To the Editor:

The large sign on the Asheville highway that was apparently put up by a rare “civil” local democrat got me thinking. The sign said, “Fellow democrats…. Move back to the center before it’s too late.” That’s a great message for local democrats and voters as their party has turned into the party of hate, violence, and socialism. 

To the Editor:

Opponents of the Voter ID amendment use the reason that requiring a photo ID will suppress the votes of seniors, minorities, students and rural residents. People in those groups ought to be highly insulted that Democrats and the left, who are the opposition to the amendment, seem to think these groups of people are stupid … unable to figure out how to acquire a photo ID. 

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Mark Melrose for Superior Court Judge. I am for common sense when it comes to the courts. Jail is expensive and rarely helps people develop the skills they need to get out of cycles. I do support fair and just punishment for those who have done wrong, yet we do not need to lock people up for minor crimes. 

To the Editor:

I can’t vote in Jackson County, but I’m committed to the future of my hometown. That’s why I’ve stayed involved in local politics and supported my dad, Commissioner Ron Mau.

To the Editor:

Listen, if you will. A small child somewhere in the United States crying out in the night. She doesn’t call out in English, nor in Spanish, but in k’iche, her native language of Guatemala. No one understands her; there is no one to comfort her. Her mother has been taken away.

To the Editor:

Amending the N.C. Constitution should not be taken lightly nor done with political intent. This document is 229 years old and was designed to protect our basic freedoms, such as the right to vote, and to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government. 

To the Editor:

As we prepare to vote in the November elections, let’s recall Bill Covin’s letter (SMN, Oct. 2-9, www.smokymountainnews.com/ archives/item/25686). Mr. Covin wrote about teaching in the Ukraine at the time Paul Manafort worked for the Russians there. (Readers will recall that Manafort is about to be tried for lawbreaking related to helping a Russia-backed politician, who took over the Ukraine’s government.) 

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter as a plea for parents to think about education as you cast your ballot in the midterm elections. I have been an educator for 24 years and I am the parent of a sweet middle school girl. I am in the thick of it. What do I see? I see schools running on fumes and teachers facing impossible expectations daily. Teaching has always been complicated. Complicated is great. Complicated makes our job stimulating. Seemingly impossible; well, that is something that takes a toll. It makes us want to leave. The young ones often do. We must make a change. The change starts at the voting booth. 

To the Editor:

As the director of the Jackson County Department of Social Services, every day I observe young families in Jackson County who are struggling with economic self-sufficiency. Central to this struggle is child care for their young children. Whether our young parents are already in the workforce or are still preparing for the workforce by educational and training pursuits, child care is a necessity.    

Women owning their own businesses is nothing new, and in fact North Carolina is among the nation’s leaders in this area. Still, those we interviewed for our annual series on Women in Business illustrate their inspiring stories and unique challenges.

If you’re about to remodel, don’t put a sledgehammer through the kitchen cabinets and toss the tub into the dumpster. 

We used to have an expression in the Army, “The truth changes.” 

After thorough consideration of the options available, the community board members of Angel Medical Center voted unanimously to approve the acquisition of the assets of Mission Health System (which includes Angel Medical Center) by HCA Healthcare. The board believes this transaction to be in the best interests of Angel and the best option for continuing healthcare for Macon County and its surrounding area. 

To the Editor:

President Trump dominates the news with his tweets and public statements, awkward diplomacy, unpopular tax cuts, and threats to dismantle social safety nets. Voters have the right and responsibility to try to change the conversation. But one group — younger people — have the opportunity to alter the direction of national, state and local politics by voting. 

 “Youth vote” is the official term used to describe 18- to 29-year-olds and their voting habits. Of all the age groups, younger voters historically have the lowest turnout. In the 2016 election, 50 percent of eligible young people showed up at the polls as compared with over 71 percent of those age 70-plus. Unlike the stereotypes, the reasons for low turnout among younger voters cannot be simplified and are not about being lazy, self-involved or entitled. 

