A modest proposal for Medicare

By Steven Wall • Guest Columnist | With so much division in our country, and some  folks even losing faith…
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Madison Cawthorn needs to go

To the Editor: For weeks leading into the insurrection and ransacking of our Capitol on Jan. 6, Madison Cawthorn’s words…
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Facts, compassion are important

To the Editor: Humanity has a universal propensity for lies and distortions, and Trump-supporting extremists ruled by reality-free ideas are…
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Despite claims, truth does matter

To the Editor: I always enjoy the illuminating letters from Carol Adams. Her most recent (last week’s Smoky Mountain News, www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/30705)…
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We must learn to protect the earth

To the Editor: In the aftermath of recent events in our nation’s Capitol, we are still reeling in shock, disbelief…
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It is a steep hill we climb

Last Wednesday was a day women have been waiting for, working for, speaking out of turn for, making trouble for…
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Lessons learned from Larry King

Growing up I wasn’t a fan of Larry King. As a little girl in the 1980s, I was more concerned…
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Spend county money compassionately

To the Editor: Our Haywood county government is planning to build a new jail at a cost of over $14…
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Trump was 1000 percent correct

To the Editor: Checking a track record, a review of past performance, is a good way to determine a decision…
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Vaccination process was smooth, uplifting

To the Editor: Today, January 21, I received my first Covid-19 vaccine shot administered by the Haywood County Health Department…
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Thankful for dad’s vaccination process

To the Editor: My 89-year-old dad got his first COVID vaccine this afternoon.
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For at least a while, all the noise stopped

Short escapes from all of the noise coming from everywhere are so refreshing, so worthwhile.  The holidays were a fantastic…
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Counties should loosen pursestrings

To the Editor: It is totally baffling. At a time when the pandemic is pretty much out of control, vaccines…
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No time to glorify dying for lost causes

To the Editor: Barely a week after the violent and deadly attack on our nation’s capital by domestic terrorists, The…
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A ray of hope for me and others

To the Editor: A ray of hope has appeared in a strange but clear way over the past number of…
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Seek truth, don’t just point and shout

To the Editor: Who is going to make a difference? Who’s going to clean up the mess this GOP administration…
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Let a court decide Cawthorn’s accusations

To the Editor: In your article, “Words matter: Rhetoric became rage in D.C. insurrection,” Rep. Madison Cawthorn admits that he…
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People must be held accountable

To the Editor: Let’s look at the definitions. Sedition: “conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a…
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Just remember, this too shall pass

I recently saw a funny political sign that said, “Presidents are temporary, Grateful Dead is forever.” Did you know that…
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Scrapping Electoral College could stop a tyrant

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist | During the Spanish Civil War, which the Fascists won, one of their generals…
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Cawthorn is off to a bad start

To the Editor: As one of Mr. Madison Cawthorn’s constituents in the 11th District, I wish to inform him that…
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Are fixed-period pardons legal?

To the Editor: In 1974 Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he committed,…
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Public rhetoric should prompt removal

By Jesse Lee Dunlap • Guest Columnist | As someone whose politics are centered on bodily autonomy, I sympathize with…
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Nowhere to go but forward into 2021

This year has prompted a reckoning unlike any in memory, so we’re all looking to put a bow on 2020…
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A promise to keep on keepin’ on

How does one best express gratitude? That thought kept coming up as I sat down to write a column for…
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Freedom isn’t free

By Heather Hyatt Packer • Guest Columnist | There’s a lot of discussion about freedom, rights and patriotism when discussing…
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After Trump, table is set for dictator

To the Editor: “Incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government, or any action (especially in speech or writing) promoting such…
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Cawthorn’s judgement should worry us

To the Editor: I am worried. Our newly elected congressman Madison Cawthorn contests what he has tweeted about as the…
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Folkmoot’s future is in good hands

To the Editor: Arts organizations have had an extraordinarily challenging time during the pandemic, and it’s been no different for…
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Keep hope alive in the new year

In February 2020, I was in New York City attending a children’s book writing conference. My boyfriend attended the conference…
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History will treat Trump enablers badly

To the Editor: Republicans seem to have given up on our Constitution and democracy. Instead, they have opted to follow…
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Remove Presson from Healthcare Foundation

To the Editor: Your recent report about Waynesville’s Emergency Ordinance (“Waynesville passes State of Emergency ordinance”) includes a description of Janet…
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The caring spirit was remarkable in 2020

To the Editor: I recently read an article that asked, “What will be your story of 2020?” I’ve since given…
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I was watched over by angels

To the Editor: I wanted to let everyone know what an amazing medical community we are fortunate enough to live…
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Cawthorn shows ignorance on current issues

By Erick Mendez • Guest Columnist | According to the U.S. House records, at 25 years old, Madison Cawthorn —…
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Thanks to all the election volunteers

To the Editor: With the most contentious presidential election in modern American history coming to a close, there is enough…
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You only get to do this once

 “… one of the most significant facts about us may finally be that we all begin with the natural equipment…
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The human component makes the difference

Apple was once a small business that was started in a garage by two college dropouts. It was the pipe…
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Taking the side of WNC’s citizens

To the Editor: Please allow me a moment to respond to last week’s op-ed by Patrick Gleason “Local government-run broadband a…
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I am afraid history is repeating itself

To the Editor: I have always  been a history buff. It was my major in college. I studied WWII in great…
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Please give and help fight cancer

To the Editor: This is in response to your article: “DA undergoes breast cancer treatment,” concerning our elected/head District Attorney,…
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Capitalism married socialism long ago!

To the Editor: IF socialism is: “any of various theories or systems of the ownership and operation of the means…
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Local government-run broadband a bad idea

By Patrick Gleason • Guest Columnist | In times like these, with public resources scarce and taxpayer dollars facing tremendous…
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Standardized testing in a non-standard time

To the Editor: As a public middle school teacher in the great state of North Carolina, I could expound for…
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Trump just keeps money rolling in

To the Editor: All the hype about President Donald Trump claiming voter fraud and the Rudy Giuliani’s traveling legal circus…
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Presidential pardons not handed out lightly

To the Editor: It seems that Ali Baba Don intends to pardon his 40 thieves. 
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Please adhere to safety protocols

To the Editor: Doctors across America are literally begging people to mask, maintain safe distances, avoid large and small gatherings,…
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I like calling North Carolina home

When the Lyft driver asked where we were from, our answer was, “outside Asheville, in the mountains.” His reply: “Wow,…
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