Time to stand up for our country 

I don’t understand those students who refuse to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a shame and disgrace to our veterans who fought and died for that flag and our freedom. Where do they think our freedom came from? Certainly not from marching, riots and protests that further divide our country.

Mr. Kaepernick claims to love America, but you don’t disrespect something you love. If you hate Trump and agree with illegal immigration (which I don’t understand because the term says it all — illegal immigrant — read again: illegal). So if I commit a crime and I am not illegal I should be granted amnesty and allowed to remain free indefinitely.

Maybe you should join the illegals, stand for their flag and help stop corruption, crime and turmoil in their country. Or better yet, join the military. You wouldn’t be protesting standing or sitting. That is why we now have a president who is for our people and our country. Some people just don’t like change. But it is for the better, not the politicians and their actions of years past.

My husband is a veteran of the Korean War and not at all happy with these students’ actions. He has to go to the VA — for those who don’t know, that means Veterans Administration. Maybe while you protesters are sitting you may want to get up, take your classmates over there and let them all see firsthand what war has done to them. Imagine where we would be today if they had decided to sit this one out.

By the way, older people are not ignorant; we do see the light, just not yours. Have you ever told a person in uniform or a veteran “Thank you for your service”? Have you ever heard Lee Greenwood sing ‘I’ll gladly stand up for the USA and the men who died for me”?

— Evelyn Basinger

Kannapolis

 

Hudson is dreaming

In response to “Rep. Hudson: GOP bill represents good, conservative health care reform” (March 15):

Congressman Hudson needs to wake up from his dream and face the cold nightmare of the millions of Americans he wants to push off Medicaid and the ACA. Hudson and his Republican colleagues are getting ready to gut federal subsidies for those living barely above, at, and below the poverty line.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s analysis, North Carolina ACA enrollees will see an average premium increase of $5,360. The new ACHA bill eliminates Medicaid expansion effective December 31, 2018. It defunds Planned Parenthood. It raises insurance costs based on your age. To that Congressman Hudson says, “Don’t worry, we’ll come back and fix it later.” Just like Republicans spent the last seven years trying to fix the ACA for their constituents.

Congressman Hudson, when are you going to come home and explain to your constituents, in person, how this is the bill of your dreams?

— Dashia James

Concord

Make time to listen

I attended my first town hall meeting Tuesday evening. Reps. Harry Warren, Carl Ford and Sen. Tom McInnis began the hourlong meeting with talking about the bills they are working on, and basically what’s important to them. One young woman in the audience asked if they could move on to questions since we could get that information from their web page. I thought that was a reasonable request. Harry Warren responded that they would take questions when they finished.

I found the town hall disconcerting because only 30 minutes was left for questions from the audience. I suggest that they have another town hall meeting that has only a question/answer format. Our representatives should listen to the concerns of their constituency.

— Jean McCoy

Salisbury

Thorny water bill

I am a retired citizen who grows roses. To avoid paying sewer charges on the watering of the roses, we put in a second water line for that purpose. Each year, we cut off that water line in the fall to prevent the line from freezing.

This year, the city began charging a “water minimum” charge on that line ($6.04), even though we weren’t using any water from it! They have been charging us that since October 2016. When I called for an explanation, I was told that if I wanted “to try to get it changed,” I would need to take it up with the City Council, who approved the measure to start with!

Well, I know what good that would do me. I figured it was just another play or plan to boost Fibrant’s revenue. At any rate, I know when I have been given the runaround, but I thought others should know what a “strong-arm” the city wields in matters like this. You pay what they say!

— George A. Hill

Salisbury