 There are many valid reasons for lower youth turnout. This group moves a lot — college, work, the service, relationships, adventure — which can create a disconnect with local and even state elections. This can make voting feel less important. Campaign issues often have a greater impact on older people, such as tax rates, health insurance, and Social Security.  

Not surprisingly, many younger people are more liberal than some older folks on issues such as abortion, Dreamers, gun safety, and marijuana. Most don’t understand why full and equal rights for LBGTQ individuals are even questioned in 2018. Many devalue party loyalty, are disillusioned with the role of big money in policy decisions, and define themselves as global citizens rather than “America first” nativists. 

 But, there’s good news spilling over at this time of political discord and divisiveness; many young voters have been galvanized, bolstered by the gun safety activism of the high school students from Parkland, Florida. 

Younger voters are registering, but it would strengthen these positions if more get on board. If you’re at least 18 and have not yet registered (or someone close to you fits that description), please make note. Although it’s too late to register by mail, it is not too late to register in person (deadline is Friday, Nov. 3, to register at local board of elections). 

 You can do it during the early voting period (Oct. 17 to Nov. 3). Your county Board of Elections (BOE) website details the times/locations. It’s called One Stop, Same-Day Registration. Just show up at your early voting site, complete an application and show evidence of residency (N.C. driver’s license or government issued photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, or government check) or a current college photo ID paired with proof of campus residency. Then go ahead and vote. Within two business days, the BOE will verify your eligibility and your vote will be counted unless it’s determined you were not qualified. www.ncsbe.gov/voters/registering-to-vote.

 Your vote will help ensure that that the people elected more closely align with your generation’s values and priorities. Younger age voters now outnumber Baby Boomers. You can make a difference. Join your voting peers to ensure that your town, city, county, state and nation are more inclusive and progressive. With your help, this ship can be turned around.

Elaine Slocumb

Bryson City

To the Editor:

There’s an amendment that will be on your ballot in November that would require everyone to have a photo ID in order to vote. Sound like a good idea? It’s not. If you vote for this, you’re buying “a pig in a poke.”  

The proposed amendment does not say what kind of ID would be required, how often it would be renewed, what is required to get one, and how much it might cost in the future.

What if you don’t have the right one? Drivers license? Thousands of eligible voters don’t drive. Student ID? What if you’re not a student? A valid U.S. passport? Have you got one of those?  

In North Carolina now, all first-time voters need proof of residence. That has worked well in our state for years. Voter fraud is practically non-existent. We do not need another level of bureaucracy churning out voter ID cards, deciding who gets one and who does not. We do not need mysterious, as-yet undefined cards with unknown requirements. 

This amendment is designed to drive poor and rural people away from the polls, not let them in. Vote against this deceptive amendment and all the others, too.  

Leila Tvedt Hyde

Bryson City

To the Editor:

The letter from Ms. Kathryn van Heyningen in the last issue contained some valid points, but she unfortunately omitted others. As reported in the Oct. 6-12 issue of The Economist, a highly respected weekly newspaper, “Whatever the FBI finds, Brett Kavanaugh’s own testimony should disqualify him from America’s highest court.”

Lying under oath while testifying at his confirmation hearing should have disqualified him. Perjury is not a minor offense. As the article reports: “Lots of American teenagers drink before they are legally allowed to. They do not mislead the Senate about it three decades later.” The article also reported on other lies under oath, including incorrect definitions of the “Devil’s Triangle” and “Boofing.” He also claimed that he could legally drink at 18, but from that same article, by the time he was 18, Maryland had increased the drinking age to 21.

As a former investigator in the Air Force, I have conducted many, many background investigations. I am certain that the bureau was restricted in the scope of its investigation, either by the White House or by Senate Republicans. According to news reports, a lawyer of one of the accusers sent the FBI a list of 20 individuals who could provide corroboration, but not one was interviewed. 

I was a Republican for over 50 years and almost never voted for a Democrat, but I’m now an unaffiliated voter. I did not leave the GOP, it left me.

