Let’s end the current winner-take-all mentality

I am a lifelong independent voter driven by individual platforms and the potential impact they might have on our country. Fred Howes (“Hopeful 2019,” Oct. 19) is correct when he states “both parties need to work together.”

Regardless of the outcome of the midterm elections, we need legislators that are focused on the good of the country, not the good of their party. We must end the winner-take-all mentality that has dominated Washington for the past 10 years. Gone are the days of bipartisanship, when both sides compromised to pass important legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Medicare and Medicaid or the Reagan-era tax cuts.

We cannot continue to pass legislation on a party-line vote as we did with the Affordable Care Act nor should we confirm judges in that manner. We live in a shameful world of identity politics, smear campaigns for political gain, and violent and non-violent public attacks on politicians for their party affiliation — all in the name of political power. Party parity did not solve this problem under the Obama administration. We need politicians that exercise good judgment, are concerned with what is best for the country and do not simply vote the party line.

Scott Dillon

Cary

Don’t endorse

I have read the N&O for about 60 years, and would describe it as a love/hate relationship. The part I hate the most is the blatant support of the N&O for Democrats in elections. Historically, just before any major election, the N&O comes out with a list of endorsed candidates, and it usually is straight Democrat except in races where there is no Democratic candidate.

True to form, the N&O is doing it again, as evidenced by the article “Vote for Coleman and the Triangle Democrats,” Oct. 17, which was written by the N&O Editorial Board. The last sentence says, “Elect Democrats who will provide a responsible check on the reckless and feckless president.”

Please dispense with all the bias and stick to reporting accurate information about the platforms, backgrounds, voting records and objectives of candidates on both sides. Then let voters decide for whom they want to vote. Please quit telling people how to vote.

Eric Hinesley

Raleigh

Opinions allowed

The writer of the letter “Biased Coverage,” Oct. 19, has a problem with the N&O’s editorial viewpoint, particularly its recommendations to voters. I would encourage the writer to remember that it is the job of newspapers not only to report the news, but to express editorial opinions.

This follows a tradition many centuries old. That the N&O expresses its editorial opinions, and that some people disagree with them, is to be expected and applauded. I have lived in cities where I did not agree with the opinions in the paper, but I didn’t suggest that the paper stop having them. I found value in the paper in other areas than opinion.

There are a multitude of news sources available, in print, on television and radio, and through the internet. I don’t agree with the opinions of Fox News, but I would never question its right to have them. I am not required to watch Fox News, and I don’t. The letter writer is free to do the same.

Kenneth Caudell

Durham

Limiting scooters

Overly strict limitations on the number of shared e-scooters in Raleigh would make it harder for residents to reliably find a Bird nearby when they leave their home, office or get off public transit. There is a clear demand for these transportation options and an adequate number of e-scooters is vital for Bird to continue to offer a convenient choice for the people of Raleigh to get around.

The more common scooters like Bird and Lime become, the better the culture around multi-modal transportation becomes — increasing the city’s walkability and safety. Higher walkability is correlated with higher property values and economic investment.

The more pedestrians, bikes, and scooters we facilitate, the less cars on the road and thus a safer environment for all involved. Raleigh is growing and we need to be proactive in maintaining the enjoyment of living in it by reducing car traffic through it.

Andie Cozzarelli

Raleigh

Very sad

President Trump characterizes the alleged murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi as “very sad.”

No, it is not. It is a reprehensible act of violence that should be immediately condemned by all. When your dog dies, it is sad, very sad.

Jerry DeWitt

Holly Springs

Unnecessary cuts

Last year, congressional Republicans presented the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans with a $1.5 trillion tax cut. Those individuals and corporations were already rich. They didn’t need that. But GOP legislators gave it to them anyway.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell came out whining about the increasing federal deficit — blaming it on so-called “entitlements,” a derogatory term used to describe Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act or any other government program designed to help the less fortunate. He insists that the only way to fix the deficit is to slash these provisions, which are so crucial to the poor, the elderly, the disabled and the unemployed.

Yet, last December, when they passed the extravagant tax cut for the rich, the deficit was the furthest thing from their minds.

They increased the wealth of an already rich minority, and now they want to rip off the weakest, most vulnerable members of our society to pay for it!

This is inexcusable. The Republican Party has been in power long enough. They have become greedy, corrupt, and self-serving. It is time for them to go.

Mike Efland

Raleigh

Petulant child

In “Moral leader,” Oct. 16, the writer contends that President Trump is a moral leader. I do not think that the writer of this letter understands the meaning of moral. A truly moral person has a basic set of operating standards such as decency (free from immodesty or obscenity) and respect for other people. I think of Mr. Rogers and former President Carter as good examples.

I attended Catholic parochial school and high school. If I had acted like Mr. Trump in both words and actions, I would have been expelled from either institution in a New York minute on grounds of disrespectful and obscene behavior. Calling a person “horse face” and vowing revenge is the sign of a badly parented, petulant child.

Robert Mulder

Raleigh