The GOP’s message of Social Darwinism
 

The GOP’s message of Social Darwinism

To the Editor: The 2012 campaign illustrates two oft-quoted maxims: that war is a continuation of politics by other means,…
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Alderman replacement process should be open
 

Alderman replacement process should be open

To the Editor: As a full-time resident of Maggie Valley, I am shocked at the shenanigans taking place in our…
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Some things should not be on public property
 

Some things should not be on public property

To the Editor: While I support the display of the Confederate flag or the Ten Commandments as a means of individual personal…
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Comment

Columnist misguided in supporting Obama
 

Columnist misguided in supporting Obama

To the Editor:  You printed an interesting, however misguided, guest column in the Sept. 5 issue. John Beckman (“Proud to…
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Comment

We must protect religious freedoms
 

We must protect religious freedoms

To the Editor: Some like to claim that ours is a Christian nation. But this was not the intent of…
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Comment

An open door makes for a great elementary school
 

An open door makes for a great elementary school

A trusted friend surprised me the other day. At his child’s elementary school, it had been decided parents should not…
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Comment

GOP war on women is a real problem
 

GOP war on women is a real problem

To the Editor: Believing in the power of women’s votes, here are some facts that we are facing in November.…
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Comment

Those who make most noise aren’t from here
 

Those who make most noise aren’t from here

To the Editor: I find nothing wrong with your article, “Confederates in the attic” (Aug. 29 edition, www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion) unlike certain…
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Comment

Progressive is just new word for traitor
 

Progressive is just new word for traitor

To the Editor: In regards to your column last week, let me make some points.  You wrote: “If someone gets…
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Comment

Proud to be an American ... sort of
 

Proud to be an American ... sort of

Since I was old enough to talk, I’ve been told that being an American was something special, something I could…
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Comment

I don’t share Romney-Ryan vision
 

I don’t share Romney-Ryan vision

To the Editor: This letter is in defense of the work and research done at the Bent Creek Southeastern Forest…
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Comment

We need a conservative leader at this time
 

We need a conservative leader at this time

To the Editor: I acknowledge Martin Dyckman’s well-written letter in the Aug. 15 issue. He challenged my letter (8/8/12) by…
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Comment

Battle flag display should be allowed
 

Battle flag display should be allowed

To the Editor: For many years, it has been the tradition in Haywood County and other Western North Carolina counties…
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Comment

We need dialogue, not accusations
 

We need dialogue, not accusations

To the Editor: I can’t hardly stand to read the letters to the editor anymore. Civil discourse, the backbone of any…
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Comment

I’ve got Confederates in my attic, but let’s get over it
 

I’ve got Confederates in my attic, but let’s get over it

Even though there’s little room for compromise, I’m going to step into the fray. Haywood County commissioners are trying to…
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Comment

Tell Obama the numbers still need to add up
 

Tell Obama the numbers still need to add up

To the Editor: I have always had a problem with numbers, I joke that numbers traumatized me at an early…
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Comment

Letter writer should follow her own advice
 

Letter writer should follow her own advice

To the Editor: A recent area letter writer cautioned us to dig for truth and find facts before we go…
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Comment

League forums are non-partisan events
 

League forums are non-partisan events

To the Editor: Recently, the Macon County League of Women Voters started a membership campaign and in our invitation, we…
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Comment

Davis supporters were not out of line
 

Davis supporters were not out of line

To the Editor: A recent letter to the editor in another newspaper criticized Sen. Jim Davis’ supporters for wearing red…
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Comment

Elect those who support capitalism, free markets
 

Elect those who support capitalism, free markets

To the Editor: Here are some questions that need to be addressed to the people who are leading our country…
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Comment

Intelligent voters need to use their brains
 

Intelligent voters need to use their brains

To the Editor:  I have been out of town so I am late in responding to my neighbor, Joanna Swanson’s…
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Comment

Hospital affiliation may be best chance for survival
 

Hospital affiliation may be best chance for survival

Count me among those who hope the MedWest affiliation between Haywood, Jackson and Swain hospitals survives. Otherwise, I fear none…
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Comment

Letter writers were simply off the mark
 

Letter writers were simply off the mark

To the Editor: A pair of letters in this (last) week’s Smoky Mountain News made me check the calendar to…
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Comment

Let’s restore common sense in November
 

Let’s restore common sense in November

To the Editor: Last Saturday afternoon, Aug. 11, hundreds of people traveled to Jackson County to attend a rally which…
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Comment

We need laws to control loud, dangerous pets
 

We need laws to control loud, dangerous pets

To the Editor: What an ignorant letter (“People, not dogs, are the problem,” Aug. 1, The Smoky Mountain News) written…
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Comment