Clark Pearson

Sylva

More than 50 people competed in the ninth annual Cullowhee Canoe Slalom Sept. 22, raising more than $300 for the Western Carolina University Parks and Recreation Management Scholarship Fund.

Mainspring Conservation Trust is partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority in a study to better understand what triggers thousands of minnows to migrate from rivers to smaller creeks each fall. 

Proactive bear management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park got a boost thanks to a $4,000 grant Friends of the Smokies landed from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 

The Great Smoky Mountains Association has released a new issue of its award-winning Smokies Life magazine.

A countywide stream cleanup held Sept. 22 in Haywood County removed 2,205 pounds of trash from area waterways thanks to help from 62 volunteers. 

The outdoor gear industry in Western North Carolina is expected to take off in the coming years thanks to a recently announced grant the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative awarded to Mountain BizWorks.

Tom Tribble, president of the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society in Asheville, has been named Audubon North Carolina’s 2018 Volunteer of the Year. 

A fiddle instructor is needed for the Jackson County Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program. 

Twenty-two of the top high school marching bands from the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee will be competing for the title of grand champion and other honors at the 18th annual Tournament of Champions, which will be hosted by Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band on Saturday, Oct. 20.

My husband is newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and I don't know where to start as far as what foods he should eat or what I should be looking at on food labels...can you help? 

To the Editor:

This fall's election will include six proposed amendments to the NC Constitution. All were drafted exclusively by the General Assembly without public hearings or debate. None of these amendments is needed, and all should be opposed by voters. 

Two amendments are designed to reduce the power of the governor and to shift appointment powers to the legislature. The first reduces the size of the Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement, and transfers appointment power from the governor to the legislature; the second removes the governor’s power to appoint judges to fill vacancies and effectively transfers that power to the legislature.

According to The Charlotte Observer, Sept. 5, 2018: "All five of NC’s living former governors unite against constitutional amendments.” 

“Don't hijack our constitution," said former Gov. Pat McCrory at a gathering of all five of North Carolina's living former governors. The group convened to warn voters about constitutional amendments that would shift power to the legislature.”

Another amendment is a continuation of the legislature’s efforts through regulations and what has now been determined by the courts as illegal partisan gerrymandering of voting districts: to suppress voting rights and reduce effectiveness of minority and urban voters. We are being asked to vote on an amendment to require photo ID for in person voting. And the regulations and specific language will only be written — by the legislature — if and when the amendment is approved! We don’t even know what is being proposed and how it will be implemented. It has been shown repeatedly that voter fraud is essentially non-existent, or is so small as to be irrelevant — but that voter ID regulations routinely have the greatest impact on those with the fewest advantages: people in lower income groups, urban environments and minority populations.  

One proposed amendment seeks to reduce the maximum income tax rate to 7 percent from the 10 percent it is today. This amendment will have absolutely no impact on anyone’s tax bill, since the rate currently is 5.499 percent. It only has the effect of tying the hands of policy makers in the future — and perhaps protecting the rich from a future progressive tax structure where rates might increase on the highest brackets of income. A reduction in maximum allowable tax is designed to have an emotional, populist appeal — but this addresses another non-existent problem and can only be viewed as a cynical way to get voters in the mode of approving amendments. 

A similar amendment addressing a non-issue is one “to protect the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife.” These are rights that already exist under North Carolina law and certainly don’t require a constitutional amendment. This can only be seen as a transparent effort to put an amendment on the ballot which will entice a “yes” vote — sort of like creating an amendment to protect the right to eat apple pie. This is not what the constitution, or the amendment process, is meant for, and should be rejected accordingly. 

The final proposed amendment is one to highlight, add to, or enumerate rights for victims of crime.  gain, most of what is called for are things that already exist, such as rights to be informed of judicial process; to consult with prosecutors, to be treated with respect, to be informed of judicial outcomes. In general, it is another “sounds like it might make sense” amendment, but far from what should actually rise to the level of requiring a change to the Constitution.

Thoughtful voters should oppose all six amendments. And we should expect the legislature to focus on building our state’s economy, protecting our environment and improving people’s lives — not pushing any measure they can think of to entrench power or cement partisan divides. The Constitution should not be a political football.  

