Senator Burr doesn’t deserve gratitude. His vote on Trump’s impeachment was cowardly

Senator Burr

The Editorial Board commends Sen. Richard Burr’s efforts to shepherd the report on Russian election sabotage into the light. (Aug. 27 Editorial)

Why didn’t the Board quote page 948 of the report? It says: “It is our conclusion, based on the facts detailed in the Committee’s Report, that the Russian intelligence services’ assault on the integrity of the 2016 U.S. electoral process and Trump and his associates’ participation in and enabling of this Russian activity, represents one of the single most grave counterintelligence threats to American national security in the modem era.”

Burr knew President Trump “participated and enabled” and Burr still voted to acquit Trump and still stands by him. To give Burr points for this cowardly inaction is akin to praising the goalie for suiting up and skating away from the goal.

Ari Goldberg, Raleigh

US influence

Regarding “‘Come home, America’ 2.0,” (Aug. 27 Opinion):

George Will highlights the decline of American influence around the world, with China having a marked increase in acceptability among Germans and Brits than before, equal to or even more than our influence.

The current president finds resonance with many of my friends and family in that their 401k’s have never been better, that Trump is appointing conservative judges and opposes abortion, that he is for law and order, that he has fulfilled his campaign promises like no one before him. Our standing in the world concerns them not.

They acknowledge Trump’s severe character flaws, but are willing to live with them as long as his policies continue. I’m reminded of Micah 6:8 and see that our current president does not measure up to what the Lord requires of us. Sadly, the people seem not to care.

Rev. Richard Paschall, Salisbury

Colleges and COVID

As a Chapel Hill resident who is married to an N.C. State University faculty member who was actively engaged in face-to-face instruction at the start of the academic year, we’ve been doubly impacted by the unbridled spread of COVID-19 among the student populations in both institutions in the recent weeks.

Although I have listened to administrators at UNC-Chapel Hill Carolina and NCSU use words such as “shock,” “disappointment,” and “surprise” to describe how quickly months of preparation unraveled due to the rapid student transmission, I have not specifically heard anyone address the role of fraternities and sororities at both institutions for irresponsibly igniting this catastrophic chain of events.

Given the safety, health and economic impact that shutting down in-person instruction at both universities will have — not only at these institutions, but in the communities and business they affect — why are we not broaching the subject of a heartfelt apology and/or reparations on the part of the Greek systems at both schools?

Francesca Florey Eischen, Chapel Hill

USPS profits

The U.S. Postal Service is just that, a service. Do we really expect a service organization to make money? The point is that government service organizations are not for-profit. Except somehow we expect the post office to make money.

The U.S. military service bleeds billions each year. Should we start hiding tanks and disassembling defense systems as a way to stop this service from bleeding money?

Government services provide service, not profit. Let’s not make the USPS the exception.

Mark Buckley, Pittsboro

Voting by mail

Regarding “Voting in person,” (Aug. 25 Forum):

Just because the Forum writer is comfortable with standing in line at Walmart, Target, grocery stores, etc, not everyone else is. I’d dare say the majority of people are not, and do not. Thus, the boom in online shopping.

If someone is comfortable voting in person, by all means go for it. But let those for whom voting in person is not an option vote by mail — for example, those in nursing centers/assisted living facilities. It’s the only way to assure they are not disenfranchised.

Marion Laske, Raleigh

Trickle down?

The RNC is so proud of Trump’s supposed stock market performance. But do any of these Trump supporters realize the stock performance was created by a multi-trillion dollar funding from the taxpayers by way of a likewise amount of deficit spending?

When will the Republicans learn that “trickle-down economics” is not a real thing?president Reagan was the first to exceed the trillion dollar deficit, and they have never stopped pushing it because it benefits the top 1%, who are their main donors.

We need a 100% tax on contributions of over, say $100, to get money out of politics, and begin running and being elected on good ideas for the majority.

Geoffrey Stephens, Cary