Red states’ gerrymandering mid-decade is against every principle of democracy | Opinion

The Republican Party’s blatant attempt to have red states gerrymander congressional districts before the 2026 midterms to serve the desire of their “dear leader” is against every principle of democracy.

The definition of democracy is free and fair elections, though I remember a Republican N.C. legislator saying the constitution doesn’t require they be “fair.” They aren’t even doing this under the guise of fair representation as they’ve stated it is only to keep the majority in the House as they know public opinion is against President Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court used to stop anti-democratic tactics, but there is no longer faith in that institution. If this authoritarianism is not held in check, democracy as we know it will be no more.

Danny Squires, Raleigh

BBB bolstering

Congressman Gregory Murphy in his recent column claims those who will lose Medicaid coverage due to the Big Beautiful Bill are illegal immigrants and able-bodied Americans. He says the dollars saved can be used to “support a struggling single mother” and other worthy recipients. It remains to be seen who will benefit from the savings, if any.

Increased administration and enforcement costs will come with new eligibility standards. Also problematic is whether the standards will be applied fairly, whether they will be unreasonably burdensome for applicants and whether they will wind up pruning deserving and undeserving from Medicaid. Lost in the debate is what happens to those tossed off Medicaid. Will health care providers send them away? If so, what does that say about us? If not, who pays for their treatment?

It would be ironic if the most humane, efficient and cost-effective health care system is one where everyone, not just the “deserving,” is covered by Medicare. It’s worth an unbiased look.

Steve Fletcher, Lexington

Chatham change

The coverage of Chatham County development and climate change highlights the urgency of addressing both. Development and human-caused climate change are accelerating in Chatham County and across North Carolina. Hurricane Helene wrecked Western NC less than two weeks after historic flooding in coastal towns. Remnants of Chantal flooded parts of Chatham and neighboring counties. This was all within one year!

Knowing what we face, we must do everything possible to mitigate the damage and build resilience. We must stop burning fossil fuels, the primary cause of climate change. “Doomers” will say it’s too late. We know that it is not. Solutions abound. We can do so much to save all we can. We must summon the will for the people and places we love.

Vickie Atkinson, Chapel Hill

Dishonest Dunn?

I was perplexed by Andrew Dunn’s column labeling Roy Cooper’s U.S. Senate campaign as starting “with a dishonest pitch.” North Carolinians had six opportunities to adjudge Cooper, as Dunn charges, “a calculating political operative who let North Carolina down when it mattered most.”

From 2000 to 2020, NC voters disagreed, even when Republican gubernatorial and presidential candidates won the state. Mr. Dunn should not insult the persistent wisdom of voters. He should be careful equating Michael Whatley’s stature in 2026 with Jesse Helms in 1984. Who is it that has actually advanced a “dishonest” political pitch?

Gary Jackson, Durham

Trump triumphs?

I congratulate President Trump on delivering a master class in how to bring down the cost of housing in the Triangle. His methods are a bit unorthodox. It just didn’t occurred to me that the way to reduce home prices was to topple the pillars of the Triangle’s economy.

Trump is a stable genius. He knew that if he destroyed our local federal agency offices, while gutting university research funding, slashing vaccine and pharmaceutical research and disintegrating USAID programs that supported thousands of Triangle jobs, suddenly the housing market would drop like a stone.

Sens. Thom Tillis, Ted Budd and the rest of our GOP delegation must be proud of their hard work cheering from the sidelines as Trump imploded the Triangle. It took decades to build our region into something special, and only months to tear it all down.

Ron Sutherland, Durham

This story was originally published August 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Red states’ gerrymandering mid-decade is against every principle of democracy | Opinion."