Republican legislators questioning Cooper on tax revenues? How hypocritical.
Tax revenues
Regarding Republicans questioning Gov. Roy Cooper over the loss of gas tax revenue as people switch to electric cars (Jan 25)... Republicans legislators are the ones who gleefully eliminated the corporate income tax, and with their last budget permanently reduced revenue the state needs for every area of the budget. These are the same Republicans who refuse to expand Medicaid and who ignore the judicial branch by refusing to fund public schools.
In other countries, there are beautiful and safe bridges. There are transportation systems that don’t require everyone to drive a car. There are parks and museums and social safety nets for citizens and non-citizens. What a country we would have, if our government used tax revenue for the benefit of all.
Laurie McDowell, Raleigh
Wake school board
I attended the Jan. 18 Wake County school board meeting. I was shocked and dismayed at the level of hostile public remarks directed at the board. Some audience members jeered and spoke disrespectfully to the board.
When parent Katie Long crossed the security barrier to serve a letter of intent against the school board for what she called 26 violations of state, federal and international laws, I was impressed by how calmly board members responded. I felt Long’s intent was to intimidate them. This is not what school board meetings should look like.
I urge people to support the school board members, who have a tough job navigating the complexities of the pandemic. We need to show support for those who are applying reason, logic and science to the issues before them.
Elizabeth Norval, Raleigh
Bigoted graffiti
The Jan. 24 article about anti-Semitic graffiti on I-540 highlighted something lurking in our community. Acts of bigotry and hatred can be meant to intimidate, agitate or ridicule. They can also have a reverse effect, if we let them. They can be an awakening, stirring us out of assumptions that we live in a world beyond such hatred. Our hope is that such vitriol will serve as an impetus to draw people of good will together to stand and support sisters and brothers of every race, creed, color and country and continue to make Raleigh a courageous place of welcome.
Joel and Bonnie Millikan
Rev. Tom Watkins
Abortion
The writer is a fourth-year medical student.
Who truly believes restrictive abortion laws will stop abortions from happening? What is more than likely is that women will seek out abortions in unsafe ways. I hope the day never comes when I, as a doctor, must provide care to a woman who purposefully fell down the stairs or asked their friend to hit their belly with a frying pan to end an unintended pregnancy.
Women have sought abortions for millennia for many reasons — rape and incest, yes, but also lack of financial resources, including the need to focus on other children, bad timing, and health-related reasons. They will keep doing so whether abortion is legal or not.
Abortion is, in fact, a part of women’s healthcare. Let’s help women be able to at least obtain one safely and legally — in a doctor’s office.
Nadiya Yerich, Chapel Hill
Voting laws
The N.C. Republican Party censured Sen. Richard Burr for casting a “guilty” vote in Trump’s second impeachment trial, and the Arizona Democratic Party censured Krysten Sinema for her refusal on the filibuster. Those censures were not for doing anything evil, but for supporting country over party. How far the parties have fallen.
To salvage party future, the parties need to start working together, beginning with voting rights law. As proposed in two bills, the Democrats are attempting to increase their control and the power of the federal government. While some changes in voting laws are needed, an unacceptable one-party non-solution is a sham that will be rejected by half the country. Sinema and Joe Manchin understand that.
Thomas Shute, Raleigh
Voting rights
I am a retired educator who firmly believes in the right to vote. To realize the promise of democracy for all, Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr must do everything they can to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, including fixing the filibuster — for the future of our democracy.
Adele Kelly, Pittsboro
