To the Editor:

North Carolina is now a state role model — a model for what will happen when a state (and possibly the country) is completely controlled by Republicans. Unemployment benefits will be curtailed, and public education will be reduced and eventually eliminated as taxpayers pay for private and religious education. The arrogant and liberal cities will have their power diminished and be controlled by the state, which will strip them of utility functions like water and airports and infrastructure improvement. Environmental controls will be eliminated and financial regulations will cease. Taxes will be reduced and replaced by taxes on services and Social Security income such that the wealthy and corporations will profit and the rest will pay more. Voting will be curtailed so that minorities, seniors, and college students will have major hurdles to overcome. The state will have as its underlying message that the wealthy and the corporate connected are welcome; the middle- and working-class, minorities, LGBT people and even women who care about controlling their bodies are not welcome. And, possibly, a state religion will be determined.

And that is the Republican view of less government. Indeed, it is a perfect vision of a Third World country with a state-sanctioned religion.

Gary Soldow

Asheville