Dan Chasins

Cashiers 

To the Editor:

I was raised as a Republican and in my youth voted Republican. And I still concede that the GOP was once a political party with defensible principles that cared about middle-class Americans. But this is no longer the case.

“Republican” is now just a brand that has been sold to a handful of unscrupulous mega-donors (such as the Koch brothers, the Mercers, and Betsy DeVos) who use the trust placed in this brand to manipulate and dupe “consumers.”

Think of an American company that you've really admired for a long time that makes one of your favorite products. Now imagine that some Chinese — or Russian — conglomerate buys this company, moves the factories overseas, and begins manufacturing a cheap, shoddy, totally unreliable version of your once-beloved product. The brand is the same, but the product is not — no matter how much an expensive advertising campaign tries to convince you it is. That's the situation of the GOP today. Would you keep buying a product just because of its brand name even after it's proven itself to be degraded junk?

The GOP has been bought. It's the victim of a hostile takeover. The new owners are counting on you to maintain brand loyalty no matter what. When complaints pour in, instead of listening and making the product better, they abolish the Complaints Department. You tell them you want guaranteed coverage of preexisting health conditions, and they say, “No you don't.” You say you want to preserve net neutrality, and they say you're mistaken. You say you don't want tax cuts for billionaires, and they say, “Oh yes you do.” Finally, you say you don't want such toxic levels of corruption and criminality in your politicians, and they say, “Our politicians’ level of corruption and felony is well within the newly relaxed limits.” 

If you still consider yourself a Republican, you may be focusing more on the brand than on the actual product.  If you value healthcare, women's rights, the full Social Security benefits you’ve earned, consumer protections, and a protected environment — but are still buying the dreck that the co-opted GOP is selling — it's time for you to switch brands.

Bill Spencer

Cullowhee

To the Editor:

On a religious broadcast, the host commented that 80 percent of Evangelical Christians voted for the current President. An editorial in a local paper called for Christians to stand up and speak out for our faith and country. These two statements caused me to wonder who we as Christians really are and just what do we believe? 

Whether we are fundamental, evangelical, moderate or liberal, Christians hold to certain basic beliefs concerning truth and faith. As followers of Jesus, Christians believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we sometimes differ on how God inspired the Bible, but there is no doubt in our minds that the Bible contains the truth God wants us to know. In the Bible, we find the way to salvation and how to live joyful, productive and meaningful lives. We believe in the Bible. Does our President? 

As followers of Jesus, we believe the worship of God is at the top of our to do list. We differ on the methods of worship, but we do not disagree on the primary importance in worshiping God.

Does our President worship God? Almost every Sunday while Christians are attending worship our President is teeing up a golf ball. Can God be worshiped on the golf course? Yes, but how often does a golfer get a hole in one?

As followers of Jesus, we believe in God given moral values such as integrity, telling the truth, obeying the law and love of neighbor. The list goes on but our President must not have seen the list. 

As followers of Jesus, we place family values high on our list. Faithfulness to a spouse, training children in the way to live and respect for all persons are on a Christian's code of ethics. Does a man who has been married three times, had several affairs and shows no respect for anyone really deserve our vote?

When asked “Why do you support the President?” many Christians answer because the economy is doing so well. Translated this means we have more money to spend. It is nice to see our bank accounts healthy and to be able to pay our bills, but when did Jesus tell us to worship money? 

Does a person who thumbs his nose at basic Christian values, who demonstrates a disdain for immigrants, women and children, who has trouble telling the truth really deserve the vote of Christians?

Fellow followers of Jesus think on these things. Pray and ask God for guidance. Then summon forth the courage to do what is right. November is coming.

John Davis Jr.

Waynesville

To the Editor:

The column last week by Chris Cox does not address the question which is raised: “Is this the demeanor of a Supreme Court justice?”

