of crisis.

Lee Baker
Greensboro

What a refreshing change for the Republican Party over the last few weeks. Gov. Sarah Palin has provided a much needed get-to-the-point reflection of the GOP and how America benefits from reform with McCain/Palin in 2008. Channel 2 in Greensboro needs to wake up and provide news that is fair and impartial. The News & Record is a beneficial source that should set the precedent for news. Whether Republican or not, all readers and viewers benefit from the true picture.

Martha Long
Ruffin

Elizabeth Dole is the best choice for Senate because she stands up for us.

Dole stands up for the military. She introduced the National Guard and Reservists Financial Relief Act, which would help families who have had a soldier called up to active duty. She also introduced a bill requiring the military to improve soldiers’ living environments.

Dole stands up for law and order. She introduced the Safe Roads Enhancement Act, which would allow deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of drunk driving and would prohibit aliens who are repeat DWI offenders from getting immigration benefits.

Third, Dole stands up for affordable energy. She believes North Carolina, not Washington, should decide if it wants to look for oil off its own coast. She also introduced the New Clean Energy Tax Extenders Act, which provides tax credits and incentives for alternative energy sources.

While Elizabeth Dole is standing up for us, Senate Democrats like Harry Reid and Charles Schumer are standing up for themselves. They haven’t allowed debates or votes on Dole’s bills. We need a senator who is going to stand up for us, not the Washington Democrats. We need Elizabeth Dole.

Neil Oakley
Burlington

So, with the recent dramatic decreases in real estate values, property owners should see corresponding drops their property tax bills, right?

Sure we will!

Robert Powell
Greensboro

A letter to the editor titled “Who am I?” (Sept. 24) seemingly compares and likens Sarah Palin’s experience and track record to Theodore Roosevelt’s. This has also bounced around the Internet.

It is misleading. The fact of the matter is that before he was the vice presidential candidate in 1900, Theodore Roosevelt was a:

• New York state assemblyman, in the state legislature;

• Harvard graduate (with honors);

• mayoral candidate for New York City (unsuccessful);

• civil service commissioner;

• police commissioner of New York City;

• assistant secretary of the Navy;

• rancher in the Dakota Territory;

• colonel, 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry (later awarded the Medal of Honor);

• governor of New York;

• nationally recognized biographer, historian and writer (author of more than 10 books by this time, one of which still stands as a classic today).

While she certainly has her attributes and strengths, Sarah Palin is no Theodore Roosevelt.

Gregory A. Wynn
Greensboro

I wonder what Teddy Roosevelt’s stance on abortion would have been?

If he had been against abortion, I wonder if he would have maintained that opposition even in the instance of rape and/or incest?

Would Teddy Roosevelt have opposed stem cell research?

Yes, Teddy Roosevelt did indeed love to hunt, but I am fairly certain he never shot wolves from helicopters.

He did wear the cutest little spectacles though, didn’t he?

Who am I? Someone who believes what Teddy Roosevelt did or did not do in 1900 is not particularly relevant in 2008!

Deborah W. Stanton
Greensboro

If letter writer F.T. Greene is trying to say Gov. Palin is another Teddy Roosevelt, he or she is the most misguided individual to write an opinion to this page.

Paul Moscato
Siler City

The current financial crisis isn’t due to subprime mortgages, but to the fact that millions of Americans can’t afford their houses. The reason can be summed up in two words: income polarization. The economic structure of taxes, regulations and subsidies takes from the middle class and gives to the rich. Here’s a quick example: the fact that a 30 percent interest rate on credit cards isn’t legally defined as usury.

Big Business forgot something about the American middle class: It’s the world’s most significant customer base. If this critical business asset isn’t nurtured, it will soon exhaust itself and discretionary income will run out.

Under the current administration, the middle class has been milked without being fed. What we’re witnessing is the exhaustion of that asset. Without this asset, no one’s wealth is safe because all businesses need customers.

The Democratic agenda entails nurturing this asset. This isn’t how Democrats think, but it is the result of what they do; that’s why we’ve historically seen prosperity during most recent Democratic administrations. Democrats are accidentally better for business.

That’s the main reason to vote for Obama. McCain agrees with current economic policies. Those policies have proved way too dangerous.

Steven Taub
Greensboro

I can personally attest to the humility of Paul Newman after a chance encounter 12 years ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway (now Lowe’s Motor Speedway). I was at the track for a practice session as I started racing Legends cars that year and was in the “drivers’ lounge” inside the track. I was getting into my driver’s suit when the lounge door opened and in stepped a very familiar face. My shock must have been quite apparent as he strode over to me with his hand out and said, “Hi, I’m Paul Newman,” as if I never would have known without him saying so.

I recovered as I shook his hand and introduced myself. We chatted briefly about him being there to practice in his new Legends Car. We ran some laps together and it soon became apparent that he was a skilled race car driver as well as a great actor.

I was saddened by his passing and grateful for having seen the racer side of him for those few moments that day.

Jay Moore
Jamestown

The citizens of Guilford County have generously approved three bond issues in this decade to build and improve schools all across the county, providing seats for almost 23,000. Our county commissioners have been raising property taxes to pay for the projects completed so far. This puts the tax burden on county property owners and on people who rent, since owners pass along their property tax increases to their renters.

The commissioners have placed, on the Nov. 4 ballot, a ¼-cent sales tax to help pay for the already approved school construction and have promised that all of the revenue from this sales tax will go to pay for school construction. This amounts to 25 cents of sales tax for every $100 of purchases. Groceries, prescription drugs and gasoline are exempt from this tax.

The good thing about a sales tax (instead of property tax) is that about 40 percent of the sales tax revenues come from shoppers who live outside of Guilford County. Therefore, approving the ¼-cent sales tax will actually reduce the taxes that will have to be paid by county residents.

Please vote for the ¼-cent sales tax on Nov. 4.

Frank Kendall
Greensboro

Former Vice President Dan Quayle spelled the word “potato” wrong and the mainstream media hammered him mercilessly as a dolt.

ABC News anchorman Charlie Gibson smugly grilled vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in an attempt to embarrass her. CBS News’ vastly overrated anchor, Katie Couric, tried to trip Palin up on her subsequent interview with the candidate.

Yet, the supposedly “experienced” Democratic VP candidate, Joe Biden, claimed that Franklin Roosevelt tried to calm the nation on television after the 1929 stock market crash. Afterward, the media are completely silent about two monumentally stupid mistakes.

For the uninformed, Herbert Hoover was the president in 1929 and, although television had been invented at that point, it was not commercially available. Had Palin made these mistakes, there would have been a media bloodbath.

If this does not reveal the media double standard and its absolute determination to help the Democrats win the White House, nothing does. Yet, the media refuse to accept what most of us have known for years — that they have lost any semblance of integrity and fairness on political issues.

No one in the mainstream media seems to understand that there is a price to pay for insulting at least half of the people in this nation, namely circulation losses and plummeting newscast ratings.

Michael Dougherty
Eden

I find the proposed Wall Street $700 billion bailout analogous to a homeowner with a known termite-infested house slapping a new coat of paint on the house and hoping to sell it to some unsuspecting (sucker) buyer. Thank you.

W. Dennis Kohut
Greensboro

Once again the American taxpayer is going to foot the bill for greed and ignorance.

Greed is on the part of mortgage companies and banks that made home loans to people they knew could not make the payments. They even offered special interest rates to get home buyers to sign.

Ignorance is on the part of home buyers who can’t do basic math (for instance, income versus expenses must be greater than zero). I know they were enticed by those teaser mortgage rates, but did they really think those rates were forever?

Why is it the bank I’ve dealt with for 35 years scrutinizes my finances for any personal or business loan, while millions of people apparently waltzed through the process who obviously weren’t qualified? Does this mean I’ll get help paying off my home loan too? Yeah, right.

My reward for being fiscally responsible all these years is that, not only will I not get help, my taxes will go up to help pay off this mess.

Jimmy Wiggins
Greensboro

Amid the negative news stories that normally fill our newspaper, it was a breath of fresh air to read about the Headingtons’ trip to Greece as volunteers with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (“Two faces of Crete: Poetry writer and poet doer,” Life, Sept. 28).

The story was a cool oasis amid battling politicians, weather emergencies and financial downturns.

Thank you for recognizing the merit of a well-written account of folks who are doing something positive and creative. Their spirit is as beautiful as the countries they are visiting. I look forward with anticipation to reading more about their adventures.

Paula Peters Marra
Greensboro

My wife and I live in Rep. Howard Coble’s district and cannot find any evidence that he has voted to support his constituents’ best interests. Please consider the following before you vote this year.

• Coble voted against lower drug prices for seniors and for deep cuts in Medicare services;

• against extending unemployment benefits for job-loss retraining due to trade with China or NAFTA;

• against helping homeowners with troubled mortgages;

• against curbs on pollution and global warming;

• against prevention of child abuse;

• against renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP);

• against equal pay to women for equal work;

• for the invasion of Iraq in an unjustified war;

• and finally, voted for “big oil” repeatedly while refusing to consider energy efficiency or renewable energy.

In short, Mr. Coble doesn’t represent us on any of the major issues like the economy, health care, the environment or income security for seniors.

Teresa Sue Bratton is clearly the best choice. She is a retired pediatrician who served Greensboro children. She is our “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” to best serve us and make the changes we need and deserve.

Thomas A. Clary
Greensboro

Many letters this week regarding the presidential election! Some, however, make you wonder where the writer obtained the information. Oh yes, I forgot, there are still people who believe anything that comes out of a celebrity’s mouth or that they read on the Internet! Can no one promote their candidate with verifiable facts without slamming the other candidate with questionable rumors?

One letter did stand out. It concerns me with its statement: “Senator Obama may not be the perfect candidate, but is way ahead of his competition.” Do you mean all of his competition or just McCain? So, in other words, you will vote for the “lesser of the two evils” in your opinion? How many others share this same thought, whether it is for Obama or McCain? If you vote for someone other than either of these candidates, do you think your vote is wasted? Shame on any registered voter who feels this way. Research all candidates, then vote for the one you can defend choosing for the next four years. And by the way, Mr. Carter (letter, Sept. 24), could you please provide the data that proves “Southerners will not use their God-given minds when it comes to politics”?

Teresa McClarren
Greensboro

My parents were married at the Naval Academy in 1942. Repeatedly in my dad’s shipboard letters to my mother, he would write, “I dreamed of John,” “I dreamed of John,” here referring to his brother, Dr. John Bumgarner of Greensboro, who was then a POW in the Philippines and Japan.

Postwar, my dad died four years after he began his own medical practice, and I spent nine years in the V.F.W. Children’s Home with my brothers and sister, where I saw battered veterans of every kind, so I am well aware of John McCain’s suffering as a POW.

Still, most all of our wartime presidents were temperate individuals — Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln, Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt — all agreeing with John F. Kennedy that “civility is not a sign of weakness.” Gens. Eisenhower and Marshall had this temperament as well, as does Gen. Petraeus.

John McCain, however, because of his temper, is not fit to be president. In every other way my prayers go out to him.

Richard Bumgarner
Greensboro

The preamble to our Constitution says the government is responsible: for domestic tranquility, for defense, to “promote the general welfare” and to secure the blessings of liberty.

Unfortunately, the federal government has taken the “general welfare” meaning far beyond the original intent. And it is inept at what it tries to do:

1. Medicare is rife with fraud.
2. Medicare and Social Security are becoming financially untenable.
3. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are corrupt and bankrupt.
4. Recently, the founder of Canada’s national health care system, Claude Castonguay, said the system is in “crisis.”

How can people want even more of this?

Paul Camp
Greensboro

I decided to look up the recent history of depressions in the United States. I wanted to know which president was presiding, and whether he had inherited a bad situation.

The depression of 1873-1879: U.S. Grant, a Republican, was president from 1869-1877.

Rutherford B. Hayes, another Republican, was president from 1877-1881.

The depression of 1893-1898: Benjamin Harrison, another Republican, was president from 1889-1893. Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, was president from 1893-1897.

The panic of 1907: Teddy Roosevelt, another Republican, was president from 1901-1909.

The Great Depression 1929-1941: Calvin Coolidge, another Republican, was president from 1923-1929. Herbert Hoover, another Republican, was president from 1929-1933. Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, was president from 1933-1945.

The second great depression: 2008-?: George W. Bush, another Republican, is president.

In 1905. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

I remember the gas lines from Nixon/Ford. I remember buying my house at 12.75 percent interest under Reagan. I remember the 1990-91 recession under Reagan/Bush. Do you remember Bush Sr.’s “Read my lips”?

Can you afford to elect another Republican? Vote Democratic. Vote Obama.

Tom McCoy
Stokesdale

It seems self-evident that a citizen, such as myself, is empowered by the Constitution to seek and receive redress of grievances. However, history proves we must gather great crowds of witnesses before any redress is possible in Greensboro.

The grievance to which I am referring is the apparent lack of authority of city officials over the so-called “gang squad” in the Greensboro Police Department, including the chief of police, the city manager, the mayor or the City Council.

A group of religious leaders has met with the chief, the mayor, the city manager, the director of the Human Relations Council with regard to the harassment Jorge Cornell and other members of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation have been experiencing at the hands of our police, particularly since they started seeking to make peace among “gangs.”

All that has come of these visits is “we’ll look into it,” and, “we’ll ask them to lighten up,” which has resulted in no noticeable change.

It is long past time that city officials do their job to control and, if warranted, fire the sworn officers who are shadowing, detaining and bringing false charges against our fellow citizens.

Bob Foxworth
Greensboro

More than 47 million Americans are without health care insurance, mainly because of cost. This equals to one out of every six Americans.

We are the only country in the western industrialized world that does not provide a government-sponsored national health care system for all its citizens. Are all of the countries wrong and we’re right?

The Republican Party has blocked every attempt to provide such a program because of cost and suggesting it was socialism.

Banks and mortgage institutions are failing, caused by subprime mortgages and governmental deregulation of these institutions. (No one was keeping an eye on them.)

Deregulation was strongly favored by Republicans, including John McCain, until these banks and mortgage institutions started to fail, causing the stock market to look like the 1929 crash.

Now our government steps in to save these institutions at a cost of at least $1 trillion.

Granted, it’s necessary to save us from a repeat of the 1929 stock market crash, but believe it or not, this also is socialism.

It seems to be OK to save the “fat cats” of our country but not the shrinking, burdened and uninsured middle-class Americans.

Freddie Deuhring
Greensboro

In November, Greensboro voters will have an opportunity to vote on improvements to the Smith Senior Center (Greensboro Parks and Recreation facility), by supporting the Parks and Recreation bond. The Smith Senior Center is a safe and well-maintained public facility where senior citizens can participate in exercise programs, group activities, field trips and fellowship.

Through the Parks and Recreation bond, Smith Senior Center will have construction upgrades, which include providing an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible entrance on the north side of the building, paving the gravel lot, building a shelter and adding a multipurpose practice field for Senior Games. Please support our seniors.

Lori Hampton Galbreath
Greensboro

The writer is Greensboro Parks and Recreation commissioner.

I would like to express my support for the re-election of Darlene Garrett to the Guilford County Board of Education. I was recently transferred to another city and my son, David, wanted to remain in Greensboro to finish high school at Weaver Academy.

When no one else would listen to our son’s heartfelt desire to complete his high school education at the school he loved, Garrett came to our assistance and worked out the details for David to re-enter Weaver.

I can’t begin to express how important this was to our son and how grateful we are to Garrett. I know that we are only one of many families that Garrett has stood by to help obtain the finest education possible for their children.

I truly feel that Guilford County is blessed to have someone like Darlene Garrett serving on the board of education and serving as an advocate for our students, their parents and the teachers.

Rev. Stephen Haines
Salisbury

Is anyone else concerned that vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has given such little time to the press since being selected as John McCain’s running mate? She has given just three interviews, held no press conferences, and refused to go on TV to comment immediately after the first presidential debate.

If McCain is elected, she will be a heartbeat away from running this country, and I don’t want someone leading this country who is afraid to answer questions from the press.

Kathy Mills
Greensboro

“The largest transfer of wealth in history” is actually from Main Street to Wall Street.

Remember the tech bubble, Enron, real-estate tranches, and now energy speculation. And for all this, the Big Five New York brokers paid themselves $39 billion in bonuses last year.

What does the $700 billion bailout of real-estate paper do to reduce the cost of gas, food or power? Nothing.

Consider: Put $700 billion in natural gas, drilling, oil shale and clean coal. We could be energy-independent quickly.

So, just who is the bailout supposed to help?

Bill Price
Pine Knoll Shores

As a red-blooded, born-again, real American voter, I’d like to say a few things about this election in which both sides say they stand for change. Shoot! Anyone who pays attention these days knows who the real agents of change are: McCain and Palin!

Change of mind, I mean.

Sarah Palin, who’s against earmarks, last year asked for and got more earmarks per person for Alaska than any other state. For great stuff, too, like improving sport halibut fishing and studying the mating habits of crabs and figuring out the DNA of harbor seals.

John McCain’s gone from opposing tax cuts for rich folks to loving them, from saying he doesn’t know much about economics to saying he’s got ’em nailed. He was for Roe v. Wade once but now he’s not. Warrantless wiretaps, uncharged prisoners sitting in concentration camps forever, torturing captives and Guantanamo once were bad but now they’re good. And don’t forget he didn’t want to expand the GI Bill or privatize Social Security until he does today.

Politics of change? McCain and Palin win hands down.

Which is why I’m voting for Obama-Biden.

Charles Hawes
Greensboro

The McCain and Obama debate provided a revealing exchange not noted by the many pundits dissecting this debate.

McCain referred to a bracelet given to him by the mother of a serviceman killed in Iraq. This mother’s request was that McCain make sure her son’s death was not in vain. Obama responded that he, too, wore a bracelet honoring a deceased American serviceman. This mother’s request was that Obama work to ensure that more mothers not suffer the pain of losing children to war.

There could be no clearer contrast between values than that expressed by this bit of dialogue. For many, the loss of a life in a lost war is a life lost “in vain.” Winning the war in Iraq is necessary to justify the deaths and maiming of our young women and men. For others, no life lost in service to America is lost “in vain,” yet all lives lost to this war are senseless tragedies.

While we fume over the cost of gas, let us not forget that our children are dying under our flag on foreign soil. Let us reflect on the meaning of these deaths, and let each vote cast in November express life-affirming values.

Michael Artman
Greensboro

In response to “Aggressive breeds don’t belong in City BarkPark” (letter, Sept. 25).

