Sen. Tillis opposed Trump on Ukraine. That opposition probably won’t last | Opinion

Senator Thom Tillis gave an inspiring speech in which he spoke the truth about Vladimir Putin’s aggression into Ukraine and the need to financially support Ukraine’s fight. But we don’t yet know whether he will vote to carry out that vision. He has a record of complying with the president’s wishes and unquestioning loyalty to his agenda.

Tillis, like many Republicans, is afraid of angering the president and his allies, which could upend his political career. Voting to preserve their careers means they want to continue serving in Congress to help the President dismantle America’s democratic institutions and the rule of law and replace it with an autocratic regime.

Irv Shiffer, Garner

Raleigh safety

I attended a “Safe Streets for All” meeting sponsored by Raleigh Transportation. It was informative, and I appreciate the effort being put into bringing traffic fatalities in Raleigh to zero. But, until police enforce traffic laws, people will continue to be injured or die on our roads.

No matter how much you design or plan our streets to make them safer for drivers and pedestrians, as long as people continue to speed, drive aggressively and blow through red lights, nothing will change. The irresponsible behavior I see on our streets everyday is truly shocking.

Brad Bradshaw, Raleigh

Education cuts

The loss of funding for teachers in NC as a result of federal education department cuts will give the state legislature a chance to show that they value the education more than kissing Donald Trump’s ring. It is about time the legislature realizes the Trump administration will not help states in need.

Think of the discussion of eliminating FEMA as NC tries to recover from Helene. Think of the proposal to cut a major portion of Medicaid funding to states and its effect on 600,00 citizens of NC. The list is long and the GOP-dominated legislature in NC needs to develop a spine in its interactions with the Trump government.

Larry Wolf, Garner

DEI destroyer

The writer is the chair of Wake County Voter Education Coalition.

The recent introduction of House Bill 171, “the DEI destroyer,” in the NC legislature is unnecessary and a waste of valuable government time. Diversity, equity and inclusion measures have enriched government in our state.

Lawmakers should look at ways to enhance what is working rather than take a hammer and destroy programs which have assisted in making NC what it is today. It is my hope that the legislature will do the right thing and say we do not need to destroy DEI. It is a plus and not a minus for NC.

Jerome Brown, Raleigh

My vote challenged

I am one of more than 60,000 voters Jefferson Griffin is attempting to disenfranchise. I am 75 years old and have voted since the early 1970s. To my knowledge I have never had my right to vote be challenged.

I have no idea why Griffin believes my vote should not be counted. My communications to the Durham County Board of Elections remain unanswered. It is disturbing that the Durham County election officials has not attempted to contact me, and I wonder how many others have not been notified concerning their challenged vote.

Are the Durham County officials unaware that my vote has been challenged? If the voting system needs changes, then do so, but that should not disallow votes by people doing the right thing in good faith. What Griffin is doing is damaging confidence in our elections, and the court system is making it worst by not acting decisively to protect our votes. Griffin is trying to steal an election that he lost.

William Delamar, Durham

Trump, Musk corruption

Slapdash, haphazard and patchwork are silly words that describe the Trump administration’s efforts to gut the federal budget to allow tax cuts for billionaires. Illegal, unconstitutional and extrajudicial are serious words that describe those same efforts.

The corruption is obvious — from the new FAA contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink to Trump’s $1 million-a-round golfing outings. The Republican budget proposal makes it clear — everyday Americans must be harmed to help rich people get richer, even if the cuts are corrupt, counterproductive or illegal.

Scott Shuford, Hillsoborough

This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Sen. Tillis opposed Trump on Ukraine. That opposition probably won’t last | Opinion."