Voters should have gotten a choice in NC judicial primaries

Regarding “NC Republicans upset over GOP high court candidate” (July 6): The most sacred right in American politics is the ability to choose our elected officials at the ballot box. Throughout American history, people and organizations have fought both for this right and against it on all levels of politics.

Which is why it pains me to see the arrogance of certain Republican leaders in our state, and the lack of respect they have for the voter in this election for the state Supreme Court. The local Republican party has labeled Chris Anglin, one of the two candidates running as a Republican for the state Supreme Court seat, an enemy.

When the Republican-controlled General Assembly eliminated primary elections for statewide judicial races, they did a couple of things. First, they eliminated the possibility of a viable alternative to their current incumbent. Second, they took the fundamental right to choose away from constituents, which is fundamentally disrespectful to the voters.

The party chose to attack Chris Anglin’s candidacy without even giving him a chance to explain his views. An independent judiciary and an adherence to the Constitution are values that conservatives often claim they hold dear, and the state GOP has declared a candidate running under these values an enemy.

Given a primary, the voters would have had a choice to decide whether Anglin’s positions reflected true conservatism. By attacking Anglin and endorsing a candidate without a primary election, the state GOP has attempted to trick the voters into voting for a candidate not for the candidate’s political values and positions, but because the party has decided to play kingmaker.

Jesse DeLoatch is a personal friend of Chris Anglin, and his views do not reflect the views of Chris Anglin or Anglin for Justice.

Reunite families

Regarding “Why the government missed the deadline to reunite immigrant families” (July 11): The children who have been separated from their parents need to be reunited . The Trump administration is violating international laws. Don’t allow it. This is not what the U.S. stands for. The U.S. has lost respect from political leaders and many people around the world.

Elected officials will have to decide how they want their family and history to remember them, on the right side or on the wrong side of history.

The U.S. is directly responsible for the abuse these immigrants are experiencing in their homeland. These people have the right to seek asylum, even if they don’t enter through designated door. Stop the dehumanization of immigrants.

And for the Republican representatives, remember that North Carolina is a swing state. Do the math and stand up for what is right.

‘Still great’

Regarding “Democrat’s election challenge to NC Sen. Berger restored” (July 12): It is gratifying to know that the State Elections Board, not yet appointed by our General Assembly, overruled the District Elections Board allowing Jennifer Mangrum to run against our illustrious state Senate leader Phil Berger in Rockingham County this fall.

Fortunately, Berger cannot yet personally choose his election opponents like Putin. The United States is still great.

Reduce military spending

Regarding “Trump rattles NATO, knocking its value, assailing Germany” (July 11): If Trump wants other NATO countries to pick up more of the cost of their own defense, why not actually reduce military spending and redirect our tax dollars into the huge public infrastructure programs he promised during the last election but hasn’t delivered? That would create many more jobs.

Why don’t leading Democrats make these points? Could it have anything to do with the overwhelming power that the U.S. weapons industry has over our political and economic system?

All of this is fueling conflict around the world and is not effectively defending ourselves or others. Our failure to address increasing U.S. militarism has huge opportunity costs, takes a toll on millions of innocent civilians, harms U.S. military members exposed to trauma in non-defensive conflicts and has corrosive effects on democracy at home and abroad.