I have visited the BarkPark. I didn’t witness the bite incident, don’t know the owner of the pit bull, and don’t know the victim. What I do know is the Humane Society, ASPCA and American Veterinary Medical Association all agree that breed-specific laws are not a solution to dog bites. Any dog can bite. In a recent study, Dachshunds, Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers showed higher-than-average aggression levels toward people and dogs.

No question dog aggression is frightening. But banning specific breeds from a public park is not a solution. Responsible dog ownership is a solution. Dogs need to be socialized, trained, kept healthy and neutered. And owners need to know their dog.

The BarkPark rules must be followed, especially “Enter at your own risk,” “Remove dogs at the first sign of aggression,” “Dogs with a history of dangerous behavior prohibited,” “Parents must accompany children under age 16,” “No admittance of children age 8 and under.”

The BarkPark is a fun place. One should not feel uneasy visiting. Visitors should be responsible dog owners, use common sense, and remember any dog can bite. Let’s “punish the deed, not the breed.”

Amy Eberle
Reidsville

In response to the Sept. 21 letter by Brent Kulman regarding the Farmers’ Market: Some market customers are very upset about “sudden” enforcement of market policies. This has actually been an ongoing issue for market vendors for some time. Customers upset about “products not readily available elsewhere” need more facts.

I, too, purchased the “Amish” cheese until a realization that it is Heinis cheese, a company located in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country. This cheese is easily purchased online from the company; one may also sign up to be a distributor. For the more personable consumer, Earth Fare offers at least 17 varieties of this cheese.

Some customers are now demanding and feel deserving of having input into market policies and what can be sold. Mr. Kulman states: “This issue is about precedent and consumer sovereignty within the context of preserving the market’s vibrancy and 'local’ character.” I think this issue is about maintaining the mission statement and integrity of this market, a focus of any local farmers’ market.

There should be no question about what is sold at the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market. The name dictates what it’s all about: products that truly are unavailable anywhere else.

Jim Rientjes
Greensboro

I read with horrified fascination Lisa M. Shumake-Wright’s Sept. 25 letter to the editor.

She is offended because she hasn’t heard Barack Obama “embrace his 50 percent Caucasian background.” I guess she hasn’t been listening because I have heard him speak many times of the positive influence his white mother, grandmother and grandfather had on making him the principled, empathetic, intelligent man he is today.

Shumake-Wright’s reason for supporting John McCain is that “he is a maverick.” She supports and admires Sarah Palin because “she is a wife, mother and businesswoman.” She finds Palin to be the “perfect” vice-presidential candidate because she “has a son in Iraq, a pregnant teenage daughter, and a disabled child.”

Are these the qualifications one looks for when electing the next president and vice president of the United States? Her twisted and ill-informed logic is frightening and disturbing.

I hope and pray that the rest of the American public will use more intelligence and critical thinking than she does when they make their choices at the polls.

Laura J. Ford
Greensboro

This letter is written to encourage every voter to find some answer to how and why our country has arrived in the present financial crisis before casting their vote for the next president. The crisis produced by “subprime” loans that have been largely related to borrowers, banks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac home-loan agencies and the legislation relating to their performance since 1977 is well described in Terry Jones’ series of articles, “Uncommon Knowledge,” beginning Sept. 23 in Investor’s Business Daily.

A Google search will find the above and many other excellent references to the “subprime” crisis.

Charles A. Speas Phillips
Greensboro

After reading the letters to the editor section for several weeks, I think Spiro Agnew described their contents accurately. In response to criticisms from his opponents, he referred to them as “nattering nabobs of negativity.” What a perfect description of our current political dialogue.

Change is an excellent theme for a political campaign. It will come after Nov. 4. Since Barack Obama has not identified his ideas on change beyond the traditional and/or revised progressive ideas, I see no reason to take his candidacy seriously.

Richard O’Neal
Greensboro

In view of the credit crunch and impact on municipal debt interest, I am asking that the City Council rescind its approval for the $205 million in bond issues on the ballot.

Recently, Kent County, Mich., sent a $15 million, 10-year refinancing bond to market. It will pay $750,000 more in interest than originally anticipated. The seven-day interest rate has recently increased from 1.8 percent to 5.15 percent.

I am not sure that Greensboro can afford these additional bond issues, as well-intentioned as they may be. The previous assumptions on the costs and the means to pay are no longer valid. If the credit crunch continues to the point that employers cannot make payrolls and employees thus cannot make mortgage payments, property taxes will be a moot point. If there are more foreclosures than the market can handle, property values will decline and so will property taxes.

I realize that the bond issues cannot be removed from the ballot as absentee ballots have already been sent and are being returned. Some voters may support the bond issues without recognizing their financial implications. Therefore, I strenuously encourage the City Council to reconsider the matter and determine what actions can be taken.

DeLonda Farmer
Greensboro

I find the negative ads of those politicians promoting them very repulsive. I also find those media who air them to be of the same character.

I always heard, if you can’t say something good about a person, don’t say anything. Reminds me of a story once heard about Mr. Jones, who was always determined to say only good things about everyone. A man asked him what he thought about Satan. Mr. Jones thought a minute and then replied, he’s a hard worker. Seems like many of our politicians and media are also hard workers.

Joe Newsom
Star

I never imagined that I would ever be quoting Karl Marx with approval, but then I recall his words: “History repeats itself: First as tragedy, then as farce.”

Hitler’s Nazis used the Reichstag fire in the 1930s to stampede the German people into accepting a dictatorship. Our current administration has used a supposed collapse of our financial system to stampede Congress into a ruinously inflationary “rescue” (renamed from “bailout”).

Tom Kirby-Smith
Greensboro

In the Sept. 28 paper, you provide profiles of three candidates for governor on page A11. Yet, on page A10, you lay out the views of only two of those candidates on various matters related to education.

You indicate that Libertarian candidate Mike Munger has said he is unlikely to win. With press coverage such as you’re providing definitively biased toward the other two candidates, it’s no wonder.

Jon Antin
Greensboro

After having read the various comments regarding traffic noise on the new Urban Loop, the following idea has occurred to me. Why not create “Death Valley” as a truck route designated with proper highway signs? Doubtless trucks, including 18-wheelers, create more noise per vehicle than any others traveling the loop. This would not be out of the ordinary since many cities route trucks differently, avoiding their residential areas.

And since this original Interstate 40 highway is the shortest east-west corridor, surely trucks would appreciate the change, especially given the now expensive cost of diesel fuel.

Charles C. King
Siler City

So, let me get this straight. Individual submits bribes, er, campaign contributions, to Mike Easley for $125,000. Same individual gets appointed to DOT board. Individual proceeds to feather his own nest, er, provide road enhancements adjacent to property individual owns. Individual sells property and makes fortune. Few, if any, in state government see a conflict.

Sounds like business as usual in Raleigh. No oversight, no ethics, no problem.

Joe Wade
Oak Ridge

I read with interest the differing political views of those who write in to passionately express what they believe. Without a doubt, I think that politics strikes at the very core of an individual’s beliefs, second only to their religious views.

I would like to comment on who would make the best first lady. I don’t think anyone, regardless of how they feel about her husband, can argue that Laura Bush has shown all the style, grace and responsibility that the office demands.

Along this premise, let’s consider the two prospective first ladies. Michelle Obama is educated, intelligent, stylish and best remembered for her quote of how, for the first time in her life, she was proud of her country.

Cindy McCain, however, has always been proud of her country and doesn’t just say that she is, she lives her life in a way that proves it. Her two sons serve in the military. She has been involved with numerous charities, and she is a hands-on philanthropist.

Is there any question which of the two would honor the position of first lady best? Cindy McCain is a doer, not a complainer!

W.F. Millard
Greensboro

I have two questions for those of you waxing effusive about Sarah Palin:

For those of you who think she is experienced in government, I suggest governmental experience is partially based on population governed. We consider the mayor of New York City more experienced than his Greensboro counterpart, all else being equal.

Now suppose that for economic efficiency, we decided to combine all the towns and county governments in Guilford and Forsyth counties into a single entity, headed by an elected mayor (suppose it were the former mayor of Kernersville, a town roughly twice as large as Palin’s town). Would you consider that person qualified to be vice president after any number of years in office? He or she would have been governing a population larger that Sarah Palin has.

If you, like the Republican Party, are bursting with pride at a “historic” nomination, do explain this notion given the fact that the Democrats nominated a woman 24 long years ago. What is historic, other, perhaps, than the Republicans catching up to the times in a mere two and a half decades?

William H. Conner
Greensboro

1. It seems that women who legitimately make it to the top in a man’s world would have more hurdles to climb than men do. Why would anyone think just the opposite and somehow believe that women are given a free pass, especially by the press?

2. Women with children have been in the workplace for years with little fanfare from the press. When Sarah Palin comes on the scene, instantly a majority of the press hypocritically touts the virtues of stay-at-home moms.

3. Unions stand for better wages for a better life but see nothing wrong with extinguishing life at its most indefensible stage. Here in the Bible Belt, many are aware of the Scriptural passage that says woe be to them who call evil good and good evil.

4. Some North Carolinians are proud that politicians here keep their family matters private and have criticized Sarah Palin for not doing so. They have forgotten that anyone who runs for national office has no immunity to the press. Just ask John Edwards.

5. Would we have better health coverage if Russia or China invaded and conquered our country? Shouldn’t national defense be the first priority?

Mary Underwood
Asheboro

Smoking in public places in the United States is a major issue yet to be confronted. According to the American Heart Association, “25.9 million men (23.9 percent of the population) and 20.7 million women (18.1 percent of the population)” are smokers. If you let these people enter public restaurants, parks and streets, they will cause harm to our bodies.

Cigarette smoke carries 4,000 chemicals, and among the 4,000 chemicals, at least 60 are known to cause cancer in humans. Allowing these people to smoke in our neighborhoods, communities and entertainment spots will cause more harm than good. We wouldn’t want our families and friends to be stricken by an illness from a smoker, let alone die by the hands of a smoker. If we do not stop public smoking, people will suffer from brain damage, cancer, heart disease and/or respiratory diseases.

Christopher J. Hinton
Raleigh

Rhetoric about “change” has been bouncing around. Greensboro taxpayers saw the majority of their City Council kowtow to special interests and vote to continue throwing their hard-earned money into established money pits. A thorough accounting of the whereabouts of all the past funds would be a “change.”

Pleasant Garden has become the victim of narrow-minded people wanting to strangle the life from our small town. Our town council members should pull their heads from the sand and work on what’s good for the town as a whole for a “change.”

On the national level the Democrats say we cannot go another eight years as we have gone. The Democrats have been in the majority in Congress. Are they saying get rid of the Democratic majority as a “change.” The Republicans say we need a “change.” Does that mean they want to put a Democrat in the White House?

When elected officials all start clamoring for “change,” does this mean they want to go home? Let’s send everyone home for a “change” and start all over.

Brenda Norris
Pleasant Garden

Richard Nixon gave us wage and price freezes. Even before the Reagan administration, the Republicans insisted the perfect way to run the economy was to make the rich richer. This created the worst recession in years. And every time that they try this philosophy, the economy goes in the toilet. The theory is that if you give huge tax breaks to the rich, they will invest it in companies that will use the money to improve their companies and hire new people from the middle class so that everybody makes out.

It has had several names: trickle-down economics and voodoo economics, to name a couple. Very rarely is that money invested in anything that will stimulate the economy. It has been proved time and again that this premise is horse hockey. When Clinton left office, there was actually a budget surplus. What did Dubya do with it?

But what do they do when they really want to stimulate the economy? They send the middle class $300 and beg them to spend it at Walmart. When Democrats were in office, we had a stable economy, low unemployment rates and peace in the world. Which one of those did you not like?

Bob Carter
Greensboro

Over the past 50 years the United Nations has become the home of the most hateful and anti-family zealots in the world, promoting everything that violates our country’s positions on freedom.

One example is the Third Committee, which focuses on social, humanitarian and cultural issues. The committee is an anti-family and anti-life group. It’s supported by Planned Parenthood, The Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, etc. All want legalized abortion to be the law of the land in every country in the world.

U.N. committees are not transparent, and the Third Committee hides behind human rights. It is a sham, but they insist that countries worldwide have asked for the abortion rule. Not true. Many countries have stated they will not accept such invasive U.N. rules.

So, while we are watching our political campaigns, remember at the U.N. these anti-family and anti-life hate radicals are trying to subvert our own laws. Contact your senators and representative to the U.N. and complain.

Don Mulligan
High Point

I believe Barack Obama is ready to be commander in chief. He has shown in his campaign that he is willing to work for the American people.

You know, we have had 40-plus presidents; we’ve got Democrats, Republicans, congressmen and senators. None of them ever experienced the position they have until the voters gave them a chance to be elected to that position. That is why I’m willing to give Obama a chance to make the difference and changes that we the people need. For our economy, health care, war and jobs.

We’ve have politicians who have been in Washington for a long time and still can’t get the job done. So why should we keep putting the same people in the White House who do nothing year after year. What has Elizabeth Dole done for us in North Carolina; what has she done for our jobs and textiles?

One thing is for sure: Obama can’t be any worse than we already have, and he can’t do any worse than what we’ve already done.

Lizzie Allen
Burlington

I know there are many responsible pet owners whose pets are spayed or neutered. If all others were as responsible, this would eliminate many strays being born. Do they not realize most of those animals in shelters are doomed and will be euthanized?

I also would like to comment about rabies. There is no excuse for any dog or cat not being vaccinated against this fatal disease. Rabies clinics are held all over the county, and for $5 an animal can be protected. Rabies is deadly. I read that Guilford County has confirmed its 17th case. An outbreak of rabies in a community can be devastating. I know that probably nothing can be done about wild animals, but pets can be protected.

In 1949, I was bitten by a stray dog that came into our yard. Daddy knew the dog was rabid. The dog was killed and its head sent by bus to Raleigh. Rabies was confirmed and I was given 14 anti-rabies injections — one each day for 14 days.

Please be a responsible pet owner and help do away with strays and animal shelters and help wipe out rabies.

Pauline Richardson
Mayodan

I read the recent News & Record article on the Constitution with great interest (Sept. 14). I have long been a proponent of the importance of the principles in our founding documents as the foundation for democracy and the American way of life.

The Constitution and other founding documents, whose principles should be at the forefront of our political discussion in an election year, are too often pushed to the background.

I am thrilled that this year there is a candidate for local office who is different. Don Vaughan, candidate for state Senate in Greensboro, has fought hard to make sure that our high school students have a knowledge and understanding of the principles in the founding documents and the U.S. Constitution before graduation. He was awarded the George Washington Medal of Honor by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge for getting legislation passed in nine states that accomplished this goal.

Democrat or Republican, we can all agree that leaders like Don Vaughan, who have worked for years defending and promoting the principles in the Constitution, are the kind of people we need in elected office.

W. David Stedman
Winston-Salem

I read recently that a poll suggests that 40 percent of white voters will not vote for Barack Obama because of his skin color. This disturbs me because some of those polled said they agree in part to his policies but will not vote for him cause he is black.

I, being a black man, have voted for white candidates because of the issues and policies and will do the same this year.

I am not voting for McCain because the other candidate is black but because I do not agree with his policies.

Please, voters, look at the issues and not the skin color. I am a poet and have written a piece that you can read online at myspace.com/gregbryantpoet. The content is strong and I hope I am wrong.

Vote with your mind and not with your eyes.

Gregory Bryant
Greensboro

Regarding Ted Bachmann’s Sept. 24 letter on our financial meltdown:

There’s plenty of blame to go around. Our collective apathy has allowed hypocrisy, charade and corruption to occur.

This is three strikes and you’re out: the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, the Enron-Andersen debacle in 2001 and the present meltdown. We’re still burying our heads in the sand. A 20-year experiment has unwound in earnest.

The savings-and-loan industry was deregulated in 1982. The Glass-Steagall Act, which prohibited commercial banks from having investment activities, was repealed in 1999. Among those shepherding this latter experiment through Congress were Alan Greenspan, Phil Gramm and Wendy Gramm. Paul Volcker and others warned us of the consequences 10 years ago.
No one is blameless. President Clinton signed the repeal of Glass-Steagall. Four out of the Keating Five were Democrats. John McCain was the sole Republican. They were accused of improperly aiding Charles Keating, chairman of a failed savings and loan. Sound familiar?

Henry Paulson is now using dynamite in an attempt to prevent a depression.

One of Obama’s economic advisers is Paul Volcker. McCain has gotten advice from Phil and Wendy Gramm. The top investment banks are now gone.

Where might this end?

Paul King
Jamestown

Dear Madame House Speaker Pelosi:

When passage of the economic rescue bill early last week required leadership, you failed miserably because your whips, chairmen and 40 percent of majority Democrats voted NO.

When the situation called for bipartisanship, you created a toxic atmosphere by making an offensive partisan speech prior to the vote.

Your ineffective leadership cost retirees like me millions of dollars in savings because you could not resist playing politics.

You are at the core of the present economic crisis.

Democrats pressured financial institutions to make risky loans to people who couldn’t afford mortgages; pressured Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy up risky mortgages; and allowed Democratic CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to sell bundled mortgages as AAA securities. When the administration and Republican congressmen attempted to rein them in, Democrats stonewalled reforms and attacked regulators.

You failed us, and we pay the price.

You show you do not care a whit about the impact of your actions on the American people as long as you believe they bring your party extra seats, power and perhaps the presidency.

John Hooks
High Point

It’s silly season. The weather has cooled, the windows are open. It seemed prudent to inform my neighbor that angry words emanating from my window are directed at the computer or TV. “Liar! Do you think we’re stupid? Deceitful cur!” and sometimes something a bit stronger.

What provokes these outbursts? Political ads are the initiators. Elizabeth Dole’s ads in particular are negative and outrageously misleading. It appears that when incumbents have little to point to in the way of accomplishments, they resort to attacks that remove the focus from real issues. This results in an electorate that’s lost faith in the process.

To Dole, and all candidates, I would say, forget your opponent. What do you think? What will you do? If you convince us that you are the best choice, do what you say you will do. For Dole, that ship has already sailed. She has supported the failed Bush agenda, not the people who sent her to Washington.

I will support Kay Hagan. I am convinced that she has the best interests of North Carolinians at heart as well as the skill and experience to accomplish her goals on our behalf.

Diane Ilardi
High Point

Regarding a recent letter on oil facts:

We don’t know how much undiscovered oil there is. Based on predictions in the 1970s, we should now be out of oil. Many experts say we can get oil from offshore in two to five years. Since no one thinks we are not going to need oil in two or 20 years, the sooner we start, the sooner we get oil.

