Voters of both parties care about climate change. Why don’t our leaders?

In “Climate change threatens the coast and NC should act, voters of both parties say” from Oct. 11, data from two independent surveys show 83 percent of survey participants think climate change will have a negative impact on our coasts. Survey participants included both Democrats and Republicans from North Carolina. Concern about this issue and its negative impacts on our state (and the world) have been shared and echoed in the pages of the N&O by journalists, scientists, and community members alike.

Why then have we seen little to no support of climate action from our elected officials? There are still no members of congress from our state in the House Climate Solutions Caucus, and none of our elected officials have put forth legislation to act tangibly on climate change.

Justin Baumann

Carrboro

Missing promises

I was surprised to be cited in the News & Observer’s editorial “Break the GOP stranglehold on the legislature — and North Carolina,” Oct. 13, wherein I was mentioned as a critic of this year’s budget process at the General Assembly. The Editorial Board uses the example of the budget process as a reason why they are only endorsing Democratic legislative candidates.

I am still a critic of that budget process, but my article which was cited went a step further. I said, “Taxpayers also deserve a pledge from the Democrats who so ardently oppose this year’s budget practice that they will never short-circuit the budget process if and when they come into power.”

I have seen no such promise from the Democratic Party or any legislative candidate, so I can’t help but be perplexed by The N&O’s decision to only endorse Democrats in the Triangle. What assurances does The N&O have that Democrats won’t also pass their budget “in secret” if they gained power? Candidates should be weighed on their own merits and not as a group. Otherwise, these types of blanket media endorsements of one party appear very much partisan.

Donald Bryson

Raleigh

American divide

I think Joseph Rothengast’s letter “Moral Leader” is an excellent example of the divide we face as Americans.

On one hand, Rothengast has a case when he says Trump didn’t take money for his campaign, helped the economy, lowered unemployment and built up our military.

On the other hand, I am baffled at the claims that Trump lies less, worked harder, passed a good tax plan, reduced regulations in a good way (we kind of need the environment long term), represented us well in foreign policies, and was strict with our enemies (Putin? Kim?). And I can assure Rothengast that Trump opponents are confident in their morality.

I suspect one of the reasons for the gap between Rothengast’s views and mine is that we are getting our information from different sources. If he doesn’t trust our local News & Observer, I suggest the Wall Street Journal, which no one can call left-wing media.

Joe Swain Jr.

Carrboro

Young voters

New York Times columnist Bret Stephens (“American liberalism has pierced its own tongue (again),” Oct. 16) is on to something. The Democrats had a golden opportunity, and I’m afraid they “flubbed” it. Not because of incivility – incivility seems to be widespread across the political spectrum. But Democrats can win only if young people to go to the polls, and the party has largely ignored their concerns.

Young adults owe college debt that cannot be erased through bankruptcy like other forms of debt. Having a family is cost prohibitive. Even many large companies offer only unpaid family leave, so few can afford the luxury of spending much time with their newborn. Subsidized preschool slots don’t come close to meeting demand. Everyone dreads the cost of getting sick as much or more than the actual disease. Rents are rising faster than incomes and building starter homes is unprofitable.

Democrats must reach out to young adults or risk seeing their “blue wave” crash on the shores of shortsightedness.

Ken Jones

Chapel Hill

Endless involvement

Americans need to be reminded that their country has been waging war in Afghanistan since 2001 and our government has failed to make it clear what our current military objectives are. The upcoming midterm elections will be an opportunity to protest our seemingly endless involvement in Afghanistan and elect a Congress that will seriously debate this issue and press President Trump to bring our troops home.

John F. Bridgers

Fuquay-Varina