READERS WRITE

Only keep laws people never break

At first I thought state Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Sandy Springs) was just pushing another scheme to lower taxes on the rich (“HB 480 removes state’s perpetual lien on vehicles,” @issue, March 31). Then I read his comment that some Georgians register vehicles out of state to avoid paying Georgia’s ad valorum tax. He claims this “shows it is an oppressive and unfair tax.”

In other words, if people break a law, it must be unjust.

Is Geisinger willing to apply that to drugs, immigration, teenage drinking and running red lights? Why stop there? Let’s only keep laws people never break. We can then eliminate the criminal courts, the police and the penal system. Think of the savings! Finally, once the General Assembly has revoked all the old laws, we can dissolve that branch of government altogether.

LEN REED

Duluth

Formula for growing government revealed

Regarding the letter “Crisis excuse for government expansion” (@issue, March 31):

Duhhhh. Here’s how it works:

Government + woes = government expansion.

I’m pretty sure this formula is universal and I know for a fact I have a part in financing it.

ANDY AHRENS

Powder Springs

Were politicians posing as conservatives?

Most suburban government office holders are Republicans, from school boards to county commissioners to city councils. The vast majority of these local officials are at odds with their Republican state representatives and senators regarding tax legislation clearly designed to centralize power under the Gold Dome. Some of the bills would shift taxes from the well-off to the less well-off, a telling sign that the rich and powerful are calling the shots. The wording on the ballots won’t tell voters the whole story, of course, and uninformed voters will most certainly enact the bills.

Conservative ideology has long held that smaller government is more efficient and responsive than bigger government. Many of these politicians we elected must have been masquerading as conservatives, as they really like the idea of a big central government with power in the hands of a few.

BIRNEY A. MONTCALM

Douglasville

Writer correct on worship service

George Louis Brogdon IV’s opinion column (“I love God, not church greed,” @issue, April 1) is commended. He is logical. He reasons well from his experience. I am a retired Methodist minister with 50 years of service. I agree that worship services should not be used to raise money. But they include instruction in responsible stewardship.

Hungry and homeless people need care today! But God also has long-term intentions of social change for the good of all people. Those need our work as well as people’s immediate needs. I have led three congregations in building programs. Buildings can be educational and evangelistic tools for long-term divine intentions. I believe I served God faithfully in the manner those programs were explained and promoted.

QUENTIN L. HAND

Loganville

Billboards ruin view during drive

Thank you for the opinion by Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Fulton County) and Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-DeKalb). As the nation tries to conserve forests and stop the destruction of the environment, the Georgia Legislature considers letting the billboard industry destroy what is left of nature along Georgia’s highways by hideous clear cutting. Are there not enough distractions already along our overcrowded highways?

Billboards are eyesores that need to be strictly limited.

Our trees are one of Georgia’s most precious assets and should not be sacrificed to the greed of an industry that shows only contempt for those of us who drive and who love the Georgia landscape.

We should go out of our way to boycott businesses that advertise on billboards that require damage to the scenic trees and views of our fine state.

JACK MILLER, Atlanta

Responses to “Anti-immigrant view hurts state,” @issue, April 1.

Knowledge of English needed to drive

I live in Georgia where we speak English. While driving my car I encounter all kinds of signs like stop, yield, road construction ahead, merge and on and on. Yet there are actually people lobbying against the requirement of knowing English to drive a car.

Maybe we should take down all the road signs and let it be like the Wild West and floor it when you see any signs of traffic in front of you. Oh yes, don’t forget to say a few Hail Marys, in any language you want.

PATRICIA BLOESER

Duluth

Immigrants, illegal aliens not the same

Jerry Gonzalez rambles on about how this state’s politicos are so “anti-immigrant.” The failure of Gonzalez’s argument is that immigrant and illegal aliens are treated as equals.

True immigrants follow a defined legal process for entry into the United States, one that hopefully leads to permanent citizenship. Illegal aliens sneak into the country and after a period of time demand amnesty and hopefully citizenship. In short, they ask to be rewarded for breaking the laws of the country in which they seek citizenship.

Finally, it is true that in the recent boom years many illegals performed a vital labor function, especially in the Atlanta area. But things have changed dramatically in recent months. Now, even Americans have become willing to become migrant laborers.

STAN CITRON

Atlanta