Bill James Should Trade Places
In less than a month, we will have new leaders at every level of government. As a nation, we continue to grow more partisan and divided. I was astounded and worried by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James’ point of view in the CL article “Gang of Five, Pt. 2” (by Tara Servatius, Sept. 29) regarding welfare recipients. Mr. James seems to think people on welfare get a “featherbed ride.” His remarks about living within your means and his callous declaration that “life’s rough,” show his ignorance and complete lack of empathy. No doubt life is rough for some, with people like him in charge.
Heck, the biggest craze now is trading places. Go do it, Mr. James. Go live for six months or a year on welfare and report back to us on living within your means. Many low-income individuals have not had the opportunity to go to college and take business and economics courses. Their biggest test is deciding whether to take their child to the doctor or buy groceries for the week. Would you pass that test, Mr. James? And you want to cut more programs?
I urge everyone to get out and vote your conscience on November 2 — no matter which way you lean. If Mr. James wants to call me a “bleeding heart liberal,” I’ll proudly wear that label.
— Pattie Templeton, Huntersville
Shooting Off Their Mouths
In spite of the fact that I don’t believe the government has any right to restrict gun ownership, none of the responses to Timothy Davis’ article about getting kicked out of the gun show make sense.
First, Tom Knight states (“Gunning for Trouble,” Letters, Sept. 15) “pepper spray is potentially lethal which makes it unsuitable for non-lethal defense.” In other words, pepper spray doesn’t kill people, people kill people! That certainly flies in the face of the logic the NRA has used for years in defense of individuals’ right to own firearms (especially assault rifles). But wouldn’t this argument preclude people from buying…oh, I don’t know…GUNS?
Then John Rhame (“Gun Show Photos,” Letters, Sept. 22) says “Your first amendment (sic) rights don’t trump private property rights.” Of course not. But the reverse is also true…that is, private property rights don’t allow you to take away someone’s First Amendment rights either. I believe that was the point of Mr. Davis’ statement. And like Mr. Rhame suggests, while you might get a similar reaction taking pictures in a Lowe’s or Wal-Mart, this was a trade show. You wouldn’t be asked to stop taking pictures at the Southern Christmas Show, and I took lots of pictures at last fall’s Auto Show. Let’s compare apples to apples here.
Apparently the government can restrict firearm ownership or use, but they still can’t do anything about people shooting off their mouths.
— Greg F., Charlotte
You’re still out there!
Great piece on zany Zell Miller (“Zell’s Final Zag,” by Scott Henry, Sept. 15). I moved away from the South about eight years ago, and all I ever hear these days is that the venomous, know-nothing, right-wing Christian element has gained such a lock on power down there that it’s tantamount to treason to declare oneself even a wimpy Democrat in old Dixie. I knew that couldn’t be entirely true; after all, I still know a number of true progressives in places like Tallahassee. But “bat-shit crazy” Zell’s keynote address at the recent GOP creepfest only underscored my impression that the old South was an utterly lost cause where values like sanity and justice are concerned.
So, it was like a lifesaving gasp of fresh air to read your take on Zell’s career and his cringe-inducing whoring for Bush and Rove. Great to be reminded that there are still intellectuals and progressive journalism in the South.
— Richard Howard, Seattle, WA
This article appears in Oct 6-12, 2004.
