NC may be ‘best for business,’ but we sure aren’t for something else | Opinion
NC rankings
I read with pride that CNBC for the second year says North Carolina is the best state for business in our country. Pretty good. Then I remember that North Carolina is near the bottom in our country for education funding and teacher pay. These two things don’t seem to go together, do they? One is a great source of pride, the other a complete embarrassment — with a bad ending if we don’t fix it.
Joe Mooney, Charlotte
Best for business
Regarding “A ‘best for business’ ranking obscures NC’s growing needs”, (July 13 Opinion):
In his latest “hit job” on the Republican-led majority in our state legislature, Associate Opinion Editor Ned Barnett briefly comments upon North Carolina’s recent designation as the “best state for business for the second year in a row” — because state legislators reduced taxes. Then, he launches into all of the “tax-raising” things he believes they should have done instead — which likely would have resulted in our state’s non-selection for this honor.
Richard Vinroot, Charlotte
Fully fund schools
The writer is a retired N.C. teacher.
A strong democracy requires fully funded public schools.
Teachers’ salaries in North Carolina have been stagnant for years and many teachers are leaving the profession for better paying jobs. While legislators claim the state does not have the funds to provide teachers a 10% salary increase, they ignore the surplus in the state budget, funnel funds into school vouchers, and refuse to honor the state Constitution which promises our children a right to a free and fair public education.
North Carolina’s leaders have shirked their responsibility to support the state’s students and educators far too long, and the potential cost of their inaction is daunting. For the second year in a row, CNBC identified North Carolina as “America’s Top State for Business,” citing North Carolina’s educated workforce as one of the state’s winning data points. Strong and vibrant public schools ensure the “Old North State” remains business-friendly and competitive on the world stage.
The time for fully funded public schools is now!
Karen Puckett, Salisbury
A real life story
Regarding “This 12-year-old wants to continue gender-affirming care. NC lawmakers are trying to stop it,” (July 9):
Thank you for making this wonderfully written story the headline for the July 9 edition. Jodie Valade told us this story in a perfect manner. It told the reader something completely new by delivering this family’s real life story — something not many can either relate to or understand.
Bravo Jodie. Cheers to the Dumas family for having the courage to tell their story.
Mark Smets, Fort Mill
Transgender bills
In his July 9 op-ed, N.C. Rep. John Autry refers to the cruel bills regarding transgender youth currently going through the North Carolina legislature.
In my opinion, the definition of the word “cruel” has really changed in the 21st century. To me, it’s cruel for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers to preteens and young teens. It’s also cruel for biological girl athletes to be forced to play with or against boys who identify as girls.
I applaud the North Carolina legislature for pushing these bills.
Tom Creech, Charlotte
Affirmative action
Regarding “What the Supreme Court’s UNC ruling means to me, a student at Chapel Hill,” (July 12 Opinion):
I wholeheartedly disagree with Julian Taylor’s statement that higher education is the backbone to success in America. K-12 education is the foundation to prosperity and where we, as a society, are failing our kids.
We need to focus less on affirmative action in college admittance standards and spend more energy and resources making sure that our children have equal opportunities in the formative years.
Mike Howard, Waxhaw
Not there yet
Affirmative action’s purpose is to insure that every race is represented equitably. Since race can no longer be considered in college admissions, the percentage of white admissions will likely go up and Black admissions go down.
When a race is enslaved for hundreds of years, not able to read or write, and then treated inhumanely after being set free — even during my lifetime — it will take many, many more years before all races are on equal ground.
Buddy Lemmons, Charlotte
Poverty in CLT
Though we have made great strides in the last century, poverty continues to be a thorn in our side. This is especially true for Charlotte, considering its poverty rate of 10-15%. That’s around 120,000 people living below the poverty line, a disproportionate number of whom are Black. This is an injustice that should not be allowed to stand in the rapidly growing Queen City — or anywhere else, for that matter.
Interning for The Borgen Project, a nonprofit that focuses on poverty, has helped me understand that my voice matters. All of us must demand more from our elected officials, for the betterment of all.
James Cooper, Mooresville
