I don’t buy Gov. Cooper’s rationale for barring parents like me from football games

Gov. Roy Cooper

As a parent of a local collegiate athlete, I was disappointed and angered, but not surprised, by Gov. Roy Cooper’s decision to not allow parents to attend college football games.

In essence, the governor believes that putting 500 parents in a stadium that holds 57,583 violates his Phase 2.5 plan. His plan allows for only 50 people at outdoor functions. A home football team has more than 100 participants. So on its face, he already amended his order by allowing the game, thus nullifying his purported rationale.

This open-ended executive order where Cooper is beholden only to Cooper must have limits. The people have a right to be heard and our concerns redressed.

Never in a million years in America did I ever think I would be unable to support my son because of an order of a governor, from a governor who won’t or can’t explain the science that doesn’t allow 500 people to social distance in an outdoor stadium. For me, the only logical answer is that he is drunk on his own power.

John H. Ruocchio, Raleigh

Science deniers

I am not alone in believing the presidential election will be a defining moment in the future of America and the Earth. We are dealing with a raging pandemic that is decimating public health and our economy, and the effects of global climate change are manifesting in obvious ways.

The common denominator in our dilemma is the denial of science, which seems incomprehensible in 2020 given that we have built our society on the back our scientists in every relevant discipline.

Now, we have a president who has called global climate change and COVID-19 a “hoax.” He began a war on masks that has divided this country. Now, we can expect over 200,000 dead Americans by Election Day. We are adding 40,000 cases per day with no real plan or end in sight.

The first step in reversing this trend is to vote the science deniers out of office on Nov. 3. Then we will have to face the reality of taking years to repair the damage, if that is even possible.

William Delamar, Durham

Political ads

I have seen political adds on TV for both parties. They make me sick! Each side is taking parts of speeches and other ads and putting them into the meaning they want. Such lies from both sides, so how do you know who to trust? I think this is portraying the American voters as stupid. Vote, but vote smart.

Debbie Harmon, Raleigh

Nevada rally

The political rally that President Trump held Sunday in Nevada was one of the most arrogant, irresponsible acts that he has committed since being sworn into office.

It violated Nevada’s current regulation limiting crowd size to 50 individuals. It was an affront to common decency and common sense.

Apparently the president of the United States thinks he can have it both ways. He can promote states rights when it sounds good at a White House press conference or on a TV soundbite.. Evidently when states rights are an inconvenience to his campaign style, they don’t apply to him.

Greg Bruhn, Raleigh

Absentee ballots

A recent Forum writer’s “shock” that her absentee ballot didn’t include postage is symptomatic of a lot of things wrong in our great nation these days. What has happened to personal responsibility and accountability?

With a reported half of the country not paying taxes, is the government now expected to buy a stamp for someone so they can vote?

The writer speaks of this 55 cent “poll tax” being such an “unnecessary voting hurdle.” A stamp. This is so sad.

George Barnes, Raleigh

Gov. Jim Martin

Regarding Peter St. Onge “A Trump defection in NC? Not so fast,” (Sept. 13 Opinion).

It appears to me that former Gov. Jim Martin is telling us that it is more important to think about rebuilding the Republican Party should Trump lose, than leveling with the people of North Carolina.

Martin has demonstrated he is no Mitt Romney. Sen. Romney showed courage by his vote, putting our country and democracy first. Courage is a decision. Another former senator showing courage was Sen. Kay Hagan when she voted for affordable health care. Hagan and Romney were clear and decisive in their actions of being responsible citizens and elected leaders.

With all the outright lies and falsehoods being spewed from the Oval Office and aided and abetted by silent GOP senators, there is plenty of room to level with North Carolinians. Peter St. Onge’s column reminds me of Victor Frankl who wrote “Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.”

Ed Terrell, Raleigh