18-05-2025
After ICE detained parent near Charlotte school, it's clear the agency is about cruelty
With regards to the March 14 report that a parent was detained dropping kids off at a Charlotte school: for ICE and its minders, it's about cruelty, fear, terror and the hated 'other.' Masked men, shabbily-dressed, unmarked vehicles, no identification, no warrants. Our America today has shadows of Argentina under Videla, Romania under Ceausescu, Russia under Putin. Should you imagine this is not your business, that it can't happen to you, best to learn your history.
Harry Taylor, Charlotte
This administration aims to eliminate fraud, abuse and waste within Medicaid. Medicaid is in need of reform. Originally intended to support the poor and those who couldn't obtain insurance, it has gradually evolved into a de facto universal healthcare program.
Back in 2000, Medicaid covered around 30 million people. Today, that number has grown to 80 million — about 25% of the U.S. population. This expansion goes far beyond Medicaid's original mission!
Mike Howard, Waxhaw
Finally, an American who can stand up to Donald Trump. Pope Leo XIV has long been critical of our president's policies toward undocumented immigrants. He has spoken against most of Trump's other harsh policies which serve to undermine the cohesiveness we have enjoyed in the United States, whether citizens or not.
The Pope shows what good can come from America. Trump shows what is corrupt and bad can come from America. The Pope is a true world-class leader of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. Trump has a shrinking following of less than half of the American voters. Looming impeachment proceedings may mean we will soon be free of him.
Albert Dancy, Charlotte
Senate Bill 261 is a bad deal for NC electric customers. Our utility bills are already too high and this bill would shift the cost and risk of building new power plants from Duke Energy's shareholders to everyday rate payers. This is wrong.
As a senior citizen with limited income, I am deeply concerned about utility costs being too high for me and fellow seniors. Making ratepayers pay up front for plant construction costs is a bad idea. In SC ratepayers were left with 9 billion in debt for a nuclear plant that never generated a single kilowatt of electricity. In GA, the cost was even higher for a system that did not deliver as advertised.
North Carolina legislators should learn from our neighboring states. We don't need to make the same mistake on power plant costs.
Karen Bringle, Charlotte
This administration is not even trying to hide its white, male bias. Early on, women and minorities in high positions were fired as being too 'woke.' It shut the door on asylum from South America and Africa even if lives were in danger and began immigrant deportations without due process.
Now we hear it has fast tracked admission of white South Africans due to alleged racial bias in their home country. How hypocritical. Democrats have been accused of identity politics, but prejudice like this has made it necessary.
Vincent Keipper, Concord
Pete Rose was a great baseball player known as 'Charlie Hustle.' He holds the record of the most hits for a career. He is notoriously known for being banned from baseball for gambling on games as a player and a manager, which is clearly forbidden.
Years back on a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I noticed his name was on top of a list of the all-time hits record. While he was not enshrined with a plaque or exhibit, I personally thought that was sufficient. I would not want to decide this issue but to give an analogy, If one robs a bank, is caught, pulls time, pays the debt to society and becomes a God-fearing law-abiding citizen, that person generally and must always never work in a bank.
Randall Lemly, Charlotte