Everyone likes to hate oil companies. We are going to have to depend on them to produce oil. No one expects us to be in electric cars without developing nuclear power or coal resources to produce the electricity. We are doing neither. If we could change to natural gas-powered cars, we would still have to drill for it.

Oil will be shipped to whatever area will return the most profit. The difference is that competition will reduce the price. We will benefit from exporting oil and importing money instead of sending money to our enemies. Economics calls it “supply and demand.”

Here are the facts: We should drill here, drill now, and pay less.

Ed Preston
Greensboro

Twenty or so years ago, while on City Council, I appointed Don Vaughan to the Parks and Recreation Commission, where he served long and well.

Subsequently, Don was elected to the Greensboro City Council and was re-elected several times there. Too, Don is city attorney for the town of Pleasant Garden.

Don’s law practice has taken him to Raleigh often, and he understands state government and the relationship between the state and local governments, which, after all, are creatures of the state.

Partisan politics aside (he’s a Democrat and I’m Republican), Don’s education, long service and work ethic commend him to all voters.

I’m going to vote for him.

Chuck Forrester
Greensboro

Let’s face it: There is no such thing as tax cutting; there is only tax deferral. Sooner or later, our children will have to pay higher taxes to retire the debt this so-called “tax-cutting” caused. A one-time tax deferral which necessitates interest payments over many years is not good business practice, either. Ask any MBA.

Only two reasons justify borrowing for tax deferral: 1) a dire national emergency, where the very survival of our society is threatened; and 2) major capital improvements, which have lasting value. We don’t need bigger houses or more cars. We don’t need unnecessary consumption.

We do need to pay down the national debt and get rid of those interest charges. Then we can have a real tax cut.

As long as both candidates keep using the words, “I’ll cut your taxes,” they speak naively and untruthfully. Let’s not fall for that “tax cut” spiel again! When will a candidate tell us the truth?

The yearly interest on that $700 billion bailout at 4 percent is $28 billion. Even without payback, that’s about $300 per year for an average American family of four.

Phil Porter
Greensboro

Your article, “Seeking answers to animal cruelty” (Sept. 28), once again reminds us all of a serious issue in our county: the mistreatment of pets. Can we stop using the bad economy as an excuse for animal abuse and neglect? When the economy was better, pets were still being dropped off at the shelter and cruelty to animals still existed.

As a teacher and animal lover, I believe, as the article mentioned, that stiffer penalties are in order. But we must get to the heart of the matter, which is education. Let’s put more effort into educating the public about how to treat and care for pets.

People often hold beliefs about how animals should be treated, and this is most likely modeled by parents or other adults. Children are naturally caring and concerned about living things, and our schools would be a great place to start. Education is the key to improving attitudes and behaviors toward animals.

Our county needs to make the needs of the animal shelter a priority and, along with providing a better facility, work toward a focus on pet-care education.

Deborah Belcher
Greensboro

UNC-Chapel Hill has long favored African American studies over the studies of other ethnic groups that make up the entire student body. As an African American and UNC-CH graduate, I’ve seen the university pander to the baseless cries of black students concerning notions of racism.

When will the UNC system stop investing capital, intellectual or otherwise, in the study of one culture over another? The university’s rich heritage surely does not need African American studies to continue to be best university in America. UNC-CH should support all cultures, not the whining of a vocal minority.

Blaine Mack
Greensboro

I would like to address this letter to all Americans, black and white, who won’t vote for a man, Sen. Barack Obama, because of the color of his skin. I overheard a conversation between two Caucasian women the other day. One remarked that she is a Democrat but is voting for McCain because “I just can’t bring myself to vote for a Neeegro.”

My question for those of like mind and low intelligence is this: Do you know how many “Neeegroes” have helped shape your life?

George Washington Carver discovered uses for the peanut and other products. Are you not going to use those products because he was black?

Garrett Morgan invented the gas mask. Are you not going to use the mask because the inventor was black?

Dr. Charles Drew created new techniques for blood storage and helped develop large-scale blood banks. Are you not going to get a transfusion to save your life because he was black?

Come on, voters. Don’t set us back a hundred years. Vote for the candidate who can identify with the average American’s issues — who is going into this election with his eyes wide open — not the one with blinders on. Vote for Barack Obama.

Carie E. Cauthen
Greensboro

Few people seem ambivalent about the presidential election.

Deeply opposing philosophies of American governance are at the heart of our passion. These principles have to do with whether our country has a role in nation-building and a responsibility to fight oppressors in the world. Also, is our economy based on free-market principles or socialized approaches to medicine and redistribution of wealth? Do solutions to foreign energy dependence, climate change and other global issues rest within market-based incentives or government regulation?

Our government was set up to protect rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These rights are for individuals, not groups. The principles of justice and equality that the Founders promulgated ran counter to any former regime. Before the United States, all systems were based on the interests of the strong. America is based on a principle, not of the strong, but of justice.

We ultimately must choose the person who embodies everything we believe regarding what needs to be done about the economy, energy, foreign policy, etc. The leader must be temperate and wise; able to seek and decipher counsel, yet be decisive.

John McCain is a moderate with a 24-year record to back it up.

Carla Harper
Stokesdale

I am a student from India, and I was in India when the hurricane hit the Texas coast. What is the reason to stay on an island that is frequently affected by hurricanes?

The people living there should evacuate before the hurricane attacks and their houses are totally ruined. The money used for rebuilding houses is taken from tax money, which is taken from citizens of this country. That money can be used for the poor instead of wasting the money every year on rebuilding houses.

The government should take this situation seriously and ban people from living on the island of Galveston. A hurricane can be expected at any time. The government won’t ban the people because then the people wouldn’t vote for them.

The residents of Galveston once again will return to the island after the threat of hurricanes is over. After returning, they will notice all the houses are ruined and find dead bodies of animals. Moreover, they will not take any precautionary measures — tetanus shots, rat bait — before returning there.

If people wish to continue to live in Galveston and places like it, they should do so at their own risk.

Krishna Rao Chepyala
Greensboro

Sarah Palin promotes “abstinence only” sex education in the schools. Not providing proper education about protection, or making protection readily available, results in pregnant teens like her daughter.

Opposing the choice for a woman to decide with her doctor to have a medical abortion places the government in a position of eroding yet more civil rights should Roe v. Wade be overturned.

Prevention would eliminate the need for abortions.

Palin is opposed to killing unborn children but doesn’t give a thought to killing them after they are born — she would drop bombs on nuclear entities such as Iran and Pakistan, which potentially could get us into a nuclear war.

As a communications major, you would think her first line of defense would be detente, not war. If the U.S. military refused to drop bombs and wanted to drop condoms and birth-control pills instead, would she oppose that?

Barbara-Anne Johnson
Greensboro

North Carolina’s quality of life is the envy of many, but it is being threatened by our dependence on foreign oil, growing highway congestion and associated environmental hazards.

As concerned citizens, we can help meet these challenges by supporting the use and expansion of rail service, both freight and passenger, as an alternative to oil imports, crowded highways and growing pollution.

One freight train can take as many as 300 trucks off the highway, reducing pollution, easing congestion and alleviating wear and tear on our already overburdened road system. In addition, rail transportation is the most fuel-efficient way to move freight.

A comprehensive transportation policy that shifts freight and passengers to our railroads is in the best interests of everyone — as consumers, taxpayers and environmental stewards. Rail service has made a stunning recovery since deregulation was passed in 1980.

It’s time for our Congress, including Rep. Howard Coble, to create additional capacity in our state and nation rail network for the good of our troubled economy and to oppose misguided calls to reregulate our freight rail system.

We must return to our most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly form of transportation — our railroads.

James Dean
Greensboro

I have heard too many criticisms of Barack Obama. Obama has a bachelor’s in political science from Columbia with a specialization in international relations. His thesis topic was Soviet nuclear disarmament. He has a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and was president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. Obama taught constitutional law for 11 years at the University of Chicago Law School while practicing law with a reputable firm.

He has a brilliant mind and is knowledgeable about world affairs. He’s served on four important U.S. Senate committees: foreign relations; health, education, labor and pensions; homeland security and governmental affairs; and veterans’ affairs. Obama is trying to restore our Constitution after years of abuse by the present government.

We all have to pitch in to help our country. Our future at the moment is looking grim. This election is the worst I have ever lived through. With the wrong people in power it could be disastrous. We need a government that has compassion for the people, not for power.

The next president needs to be cognizant of our needs and use diplomacy.

Edna Z. Prentis
Welcome

There are several reasons I cannot vote for Barack Obama.

One reason is his association with William Ayers, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Franklin Raines. One can receive much insight into a person’s character by the people he chooses as advisers and friends. I would urge you to execute an Internet search on William Ayers. In 1969, Ayers cofounded the violent, radical, far-left Weatherman organization. He participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the U.S. Capitol building in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972, as he noted in his 2001 book, “Fugitive Days.”

The Rev. Wright was Sen. Obama’s spiritual adviser for 20 years. Most readers will recall Rev. Wright’s incendiary words, “Damn America.”

Franklin Raines has been asked for advice concerning housing policy by Obama, and benefitted to the tune of $90 million over five years from Fannie Mae.

Obama is said to have been the “most far-left voting” senator.

His socialist tendencies would greatly harm our great country.

John McCain and Sarah Palin will certainly receive my vote.

Brenda Moody
Siler City

As a mother and an educator, I recognize the importance of the November election, and I believe that we must elect Kay Hagan as our next senator from North Carolina.

As a Guilford County Schools pre-K teacher, I know that North Carolina’s teachers have had no greater voice than that of Kay Hagan. She has been a strong proponent of early childhood education during her time in the state Senate, and she and her staff have always been eager to help with any educational issues that I’ve contacted them about. Kay has consistently been given high marks by the National Education Association, while her opponent, Sen. Dole, has been given a 27 percent rating by the NEA.

As a mother of two U.S. Army soldiers, I believe that North Carolina’s men and women in uniform need a strong voice to fight for them in Washington. At the state level, Kay has done so many things for our National Guard, ranging from getting funding for body armor to helping create family assistance centers for veterans and their families. She even took the time to talk with my sons and thank them for their service when they were home on leave.

I’m voting for Kay. Won’t you?

Kathy Mabe
Greensboro

On Friday, Sept. 26, my husband and I had the privilege of volunteering at the fourth annual Stand Down for homeless veterans at the Greensboro National Guard Armory. The good news is, that more than 200 homeless veterans were served. The bad news is that there were more than 200 homeless veterans who needed to be served.

We were honored to have Guilford Commissioner Paul Gibson and Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson speak. However, one elected official came in his business suit and tie only to stand around and work the crowd but not to work. Another elected official, who claims she’s an advocate for the homeless, was nowhere to be seen!

Most people don’t realize this event happened because there was virtually no media coverage. These men and women, who served this country and often risked their lives, have been tossed aside by a society that won’t admit they exist. Sadly, they were again ignored by some.

This event happened because Archie Barrow and many, many others volunteered endless hours in planning and preparation. Thanks also to the many corporations, organizations and citizens for donations that helped make this event a success. I pray no more Stand Downs will be needed.

Bev Andrews
Greensboro

The majority of the news media spend a lot of time and space telling us what a great party the Democrats are. As I remember a few yeas ago, the word was that if we could just get a Democratic majority Congress, we would have all our problems solved. We got it and have gone further downhill ever since.

I worked 45 years and paid taxes all of them. I can’t remember that if I wanted a house loan, health insurance for my family, or to send my son to college that I was entitled to all these things at the expense of the government (taxpayers).

Now, according to Barack Obama, the Clintons, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party, if you made loans you can’t pay back, they will find a bailout for you. It’s President Bush’s fault anyway! I know he is a powerful man who can send hurricanes anywhere he wants, but I still find it hard to fault him for everything.

Obama says he will cut the working man’s taxes by raising the taxes on oil and other big companies. Yes, tax them out of business and the working man and woman won’t have a job to worry about, much less taxes.

If there are many more programs of give, give, give, the country will surely go broke.

Roger Mabe
High Point

Please let me share with you the importance of your vote in the Nov. 4 election of the president of the United States.

The president is elected by a majority (one-half plus one) of electoral votes. The number of electoral votes a state has is determined by the total number of representatives and senators a state has in Congress. North Carolina has 15 electoral votes. The candidate who gets 270 of the 538 electoral votes becomes our president.

The candidate who gets a majority of the votes cast in North Carolina on Nov. 4 gets North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes.

Your vote could be the one vote that gives the presidential candidate the majority of electoral votes needed to be president. This is how important your vote is.

James W. Swindell
High Point

Sen. Barack Obama’s academic credentials are impressive and would qualify him as a judge or professor. However, I do not think those records alone mean much more than that.

We are conditioned to believe that those who earn an “A” are better than those who earn a “C.”

Historically, this has not always been true.

President Woodrow Wilson from Princeton led us into World War I. The “Best and Brightest” from the Ivy League in the Kennedy administration gave us Vietnam.

Two fine engineers, Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter, gave us the Great Depression and malaise.

Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, who were lawyers, ran into legal problems. One resigned and the other was disbarred.

Average folks like Truman, Reagan and Eisenhower excelled. Society succeeds on the backs of “C”-average people.

The “A”-average people are like a seasoning and should be used with caution. Consequently, most are confined to universities where they can do little harm.

Democracy is rooted in the notion that average people make good decisions and great leaders emerge from the common man. Therefore, elect a president, not a class valedictorian.

Jerry Olson
Greensboro

Will someone please tell Piedmont Triad International Airport that no one cares how many square feet the airport is? Will someone please tell PTI that travelers don’t care how long the runways are?

Travelers want to know what flights are offered, when and by which carriers. Travelers want to know what restaurant and shopping offerings the airport has. Travelers want to know the average security wait times and which shuttle bus will take them to the terminal.

To the airport’s credit, some of this information is available on its Web site. But the site is so dysfunctional that users are more likely to give up and surf over to the Web sites of RDU or Charlotte Douglas.

PTI is a great airport. It’s easy to navigate and ultra accessible. And, like the rest of Greensboro, I want it to succeed.

Sadly, many travelers will never know the many benefits PTI has to offer because the airport’s Web site is disorganized, sterile and downright boring.

By developing a modern, easy-to-use Web site that offers travelers what they want to know, PTI can snag more customers and maybe even a few more flights. After all, airlines go where the passengers are.

Build it and they will come.

Andrew Murphy
Durham

The $700 billion federal government plan to bail out overextended banks is now law, but not before becoming an $810 billion plan. Here are my questions: If this doesn’t work, what is the backup plan and how much will that one cost? How do we assure those truly benefiting are American banks and the American economy, given the great extent to which foreign sources have financed our debt?

Finally, from where precisely is the money coming for this bailout? Is it coming from American taxpayers today, future generations of American taxpayers, from printing money, thus diminishing the savings and investments of all responsible Americans? Or from all of the above?

Kevin Hollander
Winston-Salem

Your recent article about stores closing at Quaker Village Shopping Center attributed the problem to the struggling economy. The Fresh Market moved just a few miles away to Jefferson Village on New Garden Road. Its business and many others at that location seem to be doing just fine.

I am constantly baffled that so many businesses are moving out of older shopping centers, where they seemed to be successful, often leaving these places to be demolished and new shopping centers built. At Jefferson Village and The Shops at Friendly Center, most parking spaces are full. The same is true on Wendover Avenue near I-40.

If the problem at Quaker Village is the struggling economy, why is it that so many new shopping centers are full of buying customers? The K&W Cafeteria on Big Tree Way closed some time ago. I’m guessing this was because they were competing with about 40 other nearby restaurants.

On any night of the week the only struggle I see is finding a parking space at these restaurants. Logic tells me that people driving those cars must have money to spend.

If failing businesses at Quaker Village rented a space in a new shopping center, perhaps their businesses would be thriving also.

Janice Maness
Browns Summit

I am a member of the Community Dialogue on Education, a group seeking to improve the quality of public education for all children. We supported the $457 million school bond issue approved by the voters in May. Now it is time to pay for them.

Bonds are usually paid for by increasing property taxes. The Nov. 4 ballot will include another way: a ¼-cent sales tax on purchases except for non-prepared food, gasoline and prescription medicine.

This sales tax does not increase our overall taxes. It uses a sales tax to pay for some of the school bond costs, which will reduce the property tax increase. And even better is the fact that 40 percent of sales tax revenues come from people who live outside of Guilford County.

As we discussed in our Community Dialogue meeting, that is a win-win proposition.

Barbara Walker
Greensboro

Might I remind readers who support the ¼-cent sales tax increase because the commissioners “promised” to use it only for school construction that the “promise” is non-binding.

And how often have you known a politician to keep his or her promises? Now make it a binding condition, and I will support the increase.

If not, “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Cecil Carpenter
Greensboro

Gov. Sarah Palin did herself proud as well as John McCain for his selection of her as his running mate. She could have slammed Barack Obama in the vice presidential debate for his rise on the backs of so many nefarious characters.

And she could have slammed Joe Biden for his role in the major miscarriage of justice by keeping the distinguished constitutional scholar and jurist Justice Robert Bork off the Supreme Court and for his complicity in the attempted lynching of Justice Clarence Thomas, another distinguished jurist. (Later, we learned that Biden misspoke several times, not surprisingly.)

She didn’t need to. Obama’s ignorance on foreign policy and economics was hit home by the governor. She just had to hold her own, with more executive experience than Biden and Obama combined, and she did.

Not bad for only being in the spotlight for a bit over five weeks.

Bob Guertin
Jamestown

The city of Greensboro recently put the construction drawings for Gateway Gardens/Phase 1 out to bid with an anticipated ground-breaking to take place by year’s end. The city plans to open Phase 1 to the public in late 2009, with fund-raising efforts continuing to support further development of the garden.

Phase 1 elements include: clearing/grading; main entrance and parking; infrastructure; walkways; fencing; components of the Heritage Garden, Children’s Garden, Rain Garden and rest rooms.

One way you can support Gateway Gardens is to vote “yes” for the Parks and Recreation bonds in November.

To date, Greensboro Beautiful has raised a total of $3.7 million in gifts and pledges toward a goal of $5 million. If the 2008 bond is approved, an additional $1 million in funding would be raised to support construction of the first phase of the Visitor Center and additional garden development.

Public support is vital to our success.

For more information, visit the Gateway Gardens Web site at www.greensborobeautiful.com.

Carole W. Bruce and Ralph W. Shelton
Greensboro

The authors are co-chairpersons, Gateway Gardens Campaign.

From the heart of Erma Bombeck: “People are always asking couples, whose marriage has endured at least a quarter of a century, for their secret for success. Actually, it is no secret at all. I am a forgiving woman. Long ago, I forgave my husband for not being Paul Newman!”

Paul Newman certainly set a stellar example for all of us — as a husband, a citizen and a person who joyfully shared his success with those less fortunate.

We could all learn from his virtues.

Lil Gibson
Greensboro

I want to thank our U.S. congressman, Howard Coble, for voting in favor of the financial rescue bill.

I know that this was a very difficult vote. However, I believe that this was a vote for the best interest of our country. I know that some people will be angry. However, I also believe that these same people would be the first to condemn if nothing was done and our country fell into another great depression.

Once again I am very proud that Howard Coble is the congressman from my district.

George S. McClellan
Oak Ridge

It’s time for change in Congress. That’s why I’m voting for Dr. Teresa Sue Bratton instead of Howard Coble.

Everyone talks about his constituent services. But the constituent service that matters most to me is how he votes in Congress.

Coble voted against HR 3221, the housing rescue bill. He voted against HR 6515, the mandate to oil companies to use their leases to drill on federal land. He voted against HR 3999, the bill to upgrade bridge inspections. He voted against HR 6358, a bill that would authorize money for the prevention of child abuse. And he has voted against the authorization for children’s health insurance six times!

What bill has Coble introduced while we are in the middle of our financial crisis? He introduced a bill to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. I guess he thinks we can all drink to celebrate what’s happening to our country.

I want someone to represent me who cares about people and who is reasonable and intelligent. I’m voting for Dr. Teresa Sue Bratton for Congress.

Wayne Abraham
Greensboro

Needless to say, our country is now in dire straits. It doesn’t matter how we got there or whose fault it is. The only thing that really matters is how do we rectify the situation. We must, at all costs, prevent a depression. We are already in a recession. We must forget that we are Democrats, Republicans, independents or whatever and remember we are all Americans.

We have extremely poor leadership in our executive branch, so Congress must fill the void and come up with a plan that will put our society back on normal financial footings.

Our system is dependent on credit. Every American citizen and business must have it. So for beginners, let’s concentrate on our credit problems and go from there. As we go forward, someone is going to get hurt and some will make out better than others. All of this is necessary as we once again become the financial leaders of the world.

After we fix the credit problems, then we must work on regulations to ensure that we never go through this problem again.

We can accomplish all of this and do it experientially if we act like Americans and forget our party affiliation.

David E. Bahannon
Greensboro

As my friend for 25 years, Teresa Sue Bratton, told me, “Doctors help people who are hurting. It’s what I’ve always done, and it’s why I’m running for Congress.” Understanding that an unhealthy economy hurts people, Dr. Bratton would vote to help homeowners with troubled mortgages and to help seniors by negotiating lower drug prices, while Howard Coble has opposed such measures.

Dr. Bratton realizes that too many families, suffering job loss and a loss of health insurance, face bankruptcy due to costly medical bills. Meanwhile their bad debt raises the premiums and deductibles of all insured patients and their employers. She understands that offering affordable health insurance that emphasizes preventive care for everyone will be less expensive for businesses, workers and all taxpayers than the current system. In contrast, Coble voted six times in recent years against funding the State Child Health Insurance Program, thus denying coverage to 123,000 North Carolina children. Dr. Bratton is passionate about making health care accessible and affordable for children, their families, and especially our returning veterans.

As a doctor, a wife and mother, Teresa Sue Bratton knows that congressional votes affect our lives. We need her votes and her knowledgeable leadership in Congress.

Anne Hummel
Greensboro

New math? 87 percent for Biden, 42 percent for Palin? As a conservative moderate, I feel that your quoting a CNN poll is analogous to your quoting The New York Times as claiming an unbiased opinion when it come to ANY election.

I find it amazing that with the same opponents at the same debate that the Fox poll as well as many independent polls had Palin coming out on top. Why? Because she connected with Americans in a way Joe Biden no longer can.

I found it almost laughable that he would pull a Hillary stunt, shedding tears at the end to evoke sympathy from the audience for his personal tragedy of many years ago. Though I am not without sympathy for what he went through, to do it in that setting rather than keep a professional demeanor was nothing more than an attempt to make an audience connection. Palin had already done that so much better through honesty, integrity and personality.

Palin is the outsider she claimed to be that night. What a refreshing change!

John E. Truitt
Greensboro

The presidential election is a sideshow, given the disastrous economic situation. President Bush is invariably culprit No. 1. Republicans and Democrats are busy pointing fingers.

None of our leaders has made any attempt to explain the situation to the people — you know, the other 300 million-plus who actually have to salvage their lives. Our Senate and House are riddled with incompetence, corruption and scammers trying to escape with their own loot.

I was working over some statistics about our Senate. Of the 100 senators, 61 are lawyers, 21 of whom are Ivy League graduates. Nine lawyers are from Harvard alone. No wonder our laws are confusing, jammed full of legalese, hidden clauses and pork barrel stuffing. The bailout bill grew from three pages to 450 pages in a few days and was packed with tax breaks, favors and, of course, more pork.

The stable has to be cleaned out. When you are deciding how to vote, forget the party — just changing the faces will be much more effective. More statistics: 45 senators have been in Washington for more than 20 years, and 83 for more than 10 years.

We are virtually a country without a government.

Ed Philpott
Greensboro

As the parent of an ADHD child and health care professional for over 30 years, I want to answer Charles Davenport’s very ill-advised column (Oct. 5). Our son struggled for the first three years of school until he was seen by a pediatrician in Charlotte who specialized in ADHD cases. Once on a medication, which enabled him to focus, his classroom performance underwent transformation. Our son not only did well in school, he excelled and is now in graduate school.

Saying ADHD doesn’t exist is akin to saying anorexia neurosa is “vanity, or 'someone dieting’ to death.” Ignorance is a dangerous thing. Our children’s self-esteem is fragile. Suicide in our young people is high enough already. We don’t need to make them feel any worse about themselves by telling them “you just aren’t trying,” or “you’re lazy.” These feelings of failure will haunt these kids all their lives.

Parents, do your homework. If your child is having difficulty in school he or she may very well not be able to help it alone. Punishment is not always the answer. You must be your child’s best advocate. Carry the child to a pediatric neurologist. He may very well be your child’s salvation.

Ann Hall Harden
Pleasant Garden

Thank you for bringing to our attention the race for state agriculture commissioner. The article contains several inaccuracies (for one, Steve Troxler’s family includes a wife, Sharon, to whom he has been married for more than 30 years, and a precious granddaughter, Ada).

North Carolina needs Steve’s experience as head of such a diverse department. It is responsible for oversight of so many areas that affect our everyday life. His background as a farmer and his knowledge of state farmers and the Agriculture Department make him the candidate of choice.

May I remind Democrat-leaning voters, the last Democratic attorney who was elected to this position was sentenced to jail for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Nancy W. Short
Greensboro

The board of directors of the Guilford Education Alliance voted to support the proposed quarter-cent sales-tax increase to be on the November ballot. Having supported the successful school bond referendum in May resulting in more than $450 million in bonds to build and renovate Guilford County schools, the board deemed it responsible to support the proposed sales-tax increase as a source of approximately $15 million annually for debt payment on the bonds.

It is recognized that with passage, there can be a reduced burden on the property tax for county residents. The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in support of directing these additional sales-tax dollars to capital needs for education as a statement of their intent to use this revenue for debt payment on the bonds.

Research finds approximately 40 percent of sales-tax dollars collected in the county are paid by persons not residing here, thus providing revenue to support our county needs by the general population, not just county residents.

With this vote of support, the Board of Guilford Education Alliance is continuing its leadership to make education the top priority for county residents.

Margaret Bourdeaux Arbuckle
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Guilford Education Alliance.

People tend to be thinkers or rememberers. A few are both. As clearly demonstrated in the Couric interview, Gov. Palin is a bit light on cognitive credentials.

Whoever decided her tactics for the vice-presidential debate, however, was brilliant. Attack (script can be memorized, safe for female on male, burns clock). Ignore questions that require thinking. Try to make a virtue of this deflection (the maverick candidate won’t pander to moderator or opponent expectations, but will talk directly to the American people). Regardless of the question, recite speech about energy (the governor has a modicum of credibility here). Be theatrical and folksy (it might distract from the lack of substance). Insert sound bites liberally.

The governor held to the script beautifully for virtually her entire performance. I noticed only one gaffe. Building on Vice President Cheney’s menacing legacy, she opined, “I’m thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate.” While the governor had difficulty finding her own Achilles’ heel, I think she provides us a clue. People can be eager or lazy, smart or stupid. The most dangerous combination is eager/stupid.

Walt Gavin
Greensboro

The Associated Press analysis of Sarah Palin on page A2 (Oct. 6) was written with such a partisan bias that I thought I was reading Maureen Dowd for a moment.

Anything not on the opinion pages should stick to reporting the facts. I can draw my own conclusions without some liberal hack trying to sway my opinion.

Tim Tribbett
Greensboro

Sen. Obama has surveyed the American workplace and with self-righteous indignation courageously promised America’s female workers equal pay for equal work, if elected. His rhetoric on this issue is laughable since he pays his female staffers an average of $6,000 per year less than their male counterparts.

That’s $500 a month less than he pays his male staffers, 12 months a year. By his own example, Sen. Obama is telling the rest of America, “Do as I say, not as I do.” What kind of change is that? Obama’s spiritual mentor, Rev. Wright, said it best when speaking about Obama: “Politicians say what they have to say to get elected.”

Interestingly, Sen. McCain pays his female staffers an average of $1,948 per year more than their male counterparts. I realize this is an inconvenient truth, but it is true nonetheless.

And here’s another inconvenient truth: The Equal Pay Act was passed by Congress declaring that women and men must receive equal pay for equal work. Someone should tell Sen. Obama that President Kennedy took care of this issue 45 years ago.

Robert Flowers
Summerfield

Recently, I saw an article about the cigarette litter showing a reduction in the downtown area.

I am a retired police officer from California. In California, there is a vehicle code for cigarette litter. It is CVC 23111, also known as the Paul Buzzo Act. The section states that any driver, passenger or pedestrian who drops a lit, unlit cigarette, match, or glowing amber, on any street, sidewalk or adjacent area, public or private is guilty of this section.

Now here is the beauty of this section. The fine after court costs is $275 plus a mandatory trash pick-up.

Because it is a littering ticket, there is no traffic school to remove it from your driving record, which can affect your car insurance and add a point to your license.

I worked 22 years in a beach community, doing a foot patrol for 12 of those years. All the beaches, parks and downtown were mine, and I was busy. I used to write these by the dozen on an average weekend and took such joy in telling all who asked what the fine was. The reason: I hate cigarette litter.

Nice to see the article, but let’s change the law in North Carolina.

Harold Griswold
Greensboro

With regard to the article, “Miller clashed with Palin over science on global warming” (Oct. 6), the problems with Sarah Palin’s judgment become ever more evident. Gov. Palin has said, incredibly, that we can address the problems of climate change without ever recognizing or understanding the causes.

In fighting environmental protection of potentially endangered species, she relies on research by the very same big oil companies she claims she has stood up to in Alaska. Perhaps that’s why she is so excited about a policy of “drill, baby, drill.”

While John McCain and Sarah Palin claim to be “mavericks” while parroting the positions of big oil, only Sens. Obama and Biden truly appear to understand that solving environmental problems will require a change in energy strategy, not just more drilling.

Catharine Cummer
Chapel Hill

Something strange is going on here, and I am outraged at the lack of outrage.

At least five citizens have been killed by Guilford County law-enforcement officers this year, and I have not heard a peep from City Council, the county commissioners or community activists. Doesn’t this strike you as curious?

As a Marine Corps military policeman, I was extensively trained in the use of deadly force. There were strict circumstances where it was authorized and then only as a last resort. Is our local law enforcement held to a lesser standard? Doesn’t local law enforcement possess nonlethal weapons? In each of these five instances, was there not an opportunity to employ them before using deadly force?

I want some answers. Perhaps each of these shootings was justified, but I think it is time for local law enforcement to prove that to us, and it is past time for citizens and our representatives to demand such. Make public your policy on the use of deadly force. Go over your training methods to ensure that every officer knows the alternatives. Vigorously defend the officers involved if they were absolutely correct in their actions. And just as vigorously prosecute them if they were not.

Randy Dunbar
Greensboro

I was so glad to read that the state is going to buy Grandfather Mountain to help preserve the mountain beauty and not let anyone build there.

This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I saw things I had never seen up close: a bald eagle, a golden eagle and lots more things. To walk on the Mile High Swinging Bridge, to visit the museum and the natural habitat.

My hat is off to the state for preserving such a wonderful place. May many people enjoy this for years.

Iris Newby
Eden

When Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich in 1938 with his joyously celebrated “Peace in Our Time” treaty with Hitler, Winston Churchill observed that the treaty only guaranteed a future (and bigger) war, not peace. It did indeed bring war, the biggest and most destructive in history.

So it is with the great financial bailout of 2008. We have compelled working, bill-paying Americans to cover the obligations of irresponsible debtors. We have done nothing to repeal the intrusive and meddlesome federal policies that induced banks to make millions of irresponsible loans. Thus we have merely guaranteed more of the same behavior and a bigger crisis in the future.

Short of a constitutional amendment to revoke such ill-considered powers from Congress, we will relive these events until a flood of bankruptcy overwhelms even the federal government.

And like World War II erupting barely a year after Munich, the Great Collapse could happen sooner than any of us would care to imagine.

William James
Reidsville

Accolades go to principal Latoy Kennedy, who has been recognized for rewarding youth with money for being on the honor roll and great EOG performance. She says, “We have to do what works.”

Encouragement, time and recognizing a student’s learning style work, too, but perhaps not “quick enough.”

What happens when the money runs out, when the same students are repeatedly recognized? What is done to encourage those youth struggling to attain this “special treat”? This approach teaches children to place value on money, not grades. This program of money and party removes responsibility from the teacher, parent and principal. If a child doesn’t succeed, the program is to blame.

Reward youth with experiences they will learn from to enhance their education — a walk with the principal, a field trip to the farmers’ market. Give youth social time, play time; let them do something unique like prepare a meal for the class.

Educators and parents need to do whatever it takes to ensure every child succeeds. Money and parties are not the answer. Children deserve the best: opportunity, love and encouragement. It is our responsibility to give it to them.

Nicole Henigin
Greensboro

I wish someone would explain to me why property taxes are not shared proportionally in percentage each year between the home buyer (mortgage taker) and the banks, etc. (mortgage lenders).

Now the government is bailing out the banks. How come they don’t bail out the “little men” who elected them into office and have their homes foreclosed due to greedy mortgage lenders (banks, etc)? By the same token, the property tax office forecloses homes before banks can.

Sorry, I have problems with the logic here! Who can understand that?

I.M. Fish
Whitsett

Leaving town without paying his security bill is cheap compared to what it will cost us if Barack Hussein Obama is elected. I have not forgotten 9/11 and who did it. It will be a cold day in Hades before I help elect him to be president of my country. His liberal voting record, along with his cronies like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezco and Chuck Schumer, are the reasons we need a bailout of the financial system.

As I have said before, conservatism builds democracies. Liberalism uses the system until it turns into socialism and finally destroys itself. It is easy to blame Bush for our troubles, but he did not attack those buildings on 9/11 nor did he make those loans without collateral. You liberals put the Democrats in power in 2006 but they, as usual, did nothing and won’t till the knight in shining armor is in power. Then it will be more giveaways at the expense of those who work for a living.

Ken Sawyer
High Point

Despite the whirling winds of controversy around our economic woes and the perhaps even more serious pending debate on foreign policy matters, I speak for Sen. Obama on one issue alone — our shared concerns for our aging population. Sen. Obama has promised to eliminate all income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year. He has said he will fight job discrimination for aging employees. He is committed to protecting and strengthening our Medicare program. I am very proud to stand up for him as he has promised to stand up for these vital matters as our president.

Ellen Taylor Atkins
Greensboro

As a “Boomer” looking back, I cheered the passage of Title IX and the ERA debates, rejoiced in the successes of those who rose to new heights in business and industry, and generally looked forward to a future of promise and opportunity for my granddaughters and all children.

Fast forward to the election of 2008. The message to our daughters is “style over substance,” and your style better be that of a cheerleading beauty queen. It’s right back to the ’50s.

Sharon Kalbaugh
Greensboro

A letter published Oct. 4 was edited to attribute the phrase “nattering nabobs of negativity” to Spiro Agnew. That was not the writer’s intent. The phrase originated before Agnew used it.

After reading the article in the Oct. 5 edition regarding heavy airframe maintenance outsourcing by nine major U.S. airlines, my concerns over flying worsened. It got even worse when I learned that 27 percent of the work is being done in foreign repair stations with inadequate oversight.

I now suggest that airlines amend their typical preflight speech to passengers:

“In preparation for takeoff, please bring your seat backs and tray tables to their full upright and locked positions. Additionally, let’s all say a little prayer that the wings, tail section and fuselage all hold together until we land. Now sit back and enjoy the flight.”

Joel Heller
Greensboro

Regarding Ed Kitchen’s column in support of passing a bond to renovate the War Memorial Auditorium, I say where was he in the past?

As a longtime Greensboro city manager, where was his and past City Council members’ leadership and support to keep the auditorium in good repair? It seems to me that under his watch, the support and repair of said facility were ignored and passed on to future city leadership. Now he is asking the voters to rectify his poor leadership on this issue and assume the burden of paying off still another bond.

My suggestion would be to do what Charlotte has successfully done. Involve the business community like Federal Express and others (say the Bryan Foundation, Mr. Kitchen?) to help with the renovation. Why does the entrenched establishment of this city always ask the voter to fix their problems of lack of leadership?

Vote no to the auditorium bond. A combination of city and private business funds should be used. If the auditorium is such a draw to businesses in this area, they should be happy to share the costs.

David R. Benson
Greensboro

Recently legendary actor and philanthropist Paul Newman died, the unfortunate victim of lung cancer. This particularly insidious cancer often takes the life of the victim within a year of the diagnosis.

It is estimated that 90 percent of these cancers are related to tobacco use. Newman, known to be a one-time heavy smoker, quit nearly 30 years ago. While one’s lung cancer risk is reduced 10 years after quitting, the length of time one smokes, and the age at which one starts, both play a role, together with general health and genetics, in the cancer time bomb.

What lessons can we take from this sad news? First, quitting at any age will improve your health. Within 20 minutes of quitting, you will see improvement in your cardiovascular system. It is never too late to quit! Second, the sooner you quit, the better. Newman lived 30 years after quitting, but he didn’t live as long, or as healthy, as he might have.

For free help in quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, 8 a.m.-midnight, or visit www.quitlinenc.com or www.becomeanex.com. There is no better day than today.

Mary Gillett
Greensboro

The writer is tobacco prevention coordinator, Guilford County Department of Public Health.

We strongly encourage your support to elect Robert Enochs for District Court judge. Robert has 13 years experience as a Guilford County assistant district attorney and has the intelligence, integrity and commitment to serve the people without bias. Robert is an honest professional who is fair-minded and has the qualities required to be an excellent judge.

Catherine and Sam Froelich
Greensboro

As a real-estate appraiser, I spend a great deal of time driving through my favorite city, Greensboro. Lately, I have noticed an interesting situation that alarms me.

Every election year, candidates spend a great deal of time and money on signs. This year, it appears that signs for McCain for president have been vandalized by people who seem to feel that they need an edge in precincts that are already mostly Democratic.

I stopped at a few homes in Guilford Hills, where the signs were damaged by these thugs, and the residents told me they are leaving the signs up as a “Purple Heart.” They also told me that signs promoting Joe Wilson for state Senate seem to have evaporated. I also noticed that Joe Wilson was adding McCain signs for neighbors at his expense.

Let’s get behind Joe in his run for state Senate and Sen. McCain in his run for president. We do not need thugs in this race.

Dennis McLoughlin
Greensboro

Barack Obama and Joe Biden held a free rally in downtown Greensboro Oct. 4 that 18,000 “average” people attended. Sarah Palin is to “guest star” (to quote the N&R front page on Oct. 2) at a private fundraiser here in the Irving Park neighborhood on Oct. 16.

Now which one do you think is really an elitist?

Lynne M. Bailey
Greensboro

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer yet is the least funded of all major cancers. Lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer, three times as many men as prostate cancer. Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers combined. Think only smokers get lung cancer? Think again. Lung cancer in nonsmokers is the sixth-largest cancer killer.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and this year the Triad has a new initiative for all those who have been touched by the No. 1 cancer killer. The inaugural Triad Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk and Rally will be held Saturday morning, Nov. 15, at Grandover Parkway and ACC Lane. Cancer centers at Moses Cone, High Point Regional and Forsyth Medical are supporting this effort through sponsorship.

This is the first time such an event has been held. All net proceeds will go to lung-cancer research. Please support this event to raise lung-cancer awareness and research funding. To register go to www.freetobreathe.com, or for more information go to www.dustydonaldson.blogspot.com.

Dusty Donaldson
High Point

The Obama/William Ayers connection is real. Obama is correct in that he cannot choose his neighbors, but he could choose whom he wanted to associate with in his political or activist groups.

It is being said that the Ayers domestic terror bombings happened 40 years ago and Obama was only 8 years old at the time. I contend that it is irrelevant how long ago the bombings were and how old Obama was when it happened. The Ayers quote, “I don’t regret setting bombs ... I feel we didn’t do enough,” indicates he is still a terrorist at heart. There is only one difference between William Ayers and Oklahoma City terrorist bomber Timothy McVeigh. William Ayers was an inept bomber. Had he been as successful as McVeigh in doing the dastardly deed, he would have been executed or serving a life prison sentence. He was exonerated by a technicality that his lawyers concocted.

We have no way of looking into Obama’s soul, but we can question his judgment.

Jerry Sublett
Greensboro

I met Darlene Garrett in 1996 when I first moved to North Carolina.

From the outset, I was impressed by Darlene’s volunteerism and her support of public schools. When we co-led our daughters’ Scout troop, I witnessed firsthand her love of all children and her willingness to do more for them than most.

She later was elected president of our school’s PTA, and in 2000 she was elected to the Guilford County school board. Darlene has fought hard for school construction in our county in an effort to alleviate the severe overcrowding. She worked toward the creation of, and now leads, the Construction Advisory Committee, which oversees school construction projects and costs.

She has reached out to teachers, principals, parents and students in an effort to understand their concerns, and then has worked toward solutions.

I have always been impressed by Darlene’s willingness to speak her mind on the board, even when she has been the lone voice of dissension. Yet, she has also reached out to the other board members, who listen to her arguments with respect. As we begin our transition to the new superintendent, Darlene’s continued influence on the school board is more vital than ever.

Lorraine Marshall
Greensboro

John McCain and Sarah Palin are campaigning on a “maverick” theme, but mavericks are not what we need to save this nation. According to the dictionary, mavericks are not leaders, they are loners. Their “independence” is really “isolation.”

The United States needs a strong leader now who can articulate the national goals and who can motivate millions of us, including those with more experience and expertise on some issues, to join together to accomplish them.

Barack Obama is the right man for our times. We need a leader, not a maverick loner!

Jean Eason
Greensboro

Vote Democrat for our future. Vote Republican for more of the past.

Joyce Margo
Greensboro

Uppermost in the minds of Triad residents is the escalating cost of commuting to work and shopping by automobile. Recently I have observed that the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation has been studying a broad concept of bus commuter service for the Triad between Clemmons and Burlington. All indicators point toward considering the bus service between these points with dedicated lanes along highways to speed the service.

Another option for this service is rail. The North Carolina Alliance for Transportation Reform recently met in Greensboro and strongly endorses the need for rapid transit rail service between these points. We already have existing railroad track in this area. Although the cost of rail service would initially be higher, commuter rail would consume less fuel per passenger mile, improve air quality and offer speedier service.

We are enthusiastic about the prospect of scheduled bus service between these points in the next three to five years, as a preliminary step. However, we encourage planners to request commuter rail service as the preferred concept. Now is the time to get ahead of the anticipated North Carolina population explosion, which is expected to reach 12 million by 2030. Now is the time to be proactive. The Triad needs a commuter rail transportation system for the 21st century.

Rafe Royle
Kernersville

Dedicated in 1959 to honor the people of Guilford County who gave their lives in military action, War Memorial Auditorium has proudly served our community for nearly 50 years. Today, the venue continues to host an average of more than 112,000 patrons and 140 performances annually, bringing everything from gospel concerts to student plays to dance recitals to the stage.

However, the wear and tear from a nearly half-century of heavy activity has taken its toll. The venue has deteriorated and is no longer an enjoyable setting due to poor acoustics and sight lines, inadequate restrooms, no elevators, insufficient lobby space and an overall embarrassing lack of facilities for the disabled and elderly. The auditorium is not due for a major retrofit, it’s overdue.

As other cities open new venues, Greensboro can’t afford to be left behind. Any continued delay in major renovations will add to our current difficulties in providing an attractive, competitive auditorium and will likely result in passing the point of no return where the only option is to tear it down and spend a great deal more on a new facility.

I urge you to vote yes on Nov. 4 for the auditorium bonds.

Tim Rice
Greensboro

The writer is chairman, War Memorial Commission.

This is for all you old crabby Democrats out there who keep writing in and condemning Sarah Palin. She is the only breath of fresh air to appear on the political scene in ages. Lighten up.

Realize that what you are saying is reflecting your soul and character. Do you really want to destroy someone’s character based on hearsay and gossip and lies by her political opposition? I don’t think that’s what you learn in church.

Sarah Palin would be the darling of your political aspirations and dreams — if only she were a Democrat.

Louise Myrick
Greensboro

So Charles Davenport read a book that supports his bias that ADHD is not a real disease and is just the result of poor parenting — there are books that say that global warming isn’t real, too.

After spending many years counseling parents with children who have ADHD — “good parents with sound parenting skills” — you cannot imagine the relief that they and their child experience after their child responds almost miraculously to medication. ADHD is real, and some children need medication to function normally.

Chuck Hodierne
Greensboro

The writer is executive director, Youth Focus.

I woke up on the morning of Oct. 4 to find that my family’s cars had been vandalized, I suspect by Obama Democrats. Apparently they didn’t like the John McCain stickers on my Chrysler and Ford and decided to cover the stickers with latex paint. I guess I should be thankful they didn’t slash my tires!

I was born in Greensboro in 1959 and have lived here most of my life. I thought Chapel Hill was full of crazy liberals when I attended the University of North Carolina in the 1980s, but I think the Gate City has overtaken Chapel Hill. If I win the lottery, I’m heading to Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, where “bitter” Americans cling to their guns and religion.

I guess Guilford County Democrats are only following in the footsteps of Obama’s domestic terrorist friends like “Weathermen” William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn (who bombed New York City police headquarters in 1970, the U.S. Capitol in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972).

Jeffrey Smith
Greensboro

When W. was given the election in 2000, I predicted our country was on the road to disaster. Specifically, Gary Graham had been incorrectly sentenced to death in Texas, and exculpatory evidence indicated his innocence. W., as governor, only had to permit another trial. W. didn’t, and an innocent Graham was put to death. W. rated low in character.

When McCain compared Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, I knew our country again would not be led with integrity if he were elected. McCain said it was “humor,” but it was juvenile, not something we should expect from a president.

McCain and Palin have piled up numerous reasons to question their character and integrity. McCain criticized Obama for advocating sex education for kindergartners when Obama was advocating teaching children how to deal with sexual predators, and McCain should be ashamed for trying to confuse us.

Now Palin said Obama is the type who would “pal around with terrorists,” confusing the public and misrepresenting the facts.

A common reason heard for voting for Palin is that “she’s like us.” That wreaks of narcissism. And we certainly don’t need a hothead like McCain in the Oval Office. Vote Obama-Biden.

Hank McGovern
Asheboro

Being a retired educator, I have always considered myself part of middle-class America. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, a steady income, a home and good health. I wish all of the citizens of our great country could say the same. Unfortunately, many cannot. Greed and corruption have overcome fairness and justice.

President Franklin Roosevelt once stated, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” In this time of economic turmoil, perhaps we need to follow his advice again.

In November, America has the chance to correct our direction as a country. One candidate for president knows firsthand what average Americans face in these difficult economic times. Barack Obama has lived most of his life within the middle class. He and his wife currently own one vehicle and home. Many Americans are happy if they can do likewise.

John McCain owns seven homes and 13 vehicles. This doesn’t seem “middle class.” If you don’t live a middle-class lifestyle, how can you possibly relate to middle-class values and stresses?

Joel Ritter
McLeansville

I feel that your Sept. 25 editorial on Guilford County’s two-year-old Mission Possible program, which recruits top teachers to struggling schools, called attention to the program’s key elements. As a lifetime resident of Guilford County, I realize that public education is suffering here, just as it is everywhere in the country.

I was privileged to attend private school, so I was spoiled with enthusiastic, well-trained teachers who wanted to teach. At my high school it was clear which teachers were trying to make a difference.

The Guilford County Schools Mission Possible program is a giant leap forward for our education system. As proposed and proven by this program, teachers have made a bigger impact among students. They have done this by gaining better student test results. This program also has made better education more affordable and easier to find.

With a struggling economy and young families unable to afford private schools, this type of program is one that we can feel enthusiastic about. It’s essential to our future for us to use this to push for a better tomorrow.

Robbie Shavitz
Greensboro

Reelecting Darlene Garrett is the best thing to do for the children of Guilford County. I have been actively involved with education issues for more than six years. I have seen Darlene fight for children all over the county.

Her passion for quality and safe education is demonstrated through her full-time commitment to her job as a board of education representative. Not only is she passionate about District 3, but she is available for all parents and teachers in Guilford County. With a new superintendent and three new board members filling vacated seats, the stability, common sense and experience that Darlene brings to the board is essential in achieving great things for the children.

I have worked with Darlene on the project team for Northern Middle School and Northern High School. She was always asking questions about quality versus cost, design efficiency and student safety. This experience, plus her experience heading the new Construction Advisory Committee, will let Darlene assist the board in spending our hard-earned tax dollars efficiently, especially with the new bond in process.

The voters of District 3 will be served well when they re-elect Darlene Garrett to the Guilford County Board of Education.

Debora Mauser
Summerfield

So, let me get this straight. Within a decade of Sept. 11, 2001, instead of voting for a devoted patriot who has spent his life serving our country, we’re supposed to vote for a man who has worked alongside an unrepentant terrorist; who accused our troops of air-raiding villages and killing civilians; who is willing to sit down with the leaders of rogue nations without preconditions; who for 20 years placed himself under the spiritual authority of a radical, anti-American preacher; whose father was a Muslim; and who has the middle name “Hussein.”

All because he’s not George W. Bush and because he says “hope” and “change” a lot. Makes perfect sense to me!

Heaven help us, are we really that stupid?

Brent Tysinger
Asheboro

On Oct. 6 I got a letter of hate in my mailbox. This letter, from the Republican State Executive Committee on behalf of Sen. Elizabeth Dole, attacked her opponent, Kay Hagan, for attending a fundraiser hosted by a member of the Godless Americans PAC.

In this mailing (and in Dole’s Aug. 26 campaign press release on this issue), it said that atheists are people that North Carolinians would not want to have over for dinner, that they don’t share North Carolina’s values and that atheists are the most vile, radical liberals in America. Really? The most vile? That is complete insanity.

That anybody would call people fighting for the fundamental right to be open in society about who we are, and not be discriminated against, exposes how morally bankrupt and bigoted Dole and the N.C. Republican State Executive Committee are.

As a proud atheist, I found it offensive and upsetting to learn that apparently I am not welcome in Elizabeth Dole’s North Carolina. I would also ask Republican atheists to speak up within their own party and say that this type of bigotry and intolerance will no longer be tolerated.

Robert Eldredge
Greensboro

The Democratic National Committee should be paying late-night talk-show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno for their monologues. Never in the history of television has this much bias been seen in an election year. It should no longer surprise the public since the majority of media are presented by the far left.

The one ace in the hole is for those who oppose this abuse to watch for the sponsors, write to them and never purchase their products. It is known as getting their attention where it hurts.

Betty Stout
Greensboro

I strongly resent being labeled a “racist” because I have chosen to not vote for Barack Obama. Sen. Obama is, in many ways, a remarkable person, but I am uneasy with his background and disagree with many of his positions. Indeed, I would not vote for a blue-eyed, blond-haired John Smith with that history and those positions.

I am an educated and intelligent person and I do not like all my well-considered political, economic and cultural affinities rolled into one lump by such as Carie Cauthen and labeled “racism,” (letter, Oct. 7). A far more apt use of the epithet would be against those who are voting for Obama solely because he is black. Cauthen and other leftists need to be very careful! Turning this election into a racial conflict can result in immense danger to our society.

In any election, someone wins and the others lose. No one “deserves” to win an election merely because he is black. The mere fact that a candidate is black does not, and should not, guarantee an unopposed campaign and preordained victory. That, Ms. Cauthen, would be monarchical or dictatorial, not democratic, and, fortunately, we are not (yet) at that stage in our country.

Donald M. Miller
Greensboro

John McCain claims he is the one who can lead us out of our current economic crisis. His history suggests otherwise.

McCain has long opposed regulating financial markets, supporting Bush’s “anything goes” policy toward Wall Street.

McCain’s closest economic advisor, Phil Gramm, famously responded to news of our country’s financial woes by stating that Americans are just a bunch of whiners. Of course, McCain himself is fabulously wealthy, so I guess he has nothing to whine about personally.

Another of his economic advisors, Carly Fiorina, laid off large numbers of workers at Hewlett- Packard, but when she was forced out herself, she walked away with a $45 million golden parachute. When questioned about this, McCain said that she earned and deserved that obscene amount, belying his Johnny-come-lately claim that he would limit the severance packages received by Wall Street execs.

As others have noted, hearing John McCain say that he is the one to deal with our financial problems is like hearing an arsonist nominate himself to be the one to put out the fire that he started. That makes no sense.

Thanks for the offer, Mr. McCain. Thanks — “but no thanks.”

Robert Guttentag
Greensboro

While the attention of the presidential campaign has been primarily on Wall Street and Iraq, the only real issue is climate change. All other issues will be dwarfed by the multiple impacts of global warming and the resulting very difficult changes in our lives and the lives of children and grandchildren.

Richard Phillips
Greensboro

Charles Davenport (Oct. 5) speaks of overwhelming evidence that ADHD is a myth, but he provides no details. He states that a diagnosis of ADHD is easily obtained. Tell that to the parents who have waited months and years for appointments and reports. He puts forth that kids diagnosed with this neurological disability are in fact undisciplined, spoiled brats with parents who refuse to take responsibility for their behavior.

Mr. Davenport goes on tell us that the Amish have it right; they use traditional discipline methods.

The Amish use shunning, Mr. Davenport. They provide their teenagers with an opportunity to see the outside world before committing to their way of life and, if a teenager chooses life outside of their rigid beliefs, he is cut off from all he has ever known.

Those of us who live with ADHD don’t have time to address the almost comical ignorance of the likes of Davenport. We have bright, disciplined children to raise and we take this responsibility seriously.

Perhaps shunning is the best option for dealing with Mr. Davenport.

Kim Leipham Freedman
Greensboro

Barack Obama’s “Change We Need” plan for our country is to continue current spending and add the expense of health care for everyone. If I ran my household the way Obama plans to run the government, I’d have $1.59 in the bank, continue to feed the family steak and wine for dinner, and worry about paying for it later. Isn’t that what got us in this mess to begin with? Sounds like a lot more of the same to me.

If I follow Obama’s plan for change, I’ll be on the street corner with my children and a tin cup. Bill Ayers’ radicalized children of Chicago will be living in what used to be my house. But I’ll have health care.

If Obama really wants change, he’d plan to run Washington like the rest of us have to run our lives. Stop spending until you have the money. That’s “Change We Need” and already is John McCain’s plan.

Leighsa Windsor
Greensboro

If it weren’t so laughable, it would make you cry. It is front page news the city of Greensboro is looking “at every opportunity” to save $1.1 million of a $425 million budget, or .26 percent. How absurd!

If you asked the average working-class housewife if she could manage to save $2.58 of her $1,000 monthly spending budget, she likely would look at you as if you had three eyes. These days, she does that many times over every month as a matter of course just to keep her family moving forward. Yet, to the city, which only wants evermore, it is a big deal.

Those savings are the equivalent of the proposed 25-cent increase in sales tax per $100 that Guilford County tells you is no big deal when it wants you to vote for it.

Meanwhile, city leaders tell you it is in your interest to trust their stewardship and approve bonds for a $12 million swim center and a $50 million (up from the previously proposed $34 million) renovation of War Memorial Auditorium — both of which you rejected two years ago — all while telling you they are interested in minimizing your future tax increases. Don’t fall for it. Vote “No”!

Bruce Raynor
Greensboro

I agree with your Oct. 2 editorial, “Putting High Point Council on TV.” If meetings were televised, more people could see and know what’s going on in their town.

As a freshman at Greensboro College, I understand the importance of these meetings that talk about issues affecting our community. Therefore, I think that Greensboro is showing a good example that High Point should follow. Personally, I want to know what is being discussed in the meetings and how it might affect me.

Because we are such a television-oriented society, featuring council meetings on TV is a great way to get people involved in their community.

Crystal Kornaker
Greensboro

A lost cat is where my story begins. During my search for him, I visited the Guilford County Animal Shelter twice with no luck. I was amazed to find hundreds of other cats and dogs at the shelter that need help. They need to be claimed or adopted. Time is running out for these animals.

If you have a heart, step up to the plate and help empty our local shelters. Adopt a shelter dog or cat today. The adoption fees are minimal. And there’s a bonus: You’ll get a loving, loyal pet that will look forward to seeing you every day.

All animals also need to be fixed, including strays. There are low-cost spay/neuter clinics in our area. You can help improve this horrible situation.

Since it often goes on behind the scenes, most of us are unaware. It’s easy to close our eyes to the plight of these helpless creatures. If we all just pitch in a little, we’ll see a huge improvement.

Wendy Robb
Greensboro

We four former chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court urge you to vote to re-elect Justice Bob Edmunds to the Supreme Court. As leaders of the court, we have seen the qualities that make an excellent justice.

In his eight years on the Supreme Court, Justice Edmunds has demonstrated every one of those qualities. His experience as a state prosecutor, as a federal prosecutor and as a private practitioner has given him invaluable insight into the types of cases that most frequently come before the court.

He writes clear and sensible opinions that attorneys and judges can easily apply. He has excellent judicial temperament. He has demonstrated a mastery of the difficult work of appellate judging and has proven himself to be a fair and impartial justice.

Judicial elections are nonpartisan. We four former chief justices — two Democrats and two Republicans — believe that North Carolinians deserve to have the most qualified men and women as their judges. In this race, Justice Edmunds is the most qualified candidate. We are proud to endorse him for re-election.

Rhoda Billings
Lewisville

Former Chief Justices Jim Exum, Burley Mitchell and I. Beverly Lake signed this letter.

Ever since John McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate, I have been seeking some assurance that she truly has the background to become president of the United States. The recent vice presidential debate did nothing to diminish my concerns.

As a matter of fact, it made me more concerned than ever. I came away feeling that she was as good as she can be. She did a good job of telling us how effective she has been as mayor of a town of fewer than 10,000 people and as the governor of a state with a population of 683,478 (making it our third-smallest).

Unfortunately, she also did a good job of avoiding questions about other matters by constantly changing the subject to tell us again how much experience she has as a successful mayor and governor.

Her good performance convinced me that she hasn’t got enough time to catch up to the necessary qualifications to be a heartbeat away from one of the most demanding jobs in the world.

Jack R. Brantley
Greensboro

In the corporate world I came from we often referred to someone blessed with verbal skills but without wisdom as an “empty suit.” It seems to me that Sarah Palin fits this mold to perfection. Immediately upon being anointed as the No. 2 person on the McCain ticket she, without portfolio, adopted the caustic rhetoric and inflammatory comments of her running mate. Too bad she did not possess her own sense of what was important in this election, rather choosing to be an attack dog for her handler. I could respect her if she understood the potential significance of her place in history. Instead, I find her chants of the McCain mantra against Barack Obama irrelevant and repulsive. It’s unfortunate that this election has degraded into personal attacks from both sides. The ones who will win my support will rise above the personal slander and attacks in the next three weeks. Until then, I will declare the Alaska governor to be an “empty skirt.”

Bob Harris
Greensboro

I once considered voting for John McCain. But now, not only can I no longer support McCain, I cannot support any other Republican for major office.

This hasn’t been an easy choice for me. I am a war veteran and have some of the same values and attitudes as many McCain supporters do.

My main differences with the GOP, over the years, have involved their economic policies. But now I’m also alarmed over their ambivalence, even animosity, toward public education. I have watched, in agony, for eight years while our reputation as a world leader has been trashed by an arrogant, shortsighted foreign policy.

Now I understand that McCain’s supporters plan to assault Obama’s character. They cannot win on their record on the issues and so are resorting to libel and slander with a little paranoia thrown in. It seems all the GOP has to offer us is mistrust and fear itself.

No, I cannot, I will not support that. I love my country and our way of life too much. We cannot endure another four years of such leadership.

William Toth
Greensboro

Regarding your story, “Vaughn enjoys big funds lead against Wilson” (Oct. 7):

First, you misspelled Vaughan. Second, you say that his opponent “is under no illusion that the race for state Senate District 27 is a fair fight.” His opponent made the same charges during his unsuccessful City Council campaign last year.

This is the second time the News & Record has focused on fundraising in this race. Don Vaughan enjoys a broad base of support due to his demonstrated commitment to community service. Don has been active in Greensboro issues for more than 30 years, so it stands to reason that people know him and his record. They support him because they think he is the better candidate.

Don is supported by the Police Benevolent Association, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

His opponent has been largely invisible until he ran for City Council.

We can’t afford to have a “beginner” take Kay Hagan’s place in the legislature. Just running for office doesn’t make you qualified to hold that office.

Brian T. Cook
Greensboro

It is now clear why it took Gov. Palin five years to complete college. Simply learning how to distinguish a former ’60s radical from a terrorist was very difficult for her intellect to comprehend.

Dick Foster
High Point

George Washington was chosen to be the first president of our new nation, not because he was a smooth talker but because he was a person of moral and ethical substance and had a track record of passionate national patriotism and service. He had earned the respect to be the first commander-in-chief of our national defense.

It is right that a person of substance and a person with a record of patriotism and service be the president of the United States of America. It is right that both human and military respect be recognized in our president.

I will cast my vote for John McCain because I believe him to be a person of substance and passionate national patriotism. He has a track record of personal sacrifice on our country’s behalf.

I am a former small-business owner. I believe my vote will be for a man of vision for a strong military and an environment conducive to solid business growth.

Rodolph Gibbs
High Point

In February 2002, a few months after Elizabeth Dole was elected, I visited her office to talk to someone about an environmental issue. I was told that she didn’t yet have an environmental aide. My friends in Washington were very surprised. They said, “That’s unheard of.”

It seems like most of what she has done in the Senate has been to avoid controversy. This was true when she was the head of the Red Cross as well, and as secretary of transportation, several national publications judged Elizabeth Dole’s tenure as “All press release and little action.”

In these times, we don’t need anyone to avoid controversy and do little. We can’t afford Elizabeth Dole.

Dixon Cook
Greensboro

It concerns me that many people seem to be jumping on the Obama express train without knowing where it’s been or where it’s going, while the mainstream media engineers power full steam ahead without any real scrutiny. After all, we are talking about the office of the president of the United States.

Is it asking too much for voters to do a little research before voting? What was Obama’s role in the current financial chaos? Is it true that he is the second-largest recipient of funds from Fannie Mae and that he has former Fannie Mae CEOs advising his campaign? Is it true that other Democrats like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd are up to their necks in involvement, too? Is it true that his campaign started in the living room of the domestic terrorist, William Ayers? What was Obama’s involvement with Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko, ACORN, etc.? Why won’t he release his foreign donor list?

Don’t just blindly accept the Democrats and mainstream media’s rant — economy bad, Bush bad, McCain same as Bush — vote for Obama.

Please, do us all a favor. Conduct a little research before you vote. Your fellow citizens are counting on it.

David Frizzell
Greensboro

Let’s say you have a business and are looking to hire someone. You have an application from someone and you want to interview him. You find he has boldly lied on the application. Not only that, he lies to you in the interview. It seems common sense that, of course, you would not hire this person, would you?

The job I’m referring to is president of the United States.

John McCain’s campaign commercials, speeches and debate statements contained many lies, contradictions, distortions and hypocrisies. Many smart journalists have questioned him about these issues, such as Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos and Diane Sawyer, to name a few. McCain gets questioned about the lies but continues to tell lies. This makes me think that he believes the American people are stupid. He plays off the ignorant, blind and Bubba voters.

Barack Obama really doesn’t need to campaign because the best campaign is for people just to open up the darn newspaper and read. A popular definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over but expect different results. Well? We definitely need to do something else.

P.H. Craddock
Reidsville

Jerry Olson’s letter (Oct. 9) contended “C students surpass A students” as leaders. Democratic government, then, is best made of, run by and is concerned only for the “common” (anti-intellectual) people.

I don’t believe there are A or C students, just grades. Most students can earn some A’s if they work at true learning. American kids dislike math because of constant social clues that warn “only Asians and nerds,” as a recent New York Times article explains, are “allowed” to be good at math.

Where would Olson’s hero Truman have been without the Manhattan Project “nerds”? For all his homeyness, Reagan respected intelligence and ideas generated in conservative circles (e.g., the recently passed W.F. Buckley). Lincoln would have been ridiculed by frat boys like Yale’s “W” for partaking of the library rather than the keg. Finally, there’d be no America without the “A” accomplishments of the minds of Jefferson, Adams and Madison.

Trillions lost in the stock markets, mortgage fiascos and bailouts in the face of the newly packaged “new Know-Nothings party” of Karl Rove and Gov. Palin. We must embrace numeracy, literacy and logic. Ardent thinkers, striving to understand beyond grades, can save us from over-work, over-stimulation and easy manipulation.

Jim Langer
Asheboro

When did holding hands become a sin?

I have a developmentally disabled child. To some of you “normals,” that is mentally retarded.
She has severe anxiety out in public and feels the need to hold hands to feel safe and secure. But because she is 17 and looks like an adult, many people stare at her.

This is one of the many problems parents of special-needs adults come across. Judgments from the so-called politically correct society. We aren’t supposed to judge according to race, religion, sexual preference and social standing, but so many still do. Especially when it comes to special-needs adults.

So they may look to you as “normal people” and may not have the physical appearance of someone with special needs, but before you stare and pass judgment, stop and think that just maybe these people holding hands are doing what is necessary for special-needs adults’ sense of security.

Political correctness to me just doesn’t exist in the world of special-needs children or adults. Just look at how often the word “retarded” is used in jokes. So, don’t pass judgment, so-called “normals,” this easily could be your child.

Sheila Clark
Browns Summit

To add additional information about Paul Newman’s legacy of compassion and kindness in the Piedmont, he also donated $5,000 in December 2003 to our agency, the Adult Center for Enrichment Inc.

This was in response to our grant request for general support — for any person in need of adult day services regardless of ability to pay, who cannot afford the service and for whom public funds are unavailable. We are an adult day services, not-for-profit organization located in Greensboro “to enrich the lives of frail and impaired adults, their families, and the community through specialized adult day services, respite care, support and education.”

Newman holds a very warm place in our hearts for his personal response to our requests, such as having his secretary call me personally to decline, due to health issues, an invitation to speak at our annual conference last year.

Gloria R. Parrish
Greensboro

I’ve just received the “Godless Americans PAC” letter slamming Kay Hagan from the Republican State Executive Committee and Elizabeth Dole. The letter has prompted me to double my contribution to Hagan’s campaign and to redouble my efforts to see the GOP soundly defeated in November.

We’re tired of the hate trash that the GOP and its vile machine have spread in our state, and I for one will work tirelessly to scrub this place clean of their spewings.

We know what swiftboating means — we’ve seen the results in North Carolina and our country, and we deserve better. It’s time for that vicious bunch of miscreant fear mongers to go!

Bill Payne
Summerfield

As a native son of Greensboro, Don Vaughan is clearly interwoven into the fabric of our community. He has served in numerous volunteer positions throughout the city and state and represented us as a city councilman for many years. Aside from his law degree, he has a master’s in public administration. Few people elected to public office have the experience and credentials he has to represent us in Raleigh.

When we are facing challenging times in both our local community and state, we need someone who has practical business experience, understands the inner working of government, and has the ability to forge compromise with others. With his credentials and experience, Don Vaughan clearly is the right choice.

Robert T. Braswell
Greensboro

The United States desperately needs practical leadership and capital investment. Barack Obama wants to punish the successful and redistribute money to those he deems “deserving.” Class warfare in a time of economic crisis will exacerbate our current condition and destroy incentive that is needed to create the conditions necessary for a healthy economy.

Barack Obama must be defeated. The Democratic Party has adopted a far-left ideological and political rigidity; it has a complete misunderstanding of the United States’ position in the world from an historical perspective, and leading Democrats hide behind a benevolent façade in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fiasco. They plan to reward the politicians who were instrumental in causing the housing crisis. Obama has an alarming relativist view toward abortion and infanticide, and his candidacy did not arise solely from a populist surge for change. Much of Obama’s support comes from radical national and international individuals and organizations.

Barack Obama will offer a crony capitalism that will artificially prop up those he deems deserving while punishing companies and individuals we must rely on for economic renewal.

James B. LaMuraglia
Greensboro

How much time does Sen. Elizabeth Dole spend in North Carolina? She spent only 13 days here in 2006 and 20 days in 2005. She doesn’t really represent us in Congress.

We need a full-time resident who will represent all Tar Heels. Vote for Kay Hagan and we will have the representation we need in the U.S. Senate.

Alice Ashman
Greensboro

For many years, politicians would complain that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. As I watch the stock market drop, I wonder why Democrats are worried about portfolios of those on Wall Street and regular folks like all of us who are losing money in their investments. I thought this is something they would approve of. After all, doesn’t this help level the playing field now? Doesn’t this make all of us equal?

The Democrats have always used the rich (and I still don’t know what rich is) against the poor. The Democrats should be delighted, but for some reason they are helping bail out Wall Street. Why can’t they just admit they use this rhetoric to get votes from those who are struggling to make ends meet.

Turn the TV off and stop listening to those 30-second sound bites from candidates. Do some independent research and examine whom you are voting for. Check their voting records so you can make an informed vote and just maybe this rhetoric will stop.

This country belongs to you and me — not politicians in Raleigh and Washington.

Don Wendelken
Summerfield

As a former Guilford County educator, I take issue with Joe Wilson’s comment that teachers are paid “pretty well” and make $55,000 a year. The Guilford County Schools job listings note that the starting salary for a middle-school teacher is $30,430. Most young teachers have student loans bigger than that. It is my experience that many teachers are forced to take second jobs just to make ends meet.

A teacher with a Master’s degree and/or many years of experience can command a larger salary but not as much as a skilled professional at the peak of his or her career in another line of work. Teachers teach because they enjoy watching a child’s face light up when he learns a new skill or strategy, and we should reward them better.

But Don Vaughan knows that it takes more than just raising a teacher’s pay to have a first-class school system. We must retain high-performing teachers and give them the resources and materials necessary to do their jobs.

Quality schools are an important ingredient to attracting new industries and improving the quality of life for all. Don Vaughan will not take our teachers for granted.

Roberta Pearson
Greensboro

The Oct. 4 News & Record reported the Air Force spent $5.6 million in its efforts to recover an unarmed booster rocket from a North Dakota ditch when a truck carrying the rocket overturned July 31.

What idiot wold believe that it cost $5.6 million? A few thousands maybe, but $5.6 million, not a chance. The top commander in the Air Force could never convince me that it cost that much. They already have the equipment and manpower. They did not have to call in another country to help. There should be an investigation into this $5.6 million expenditure.

Whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican president, the military has been wasting taxpayers’ money for years. Remember the hammers and toilet seats they paid $700 and more for? You can go to any building supply store and get such things for a few dollars.

I hope the Air Force doesn’t start selling gas and home heating oil to civilians. If it does, we will be paying $60 a gallon and we will freeze to death because we can’t afford the price.

I can see why the United States can’t pay its bills and is borrowing billions from China.

Sidney A. Archer
Climax

As I watched the headlines recently, I found it hard to comprehend that gas prices in North Carolina are 30 cents higher than the national average. The very ones who have taxed us into this position are asking to be re-elected. The ones I think of immediately are Kay Hagan, Alice Bordsen and Tony Foriester.

These are but a few of the tax-and-spend representatives who are causing North Carolina to be the highest-taxed state in the Southeast. These folks, along with the thieves in the legislature (Jim Black), have made living in North Carolina very expensive.

I am amazed at the falsehoods that Hagan has used in her commercials. She apparently takes the voting public to be stupid.

In addition, the governor now says we will be forced to give our water to those who didn’t plan ahead for the growth and expansion that have taken place in the state in the last several years.

So as not to leave anyone out, Bev Perdue has been right there with the tax-and-spenders.

Do we really want more of the same old crooked politics that we have been getting in Raleigh for the past years? Let’s get some new faces in Raleigh.

Eddie Wilkes
Burlington

Barack Obama refers to Bill Ayers as just “some guy that I know.” Obama accepted a job from the unrepentant terrorist to head his Chicago foundation from 1995 to 2000. This position required a very close working relationship with Ayers.

Ayers avoided conviction for bombing places in the United States because the prosecutors failed to get a warrant before using wiretaps.

Obama says that the things that Ayers did are in the distant past. In 2001, the Chicago magazine pictured Ayers stomping on an American flag. Before the planes hit the towers on 9/11, Ayers gave an interview to the New York Times in which he made terrible remarks about our country.

Would you work for this person?

One of the organizations that Ayers’ foundation gave money to during Obama’s time in charge and one that Obama’s political organization has given more than $800,000 to this year is ACORN. Those associated with ACORN have been convicted of mass voter-registration fraud in Ohio, Colorado, Mississippi and Washington.

All this definitely represents change, but it is not the kind of change that most Americans want. Actions speak louder than words. What do these actions say to you? Think about it.

Lisa McCoy Reid
Greensboro

Wasilla, Alaska, is only 45 miles from Prince William Sound, site of one of the world’s worst environmental catastrophes, the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Sarah Palin is presented as a populist, a person on the side of the hardworking, pickup-driving guy.

One would expect that a populist mayor of Wasilla would be among the first to jump up and down over the horrors Exxon laid on the native fishermen of Prince William. Every promise of safety the corporate heads made to the people was broken. The spill was not just the fault of the drunken Valdez captain. For 19 years, sleazy corporate lawyers have fought to protect Exxon from paying for ruining thousands of human lives and killing millions of fish and birds.

But where is the “populist” Palin? Has she been fighting for 19 years on behalf of the devastated Prince William folks? No, she is donning her old cheerleading outfit and waving pompoms and cheering, “Drill, Baby, Drill!”

But hey, she’s so cute and sassy.

Larry Surber
Stoneville

Most people have not been in District Court. District Court is a “people’s court” where a majority of cases are handled. Those in our community who have had contact with the judicial system typically do so in District Court. District Court judges handle cases ranging from traffic and misdemeanor crimes to child custody and dividing marital assets after a couple divorces.

Since District Court judges are required to handle so many different types of cases, experience is critical. Robert Enochs has the experience necessary to be a District Court judge. Enochs has served as an assistant district attorney in Guilford County for the last 14 years and previously worked in private practice where he represented clients in all areas of District Court.