It’s important to protect the golden goose
 

It’s important to protect the golden goose

To the Editor: As Western North Carolina strives to attract more businesses into this area, a major selling point is…
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Comment

Valid criticism better than false accusations
 

Valid criticism better than false accusations

To the Editor: I have been in such a state of shock over a letter published in your newspaper (“Obama…
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Comment

Raymond Fairchild and a vanishing tradition
 

Raymond Fairchild and a vanishing tradition

By Charles and Cynthia Seeley • Guest Columnists I am a visitor to Maggie Valley. My husband, two friends and…
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Comment

Democrats never met a tax they didn’t like
 

Democrats never met a tax they didn’t like

To the Editor: Both political parties say with a straight face that the other party is to blame for the…
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Comment

GOP is party of those who want to work
 

GOP is party of those who want to work

To the Editor: In answer to the statement made two weeks ago by Lisa Weeks as to why working people…
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Comment

Debt burden will crush main street if unsolved
 

Debt burden will crush main street if unsolved

In his 1961 inaugural address, John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you —…
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Comment

Endowment a fitting legacy for Mib and Phil Medford
 

Endowment a fitting legacy for Mib and Phil Medford

When Lori and I moved to Waynesville with our then 2-year-old daughter Megan, we made a conscious choice to build…
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Comment

Obama wants to limit free speech rights
 

Obama wants to limit free speech rights

To the Editor: Albert Einstein, who was a genius both in mathematics and in understanding human motivation, said the following:…
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Comment

Forest Service should not tear up hillside
 

Forest Service should not tear up hillside

To the Editor: I live at the head of Tilley Creek, where my family has been since the early 1800s,…
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Comment

People, not dogs, are the problem
 

People, not dogs, are the problem

To the Editor: Having read about the dispute of the barking dogs and a push for a county-wide ordinance, I…
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Comment

Affordable Health Care Act is good legislation
 

Affordable Health Care Act is good legislation

To the Editor: Republicans in Raleigh and Washington who want to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act — and those…
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Comment

Barking dogs problem a symptom of a cultural shift
 

Barking dogs problem a symptom of a cultural shift

By John Beckman • Guest Columnist I’ve read the letters regarding the barking dogs issue and the responses from both…
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Comment

Why Obama is not the rich man’s candidate
 

Why Obama is not the rich man’s candidate

To the Editor: It’s hard to understand why working people would ever vote Republican. The Republican Party is the party…
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Comment

Jones does not support barking dog ordinance
 

Jones does not support barking dog ordinance

To the Editor: In a recent interview with David Joy in the Cashiers Crossroads Chronicle regarding a county wide barking…
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Comment

Speak up about Citizens United
 

Speak up about Citizens United

To the Editor: Your readers may be interested to know the result of petitions signed this year by hundreds of…
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Comment

Billions to buy votes without  disclosure is bad policy
 

Billions to buy votes without disclosure is bad policy

To the Editor: There’s a “For Sale” sign in front of your home, but you didn’t put it there. What’s…
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Comment

GOP leaders push unfunded mandate to counties
 

GOP leaders push unfunded mandate to counties

North Carolina’s General Assembly — under the leadership of Republicans for the first time in more than a century— will…
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Comment

Remember – every year is a new year
 

Remember – every year is a new year

So it’s the New Year. The ball has dropped, the parties are all over, your Kool and the Gang album…
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Comment

2008 will be telling year for Cataloochee resort
 

2008 will be telling year for Cataloochee resort

The best news about the proposed Cataloochee Wilderness Resort is that it appears that from here on out, there will…
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Comment

Sales tax is most palatable way to meet HCC’s needs
 

Sales tax is most palatable way to meet HCC’s needs

Haywood Community College needs help, and the community that benefits from this beloved institution is going to step up. The…
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Comment

Wealthy are gaining too much political power
 

Wealthy are gaining too much political power

To the Editor: OccupyWNC, an affiliate of MovetoAmend.com, along with groups all across the United States, has worked diligently to…
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Comment

Obama was in over his head from day one
 

Obama was in over his head from day one

To the Editor: Election time is approaching and we are facing a promise gap. In 2008 when vice presidential candidate…
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Comment

Looking forward to our own Hunger Games
 

Looking forward to our own Hunger Games

To the Editor: Have you heard the latest about our local sportsmen? Well, it’s been reported that three elk were…
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Comment

Can the dream stay alive for another generation?
 

Can the dream stay alive for another generation?

“You know, this is really the only thing I know I’ve wanted to do my whole life.” That was my…
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Comment

Loving guns and badges in Maggie Valley
 

Loving guns and badges in Maggie Valley

To the Editor: Maggie Valley must love the guns, badges and handcuffs. In fact, with Maggie Valley being only about…
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Comment

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