Maternal healthcare is lacking in some of NC. Abortion law worsens the problem | Opinion
A Dec. 11 article cites U.S. News rankings of 23 NC hospitals as best in the country for maternity care. Thirteen were not ranked and were not recognized as high-performing.
Your article did not mention that 20 of NC’s 100 counties do not have a hospital, 35 lack ICU beds and 21 are considered maternity healthcare deserts where there are no OB-GYNs or nurse midwives.
The maternity health issue is particularly concerning because of NC’s new abortion law. Reports from states that have restricted abortion procedures are also restricting training opportunities for medical residents.
Data shows that fewer medical students are applying for residencies in states with these restrictions, preferring to go to states where they can get comprehensive training. They stay in those states to work. I challenge the legislature to address this issue and show they really care about maternal health.
Janice Woychik, Chapel Hill
Ethics anyone?
Perhaps it would be a good idea to require anyone running for public office to take a class in ethics. A high school ethics requirement might be beneficial as well.
Amelia Casey, Cary
Belichick
The UNC athletic department has finally come out of the closet. With the hiring of former NFL Coach Bill Belichick, who has never coached college football, to the tune of $50 million, the university revealed what many of us have feared.
Carolina sports is now a business and no longer an avenue of honest, intercollegiate competition. From the university’s greedy perch, the benefits are manifold. Recruits will see a clearer path to lucrative professional careers, greater exposure and name, image and likeness income. The university can live on Belichick’s fame to gain attention, richer TV contracts and maybe improved ticket sales.
It’s not about winning and losing anymore. It’s about money. It’s a sad day.
Mike Hoyt, Raleigh
Power grab
The NC GOP’s legislative majority is entirely a consequence of extreme gerrymandering, rendering this “elected” body far short of any reasonable person’s understanding of true democracy. Their recent gutting of the longstanding governor and attorney general’s power is a brazenly obscene power grab that makes a mockery of our state’s historic democracy. Shame on them!
Keith Feather, Hillsborough
Regressive taxes
Kudos to Ned Barnett’s Dec. 11 opinion regarding NC Republicans’ efforts to lower and cap the income tax rate.
He points out that most voters want to lower taxes and will support this effort, but that move will put upward pressure on user fees and taxes, especially sales tax and property taxes. He quotes Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, as speaking against this, calling the sales and property taxes increase regressive.
I am amused how legislators have continued to do this over the years and keep getting elected by their rural constituents. Do these voters not know what the word regressive means?
Raymond DuBose, Chapel Hill
Gun control
North Carolina Republicans justify their attack on women’s reproductive rights by saying they are pro-child. If this was true, they would get to work on gun safety. Firearms kill more American children, including car crashes and cancer.
Carolyn Christman, Mebane
GOP hurt WNC
Politicians should look at issues through the eyes of a human not a dollar sign. Instead of using the relief money to actually help Western NC, they use it to push an agenda. Helene devastated the western part of NC and people are still living through the effects.
Republicans’ were willing to undermine democracy and weaponize their members’ pain. They stripped power from incoming Democratic officials, using the relief bill as a cover for their actual agenda. The Republican majority exploited this disaster relief for political gain, hurting residents of Western NC.
Joshua Kelly, Clayton
Oversight
What? North Carolina Republicans didn’t strip the power of the Democratic governor to pardon the two Thanksgiving turkeys? Obviously an oversight.
Donald Trull, Sanford