In an election year when leadership will play a crucial role, please join me in supporting Robert Enochs for District Court judge. Robert Enochs will provide judicial leadership with his professionalism, patience, experience and a clear understanding of the law.

Chester Brown
Greensboro

Polly Sizemore deserves election on Nov. 4 as a District Court judge.

She is an experienced judge who is a Guilford County native with wide and deep knowledge of the Greensboro community.

Judge Sizemore has worked in the court system at many levels. She was a court counselor for juvenile offenders (she has an M.Ed. in counseling from UNCG). For 19 years, she was an attorney in private practice (Wake Forest J.D., 1988). In her law practice, she handled both criminal and civil cases and on occasion represented indigent clients as a court-appointed attorney. She is also a certified mediator.

She has been president of the Greensboro Bar Association and the Women’s Professional Forum. She has truly made her way by her own merits; many people remember her at Stamey’s, where she worked as a waitress while in law school.

Judge Sizemore was appointed to the bench by Gov. Easley in 2007. She is smart, hard-working, fair-minded and well respected in the local legal community.

Please give Polly Sizemore your support.

Jane Beatty
Greensboro

The Bible says when the blind lead the blind they both fall in the ditch. It would seem the hatred for President Bush and the Republicans, especially John McCain and Sarah Palin, has so blinded the eyes and minds of Barack Obama and his vocal followers that they can neither see nor understand the truth.

Much of what has transpired over the last few years has been the direct result of an ultra-left-wing liberal Congress. The leadership in the Senate and the House has continually manifested an intense hatred for the president. The mainstream liberal news outlets have been even more violent in their bias (hatred) for our president and now for the only qualified presidential candidate, McCain, and his running mate.

You can find no truly objective reporting from any source except Fox News and a few of the out-of-state newspapers that give both sides without bias.

When you vote, be sure to consider persons of character where integrity, honesty, seasoned judgment and strong Christian values have been demonstrated.

We need new quality leadership in all three branches of government, so vote for the McCain-Palin ticket and for senators and representatives who have these same qualities. Don’t let hatred blind you.

M.C. Young
Greensboro

Greensboro and its nationally known Parks and Recreation Department mean something very important to our citizens.

Parks, both neighborhood and regional, gardens, trails, recreation centers, athletic and sports complexes and the many varied activities associated with them set Greensboro apart from most other midsized cities.

While citizens of all ages participate, many of the facilities and Parks and Recreation programming focus on the youth of our community, providing an important benefit as they mature, grow and become positive influences.

Also important is the economic development opportunities that come with enhanced quality of life.

The parks and recreational facilities bonds will provide for athletic field development, neighborhood park renovations, pool repairs and upgrades, a regional swim center, Smith Senior Center improvements and construction of additional gardens and park facilities. Spread across Greensboro, these improvements and facilities will benefit all our citizens, especially the youth. Many of these projects, especially pool upgrades, have long been identified on our Parks and Recreation master plan documenting their importance and location.

Please join the Parks and Recreation Commission, your citizen advisory board, in supporting the investment in our quality-of-life future. Vote for the Parks and Recreation bonds.

Marc Bush
Greensboro

The writer is a member of the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Commission.

Dear Dad,

I know you vote every year and have voted Republican your whole life. And I know you don’t really support McCain and Palin but you can’t bring yourself to vote for Obama. That’s OK, I can understand.

But McCain and Palin have run the most dishonorable and filthy campaign I can remember. McCain has traded his honor for political power, and you raised me to know that that is a bad trade.

If the only way you can get through this election is to vote Republican, then do it. Just don’t vote in the presidential race. Vote for the U.S. House and Senate. Vote for the governor. Vote for state and city races, just don’t vote in the presidential race.

Really, it’s the honorable thing to do.

Karl Fetter
Greensboro

I am writing to endorse Suzanne Reynolds for associate justice of the N.C. Supreme Court. In this election year, the judicial elections may seem like an afterthought to many voters, but they are important. Decisions of the state Supreme Court affect the lives of ordinary North Carolinians every day.

I have known Ms. Reynolds for almost 30 years. She is a valued colleague of mine on the faculty of the Wake Forest University School of Law. During her time at Wake Forest, she has demonstrated again and again not only a first-class legal mind, but also a genuine and deep concern for the people of this state.

Although she is an expert in family law, she has also taught many other courses at Wake Forest, including contracts, business organizations and professional responsibility. She is an acknowledged leader of the law faculty, with a knack for building consensus. Prior to joining the faculty at Wake Forest, Ms. Reynolds practiced law here in Greensboro, with one of the finest law firms in the state.

Suzanne Reynolds will bring energy and enthusiasm to the Supreme Court. I urge your readers to take a careful look at her qualifications. They will be impressed.

Ralph Peeples
Greensboro

I scan the newspaper every week looking for things my family and I can do for fun at no or low cost. So many of the cultural events come with a high price tag. Who could afford to go to a live concert or play these days? At first, we let this get us down. However, we have found some ideas that are enriching and rewarding, and we thought we’d share them with others:

Get out in your neighborhood and walk; meet your neighbors for a chat; check on elderly or lonely folks; make some new friends in your area; volunteer at local programs and help someone learn to read, feed the homeless, etc. Share a skill you may have with someone who needs help. If you are good at even simple math, teach others how to budget. Like to cook?
Teach others how to cook healthy meals on a tight budget. Help young parents with child care.

Come on, folks, we can help each other get through these rough economic times. After all, that’s what being an American (and being a good human being) is all about, sticking together through thick and thin!

Mary Roach
Summerfield

Why can’t we get this state to be the first to outlaw cigarette sales and manufacture? It is no secret that cigarettes kill. They have no value except as a killing weapon for self-destruction. More people have been killed by smoking than all the wars put together.

What does it take to close these killers down? How can we as a people close our eyes to the big tobacco companies making billions while we sit by and do nothing? How many must be killed by smoking before our own state wakes up and puts an end to tobacco?

David Sims
Burlington

Senior citizens, pay attention to Sen. Obama’s tax plan. He would eliminate individual income taxes for seniors with incomes less than $50,000 but would raise taxes on 10 million senior households by about 2 percent (The Tax Policy Center). The capital gains rate was cut to 20 percent under President Clinton and to 15 percent under President Bush. Obama’s plan would have a top tax rate on wages (also interest, rent and royalties) 40 percent higher than Reagan and capital gains tax up to 40 percent higher than Clinton (“A Closer Look at Obamanomics” by Michael Boskin).

The “death tax” will rise again to 45 percent for estates valued more than $3.5 million. Many small businesses and family farms would incur this tax.

Sen. McCain has proposed a moratorium on seniors age 70½ having to withdraw from IRAs during this time of stock market losses, and making tax cuts permanent.

Our economy was strong until the Democrats gained control of the House and Senate in 2007.

I shudder at the thought of total Democratic control of our federal government. The Democrats caused this meltdown. President Bush is trying to clean it up. McCain has the experience needed to finish the job.

Phyllis P. Gibbs
Greensboro

With everything that is going on, why can’t the senators and Congress members take a cut in pay? This would be a great way to let the voters know that they are up there to help the United States. Most of them are very wealthy to start with, and they probably would never know that they were making less.

I cannot believe they sent our textile and tobacco jobs, among many others, to Mexico and China, and now they are borrowing money from China. China and other countries are going to undermine the United States and take over without even firing a shot at our country. It will not matter who becomes president; it is too late for this country. We are becoming a Third World nation very fast.

John C. Roberts
Stokesdale

After reading your article, “Vaughan enjoys big funds lead against Wilson,” I looked at both candidates’ Web sites. I was impressed with Don Vaughan’s site (www.votevaughan.com). He clearly outlines the issues he thinks are most important. His views are thoughtful and detailed and he offers solutions. It lists his background, experience and accomplishments. It also includes a notable roster of endorsements from people such as former Gov. Jim Hunt to organizations such as the National Federation of Independent Business.

Local races are being overshadowed by the top-of-the-ticket races. A Web site is a valuable way for local candidates to get their message out without constraints. Vaughan’s site is heavy with content.

Wilson’s site says that he offers “solutions not rhetoric,” but his site is short on solutions and long on rhetoric. After viewing both sites, I can understand why “Vaughan enjoys big funds lead against Wilson.”

Mike Shepherd
Greensboro

As a 49-year-old married, white male who is college-educated, a Southerner, registered Democrat and father, I’m sickened by the way race is starting to rear its ugly head in the final weeks of this election. If not for the fact that he is (half) black, and due to the current economic collapse and continuing conflict in Iraq, Barack Obama would be so far ahead in the polls that John McCain would probably concede the election right now.

Fellow Americans and North Carolinians, the man is just as much a white man as he is black! Why do we say he’s black just because he’s half-black? This should not matter either way! Judge the man on his intelligence, ability to lead, plans to get us out of this war, re-establish our good standing in the world, health care and ability to fix this financial mess, or on any other legitimate issue you want, but please don’t prejudge him because of his race! Electing Obama will do amazing things toward improving race relations in this country, because he can truthfully speak from the black and white perspective; that’s because he is, and has lived both! How ironic and poetic that would be.

Duncan Chapman
Jamestown

Howard Coble has revealed himself to be unqualified to be our representative.

When suddenly tightened credit threatened our whole economy, he voted “no” on a bill intended to provide relief.

A few days later, with credit almost frozen, he voted “yes” on a slightly reshaped bill.
In each instance, he justified his vote by citing the overwhelming opinion expressed by constituents.

Action based on momentary opinion requires no more than a clerk. We need a representative with the depth to understand what’s at stake and the political courage to act even before noisy constituencies have had a chance to digest an issue. Facing possibly the most important vote of his career, Howard Coble chose to be a clerk. I will be voting for Teresa Bratton to represent us in Washington.

Douglass Gilbert
Greensboro

Immigration is a controversial issue that affects all Americans, whether they realize it or not. Barack Obama realizes that the immigration system is greatly flawed, and he has a plan that will work to not only solve our crisis right now but ensure that immigrants (documented and undocumented) are treated fairly, without compromising the integrity of the United States. His plan will bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. As long as the person has not committed a crime, they are allowed to pay a fine, learn English, and if they choose, go to the back of the line to start the process of becoming a citizen of this great country.

I support Obama because he knows that the solution to the immigration crisis is not to throw everyone out of the United States. He realizes that immigrants — legal and illegal — are people and deserve to be treated as such.

Shaina Draper
Greensboro

As a voter, I can’t help but wonder (under the present administration), would it be possible for the Democratic Party to get a 75 percent to 25 percent majority of votes (and a majority of electoral votes), and the Supreme Court find a way to “give” the election to the Republicans?

Bob Wright
Greensboro

I’m incredibly confused by the political tone that is rampaging around America: Elitists are bad, the elite are bad.

What? The very definition of elite is someone who is the most skilled or intelligent in a group. Why would you not want him above you?

Who would you rather run your company, the graduate with an MBA or a sports fan? Who would you prefer to perform your surgery, a physician or a farm laborer? This kind of thinking says, “Why not? After all, they both deal with organic things!”

This kind of thinking disturbs me. I always want someone smarter or more capable to run my organizations. I guess the study was true when it said the incompetent cannot see their own incompetence and the competence of others.

William Lyle
Greensboro

At this crucial time in our nation’s history, one would hope the presidential campaigns would deal with the crucial issues facing us, such as the economy, the war in Iraq, the environment and health care. Instead we have Sarah Palin spewing ridiculous statements such as Sen. Obama is “palling around with terrorists.”

This election is too important for voters to be fooled by such diversionary tactics. Don’t take the political rhetoric at face value. Check independent sources like Factcheck.org, Fact Checker at the washingtonpost.com. or Fact Check at cnn.com.

Some facts upon which we should be able to agree:
• We are in a widely unpopular war with no clear end in sight;
• We are in a financial crisis, the implications of which will be felt for years to come;
• We have not made significant progress in dealing with global warming, health care, infrastructure and more.

When George Bush was handed the keys to the White House, we had a budget surplus and peace. Things have changed a lot in eight years. It is a record the Republicans can’t hide despite all the mudslinging.

Vote for a real change. Vote Obama-Biden in November.

Beth Kuoni
Greensboro

Regarding the $3.3 million donated to Barack Obama’s camp by so-called U.S. citizens living abroad: Why could these contributors not list a name or home state?

Under federal law, foreign citizens cannot make political contributions, but U.S. citizens living abroad can. So who made the contributions, foreign citizens or Americans? It makes you wonder. We as U.S. citizens demand to know the answer!

We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama. His speeches have inspired millions, yet no one knows this man. All he has done in his political career is promise change (change to what?).

He worked closely with ACORN organizers during his time as a community organizer, and his campaign paid $800,000 to an ACORN-affiliated group during the primaries. ACORN, by the way, is under investigation for voter fraud.

Time is limited, so ask yourself, do we want to put a man we do not know in office as our commander-in-chief? Remember, the power of speech is a powerful thing. He cannot deliver all he has promised. Americans riding the tidal wave with Barack Obama may regret it when the wave hits shore.

My fellow Americans, where is Barack Obama getting his money?

Betty Phillips
Greensboro

Over the last eight years, Darlene Garrett has been an unceasing, energetic advocate for our schools and students. That is why she will have my vote for our District 3 school board member.

Darlene has consistently been a voice of reason on the school board. She is not afraid to stand her ground and go above the politics and negativity that have plagued the board in the past.

When the schools in our district were left off the bond (even though they are the most overcrowded in the county), she tirelessly continued to push for new facilities. The results were a new Oak Ridge Elementary, the three Northern schools, Pearce Elementary and extensive renovations at other schools, including Stokesdale Elementary.

There is not a student in our district who hasn’t benefited directly from Darlene’s work, either due to a better learning environment or less overcrowding.

In my experience, she has never declined an invitation to visit a school, nor has she ever been too busy to answer a question or assist with a problem.

I am thankful that she has felt called to serve us again. Our schools and students couldn’t ask for a more dedicated school board member.

Julie Ann Jones
Greensboro

I was saving responsibly and regularly so that I may retire in a reasonable degree of comfort. However, someone stole that satisfaction and no one appears to be coming forward to admit they participated in this theft.

In addition to publishing your local “Most Wanted” fugitives feature, please run a feature regarding the “Top 10” perpetrators of this national and global financial crisis. Perhaps this would help Congress, the FBI, SEC and others bring these criminals to justice.

Tom Rafferty
Summerfield

Johnny, we hardly knew you. Were you the political insider who cultivated and referred to the press as “my base” before launching a pre-emptive strike against them to cancel future criticism? The Bush sidekick who consistently voted with the most inept administration in U.S. history and ate cake with Bush while Katrina flooded New Orleans? One of the “Keating Five” who did family-related favors for Keating’s failed S&L (Keating went to prison, costing taxpayers $3.4 billion)? The “reformer” who surrounded himself with scores of corporate lobbyists? The one who mimicked Herbert Hoover by stating that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong,” who campaigned for tax cuts for the wealthiest, who sought advice from Phil Gramm, former senator largely responsible for financial deregulation? The one who distanced himself in 2000 from Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell and their “corrupting influences on religion and politics” but who sought their blessing in 2008? The early champion of “Mission Accomplished” and Donald Rumsfeld? Or the candidate who approved false ads linking Obama to kindergarten sex education?

Senator, we now know who you are — one who has consistently shown poor judgment.

Jerry Meisner
Greensboro

A New York Times/CBS poll last month showed that more than half of respondents believed that McCain spent more time attacking Obama than explaining what he would do as president. With only two weeks left, behind in all polls, John McCain, the “straight talk maverick,” is going negative.

Desperate, his last chance at the White House, he will now resort to the kind of dirty, Rovian politics that were used against him in 2000. Rather than talk about the economy, something he admitted he doesn’t know as much about as he should, or the war that the American public wants out of, or telling us specifically what he will do as president, McCain will now focus on slinging mud. His campaign sees his sole avenue to the White House as attacking and trying to bring into question Obama’s character, associations and experience. This from the man who has said voters should judge candidates “by the example we set, by the way we conduct our campaigns, by the way we personally practice politics.”

If this is how McCain practices politics, then we should be very afraid of how he will conduct himself once he’s in the White House.

Jo Boykin
Greensboro

A response to Lynne M. Bailey’s letter, “Who are the real elitists?” (Oct. 12): Please note that on Oct. 10, Michelle Obama, Joe and Jill Biden and Oprah Winfrey held an Obama fundraiser in Chicago raking in $2,500 to $28,500 per person. About 1,000 women were in attendance. (And don’t forget the Hollywood soiree for Barack Obama last month.) When it comes to fund-raising, there seems to be plenty of “elitists” to go around.

By the way, the downtown Greensboro event was called a “rally,” not a fund-raiser. That’s why there were more “average” people in attendance.

Pamela Wheeler
Greensboro

North Carolina has lost another textile company, Spectrum Yarns Inc. Hanesbrands has closed nine plants. Kernersville is losing BlueScope Steel. Our Republicans and president have failed North Carolina. My job, along with many others, also went to China/Asia. Democrats, you can turn this state Blue by saying No McCain, No Dole and No Palin on Nov. 4. We need leaders to work for us and not against us.

Lizzie Allen
Burlington

Your Oct. 14 editorial on High Point University, “The impact of growth,” stated that “the university can improve relations by encouraging students to perform community service work in nearby neighborhoods.” My impression is that the volunteer service done by the university’s faculty, staff and students is already significant.

The truth is that the HPU students alone invest more than 27,000 volunteer hours per year. The athletic teams tutor students in schools in the neighborhood and across the city of High Point.

The sororities and fraternities have raised tens of thousands or dollars to support underprivileged children and families.

Each week HPU’s chapel service collects an offering, and the money collected is donated to the Salvation Army to buy Christmas presents for needy children.

I am proud of the university’s service to the city of High Point and its communities — it is significant.

Carter T. Holbrook Jr.
Colfax

Rosemary Roberts, bless her heart, is at it again. This time she is trying to crucify Gov. Sarah Palin. It seems Gov. Palin accused Sen. Barack Obama of associating with terrorists. She was referring to Bill Ayers. I do not think it is necessary to explain who Bill Ayers is.

Rosemary, very naively, stated that Obama was only 8 years old when Ayers was doing his thing. Rosemary did say Obama knows Ayers. What she didn’t say was that Obama had served on several boards with Ayers and has also been a guest in Ayers’ home. They are both connected with ACORN. Particularly, Obama. He was ACORN’s lawyer and adviser for a time.

