READERS WRITE

More freight by rail a positive change

Congress and the president have another chance to stimulate our faltering economy and there is at least one sure thing they can do to create jobs in the short term while also building the infrastructure for long-term economic success. Legislation has been pending for some time that would use tax incentives to encourage expansion of our freight rail system.

Because freight rail projects can get up and running quickly, the job creation and economic stimulus benefits would be almost immediate. But it is the long-term fuel efficiency and cost effectiveness of trains that make this such a good idea. More freight moving by rail would save fuel and mean less cargo clogging the highways. That’s change we can all believe in.

KELLIE COCHRAN, Ellenwood

Fair Tax scheme is anything but fair

The headline in the Monday paper stated that the FairTax is going to be an issue in the upcoming runoff election (“Fair tax grows as an issue in runoff,” Page 1, Nov. 17). If that is the case, then Jim Martin is going to win in a landslide. As more people find out about the real implications of the Fair Tax, they will realize that it is anything but fair.

The middle class will not benefit from this proposed scheme. The true tax rate will be higher than the advertised rate and it will be added to mortgage payments, rents, utility bills and food.

Proponents of the Fair Tax gloss over those taxable items as well as the fact that the state income tax and sales tax will not go away. The only people who would benefit from this radical change in taxation will be the traditional constituencies of the Republican Party, big business and the wealthy.

MIKE HAREMSKI, Tucker

Luckovich’s GOP bashing has gotten old

Poor Mike Luckovich is quickly becoming obsolete and irrelevant. We’ve got a new president-elect and vice president, but Luckovich keeps sticking to the same old themes (bashing Republicans). You’d think someone working for a newspaper would be more up to date on current events.

GARY SENESAC, Cumming

Universal health care would lead where?

Sunday’s headline, “Fulton wasted HUD’s money” (Page 1, Nov. 16), is about as earth-shaking as one proclaiming “Scientists say Earth is not flat.” Since HUD was created over 40 years ago as part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, untold millions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled into poorly managed coffers only to disappear into an insatiable, bureaucratic black hole with little return on the dollar. I can only imagine a similar well-intentioned, government-run, universal health care system.

DAN COWLES, Cumming

A life with blinders must be comforting

When I read the recent spate of letters bemoaning the “eight long years of non-stop criticism” (“Bush deserved a call for unity,” @issue, Nov. 16) that President Bush has endured I do not know whether to laugh or cry. I’m not sure if these people are deluding themselves or were out of the country for much of this administration.

After the horrible attacks of 9/11, this country, including almost every single Democrat, united behind the president like no time since the Second World War. The mainstream media rallied behind him as well. Unfortunately, this president squandered the good will he had on a war of choice and poor economic decisions.

The truth is, President Bush had a long period (three-plus years) of little if any criticism. What is ironic is that these same writers so concerned with the negativity shown Bush completely ignore eight years and tens of millions of dollars spent by the Republicans trying to destroy Bill Clinton over a personal issue. Going through life with blinders on must be terribly comforting.

RICHARD PRIMUTH, Carrollton

Big Three need our immediate help

I pray that we never enter into another world war. However, should the unthinkable occur, I’m not so sure BMW, Mercedes, Kia and Hyundai would readily open their Southeastern-based assembly lines to help the war effort. Maybe China would help us?

Based on providing for our national security, the Big Three need our help now!

ROBERT L. CONOVER, Marietta