7/29 Letters: Trump turned Boy Scout meeting into a ‘shallow, cheap campain rally’

Regarding “Trump speech to Boy Scouts elicits criticism for its partisanship, profanity” (July 25): I am an Eagle Scout. I was lucky enough to have attended the National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America in Valley Forge in 1957, and it was one of the pivotal events of my life. On that hallowed ground, I joined almost 53,000 other scouts in celebrating and affirming what the Boy Scouts stand for: Honor, integrity, love of country.

We were greeted by then-Vice President Richard Nixon. And now comes Donald Trump. Our current president managed in indelicate and even profane ways to turn this year’s event into a shallow, cheap campaign rally. How sad for America. Yet, I trust the Boy Scouts of America, whose motto is “Be Prepared.”

‘Yes’ to soccer stadium

Regarding “Can this stadium lure a professional soccer team to downtown Raleigh?” (July 19): I think building a stadium and entertainment complex in downtown Raleigh is a great idea. There aren’t any professional sports teams in the downtown area right now. I believe that building a stadium would bring lots of people to the city for the events and games, making it a tourist hotspot.

It would not only bring more people to Raleigh, but would also open up many more jobs and increase tax revenue. This would boost the city of Raleigh a lot. I am a 13-year-old soccer player, and I know my friends and I would love to come see a soccer game in such a cool stadium in the middle of Raleigh.

Protect ‘health security’

For too many Americans, true “security” is about more than military defense. It’s knowing they can get necessary health care even if they are poor. J. Peder Zane, in “Health care about dollars, not morals” (July 6), asserts that “every dollar spent on health care is a dollar we can’t spend on education, infrastructure, defense and other needs.” He presumes that there is no responsible way for the government to increase treasury funds.

He’s wrong. Congress can increase taxes when warranted; and in the case of providing health care for all residents, it is. Legislators never seem to balk when it comes to providing for the military security of all residents. They ought not to do so when it comes to “health security,” either.

Zane is bothered by the fact that the poor “are always the prime beneficiaries of most government programs” rather than those who are “out there busting it sometimes 60 hours a week.” He forgets that many poor people work three jobs, and still can’t afford health care. Being out of work, or unable to work, shouldn’t be a death sentence. And should taxes go up slightly, that would be a trade-off many could “live” with.

This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "7/29 Letters: Trump turned Boy Scout meeting into a ‘shallow, cheap campain rally’."