NC Democratic leader: young Democrats’ anger is misplaced

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Young Democrats’ anger is misplaced

The writer has served more than 20 years on the N.C. Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee.

Regarding “Young Democrats at Triangle colleges are furious at Democrats,” (July 19):

I understand the frustration of young Democrats with Democrats’ achievements, but the solution is not to back away.

In the past 40-plus years, Democrats have only controlled the presidency and both Houses of Congress during Bill Clinton’s first two years (when they focused unsuccessfully on healthcare), Obama’s first two years (when they passed Obamacare, but it was messy), and now Biden’s first two years.

The GOP stifled the Democrats’ agenda for decades but never offered solutions, except tax cuts for the rich. They blocked needed modifications to Obamacare, promising to “repeal and replace,” but all they wanted to do was repeal, and they had no replacement, not even a bad one.

Today, they offer no solutions to inflation, COVID or supply chain problems (COVID and Ukraine) that cause inflation. Ninety-six percent of Democrats support real solutions that are blocked by 100% of Republicans. With those numbers, there is little Biden and Democrats can do.

Even in the Obama years, there was never reason to expect the Supreme Court to take away established rights. Some of us saw Republican long-term goals, but it wasn’t until Sen. Mitch McConnell finagled two seats that it became possible.

Don’t blame Democrats. If Republicans gain one Senate seat, McConnell will block all Biden Supreme Court appointments.

Young Democrats should take their rage out on Republicans, not those working to solve our problems. Work hard to replace Republicans. Elect more Democrats to Congress so that 96% will be enough. Be sure to protect your rights by electing Democrats to the N.C. Supreme Court and other positions in the state. Losing one Supreme Court seat will be a disaster. Losing seats in the General Assembly would be even worse.

If young Democrats don’t vote, the disasters will happen, and they will have no one to blame for the harm to their lives except themselves.

Michael Schaul, Raleigh

Solar can help NC farms survive

I was pleased to read the July 5 article about the growth of solar energy across North Carolina and how leasing land for solar developments has helped keep small farms afloat.

In Harnett County where I live, and across the state, there are dozens of family farms operated by families who have lived and worked there for generations. But in the last few years, they have faced more challenges than ever due to the constant threat of crop loss and rising prices on everything from fertilizer to feed.

This is why we should be encouraging projects that can provide supplemental income to our farmers while also ensuring a reliable energy source.

I worked hard to put my mom’s family farm back together after it was subdivided and willed to my grandmother’s children upon her passing. I was successful in that regard, but not being a farmer I struggled to generate the revenue from the farm to justify the investment. I explored the possibility of leasing a portion for solar so I could feel better about the investment, but with there not being a high-voltage transmission line close by, that was not an alternative.

I ended up selling the farm to a developer. But had the solar option been available to me, I certainly would have chosen that path and kept my mom’s heritage alive.

For those who are able to utilize the solar option, especially on land that is not the best for generating income through conventional farming practices, I am sure it is a blessing.

Solar arrays offer farmers the chance to generate passive income on land that they might not otherwise use and since many of the leases offered are upwards of 30 years, payments are guaranteed long into the future. This represents an investment in the future of family-owned farms.

Currently, only 0.28% of the available agricultural land in North Carolina is being used for solar projects. These projects have been crucial to rural North Carolina and enabled many of our people to keep the family farm in the family.

Brooks Matthews, Buies Creek