9/2 Letters: Cuts to Attorney General Stein’s office need explanation

Regarding “Attorney general Stein cuts 45 jobs to meet tightened budget” (Aug. 4): I am grappling to understand one of the latest budget cuts made by the Berger-Moore GOP legislature. As a North Carolina taxpayer, I pay for services and structures put in place by our state to provide protection, security, infrastucture, public education, environmental resource protection, consumer protection and legal assistance, among many other aspects of work for the public good.

Now we learn that Republican leaders have willy-nilly slashed $10 million from our state attorney general office. I have not heard any logical reason or necessity for this irresponsible and seemingly partisan action. Taxpayers pay for these services, available to all in our state, not just certain groups, yet the GOP sees fit to deny budget money that will very likely diminish the quantity and quality of the work done for the public good in the AG office.

Yet I’m expected to be A-OK with my tax dollars going to such things as the millions the GOP spent on private attorney fees fighting for such harmful issues as gerrymandered maps. Another sickening display of the GOP’s partisan power-grab-at-all-costs stranglehold on N.C. Can’t wait for the next election.

Keep confederate symbols

After the tragic events in Charlottesville concerning the removal of the Robert E Lee statue, I agree with Barry Saunders’ column “We shouldn’t remove Confederate symbols; we need to learn from them” (June 1) – the statue should remain. All the Confederate statues around municipal buildings should stay in place to educate the public of America’s past tumultuous history. As Saunders suggested, a plaque should be added to the statues to inform the public of what these men stood for.

These statues represent a part of American history – an era that elicits sadness and anger from some. To others, the Confederate statues tell an important part of “our” southern history that should not be erased. Add a plaque to inform and hopefully enlighten.

Slaves, not ‘workers’

Regarding “Alamance official refers to slaves as workers” (Aug. 24): Alamance County Commissioner Tim Sutton wants to pretend that his ancestors slaves were really just “workers.”

OK, see, Sutton, here’s the thing: “workers” can quit; “workers” can leave; “workers” get paid; “workers” don’t have their children and loved ones sold out from under them and their families torn apart; “workers” aren’t bought and sold like cattle. If you have been bought and sold, if you are being held in involuntary servitude, you aren’t a “worker,” you are a slave.

Sutton can use euphemisms all day long if he must to protect his tender feelings (insert an eyeroll here), but the facts are that those people were slaves, and Sutton’s family were slave holders.

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "9/2 Letters: Cuts to Attorney General Stein’s office need explanation."