READERS WRITE

Not new: Lawyers for homeless people

In response to the article “Homeless need lawyers, too” (Metro, Sept. 5): This is true but not a new concept. Twenty-five years ago, a group of concerned attorneys founded the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless. The center has provided free, quality civil legal services to homeless individuals and families ever since. By removing legal barriers to housing, employment and social service benefits, the center has helped thousands move toward self-sufficiency.

The permanent staff of attorneys and paralegal advocates collaborates with homeless agencies in metro Atlanta, including shelters, other legal service providers and social service agencies. The homeless do need lawyers, but agencies in Atlanta, including the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless, are already at the front lines.

SELAM YOHANNES, Atlanta

Unethical practices sicken health care

The article regarding Atlanta area hospitals dumping uninsured patients on Grady Hospital underscores the unethical and illegal medical/business practices that plague our health care system (“Grady to hospitals: Do ‘fair share’,” Page One, Sept. 6).

Some industries are too important to the well-being of the American people to be managed by the private sector. Health care is one. For-profit corporations are responsible to their stockholders to make a profit. This is their No. 1 priority and it does not well serve the public.

Clearly our health care system is broken. It is time elected leaders at all levels recognize this and make a commitment to the American people to fix the problem. In so doing they must find the strength to remove powerful special-interest groups from the decision-making.

Now is the time to put the American taxpayer first. After all, don’t we ultimately pay the bills?

DAVID BROWNING, Peachtree City

Stuck at the intersection of sympathy and reality

I live in a metro suburban county. Yesterday evening on our way to a local eatery, my wife and I waited impatiently for our turn to negotiate one of our many heavily congested intersections. There’s a traffic signal there, but no turn lanes, which greatly exacerbates the morning and evening commutes. This intersection has been congested for well over 20 years.

My wife professed her sympathy for all these poor souls waiting for their chance to get home to their families and supper.

“No need to feel sorry for them, my dear,” I replied. “If you were to walk from car to car asking each driver if they would be willing to pay extra taxes in order to improve the intersection, nine out of 10 would say ‘Absolutely not!’ “

BIRNEY A. MONTCALM, Douglasville

Culture war of liberals’ making

My thanks to Jim Wooten for his column (“Our values reflected in those of Palin,” @issue, Sept. 7). It is refreshing to read such a down-to-earth article that reflects the way most Americans live their lives and shows that Sarah Palin is in touch with them. The majority of voters are impressed with her.

We have on the same page a column by Cynthia Tucker that attacks Palin for no reason except she is conservative (“McCain relies on his image, avoids issues,” @issue, Sept. 7). The culture war that Tucker refers to is of the liberals’ making. For years liberals have been working to destroy the values that have made our country unique. I hope Palin, in addition to her duties as vice president, can help stop this erosion.

JAMES MARTIN, Marietta

Just a dream? ‘Come on, Mike’

Each morning I open the editorial pages of the AJC waiting and hoping for the impossible. Will it be here today? Maybe, possibly? Will Mike Luckovich attack someone other than Sen. John McCain or Gov. Sarah Palin? Yes, he does throw in the occasional worn-out jabs at President Bush, but most days the subject will be the Republican ticket.

I realize that Luckovich’s liberal leanings prevent him from finding any fault with Saint Obama. I realize that his membership card in the Church of Holy Socialism could be jeopardized should he stray from the Democratic dogma. But come on, Mike, take a chance.

BEN THROWER, Dunwoody