Opinion
Feds don’t need voting data
To the Editor:
I am writing about the Save America Act. I have seen conflicting information about this legislation, which is now awaiting Senate approval after passing the House. The more I attempt to research the proposed changes to voting eligibility, the more confused I become.
I moved to Highlands in 2019, applied for my N.C. driver’s license, and discovered that I needed a Real ID.
District change proposal is just a bad idea
To the Editor:
You ever watch something happen in local government and think, “There’s no way they expect us to buy this?” That’s exactly how the push to change Macon County’s voting districts feels. Commissioner John Shearl is trying to sell this as some kind of fairness reform, but once you look at the details, it’s obvious what’s going on. And it’s not fairness.
Please vote in the Primary
To the Editor:
As former justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, we’re writing with an urgent message. Please plan on voting in the Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, by either early voting or on Election Day. There is one critically important primary race for judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals for Seat 3. We have all enthusiastically endorsed Attorney James Whalen for this seat and we encourage you to join us in our support for him.
Disgusted that voters were duped
To the Editor:
I sent this letter via email to our congressmen, Rep. Chuck Edwards and Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis.
In Bryson City, I'm preparing to vote in the Primary. We’re a poor county; most of the property is national forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Candidates for local offices are telling us how they plan to fund our outdated, worn-out infrastructure. There’s not enough sewer or water service for a new middle school, new housing or new business structures.
Stand against the darkness
To the Editor:
Adam Smith, GOP primary candidate for Congress in the 11th district, had this to say about actual legitimate rallies or protests: “Let’s define it — ‘terror’ is the use of violence or the threat of violence and/or intimidation in order to advance a religious, political or societal ideology, and that’s what we’re seeing firsthand right now in Minneapolis,” he said.
Some pre-Lent thoughts: fasting and feasting
Some people eat to live, and others live to eat. I fall into the latter camp, which is why I’ve been both confused and fascinated by the fasting trend that has flooded the health and wellness movement in the last few years. To temporarily deprive oneself of food in service of a larger goal — for some, weight loss; for others, metabolic health or mental clarity — is the kind of challenge that borders on unreasonable. To me, fasting ranks just below ice baths in terms of appeal.
You can’t un-melt the melting pot
Growing up, watching Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Universe were exciting times in our house. My sister and I were starstruck little girls enamoured with the glitz and glamour of 1980s beauty pageants. We were oblivious to any corruption going on behind the scenes and were naively lured in by the fanfare of it all.
The rule of law still matters
To the Editor:
Out with the old, in with the new: time for reflection, perhaps resolve; certainly time to separate fact from fiction, truth from lies. As Lord Chesterfield believed, “that refuse of fools and cowards.”
Ramey guards public resources
To the Editor:
Choosing the right leader for the Haywood County Board of Commissioners means selecting someone who puts residents first and guards public resources carefully. Terry Ramey stands out as a candidate who embodies these qualities. His record shows a strong commitment to conservative values, fiscal responsibility and a willingness to challenge decisions that do not serve the community’s best interests.
