“The good news is that there are many local, national and international groups that are open, alive and thriving, resisting inequality, consumerism, racism, militarism and passivity by using their hearts and minds.”
Tag: Democracy
Showing 1-21 of 30 results
Year in Review: Readers shared opinions on growth, environment, homelessness and more
Readers had a lot to say in 2022 about a host of local issues — from our region’s growth and development to the environment, homelessness and more.
Letter: Who is really protecting our rights, voice and future?
“I am an independent voter, and I don’t feel the Democrats or the Republicans represent my voice, protect anyone’s rights or anyone’s future.”
Letter: We need truly local news
“Our lives in this democratic country do not exist in a void, and we need to know about the institutions that provide essential services and a safe, livable environment — like government, schools and hospitals.”
Letter: Vote for Democratic candidates who share our values
“Regarding the midterm elections, it is essential that we choose candidates who share our values. Do you want a party in control that wants to destroy our democracy or do you want a party that wants to maintain our democracy?”
Letter: Inform ourselves of the good in the world
“I’m motivated to share my reflections on the oneness of the people present, which represented pluralism in America; our togetherness reflected we were ‘all one’ when celebrating what matters in life.”
Letter: Act together with kindness to deal with changing world
“Local nonviolent demonstrators consciously act to bring out the best in people while attempting to educate and expose inequality and injustice.”
Letter: Saving the city’s participatory democracy
“We believe that this extreme attempt at dismantling this worthwhile system … will result in a less inclusive, less transparent, top-down form of governance that’s not in the public’s best interest.”
Letter: Democracy calls for public meetings
” If City Council is loyal and controlled by Putin or sidekick Trump, then ‘check-in’ is the way to go.”
Letter: You must participate in our democracy
“Local groups such as Resist Raytheon and the Veterans for Peace support good-paying jobs and the defense of our country, along with the hope that informed citizens will recognize the military industrial complex and the trillions of dollars spent on wars that corrupt the democratic American dream.”
Letter: To live up to Asheville’s reputation, don’t close library
“Denying citizens a local library would make Asheville seem yet more crass, mercenary and indifferent to the population, especially those not blessed with lots of free time, ready transportation, internet benefits and the like.”
Letter: Meaningful change can start with alternative education
“Early childhood education offers a better model of learning that honors and develops the whole human, but in later grades, schooling is equipped for an industrial world that no longer exists.”
Letter: With libraries (and other projects), start with the people
“Stop building things from the top down! Start with a foundation! The foundation of a district is its people.”
Letter: How can democracy work without public schools?
“The schools may need help, better-educated teachers, more money for students in every district, not just one’s own, but without some commonly accepted knowledge, how will our nation survive?”
Letter: We need creative responses to transform our institutions
“I believe preschool and primary grades of schooling are more attuned to children’s needs, but after that, the schools are geared more to fitting children into our dysfunctional and polarized society.”
Letter: Fourth Estate steps up for open meetings
“If our elected representatives find it too time-consuming or inconvenient to listen to their citizenry, they should resign — or not have run for public responsibility initially.”
Letter: Participate at local level, where change happens
“Depending on your situation, choose a specific activity to do your little part to make our part of the world a bit better.”
Letter: Urge leaders to defend our democracy
“Send a message asking for every vote to be counted to every elected official you can think of.”
Letter: Advocate for fair districts reform
“[W]e cannot afford to lose representation for hard-to-count communities that are often already disenfranchised in our electoral system.”
Letter: Dare to vote
“This means that Super Tuesday’s results, your vote, may very well decide whether we have candidates who have the wisdom to preserve civilization or send it tumbling into violent, freedom-less, ecologically demolished chaos.”
Letter: Reclaim our rights as voters
“Let your state senator and representative, plus Tim Moore, speaker of the House, and Phil Berger, president pro tem of the Senate, know you support fair redistricts (vote411.org provides contact info).”