There is no mention or evaluation of Judge Kavanaugh’s qualifications, education, work history, opinions, citizenship, husband, father, volunteer, etc. The writer meanders through his heartfelt concerns over unreported sexual attacks upon women but never addresses the point. He writes of feelings and belief, of downtrodden women, beer drinking students. He talks of people, not ideas. This hearing is not about sex or people; it is about the rule of law, the ideal enshrined in our Constitution which gives everyone the presumption of innocent until proven guilty. 

The article is a biased, emotional, slanderous, rambling rant, attacking and condemning Judge Kavanaugh because, it appears, the writer has judged other drunken college students as bad people, and as everyone now knows, Kavanaugh drank beer and he really liked it.

Constitutional lawyer, Harvard graduate and Democrat Alan Derschowitz calls this new unfounded allegation tactic employed by the Democrats to halt the judge’s elevation to the Supreme Court as “sexual McCarthyism.”

The fantastic drama that played out over the past few weeks is the stuff of books, movies, and documentaries. The United States is at a turning point. Will we protect our right to presumption of innocence under the Constitution or will we allow lies, deceit, and big money funding mob demonstrations to become the new rule of law?

Kathryn van Heyningen

Franklin

The Highlands Biological Station and Nature Center’s Patrick Brannon was recently named 2018 Environmental Educator of the Year by the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. 

Karen Babcock, former director of Folkmoot USA in Waynesville, has been hired as the WNC Nature Center’s new executive director. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway Association has hired Frederick “Tubby” Kubik as its new executive director, replacing previous director Tom Hardy, who retired after 36 years with the Association. 

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest now has a new trailhead map, replacing a sign that was previously stolen. 

The emerald ash borer has been found in Jackson County for the first time, making Jackson the 37th county in North Carolina where this invasive insect has been detected. 

The 2018 Midterm Elections are upon us, and there is still time to register and learn where local and state candidates stand on important issues before early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 18.

Mountain Projects, in conjunction with the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency and the North Carolina Community Action Coalition, will hold an exercise designed to give participants a glimpse of what it’s like to be poor. 

Is it bad to give my child fruit juice? One of my friends is giving me a hard time because she says juice is full of sugar.

By Lori Wright • Guest Columnist

To all of my fellow teachers and parents, I only have one question: how much more do we have to endure? School has started again, and with that comes a yearly tradition. Once again, teachers like me are being forced to beg for basic school supplies. Some supplies I will be able to get from generous friends and families, but what will I do for the supplies I can’t get through donations? The same thing public school teachers are forced to do every year — pay for these basic classroom supplies out of our own pockets. 

To the Editor:

In October of 2005, I arrived in Ukraine as a Peace Corps (PC) volunteer. At that time, PC Ukraine was the largest PC program among served countries. Considering the size of the country and the geopolitical importance of the area, it was not difficult to understand why. I was there to teach English, as were most of my fellow volunteers. Around this same time, Paul Manafort began consulting for the pro-Russian political party which had lost control of the presidency the year prior.

Are you familiar with the Orange Revolution? Victor Yushchenko, a pro-Western candidate, had dared to challenge the ruling pro-Russian party candidate Victor Yanukovych. During the campaign, Yushchenko suffered from a mysterious case of dioxin poisoning. Although his health was greatly weakened and his face was pockmarked from the poisoning, he marched on with his campaign. 

On election night, the pro-Russian candidate, Victor Yanukovych, was declared the winner; however, due to the actions of some brave individuals with knowledge of the vote tally, word quickly spread that the election results were fraudulent. It has been estimated that close to 1 million Ukrainians wearing orange (hence the “Orange Revolution”) took to the streets of the capital demanding that their votes be fairly counted. The government consented to new elections, and this time Yushchenko officially carried the vote. 

Upon his arrival in Ukraine, Paul Manafort became the principle designer of the strategy of the pro-Russian party, sowing the seeds of discontent that would ensure Yushchenko be only a one-term president. Yanukovych, after having been rejected by the Ukrainian people just five years prior, would carry the vote. 

