Voter opts to support 'a more pragmatic Hillary’

Recently I sat next to a man wearing a Bernie campaign button. When I took note, our conversation covered a range of issues.

In my walks in the Five Points neighborhood I encounter an impressive number of pro-Bernie signs. Bernie won Asheville handily, but lost the overall N.C. primary, meaning Hillary Clinton received the largest number of delegates and continues to amass a larger total of voter support.

To my recent associate I pointed out that Bernie’s supporters are enthusiastic and delusional. They have certainly contributed an awesome campaign chest. Nevertheless, his proposals for governing will require complete Democratic control of the U.S. House. 

The aim to break up Wall Street banks is a will ‘o the wisp. (To this check out the informed observation of Barney Frank). Giving university tuition free to public university students (actually funded by the states) would require reducing the military budget to miserliness.

Bernie’s announcement of a revolution is part of the dream sequence. For a “for instance,” how are we here in Asheville to vote Democratic replacements for Rep. Patrick McHenry (10th district), or Rep. Mark Meadows (11th)?

I subscribe to a more pragmatic Hillary, better prepared to work with a Republican House majority (hopefully diminished). Direct your contributions to “Hillary for America.”

LeGrand Smith

Asheville

Asheville should not follow Charlotte’s lead

I hesitate to comment on the HB-2 issue, but think it is just a big waste of money to redefine existing anti-discrimination laws. If the city wants to protect the rights of small minorities, fine with me, spend the money.

However, if they are going to do it, don’t do like Charlotte and muddy the waters by trying to fix what is not broken.

Individuals of either sex (that they chose to define) have been using either restroom forever with little problem. It only becomes a problem if one can be identified (normally by dress clothes and actions) as being of the gender that should not be in a restroom. 

Caitlin (Bruce) Jenner probably would not even be noticed in a woman’s restroom, but would be questioned in a man’s restroom in a dress.

Let’s keep the restroom issue out of a bill used to protect the civil rights of individuals.

If we have to put it in I propose a single restroom to be used by all individuals with no discrimination at all. (After all many countries don’t have individual restrooms and it would be less expensive).

Also that would kill the issue once and for all.

 Allyn M. Aldrich

Asheville

Punishment looms for America's God-deniers

America continues to deny God and The Word of God. These haters of God continue to deny the historical fact that America was founded by people who believed in the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

The God who said that in the beginning He created the Heavens and the Earth and later created everything in them and that He did it for his pleasure. 

Each colony was founded by a different Christian denomination. Generally, a whole church congregation left their home country and shipped to what is now our America, as a church/unit.

Each colony established its church denomination as that colony’s church, and taxed the residents to support it. This practice continued even after the colonies became states.

When the U.S. Constitution was approved the colonies believed in the sovereignty of God Almighty over all.

Because of that, most colonies specified, in their approval, that all those appointed or voted to serve in America’s three branches of government be professed Christians who knew God, and God’s Word contained in the Holy Bible, both the Old and the New Testament.

Unfortunately, we now send some people to all three branches of our government who have no idea about God or what His Commandments to Man are. They have twisted God’s word, the Constitution, and the Bill of  Rights and its subsequent amendments, so that everything goes. 

So, yes, history does show that America was founded as a Christian nation under God. And yes, one of the founding fathers was a deist (one who believes God created Heaven and Earth but then left it entirely up to man). 

But Benjamin Franklin’s mistake only shows how smart, educated people can be ignorant of God’s Biblical history, which clearly shows God had an active hand and is still playing a part in this world.

But the important thing to know is that God will punish and destroy the wicked, most of mankind, because they rejected His plan of salvation, which He offered, through the blood of Christ. How soon, only God knows!

Manuel Ybarra Jr. 

Coalgate, Okla.