Opinion
Don’t disrespect the word ‘faith’
To the Editor:
It is not about policy. It is not about politics. It is not about being a Democrat, Republican or independent. It is not about being progressive, conservative or moderate. It is about faith.
Whatley doing nothing for WNC
To the Editor:
Michael Whatley was appointed by the President to lead WNC’s Helene recovery efforts, but as of Aug. 29 — as reported in an article in The Smoky Mountain News on Aug. 27 — he hasn’t been seen in WNC since January. He’s found time to attend just two meetings for his appointed role with FEMA.
So this is saving democracy?
To the Editor:
Recently, Democratic strategist James Carville urged Democrats to add two states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., to give us 52 states when Democrats “get back in power.” He also suggested that the Democrats “pack the Supreme Court” after the 2028 election.
‘High vibe’ is the truest way forward
There are people who elevate the energy in a room and those who deflate it. Some folks radiate joy and positivity while others seem to always emit negativity or bitterness. The magical part is that we all have the free will to change, to completely shift our vibration from low to high, and by doing that, we not only impact our own lives, but also those around us.
We have to fix Social Security
To the Editor:
AARP recently sent out an email with this message:
“Social Security will continue to give people the full amount of money they’ve earned in the next several years. However, payments may be reduced by about 20% if Congress doesn’t act by 2034, according to the Social Security Board of Trustees’ latest report.
Helping those still struggling
To the Editor:
Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina is still in the thick of a housing crisis. Families who once had steady jobs are now living paycheck to paycheck, one unexpected setback away from losing their homes.
Ethics training can be worthwhile
To the Editor:
It was reported in The Smoky Mountain News on Aug. 5 that Jackson County Commissioner John Smith’s completion of a statutorily required ethics training within a year of being elected was in question.
Tit-for-tat gerrymandering wars won’t end soon
Congressional redistricting — the process of drawing electoral districts to account for population changes — was conceived by the Founding Fathers as a once-per-decade redrawing of district lines following the decennial U.S. census.
This ex-Republican fears for the future
To the Editor:
In the 2024 Presidential race, 49.8% of the votes went to Donald J. Trump, who promised to reduce the costs of consumer goods, end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and fix our immigration crisis.
