THE READERS' FORUMThe Readers' Forum: Why do many evangelicals support Donald Trump? The Readers' Forum: Why do many evangelicals support Donald Trump?

THE READERS' FORUM

Addicted to Trump?

Why do many evangelicals support Donald Trump?

The answer is as old as the Old Testament story of Esau selling his birthright for a quick fix and as new as a drug addict looking for a similarly quick fix. To get immediate political results they were willing to sell their birthright to Trump.

Other Republicans could have delivered the same results without all the baggage. What was cost?

Supporting one who:

Bragged about groping women, claiming they liked it.Made a payment to a porn star to keep her quiet about his affairs with her.Had numerous affairs through three marriages.Was found liable by a jury and fined for sexual abuse.Encouraged protesters to go to the Capitol building in an attempt to block election certification and watched the massive violence on television for four hours before finally asking them to go home (five died, including one police officer).Asked the Proud Boys, a racist group, to "stand by" and then called them into action, encouraging them to "Fight like hell" on Jan. 6..And continues to lie about the 2020 election results, though some of his inner circle have testified that he knows better.

For Republicans there are many qualified candidates who do not carry such moral sewage. Why would evangelicals continue to sell their birthright even now? Perhaps they are so used to feeding at the pig trough that, like a drug addict, they do not know how to get free.

I consider myself an evangelical. I will not sell my birthright.

Gary Benesh

North Wilkesboro

'Unaffiliated' voters

The filing period for all 2024 elections in North Carolina is underway with primary Election Day on March 5, 2024. What does this mean for the "unaffiliated" voter who represent 33% of registered voters statewide (and in Forsyth County).

Why are so many registered voters in North Carolina unaffiliated? Is it because we don't blindly support the dogma of either major political party? Are we willing to look at individual candidates based upon their own merits before we consider their party membership?

The unaffiliated voter in this state determines the outcome of all local, state and national elections here. All candidates must come to us in order to win. The unaffiliated have shown that we can vote on Election Day for candidates from different parties.

Unfortunately, we are forced to select either the Democratic or Republican party ballot during primary voting if we want to exercise our constitutional rights. Usually this means selecting a party ballot in the primary because there is only one particular race that carries more importance to us, individually, than any other race.

Proposal: Since the Republicans and Democrats must come to us to win, let's demand open, nonpartisan voting for all elections, both primaries and general. (Yes, we get to select from all candidates in general elections, but it is not the same.)

Tell all candidates for local, state and national office that they must publicly endorse and support open, nonpartisan elections across the board Or they get no support from the unaffiliated.

David Botchin

Winston-Salem

Green in 2 ways

In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrenhius predicted that CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels would cause global warming. To my knowledge Arrenhius was neither woke nor did he own stock in Tesla; he was just a scientist. Since Arrenhius made his prediction, lots of CO2 from burning fossil fuels has been dumped in the atmosphere and temperatures have been rising.

On Nov. 30, the U.N. weather agency said that 2023 will almost certainly be the hottest year on record, which will make the past 10 years the hottest on record.

Some politicians and fossil fuel companies keep telling us that reducing fossil fuel emissions will hurt the economy. Unlike Arrenhius, who had no vested interest in hurting or helping the fossil fuel industry, those politicians and fossil fuel companies have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and might be lying.

In reality, not reducing the emissions that are warming the planet and altering the climate will hurt the economy. We're seeing it now with increased property insurance rates, up 22% in North Carolina in the past year, and from increased health costs caused by pollution and climate-related stress. The reinsurer Swiss Re estimates that by 2050 climate change will cause the U.S. Gross Domestic Product to drop by about 7%.

Contrary to doomsaying politicians and fossil fuel companies, transitioning to clean energy will be good for the economy by creating new jobs and reducing the risk caused by climate change.

Bill Blancato

Winston-Salem