Democrats must count all votes

In 2000, Democrats nationwide were outraged that the Republican machine, all the way to their majority on the Supreme Court, stopped counting Florida's votes and handed Bush the presidency. What a difference eight years makes.

Now the Democratic machine, led by Howard Dean, is refusing to count the votes of not only Florida but Michigan in order to hand the nomination to Obama. I can live with either Clinton or Obama as the Democratic nominee just as long as all the votes cast in primaries held by all 50 state governments are counted. Whoever actually wins, wins.

What I cannot stomach is skewing the primary for either Clinton or Obama by giving any state less than its legally certified vote counts and number of delegates. The Democratic Party has always stood for counting all the votes. Will the real Democrats please stand up?

LINDA EDMONDS

Decatur

Ranks of working poor are growing

One in 11 Americans is on food stamps, but the vast majority are not sitting around the house watching TV, as a letter writer suggests ("Pride's out the window in America," @issue, May 23).

Instead, the reality is that these are the "working poor" in our society. Ever see the Bush campaign appearance in which he remarked to a woman working three jobs how uniquely American that was? What happened to being able to properly provide for your family on one 40-hour workweek?

Good jobs have shrunk in the last few years, along with work force protections. Hourly wages have not grown, and more people are working as independent contractors or for temporary-help agencies, with no benefits. Meanwhile, rising costs of food, gas and health care have affected family budgets in all but the top echelons. We should be ashamed that in this, the richest country in the history of the planet, we have children going to bed hungry and parents —- single or otherwise —- pulling their hair out with worry about the future.

DAVID RICHARDSON

Sandy Springs

14th Street bridge needs bike lanes

I was appalled to read that bike lanes were considered for the new bridge but not approved ("14th Street bridge detour," Metro, May 26). What is the DOT thinking? In these days of soaring gas prices, we need alternative ways of transportation. Biking is one, especially for city dwellers.

The only reason I can think of is cost savings on the bridge itself. This is very shortsighted. Can it be changed even at this late date? Bike lanes are a part of the 17th Street bridge.

LAUREN PANETTA

Atlanta

Article spells out Title IX's importance

Thank you, AJC and Michelle Hiskey, for front-page coverage of the Atlanta Dream basketball team and Marynell Meadors ("Atlanta coach ready for home opener," Page One, May 23). Your article highlighted not only the team, but also the history of female sports and why Title IX has been so important in so many lives.

The American Association of University Women has been a staunch supporter of Title IX from the beginning. Your article gives us "heart" for continuing to monitor its progress. I hope it will encourage others to be diligent in making sure we do not slide backward in offering women a hand up through sports, as we do for men. Keep the Dream Alive in more ways than one!

CAROL STEPHENS

Stephens is president of the AAUW, Cobb.