Like any good political consultant, Paul Manafort did what he had to do. And like any good dictator, Victor Yanukovych did what he had to do: eliminating dissension in his government, restricting freedom of the press, and restricting the movements and activities of his political rivals including the imprisonment of his chief political opponent. Four years later, after Yanukovych backed out of a partnership with the European Union due to pressure from the Russian government, thousands of Ukrainians once again took to the streets. But unlike the bloodless Orange Revolution, this time violence erupted as government forces fired upon unarmed protesters.

In the coming days, government resistance would collapse and Yanukovych would flee the country to Russia, where he supposedly resides to this day. Manafort would continue consulting for Yanukovych and his political party for some time after.

Paul Manafort worked against America’s interest in Ukraine, undermining foreign policy objectives of the Bush and Obama administrations and thwarting democratic progress, all while garnering millions of dollars. In August, a jury of his peers convicted him on eight counts of bank fraud and tax evasion. It’s hard to blame President Trump for hiring Manafort as his campaign manager; after all, Manafort was good at what he did. 

The puzzlement for me is why would President Trump defend a convicted felon, deemed guilty by a jury of his fellow Americans. It only furthers the impression that our president has no respect for the rule of law, whether judge or jury, or simply that he indeed has something to hide. Now that Manafort has struck a plea deal regarding the charges he faced in an upcoming second trial, a deal in which he pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy and has agreed to cooperate fully with special counsel Robert Mueller, we shall soon find out the truth.

Bill Covin

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Can we talk about voter fraud? It’s real, folks. And it’s spreading throughout North Carolina.

I’m not referring to what the GOP calls voter fraud, legions of illegitimate voters rushing polling places to influence an election. The N.C. Board of Elections put the lie to that falsehood. It found that of 4,769,640 votes cast in 2016, only 19 people were charged with voting illegally. That’s one illegal vote for every 250,000 cast. Honestly, does that sound like an efficient way to sway an election?

No, here’s what real voter fraud looks like: North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature’s effort to push through a “Voter ID” amendment this November.

Forcing people to produce picture IDs to solve a non-existent problem isn’t meant to protect our democracy. It’s a cynical effort to prevent many eligible citizens who have difficulty acquiring state-approved ID — generally low-income and people of color who the GOP fears won’t vote as it prefers — from exercising their Constitutional right.

I hope you’ll reject the “Voter ID” amendment on Nov. 6 ... and all the unnecessary amendments the GOP has tagged onto our ballot. But if you decide to support this cynical political ploy, don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re protecting democracy. Wittingly or otherwise, you’ll be doing your bit to undermine the very principles you claim to hold dear. 

Stephen Advokat

Asheville

To the Editor:

We have seen, read, and heard a lot of fuss lately about the precipitous dangers of socialism undermining the American culture. We are rightfully leery of any extreme form of political governance, such as communism, fascism, or autocracies. But before we can the judge the influence of socialism on our society, we need to understand that there are many versions of socialism defined under the “socialism” umbrella.

On one end of the scale is totalitarian communism, a form of autocracy where self-serving political power is concentrated in small group of political leaders who manage the social and economic policies of a society with an iron hand. Stalinism is the foremost example this form of socialism. 

On the other far end of the socialism spectrum is the social market economy. This is the socioeconomic model most associated with European economies, and certain aspects of this model are supported by members from all American political parties. The social market economy combines a free market capitalist economic system alongside social policies that establish both fair competition within the market and a welfare state. 

The social market economy was designed to be a third way between laissez-faire economic liberalism and socialist economics. It was inspired by the tradition of Christian ethics. The social market economy uses the organic means of comprehensive economic policy planning which can influence the economy, but specifically does not plan and guide production, the workforce or sales. Effectively combining monetary, credit, trade, tax, customs, investment and social policies as well as other measures, this type of economic policy creates an economy that serves the welfare and needs of the entire population.

The social market approach rejects the far left socialist ideas of replacing private property and markets with social ownership and economic planning. The “social” element to the model instead refers to support for the provision of equal opportunity and protection of those unable to enter the free market labor force because of old age, disability, or unemployment. These are, in fact, some of the guiding principals that have shaped the modern social contract between the federal government and its constituents, the American people.

