NC Republicans vow to protect personal freedoms - just not everyone’s | Opinion

Personal freedoms

North Carolina Republicans often brag of their commitment to personal freedom, such as their support for ownership of assault weapons and resistance to COVID vaccines and protocols. Such rights are protected, even if they may harm others.

In contrast, during the 2023 legislative session Republicans will eagerly vote to take away personal freedoms held by N.C. women: access to contraception, abortion and certain medical procedures. These rights to body autonomy have been in place for 50 years. The truth is that the Republican Party cares only about some freedoms and based on who holds them.

Carolyn Christman, Mebane

Commuter rail

The proposed commuter rail is not a viable way to solve the Triangle’s transit needs. Look at the numbers, over $3 billion to build a system for a daily ridership of about 14,000 people.

Using the existing heavy rail right of way may seem attractive, but it’s a forced fit solution. Light rail or bus rapid transit has more flexibility and can better serve our commuter patterns at a fraction of the cost. Look at Charlotte’s light-rail cost versus its ridership. We are headed down the wrong track.

Roger Corner, Raleigh

Classified material

If local governments can effectively keep track of library books through a check-in/check-out procedures, why can’t the federal government keep track of classified documents? This is not rocket science.

Christopher Dawson, Raleigh

Debt ceiling

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has stated that if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt ceiling in coming months Social Security recipients and the military will not be paid. These people did not cause this problem, yet they would be punished. A better idea would be for Congress and related personnel not to be paid. They are the ones who caused this problem! Punish the offenders, not innocent people.

Donna Corbett, Sanford

Mark Robinson

With his punitive stance on a woman’s right to choose, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson told a crowd at a Jan. 14 anti-abortion march in Raleigh that he wants North Carolina to be a “destination for life,” not abortion.

He should concern himself with North Carolina being a destination for the life of all women in all their choices.

Our state has a shameful history and track record of providing for women in terms of equal pay, educational opportunities, healthcare, housing, and especially childcare.

What we truly don’t need is a lieutenant governor who targets women — just as he targets the LGBTQ population — denying us more choices in our own healthcare decisions.

Laura Stillman, Raleigh

Calling out bullies

When I saw that the NC House GOP passed rule changes that will allow a vote to be called at a moment’s notice to override a veto, it reminded me of a similar tactic used years ago by a conservative Wake County Board of Commissioners.

In August 2014, the conservative majority on the Wake County board refused to allow the longest serving commissioner, Betty Lou Ward, to vote. She was recuperating from a hospital stay and had followed procedure to be allowed to vote by phone.

In an N&O Opinion piece Ward noted: “...my colleagues in the majority have tossed civility and common courtesy aside in pursuit of an extreme partisan agenda. It started when they denied former Commissioner Stan Norwalk a recess to obtain diabetes medication, and then they took a vote when I needed a restroom break. This pattern continued Monday in their refusal to allow me to participate by phone...”

When we see bullies in power, we need to call them on it.

Peter van Dorsten, Raleigh

Dale Folwell

State Treasurer Dale Folwell recently called for the resignation of the CEO of the BlackRock investment firm. North Carolina has about $14 billion of retirement funds invested through BlackRock.

Folwell says BlackRock has “been at the forefront of using its market power to coerce the world’s companies to transition to carbon ‘net-zero’ by 2050” and “force the global warming agenda.” What a sin.

Well, I’d like to call on Folwell to resign — for not recognizing that global warming is the most serious threat we face and that North Carolina is particularly vulnerable. Also, for not recognizing that N.C. retirees like me don’t want our money invested in making the problem worse and that we fully support BlackRock shifting its investments to those that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nancy Creamer, Apex

Congress

It was interesting to watch the new Congress get up and running. Our representatives should be focusing on how to strengthen our economy and improve opportunities for our workforce. Instead, some lawmakers insist on creating problems rather than solving them, like those who push for tech regulation that would restrict our economy.

It’s time for sensibility to kick in, and for all elected officials to remember why they’re in Congress. As the new session kicks into gear, I hope we see more attention paid to the bread-and-butter issues — our economy, our workforce, securing our future. That’s what constituents want to see.

Darryl Moss, Creedmor