12/11 Letters: North Carolina Republicans like George Holding want the deck stacked

NC Republicans

Regarding “George Holding will not run for re-election,” (Dec. 6):

Republican Rep. George Holding isn’t going to run now that his district is a Democratic-leaning one.

Is this really the way it works? If the Republicans can’t play with the deck stacked in their favor, are they all going to stay home?

Maybe if you’re unwilling to compete for elective office if it’s not handed to you, you’ve got no business being there.

Congratulations to the Democrats who have faithfully shown up even though their chances were slim to none. May they keep on pecking away.

Karl Gaskins, Raleigh

J. Peder Zane

It is rare that I agree with J. Peder Zane, however his Dec. 9 op-ed column on the counter-narrative on Thanksgiving being taught in the Wake County public schools was right on target.

Replacing one set of myths with another unsubstantiated myth in the name of political correctness is not education, it is brainwashing.

Our children, particularly elementary and middle school students are not prepared intellectually or emotionally to deal with this type of curricula, much less be expected to become activists. They should not be graded on or expected to apply these concepts in their writing assignment, performances or community organizing projects.

As Zane so appropriately states, our children deserve better. I would add we deserve better from our school board. Turning history into propaganda absent of important context and teaching it as truth will not change history or erase past injustice and cruelty.

Scott Dillon, Cary

UNC and Silent Sam

As a 12-generation North Carolinian with ancestors who fought in the Confederate Army, and as a graduate of UNC-Wilmington and UNC-Chapel Hill, I am disgusted and dismayed at the lack of wisdom and integrity displayed by the UNC Board of Governors, UNC administrators, N.C. Attorney General’s office, and Superior Court judge who played a role in giving away $2.5 million in a “settlement” to N.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Silent Sam should have been delivered to the Bentonville Battlefield state historic site in Johnston County and placed in the historical setting where it belongs.

Amy E. Odom, Chapel Hill

Trump impeachment

If you or I were to walk into a bank, pull out a gun, and demand money, we’d still be guilty of armed robbery even if we didn’t get to walk away with a single cent. The fact that we didn’t get what we came for doesn’t reduce the severity of the crime.

No one is above the law and no one gets to walk away from culpability by claiming that they failed to accomplish what they set out to do.

If President Trump walks away without impeachment then our laws and our Constitution will have lost all meaning, and our democracy reduced to nothing more than just another in a long history of con jobs and “deals” by a shameless and unrepentant snake oil salesman.

Vicki Ryder, Durham

NC Medicaid

A few weeks ago, the N.C. General Assembly and governor’s office failed to agree on a budget proposal to fund the long-awaited transformation of N.C.’s Medicaid program. These reforms were not part of Medicaid expansion. They were a part of a bipartisan effort dating back to 2015 to modernize N.C. Medicaid.

The policy changes put on hold were widely expected to save the state billions over the next decade while simultaneously improving health outcomes.

This might be a good opportunity to remember who is most affected by this and every reform made to the Medicaid program: Children.

Medicaid plays an out-sized role for children, particularly young children and those with special health needs. Three out of every seven N.C. kids under age 18 receive health care through Medicaid, including half of all children under age 6.

During the next round of debates on these reforms and the inevitable fight over expansion, please remember that the largest provider of children’s health care in this state is Medicaid. So the next time a politician or talking head brings up Medicaid, don’t be distracted by fiery ideological rhetoric. Know that what they’re really talking about is the health of children.

Dr. Kevin Keith

Durham pediatrician

No Medicare for All

Medicare belongs to “we the people” who earned this privilege by working for it.

Recently, Medicare has been used by some running for president who want to give Medicare to all, hoping this will help their cause. Medicare should not be used as a political football.

Medicare was designed to help seniors with health problems in their retirement years. For over 50 years it has helped many seniors and the disabled. Don’t mess with Medicare!

W. Bryan Turner, Hillsborough