The influence of the social market approach is illustrated by these examples: the GI Bill implemented at the end of WWII, which subsidized the cost of higher education for soldiers returning from the war; the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the equal protection of the laws; Social Security, a retirement system funded by American citizens and managed by the federal government; federal regulations intended to limit the harmful pollution of our water and air by businesses, by local, state, and federal governments, and by individuals.

The notion that capital economies and social economies are mutually exclusive and competing in a zero sum game is simply not true. Our American economy has been shaped by principals derived from both capitalism and socialism, and we citizens are well served by the influences and judicious implementation of features from both systems. Fomenting fear and mistrust by spinning a view that these influences from either side are immoral or unethical only serves to further divide and alienate whole segments of our political culture.

John Barry

Franklin

To the Editor:

We moved to Burnsville just over two years ago about two months before the 2016 election. When I registered to vote, I chose the unaffiliated classification. I did so as I was unfamiliar with the politics of my new home and did not wish to commit myself to any one party when I did not know how individual candidates from the two major parties chose to serve their communities.

I have now gone through one election and have two years to observe how my community is represented.  I also receive communications from both parties due to my unaffiliated classification. This is what I have learned.

Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville, does not shy away from language that divides us. She tries to draw clear lines of “Us versus Them.” She also embraces misleading language to promote positions she favors. This is evidenced in the attempt to mask the effort to suppress voter registration and the more recent support of ambiguous and misleading wording of the proposed amendments to the state’s Constitution.

On the other hand, I have found that Rhonda Cole Schandevel talks about serving the people. She talks about preserving health care and restoring North Carolina’s educational system to the prestige that once characterized it. While we are blessed with some very good teachers, they lack the system and support to ensure that all of our children have the education that they deserve. I believe Ms. Schandevel will work to reverse this condition. I am also convinced that she will fight for the health care needs of all North Carolinians and not simply for the privileged few. I will be voting for Rhonda Cole Schandevel.

U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows represents me in the U.S. Congress. Now that I live in North Carolina, I have had a chance to observe Rep. Meadows and here are my conclusions. Rep. Meadows really looks the part. He dresses, grooms, and speaks as if he belongs in Washington. The accolades stop there. 

He is the leader of the Freedom Caucasus and no legislation, resolution, or action of any kind is allowed to the House Floor without the blessings of the Freedom Caucus. This group of representatives, which is a minority of the House’s representatives, holds the House hostage due to the influence of the Tea Party voter. This means nothing gets done. We are paying him and providing him a staff to ensure that the House remains stagnant. He is purposefully cutting off the voices of others. Our founding fathers believed that voices needed to be heard regardless of position.

Here is what I have seen on Phillip Price’s website, “Phillip Price will strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” Now that is a stance that I can get behind and it is a stance that comes closest to my own personal values. Mr. Price also speaks of the importance of reaching across the aisle and working with others regardless of party affiliation. I will be voting for Phillip Price.

Finally, as a new voter in North Carolina observing our elected officials, I wish to say a word regarding Sen. Richard Burr. I have watched Sen. Burr in his role as co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He appears to work well with his co-chair, Sen. Mark Warner, and seems to conduct himself with forthrightness and integrity. These are traits that I will support in any politician, even if there are policy differences between that person and myself.

Lee Sease

Burnsville

To the Editor:

About the political cartoon of September 12: Please don’t make horrible political divisions worse by repeating brain-bypassing, emotional-button-pushing, negative phrases, whether to describe Democrats, Republicans or independents. 

Tell me one stand Sen. Elizabeth Warren has taken that makes her anything other than a caring, rational woman. Consumer Protection Agency? The American Association of Pediatrics just announced their own review of research and industry-funded/distorted “research” into plastics’ effects on children and babies’ health. They concluded that the FDA and private industry has suppressed independent science for decades. The result? Babies and children with cancer. We do need protection from big industries whose heads can rationalize a few babies’ deaths away so long as they keep raking in the cash.

