I got 488 solicitations for campaign donations - and I’m a small donor. It’s obscene.

Campaign finance

I returned home from a 10-day fall vacation recently to find 488 email solicitations for political contributions. I have contributed to causes and candidates in the past that I believe are appropriate representations of my values. However, I’m sure my experience is not unique as I am in the small donor/politically active category.

I’m confident that my experience is not just within my political party, but a symptom of the obscene amount of money that fuels current political machines. Is it too much to hope that if enough voters voice concern about campaign funding during a midterm election that elected officials will implement campaign finance reforms prior to the 2024 general election?

Scott Johnson, Chapel Hill

Highway speeding

The under-funded and understaffed N.C. Highway Patrol and Raleigh police are missing out on a brilliant revenue opportunity. As I drove to Durham recently, I feared I would be hospitalized upon arrival. Never, ever have I witnessed such driving.

Cars, lots of them, were weaving in and out across four and five lanes at 80 mph, maybe more, driving as if they were traversing Charlotte Motor Speedway. No doubt months of being free to drive like bats out of hell without consequence has contributed to this problem.

The cure? Big fines. Really big. Before bodies litter the roads, North Carolina must tackle this issue. Revenue generated will more than cover the staffing shortage.

Betty Webb, Raleigh

The big divide

Recently while giving out literature for Democratic candidates I met a voter who wanted to rant about our country’s problems. Since I believe dialogue between the parties is critical, I listened.

Here is my recollection of the “conversation”:

Horrible people are storming our borders killing and raping Americans and dispensing dope.

Why doesn’t anyone prosecute those who take down statues in public places. It’s horribly illegal.

Our weather problems are God’s making and have nothing to do with actions of human beings.

The post-George Floyd looting and physical violence lasted the entire summer while Jan. 6 was just one day, and furthermore, “they” lie about people dying that day.

My hands shook and my heart was weary for the rest of that afternoon. Is dialogue ever possible?

Linda G. Sutton, Durham

Indoctrination?

Regarding “Voters will decide if NC power stays divided,” (Oct. 9):

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore said he would pursue bringing back the vetoed anti-Critical Race Theory bill and that “Parents want their kids to go to school to learn, not to be indoctrinated...” Why then, are state funds from taxpayers used for school vouchers that can be used for parochial schools? Not all N.C. citizens want to pay for religious instruction that may imply that others are unequal or less worthy, or not worth learning about. When is it education and not indoctrination?

Joyce Rothchild, Raleigh

Go vote

Regarding “I’m registered Republican, but I can’t support Budd or Beasley,” (Oct. 9 Opinion)

I implore the letter writer who said he can’t support either major party candidate in the U.S. Senate race - and every citizen - to vote. As imperfect as our democracy still is, every vote counts. Survival of our democracy depends on every vote. Now more than ever, we can’t afford not to vote. Unregistered voters can register to vote when early voting begins Oct. 20. Go to NCvoter.org or call 888-OUR-VOTE for details.

Susan Cohen, Durham

Senate election

I was not surprised by how often Ted Budd tried to link Cheri Beasley to Joe Biden during the Oct. 7 debate and make them responsible for inflation. Inflation is indeed high, however there is one perspective I haven’t heard candidates or pundits bring forward in the run-up to the midterm election, and the stark consequences of it are very clear to me: Gas prices always go up and down – today’s high prices will perhaps last a few weeks or months. Inflation has a lot longer cycle and is likely to last months to years. A woman’s right to choose – if that is taken away – will take several generations or half a century to change.

Steven Mullinix, Greensboro

Blame for inflation

The Republicans blame President Biden for inflation and high energy and food prices in the United States. It is clear that inflation is currently an international problem brought on by the pandemic and supply chain problems. Energy and food prices have increased due to the war in Ukraine and the Saudi’s reduction in oil supply. There is little any president in any country can do about these international issues.

Robert D. Brown, Cary

Misspent dollars

We’re going to spend $2 trillion on the F-35 fighter jets (estimated lifetime program cost). We spent over $2 trillion on the Iraq war. Considering that, when it comes to cutting back or eliminating our carbon dioxide emissions in this country, nothing should be out of our reach if we have the political will. For less than the cost of one ill-conceived war, we could eliminate all CO2 emissions from the electric generation process in the country by converting to renewable sources like wind and solar. Why haven’t we already done this? Why not a war on CO2 emissions?

Leo Sadovy, Wake Forest

This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 12:00 PM with the headline "I got 488 solicitations for campaign donations - and I’m a small donor. It’s obscene.."