Mob-mentality man Trump should be given a chance 

So the 2016 election is over.  How did we get president-elect Donald Trump?

For years, both political parties were busy making promises but had no intention of keeping them.

It took a mob-mentality man to wake us up.  That’s how we got president-elect Donald Trump.

I pray he listens to the voters who got him elected and I pray he makes an all-out effort to deliver on his many promises. 

In other words: GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE!

HERB STARK

Mooresville

Trump will bring bright future for America 

Everyone should have heard President-elect Donald Trump’s recent talk in Charlotte where he was less a politician and more an honest president with fresh ideas.

He began by explaining how inner cities suffer greatly from decades of failed government policies and programs. For example, he gave statistics about broken families, high school dropout rates, more than 3,600 shootings in Chicago so far this year, Detroit’s financial ruin, lack of employment opportunities, etc.

He detailed new ideas for helping inner cities unleash their talent, rather than enduring Democrat Hillary Clinton’s plans for the same failed programs that have resulted in the problems above.

Trump’s solutions include a closer relationship between the community and law enforcement so that everyone is protected.

Another part of his plan is to lower taxes on businesses (America’s is among the highest in the world), so that companies will return here and the ones here will stay. He added that business loans be affordable and available to all, especially minorities (not the case now). He wants all students to have choices in education, including home schooling, vouchers, and charter schools rather than being forced into poor schools.

Far from perfect, Trump believes in and loves America — all of it.

JANET BURHOE-JONES

Asheville

LGBTQ folks, allies don’t face insurmountable battle

I am sure that these last few days have been scary, disappointing and difficult for many of you, as they have been for me.

The election of Donald Trump represents a challenge to the long-fought-for rights of our community, and the rights that we have yet to win.

I will not downplay how hard the job will be at all levels of government and in all walks of society to win full-lived and legal equality — it’s significant. But it’s not insurmountable.

Proof positive of that is what happened on Election Night in North Carolina. We believe that when all results are certified, Roy Cooper will be the next governor of our great state. Josh Stein, a champion for equality, beat back one of the worst anti-LGBTQ zealots by winning the Attorney General’s race. And, we won a number of key legislative races for pro-equality candidates.

We know that the eyes of the state and nation have been on HB2, and we know that a big part of the reason North Carolina looked different than other places across the nation on Tuesday (Nov. 8) was because LGBTQ rights were front and center.

Thanks to your critical work with TurnOUT NC canvassing, phone banking, and talking to your friends and neighbors we WON on LGBTQ rights here in the Old North State. That was a phenomenal accomplishment by our community here in North Carolina which will have national impact.

Please, do not think that this letter is to dismiss the pain and concern many of you have for our nation. I share that pain and concern. I cannot imagine how much stronger it must feel to young LGBTQ people, transgender members of our community, and people of color — LGBTQ or not. 

And, I don’t think that we have won overnight even here in our state. However, let us also look at North Carolina and feel buoyed that our hard work can move hearts, minds, and elections. 

And then, let’s double and triple our efforts to make sure everyone in America is safe, secure, and equal. And let’s make sure we are working across the board for equality. 

The fight for LGBTQ rights is the fight for voting rights, racial justice, and civil liberties. Get some rest, and then volunteer with us at Equality NC, the NAACP of North Carolina, the ACLU of North Carolina, or any other group that will advance our common goals.

Onward....

Education: A fix for the American school system

The present US education system does very little to prepare the students for the real world. 

At the end of twelfth grade, very few have any true skills to get a job. 

Plus, many college degrees are useless as they are too general and the first two-years are usually a repeat of high school. Many students cannot get jobs that justify the cost of college.

I think the following would go along way to fix the system. First through sixth grade, the teachers must teach the students the BASICS like math, speaking, spelling, reading and writing. 

Teach math without calculators. Teach the student what type questions to ask themselves to reason out the answers for themselves. Teach U.S. history with solid knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, plus world history and geography are a must.

Starting in seventh grade, the courses change to three hours a day for courses to prepare the student for college. One hour a day for a course called LIFE. This course would teach the student EVERYTHING they need to know once they begin life after twelfth grade. Like cooking, washing the clothes, balance the checkbook, understanding the interest rates on loans, how to do a budget and stick to it, etc.

Then four hours of vocation/trade skills. These courses would teach skills to be a plumber, carpenter, chef, landscaper, auto mechanic, dental tech, nursing, etc.

The courses would also include management, purchasing, accounting and all of the skills needed to run a business.

At the end of the courses, the instructors would or would not issue a certificate that guarantees the employer that the student can do the job without supervision and correctly.

The student could in many cases finish school with three to six skills.

I am pretty sure the drop out rate would be much lower then it is now. And the students would be more prepared to start life on their own.