I am a Democrat but I usually see things for what they are and vote accordingly, regardless of what the media says.

Milton Harris
Greensboro

On Nov. 4 voters pick a new president. A fresh start, new directions. The voting citizens of Greensboro need to implement a citizen-created 20-year master plan for parks and recreation.

In that plan, already some 10-11 years old, some very important items are overdue:
• Facility investment for Gateway Gardens, Barber Park and Gillespie Golf Course.
• Pools repairs at Lindley, Peeler, Warnersville and Windsor pools. Plus an upgrade at Grimsley.
• Park reinvestment at Smith Senior Center plus various district neighborhood parks.
• Athletic field development with artificial turf at Hester Park.
• A regional competitive aquatic center, which covers a vast variety of aquatic activities.

These items are all part of the parks and recreation bond. Greensboro is asking all voters to turn out and support this overdue phase of the master plan. Cost: $20 million.

Paul Brown
Greensboro

As McCain invokes Ronald Reagan as his inspiration, I remember that the Gipper presided over the nation’s highest unemployment rate (9.7 percent, 1982) since WWII.

Reaganomics and free-market chanters turned 180 degrees our historical debate over a nation’s duties to its populace. Americans wanting tax cuts voted for them, endorsing the call for government, public schools, health care, military operations and more to operate like profit-driven businesses.

As models of good governance, they plundered the national treasury, hired mercenary companies to wage foreign wars knowing they were exempt from Geneva Conventions against wartime atrocities, and they stocked the liquor cabinet for Wall Street, the Department of Defense, and themselves. Like middle-class Americans whose primary interest is their own pockets, they encouraged greed, corruption and self-interest. As oil and weapons businessman, Bush/Cheney delighted shareholders with record-breaking profit margins.

On Nov. 4 we again consider government’s duty: Is it to model self-interested, trickle-down economics that stuff the pockets of an “ownership society” at the expense of the majority, or is it to model policies that Thomas Jefferson thought served the Common Good of all our people. Does America provide the most for a few, or does it truly offer prosperity to all?

Martha J. Nelson
Julian

John McCain was one of five senators investigated in the “Keating Five” influence-peddling scandal. The Senate committee concluded that McCain used “poor judgment.”

John McCain cheated on his first wife. He broke his vows to his marriage and to his God. An adulterer, by nature, is immoral. This behavior indicates a flawed character.

Bad judgment. John McCain. Not my president.

While a prisoner of war, McCain made a judgment call. His captors offered freedom. He could have returned home and related his compelling story to the American people. Instead he chose to remain in hell for three more years.

Who in God’s name did that benefit? Only McCain’s father, the naval admiral. It would have been an embarrassment for the admiral. That was service to his father, not to his country.

Bad judgment. John McCain. Not my president.

One heartbeat away from a tired-looking, fuzzy-thinking John McCain is “Plan B” — Smiling Sarah Palin and her dude on a sled.

With turmoil around the world, and economic chaos at home, we need a real vice president, not a caricature.

I am an American and I approve of this message.

Max Roseman
High Point

May I tell you about my dear friend Hugh Webster. Hugh is running against Congressman Brad Miller, who never saw a liberal spending program or tax increase he didn’t like.

If you wish to know what Hugh Webster supports, just ask him for he is proud of his positions, and rightfully so. He doesn’t cloud the issues. Hugh will not vote for tax increases. He will support the U.S. military. He will stand up for your rights under the Second Amendment. He will stand between the IRS and your earnings.

If you make Hugh Webster your congressman, you will have made your nation and the world better.

Ben Miles Jr.
McLeansville

With Kay Hagan’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate, Greensboro is losing a powerful advocate in Raleigh. I appreciate all that Sen. Hagan has done to support our community by securing funding for transportation, infrastructure and economic growth issues. We cannot lose ground on these important fronts, and that is why I am supporting Don Vaughan for the N.C. Senate.

Vaughan has the background and experience to be an effective senator in Raleigh. For more than 30 years, Vaughan has been actively involved in our community. He has served on numerous boards and commissions and has held elected office. He is also a small-business owner who understands the impact the economy is having on citizens and what can be done to help in these difficult times.

Just as importantly, Vaughan understands how the legislative process works and how to get things done. He will have an immediate impact in the legislature, and that is what our community needs and deserves. He is the right choice for Greensboro in the state Senate.

Monty Hagler
Greensboro

It is with great confidence and pleasure that I endorse John Faircloth as High Point city councilman for Ward 6. Having served three years with John, I witnessed his in-depth understanding of key issues facing High Point, his commitment to action and sound judgment.

John is a leader, not a talker. He has successfully focused his energies on providing city services in the most financially efficient, effective manner possible while adding value to High Point and the greater Triad through economic development efforts, core city revitalization and work force development.

We need John Faircloth’s continued leadership on the High Point City Council.

Lisa Stahlmann
High Point

With the economic situation as it is today, I would like to see all new blood take over in the place of our current legislators in Raleigh.

Joe Wilson would be a great start for the District 27 state Senate seat. Joe has a real love for the city of Greensboro as demonstrated by his complete knowledge of the politics here.

Joe is a regular guy who would be a real voice for change! He’s the kind of change we need in our state — a legislator who would truly represent and vote with his constituents in mind.

Please vote for my friend Joe Wilson on Nov. 4.

Sherry Mayer
Greensboro

We strongly support re-election of District Court Judge Robinson Hassell. The Johns family encourages your vote for a proven jurist and dedicated Greensboro citizen.

My experience with Judge Hassell goes well beyond court, where he has been a careful and competent jurist. My family and I have, for more than 15 years, shared church, Sunday school and youth fellowship with Robby, Eloise, Molly and Bayly. Our family has been enriched by our knowing the Hassell family.

Over the years, I have had cases before Judge Hassell that required his honest, objective and experienced deliberation. He continues to be a student of the law and is prepared for the cases before him.

At the same time, Judge Hassell has always been mindful and protective of the trust given to him by the community in electing him District Court judge since 2000.

Re-elect a proven judge — District Court Judge Robinson Hassell.

A. Frank, Anne, Catherine, Abraham and Win Johns
Greensboro

The comic “Jump Start” (Oct. 14) has an error with respect to voting rights in North Carolina. You cannot be turned away for wearing campaign clothing while voting.

Don Wright, the general counsel for the N.C. State Board of Elections, has e-mailed “Black Box Voting” (Sept. 24) the following: “A voter that has a political cap, T-shirt, or button and does not electioneer within the polling place will be allowed to vote in a normal manner.”

I want to remind everyone that there are federal criminal penalties for interference with the right to vote. I would think raising frivolous objections, in order to slow the voting line would be prima facie evidence of such interference.

Harvey B. Herman
Greensboro

Anybody who visits High Point University today sees firsthand what President Nido Qubein and his team have done to create an institution ranked by U.S. News Report magazine as No. 1 in the category of “Up and Coming Schools.” HPU is an amazing place. I commend the High Point City Council for approving the privatization of three streets that run through campus.

As a graduate of HPU, it is especially rewarding to see the evolution of our campus and to realize our community’s support for that growth. As HPU grows and continues to garner national attention, it is important that our community support our university in every way possible.

Molly Jordan
High Point

Rather than the smokescreen of “Joe the plumber,” I would prefer to hear something, anything of substance from “Joe the Fed chairman,” “Joe the treasury secretary,” “Joe the Republican candidate” and “Joe the president.”

David Stump
Greensboro

I just finished reading the News & Record editorial (Oct. 4) about our city manger seeking to cut $1.1 million from our city budget. Then I moved to Section B and read the article about the city being owed $2.2 million in unpaid parking tickets. Is there a disconnect here?

Several years ago, a similar article appeared in the News & Record. As I recall, there were several hundred thousand dollars owed at that time but less than one million dollars.

What appears obvious to me is that there is no effort being made by the administration in city government to exercise fiscal responsibility, and collect the $2.2 million in fines.

Perhaps it is time for the “hockey moms” and “Joe six-packs” of Greensboro to band together and demand more from our elected and appointed officials. What other examples of fiscal irresponsibility exist buried in city government? This could be just the tip of the iceberg.

We as residents cannot spend more than we make, and we should demand the same from our elected and appointed officials in their administration of our city government.

Gary Wegner
Greensboro

Your recent editorial (Oct. 16) criticized a decision I made in 1999 to step down as District Court judge. My motivations were misunderstood.

At that time, I was a strong candidate for appointment to Superior Court. To seek re-election while pursuing that appointment would not have been fair to potential candidates or to my friends who would be asked to contribute their time, effort and hard-earned money to a campaign. I stepped down before the end of my term to give the governor ample time to appoint my replacement. I loved my job. I was good at it. My income was generous and secure. The selfish, politically expedient decision would have been to stay on. The morally correct decision was to step down.

Judges are called upon to make difficult decisions every day. Often, the right decision is not consistent with the judge’s political best interests. A good judge makes that tough call the right way every time. I gave up much more than a “bird in the hand.” I gave up a position of honor for the greater good of the community, despite the fact that it was contrary to my political interests.

Charles L. “Chuck” White
Greensboro

The writer is a candidate for District Court judge.

Thank you for the complimentary remarks concerning my efforts with fiscal accountability in your endorsement of Walter Dalton for lieutenant governor. As readers reflect on Sen. Dalton’s commitment to accountability, please consider the following:

Dalton served as co-chairman of the Appropriations Committee and voted for increase in spending of 50 percent since 2003, requiring nearly $7 billion of new taxes.

North Carolina has highest business and individual tax rates in Southeast, which Dalton also supported, that discourage new business and industry from coming to our state. Dalton’s budgets included $400,000 for a teapot museum, $500,000 annually to excavate a pirate ship; $2.7 million for a polar bear exhibit.

Yet, our roads are not being built, one-third of our students don’t graduate from high school. North Carolina has a lower medium household income than national average, a higher unemployment rate than national average.

Dalton’s record has been one of out-of-control spending and waste on foolish projects.
North Carolina must do better. We cannot continue in the same failed tax-and-spend policies.

I will bring real fiscal reform that will enable North Carolina to fund roads, schools, protect our citizens, and reduce our burdensome tax rates.

Robert Pittenger
Charlotte

The writer is the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.

To: Maggie Jeffus:

Thank you for helping to raise the minimum wage. Thank you for supporting pay raises for teachers. Thank you for helping to provide tax credits to small businesses that provide health coverage for their workers. Thank you for supporting efforts to improve education in our state (creating drop-out prevention programs, expanding the Learn & Earn program for high school seniors, and investing new state money for classroom computers and technology).

Maggie Jeffus has a proven record of effecting needed change on small business, educational and children’s and health issues. For our sakes, for North Carolina’s sake, re-elect Rep. Maggie Jeffus on Nov. 4.

Judith R. Hyman
Greensboro

I have seen how important Lindley Pool has been to families of Greensboro. It is one of Greensboro’s public pools and has provided fun summer activities as well as great exercise to many children. However, being in charge of the first aid station at the annual city swim meet, I have seen firsthand how badly it is in need of repairs. Many swimmers required first aid due to cuts on their feet from badly needed maintenance on the pool.

The Parks and Recreation bond that we will be voting on soon will provide $12 million for a new public swimming pool. It will be called the regional aquatic center. This pool offers indoor swimming year around for all swimmers. This bond will also provide funds to repair Smith and Grimsley High School pool facilities.

Exercise is vital to our health and our children’s health. We are in an obesity epidemic. Children are having problems such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. For a nominal fee, this aquatic center will provide exercise to our children year around.

Please consider voting yes for this bond.

Jean-Ann Trull
Greensboro

In response to Brent Tysinger’s letter, “Heaven help us, are we really that stupid?” (Oct. 15), questioning those of us who are supporting Sen. Obama, I only have one thing to say: At least we Obama supporters are not nearly as “stupid” as the candidate who selected an unqualified, unheard of, untested and absolutely clueless individual who could possibly be a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States.

Monte Brooks
Lexington

I want to thank Ken Sawyer for his refreshing new perspective that Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers were conservatives (letter, Oct. 11). Those brave men declared our independence from the crown and started a revolution. It takes quite an imagination to think those actions conservative.

The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are radical liberal documents conferring upon all men rights in regard to government. This was a revolutionary idea in its time.
Does he really think that Jefferson was a conservative? The Tories were conservatives, who remained loyal to the authority of the crown. Blinded by his ideology, Sawyer totally ignores any semblance of logic or reason.

The right wing strain all credibility by blaming Democrats for the catastrophic failure of their own philosophy. For years, Bush, Cheney and McCain arrogantly used their offices to advance banking deregulation and corporate welfare, while cutting funding for education and other essential programs for ordinary folks.

Apparently conservatives are comfortable with socialism for the super wealthy and big corporations like AIG, Halliburton and Exxon, but not for the rest of us.

Danny Glenn
Greensboro

Have you noticed how every president becomes less popular toward the end of his term? But never in history have I heard such disrespect for the office of president coming from so many.

Barack Obama, Hillary, Pelosi. Bush is blamed for everything, but the Democrats were in control of Congress since 2006, so how can so much be the fault of the president?

No doubt Obama would invite his old friends to see him if he were to become president, or they would say he “forgot where he came from.”

On the other hand, we need people with the highest integrity in these perilous times to set an example. Sarah Palin always has a positive, cheerful attitude. She inspires people and would be a fine president if it became necessary. For those who think McCain’s health is an issue, FDR commanded wars on two fronts from a wheelchair. McCain’s health is of no immediate concern.

Barack would do anything to please his party, even forsaking Israel if the sentiment turned against her. There is a verse in the Bible that discourages it: Genesis 12:3.

Let’s keep integrity in the White House. Vote for McCain-Palin.

Leroy Seawell
Greensboro

To the person or persons who took the Obama-Biden campaign sign from my front yard in New Irving Park: I can only reach two possible conclusions. You took it to put in your own yard or, more likely, you are a frustrated McCain-Palin supporter who realizes now how this election most likely will end.

Either way, shame on you for denying me my right to free speech!

Carol Stevens
Greensboro

In the News & Record Oct. 20, there appeared a letter to the editor titled, “Too many questions still surround Obama.” It was signed Betty Phillips.

My legal name is Elizabeth Phillips, but I am known to most people as Betty Phillips. I want it clearly understood that this letter was not written by Elizabeth “Betty” Winecoff Phillips.

Elizabeth W. “Betty” Phillips
Greensboro

As a voter and resident of this state, I am disgraced at how Bev Perdue would not debate the other two candidates in the governor’s race. She is a major party candidate. She needs to act like it.

I commend the organizers of the debate to allow the third-party candidate. The debate, put on by UNC-TV, was funded by taxpayer dollars. I would be more sympathetic toward her not debating if it was put on by North Carolina Republicans or a group affiliated with a certain party. She sent the message to the people that she is not going to bring you her message in a public forum but rather hide behind misleading and inaccurate TV ads as well as party rallies.

This shows how out of touch with the people of North Carolina Bev Perdue is at this point.
I watched the debate. I was disappointed she was not there to present her record against the others. There was no excuse for her not being there. She is more concerned about hiding her record than standing by it.

The people of this state deserve better. I would encourage everyone to vote for Pat McCrory. He has shown in the past he can lead in a bipartisan fashion. We need that in Raleigh more than ever.

Chris Lawyer
Greensboro

The N.C. Police Benevolent Association Inc. is composed of officers employed by federal, state, county or municipal governments throughout North Carolina.

Our professional association, funded by membership dues and citizen contributions, prides itself in providing representation to officers and support service personnel who are members. We also advocate change to improve the quality of work life for our members along with addressing issues through political action.

Recently, Alma Adams and Maggie Jeffus met with us to discuss issues that are important to the recruitment and retention of law-enforcement officers throughout the state. Each candidate who participated in our screening process was asked a series of questions that sought to develop a broader understanding on how to address these issues in the General Assembly.

Based on responses on each issue, the North Carolina PBA chose to endorse Adams in her candidacy for N.C. House District 58 and Jeffus, N.C. House District 59.

I would ask each voter in these districts to consider men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect them. A vote for Adams and Jeffus will show that you care about their needs.

Lou Ellen Taylor
Pfafftown
The writer is president of N.C. Police Benevolent Association.

I have been a classroom teacher in the Guilford County Schools system for more than 25 years. I have discussed on numerous occasions the challenges of education with Don Vaughan, who is running for the state Senate.

I read that Vaughan’s opponent believes that all teachers make $55,000 a year and are well paid. I can assure you this is not the case. Maybe Don’s opponent needs to visit our public schools and discuss the matter with the classroom teachers.

Vaughan genuinely cares about quality education in Greensboro and would make an excellent state senator. He understands the importance of good classroom teachers and would truly make a difference in Raleigh.

Cynthia Cobia
Greensboro

My support of Olga Morgan Wright to represent District 58 is as strong today as it was when she first announced her candidacy.

Her stamina, persistence and determination to run on to see “what the end will be” is in her favor.

Join me. Vote for Olga Morgan Wright.

Shirley J. McFarland
Greensboro

I urge fellow citizens to go to the end of the ballot and vote yes for the street improvement bond.
Greensboro enjoys an outstanding and comprehensive transportation system. Ease of movement means less congestion than that found in competitive cities. Ridership on buses is high. HEAT is a new, innovative bus service for our college students. Bike lanes have been sprouting up throughout town.

Bond funds are needed to maintain this strong transportation infrastructure and to make alternative transportation modes safe and available as citizens confront rising gas prices and air-quality concerns. Bonds will fund repairs on more than 10 bridges, improve 10 major roadways and six critical intersections, provide 53 miles of sidewalks, resurface 50 miles of streets, and provide an opportunity to receive dollar-for-dollar matches from state and federal funding.

Yes, we are experiencing volatile financial times. However, Greensboro’s government is fiscally responsible. It will not let bonds until there is a market. It will not spend bond funds unless there is enough revenue to cover the cost of the bonds. Voting yes gives city government the authorization to issue the bonds once the financial climate is healthy.

Susan Shore Howard
Greensboro

I cannot believe the people of this area are so blind that they would consider Kay Hagan as a U.S. senator. When she was in Raleigh, she did nothing but raise taxes.

She is not a Greensboro person as you like to portray her; she grew up in Florida. Her uncle, Lawton Chiles, was elected governor and one of the first things he tried to do was raise taxes because there was a shortfall in money for schools. The smart people of Florida reacted so strongly that he withdrew his tax plan. And guess what? In just a few weeks he found $250 million. This is how Kay “Tax You Crazy” Hagan would operate.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole kept all our military bases open, and now some people think that Hagan would fight for North Carolina. She is a Democrat and will vote the party line.

J.G. Smith
Greensboro