Vandalism at the Raleigh protest and the mayor’s response were both tragic

Raleigh protest

Raleigh’s latest vandalism event and the mayor’s rationalized response issued the following morning are both tragic.

For the mayor to believe that a curfew starting at 11 p.m. on Saturday night would be effective is laughable. It should have started in daylight and ended in daylight. Daylight, we’ve learned, as did Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., diminishes all kinds of violence.

Her statement that the vandals were mostly white built one more wall between an already stressed racial community. Her assurance that she won’t let vandals continue to ransack the city rang hollow.

COVID-19 and the governor’s shutdown are resulting in entrepreneurial catastrophe. Raleigh’s merchants do not need the extra expense of boarding up and cleaning up due to the city’s inability to control the havoc in its streets.

Philip Johnson, Siler City

Creating fear

Beasley’s restaurant damaged again by protesters in downtown Raleigh. These protests are a sham.

Beasley’s owner Ashley Christensen is probably the most giving and supportive person of liberal causes I know, passionately and honestly supporting all things liberal. Her business practices and employment practices are impeccably designed and carried out to be fair, honest and supportive of all the populations.

It’s obvious these rioters do not care one whit about the causes they say they support. They’re destroyers seeking chaos and fear in our country.

Where is the condemnation from our elected leaders? Where is the outrage from our faith leaders? Where is the truth about these protesters/rioters and the organizations they belong to? Citizens need to wake up to this very real attack on our country.

Jerry Doliner, Raleigh

Trump’s taxes

Sunday’s bombshell New York Times report that Donald Trump has paid no taxes most years, and $750 in each of the first two years of his presidency is shocking, but not all that surprising.

Most people already know that he has failed in numerous business ventures and used those failures to shield himself from paying his fair share of taxes. Most people know that he’s always been Trump First, America Last.

But what is most appalling about this revelation is how it emphasizes the deep unfairness of our tax system. Donald Trump — a multi-millionaire (and pretend billionaire) — pays less in federal taxes than a typical high school student with a summer job.

He pays a fraction of what a working parent with two minimum-wage jobs pays. How is that acceptable in this society?

In November, we have a chance to bring the system back into balance by electing Democrats who will make sure the ultra-rich pay their fair share and that the system starts rewarding work instead of wealth.

Steve Rawson, Durham

Peaceful transfer

Regarding “Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses,” (Sept. 24) and related articles:

Certainly every candidate for public office must agree, either implicitly or explicitly, to abide by the results of a free and fair election.

If a candidate believes the election was not free and fair they have the right and the obligation to contest the election results and to have the errors corrected.

But an announcement before the election that a candidate is unwilling to honor the results of a free and fair election should give supporters considerable doubt as to the seriousness of their candidate’s commitment to the ideal of American democracy.

Tony Tschopp, Raleigh

Vetting presidents

It occurred to me while reading the paper that we all go through vetting and inspection to obtain a job or position. We’re tested for driving a car and licensed based on knowledge of the laws and making correct decisions while driving. These are basic requirements.

I believe changes need to be made in the choice of presidential nominees: basics like education of some sort, experience dealing with people, a basic knowledge of laws, and a reputation for honesty. The candidate should be decisive, yet able to work with others in accomplishing a goal. And for good measure: a lady or gentleman.

Perhaps it is too idealistic, yet I think that Donald Trump’s lack of qualifications would have eliminated him as a candidate. Among many other things, we wouldn’t have had to cringe so often at some of his antics.

Andree Zelko, Raleigh

For gosh sakes, vote

Vote! You abdicate your right to complain if you don’t. Just because you think the system is rigged, broken, or you don’t like the candidates, somebody is going to get elected, so vote. Tens of millions of people around the world are denied the right or risk their lives to do what you can do. Vote! Put it on your calendar. Send yourself an invite. Put it on your to-do list. Mail it in. Vote early. Vote on Election Day. But for gosh sakes, vote!

Robert Friedman, Apex