Trump is ruining his credibility and the economy with shifting tariffs policy
Donald Trump's impulsive tariff policy has well-documented negative effects on U.S. trade. However, his primitive method of adding and subtracting tariffs has broader adverse effects on the entire economy. The Economist called the tariffs 'the most disruptive policy' ever in global trade.
It adds substantial uncertainty that makes decisions by consumers and producers more difficult. Also, his frequent reneging on tariff promises reduces his credibility to near zero. Furthermore, the use of executive decrees that bypass Congress are of questionable constitutionality. Are there limits to this disruptive policy?
Thomas Grennes, NC State emeritus economics professor, Raleigh
The N.C. Senate budget cuts North Carolina's Innocence Inquiry Commission, which has a budget of $1.6 million. Putting aside the justice and public confidence reasons to keep the commission, the numbers, which are supposed to be reviewed for budget considerations, indicate that the commission should be kept and its budget should be increased.
The men exonerated over time because of the commission lost 300 years in prison at a cost of $16.2 million. That does not take into account the cost of having the actual perpetrators on the streets. It also doesn't account for the cost of misled investigations, trials, hearings to challenge their releases, victim trauma, the $9.2 million paid in compensation for the state's feeble attempt to make up for their lost lives, or civil suits that cost about $186 million.
In addition to keeping the commission to save taxpayers money, North Carolina should invest in increasing reliability of convictions instead of denying wrongful convictions and fighting efforts to correct them.
Christine Mumma, Durham
Critics say private equity owns 35% of Raleigh's apartments, driving up rents. That's misleading. Private equity firms manage money for pension funds, like the State Employees' Retirement Systems, benefiting state workers and retirees.
Buying a building like Peace Street Apartments requires more than $150 million — capital few locals can raise. If we want more housing, we need serious investment from many sources including private equity.
The real crisis isn't ownership. It's supply. Raleigh's population is growing, but housing hasn't kept up. That's driving up costs. Of course we need strong tenant protections, but we also need to stop vilifying investors who help build the housing we desperately need. Private equity isn't some villain. It's your neighbor's retirement plan. Let's focus on building, not blaming.
Eddie Coleman, Raleigh
The Trump administration wants to transfer to the U.S. Army a 110,000-acre, 60-feet-wide strip along the Mexican border of New Mexico, Arizona and California. That means it will be guarded by young soldiers with automatic weapons and in many cases no law enforcement training, much less Spanish language training.
The police are to protect the people; the military are to defeat the enemy. When the military becomes the police, the people become the enemy. What could go wrong?
Robert Brown, Cary
On behalf of a collective of nearly 150 faith leaders across North Carolina, we write today to support and amplify the Passover message shared by our Jewish colleagues on Apr. 14. We will not permit the use of Jewish pain and fear as an excuse to attack political opponents, end free speech, terrorize communities and undermine civil society. A strong democracy and solidarity among each other keep us safe and thriving. We applaud our Jewish colleagues for this courageous message and commit to further action together.
Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of NC, Durham and Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, NC Council of Churches, Raleigh
The article on mosquito control mentions insecticides and mosquito control professionals without mentioning dangerous implications for other insects, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. Insect populations are being decimated worldwide, with impacts on other species, especially birds, for whom insects are a major food source.
Pollinators are essential to plant life on earth. Insecticides can have a deleterious impact on human health. Those which are advertised as 'natural,' like pyrethrins may be toxic for humans.
Try readily available and inexpensive mosquito dunks, which contain a natural larvicide and are deadly only to mosquito larvae.
Dr. Mindy Oshrain, Durham
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