Look at what Bernie Sanders actually stands for — and why so many independents as well as Democrats supported him, especially young adults. Although his and Joe Biden’s age-mate, I would like to see younger candidates (I would include Warren because she isn’t so old) from both parties running for president and vice president in 2020, but with the same integrity and values and policies as Sanders and Biden: universal health care that stops America being the only country in the “advanced” world where you can go bankrupt from getting sick, even if you have insurance; protection from greedy corporations that kill us slowly with carcinogens in plastics, water and air; the same stringency for gun ownership as for driving a car or getting a fishing license. How radical is that?  

Let’s all try thinking and acting like Sen. John McCain, who disagreed without name-calling, who found ways to meet people with opposing ideas halfway and find sane compromises. A hero who endured unimaginable torment and stayed captive two-plus more hellish years because he wouldn’t leave his fellow captives behind while going free as an admiral’s son. The Republican who co-sponsored the campaign finance reform, which was later overturned in the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision to the everlasting regret of anyone who values democracy. Sen. McCain was a man who understood that many of the greedy rich — not all the rich — are destroying our democracy and making a mockery of all we purport to stand for.  

What appeals to young adults in the politicians whom your cartoon ridicules is their condemning big money donors in political campaigns, because they really are the root of all our country’s evils. 

Mary Jane Curry

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Despite the best efforts of reporters, a newspaper article will not contain the entire story. This letter to the editor is in defense of the Haywood County Tax Office. I work there.

Morale: Contrary to what you may read, the morale in the office is high. The tax collection clerks agree with the policies of the office, which were established by Tax Collector Mike Matthews when he took office. These policies are to treat everyone who walks into the office or calls on the telephone with helpfulness, compassion and courtesy.

Interest: With the approval of either the tax collector or the deputy tax collector, the clerks did occasionally remove interest. This was done with the belief that the elected tax collector and deputy tax collector had the authority to make such decisions. We have no knowledge of missing codes. Only someone with an intimate knowledge of Keystone, the computer software used to collect and process tax payments, could go undetected in manipulating or removing codes from the Keystone record.

Training: Our training is three days of lectures and an exam in all aspects of property tax assessment and collection law. Again, education helps, but it does not prepare you for the multitude of unusual questions and situations you encounter daily. On-the-job training, what you learn from more experienced employees, is essential. Other collection clerks train us, and co-workers in other departments generously answer our questions. Referencing the Machinery Act, a 399-page book of law that governs property tax assessment and collection, happens often.

Performance: Mike’s record as tax collector speaks for itself. When he took office, he was given a property tax collection rate goal of 96.96 percent by the county manager and the commissioners. He has exceeded that goal every year with collection rates above 97 percent and surpassed all the collection rates of the previous administration. In addition, Mike has drastically reduced total outstanding delinquencies. Please judge the effectiveness of the tax collection office for yourself by speaking with Mike or requesting a more detailed copy of collection rates for tax years 2009 through 2018 from office personnel.

While results are important, Mike takes pride in the way his office works with taxpayers, giving them every opportunity to pay these tax bills in a manner consistent with the taxpayer’s circumstances. The election of a good man to the position of tax collector, a man who makes decisions based on respect for and fair treatment of taxpayers, is highly desired and makes the government responsive to the people.

Politics: Election years bring change in workplace dynamics. Understandably, people want their candidate to win, but some purposely use character assassination and actively work to prevent the incumbent’s efficiency in office. I have no desire to defend accusations and insinuations made in newspaper articles or to air behind the scenes, political intrigues in a public forum, but a good man is being maligned and his office is being hampered from doing its job effectively. 

The tax collection office is operating to the best of our ability despite the partisan politics swirling around us.

Cindy Chaffy

Maggie Valley

Repairs have been completed to Beechertown Road and the Nantahala River access there in the Nantahala National Forest near Franklin. 

Initial estimates for crop damage and livestock losses in North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence are expected to top $1.1 billion, easily outstripping the $400 million seen after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.