Kudos to the N.C. board of elections for ensuring mail-in votes will be counted

Mail-in voting

Regarding “Trump campaign, NC GOP sue over changes to mail-in ballot rule,” (Sept. 28):

Kudos to the State Board of Elections for doing its part to ensure mail-in votes will be counted. The board recently allowed mail-in ballots with deficient information to be fixed without forcing the voter to fill out a new ballot.

A voter will have to turn in an affidavit confirming they filled out the ballot. The Trump campaign and the N.C. GOP are suing to block election officials from enforcing the rule because it they say invites fraud, coercion and theft.

Voting is one of the tenets of our democracy and for the Trump campaign and GOP to try to suppress voting under the guise of voter fraud is shameful. It is bad enough that the president suggested that people should try to vote twice, but to have the leaders of the N.C. House and Senate participate in this travesty means politics and personal gain are much more important to them than the common good.

Sara Slate, Cary

2020 choices

Four years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor about my wish for better candidates in 2020. Consider me highly disappointed.

I understand Republicans sticking with President Trump. It’s better to not change horses midstream. Politics is a blood sport and Trump seems uniquely capable of taking hits and continuing with his work.

The Democrats though, goodness gracious. They had years to prepare for a candidate who could represent a generational change in party politics and lead a party that prides itself on its diversity and inclusion. They whiffed.

I respect Joe Biden as a former senator whose career culminated in service as vice president, but it is time for him to retire peacefully to Delaware and just be plain old Joe. Once again, I’m hoping for better next time around.

Parker Manning, Cary

Fair taxes

So, days before the first presidential debate The New York Times releases what it says are decades of implied tax evasions by President Trump. The timing alone makes this suspicious. Even if it’s true, it does not mean it’s illegal.

For the most part, the politicians we elect over and over enrich themselves and their own. If you want to change this culture vote for people who are willing to talk to each other and change the tax codes so no one has a disproportionate advantage.

Steven Metzler, Raleigh

Inciting fear

Sen. Thom Tillis and President Trump want you to fear “socialism.” Do you fear Social Security? Do you fear unemployment benefits? Do you fear Medicare? For most of us the answer is, “No, we like these programs.”

And yet, these are all “socialist” programs in that we all contribute but don’t use the benefits equally.

Fear is a prime motivator when it comes to human behavior. By trying to fill us with fear of socialism, Tillis and Trump are misdirecting us. There is plenty to fear: for example, losing your right to vote. Or, “Obamacare is a disaster,” but after 3½ years with a Republican majority in the Senate there is no replacement plan at all.

Yes, there is plenty to fear, but it’s not social programs. And it’s not the Democrats, and it shouldn’t be other Americans either. So who do you think it is?

Linda Gallo, Leland

Social justice

Every now and then, some events occur that move the conscience of the nation into action to rectify past wrongs. This conscience has been stirring due to the recently publicized extreme mistreatment of the black community, the killing of Breonna Taylor, the killing of George Floyd by the police, and the shooting of Jacob Blake.

I urge support of political candidates who support concrete actions to address the wrongs meted out to the black community. In addition to being the right thing to do, eliminating racism will be a boost for our economy. A Citibank study reported that systemic racism in the U.S. has cost the economy $16 trillion over the past two decades.

Voters must scrutinize positions taken by the candidates and support those who promote social justice and equality.

Ish Sud, Durham

Insurers and masks

Should Americans who believe it’s their right to refuse to wear masks and deliberately expose themselves to the risk of coronavirus infection have their health care covered by insurers? Not only do they increase the health risks to the rest of us, they may also increase the costs of health care.

Shouldn’t health insurance providers have the right to refuse medical coverage for anyone who gets infected by the coronavirus as a result of their own choice of action unless they are health care providers, essential workers, or have a diagnosed mental abnormality.

I learned in the U.S. military that rights are accompanied by responsibilities.

Dr. Arthur M. Gerber, Pittsboro