READERS WRITE

Op-ed proves open government is torn in Gwinnett

“Another View: Braves stadium a legitimate investment” (@issue, Sept. 11) about the Gwinnett County stadium underscores the sad state of government by the people, for the people in Georgia. While that opinion piece defends the closed-door actions of the Gwinnett County Commission and the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau, it really confirms that open government is broken in Gwinnett. The stadium may be a worthwhile project, but that is not the point. The point is how Gwinnett should make decisions and how do residents participate in that process.

Two statements in GCVB chairman Richard Tucker’s article are telling. First, he says, “the GCVB … consulted with county leaders throughout the process.” In other words, the GCVB lobbied aggressively behind the scenes to spend taxpayer dollars on its pet project, but the public never had a chance to weigh in on the decisions.

Second, he says, “as for public input, the feasibility study … included significant public opinion research.” In other words (what a coincidence!), private research conducted by those who wanted the stadium confirmed exactly what they wanted to hear.

The stadium may turn out great. But it is far from great to have inside lobbying while the public is kept in the dark, to have selective research substitute for public input, and to have the commission act without any chance for the public to join in the process.

DOUGLAS ABRAMSON

Atlanta

Atlanta officials must get a grip on panhandling

My brother recently attended a convention in Atlanta and he couldn’t believe the extent of the panhandling problem. The incessant —- often aggressive —- begging left him with a palpably negative feeling about our city. The problem seems solvable.

When I travel to New York, Boston and Philadelphia, I’m not besieged with requests for money.

Perhaps the leadership of Atlanta should pick up the phone and ask what policies those cities have enacted to create such a pleasant environment.

MATT DUFFY

Roswell

Liar, liar pants on fire!

Regarding the Mike Luckovich cartoon (@issue, Sept. 12): Are you going to print a cartoon calling Luckovich a liar? He is lying, you know, and you are lying by printing the cartoon.

JIM POSS, Villa Rica

Patriotism waned on Sept. 11 anniversary

Remember the red, white and blue displayed everywhere following Sept. 11, 2001? Cars, clothing items, mailboxes, billboards —- our patriotism was evident everywhere —- but then we returned to being ourselves. How soon we forgot, despite the many promises that we’d never forget. Riding from Duluth to the airport via I-285 and back via I-85 this Sept. 11, ours was the only car we saw flying a flag. Very few buildings had flags lowered to half-staff.

No, we should not wallow in it, but, yes, we should continue to support and respect this huge event in our lives and show some visible signs of remembrance on this day. It made my husband and me sad to see that so few did.

PAT BRANNON, Duluth

Who sees gray and who sees black and white?

Reading Thomas Sowell’s explanation of the causes of the muddle-headedness of us liberals has left me even more muddle-headed than he thinks I am (“Lack of experience veers kids to the left,” @issue, Sept. 11).

First, he attributes our hopes for a better world to our youth and inexperience. He seems to feel that in our idealism we see only black and white and haven’t learned the sophisticated complexities that reality forces upon people, enabling them to perceive the many shades of gray that conservatives do.

He also condemns our liberal bias toward academia and education, which he believes fosters in us a dangerous naivete toward the workings of the real world. His explanations about how discussing world problems with other nations (addressing gray areas) has never worked and how war has always been the only answer seem to contradict his earlier assertion that just we liberals don’t have the maturity to deal with gray areas.

With 80 years and a lifetime of reading, education and reflection behind me, I’m afraid it’s too late for me to grasp these subtle pontifications on the real meaning of liberalism. Perhaps I should just compose an essay about the platform of conservatives. I have a slightly different take on who sees in black and white and who sees in gray.

BARBARA RIVES

Stone Mountain

 Mike Luckovich editorial cartoon. This is a satire of republican vice-presidential candidate Sararh Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere.