READERS WRITE

Who’s right in the protectionists vs. free traders debate?

Trade deficits are a major part of our economic problem, but there is disagreement about whether protection or free trade is better. Manufactured items provide millions of well-paid jobs and our factories are essential to build weapons for national defense (without our factories, we would have lost World War II). However, the import of “everything else” (e.g., farm products and raw materials), with few jobs at stake, helps consumers more than it hurts workers. Also, non-manufactured imports do not hurt our defense capability.

Protectionists are right when they advocate tariffs on manufactured imports (before 1946, these tariffs were seldom less than 30 percent). Free traders are equally right when they oppose tariffs for “everything else.”

JACK GREGG

Sandy Springs

Let voters decide on Congress’ salary

If Congress wants to decide what executives of corporations can be paid, why not let voters decide on what Congress gets paid?

Maybe then they wouldn’t have gotten a pay increase or special health insurance benefits or lobbyist gifts or…

DON MEMBERG

Chamblee

GM, Wall Street evidence of class war

Wall Street mavens are being handed trillions, no strings attached, just to please, pretty please, not pull the rug out from under the economy. On the other hand, for a few billion, GM is being forced to commit seppuku and go into bankruptcy.

Why the disparity? Well, there are no unions on Wall Street. Placing GM into bankruptcy will force or allow them to scrape off unions and ditch many of their obligations to retired workers. Plainly, the difference is that Wall Street is on the winning side of the 30-year-long class war.

DEAN POIRIER

Duluth

People, not palace, should be priority

I couldn’t agree more with the astute observation from George Louie Brogdon IV (“I love God, not church greed,” @issue, April 1). For those of us who want priority put on the people of God rather than the palace of God, his point was well taken.

How many denominations or congregations can relate to this message: We’re forever in a building drive, or a reduce-the-debt-drive, brought on by recent expansion? More than one sage has stated wisely that when clergy succumb to an “ediface complex,” they cease being effective moral leaders. It’s something to think about at a time when we yearn for spiritual direction.

SALLY McDONALD

Chamblee

Responses to “Domestic Violence: Two Atlantans Share Stories,” @issue, April 1.

Teach teens to avoid abusive relationships

I applaud Angela Tuck for publicly sharing her personal story and Yolo Akili at Men Stopping Violence for stressing the importance of men holding other men accountable for their violent behavior against women. But what the Chris Brown and Rihanna story also reveals is that our teens and young adults accept abusive behavior in relationships as normal. There are resources available for adult survivors but rarely are there enough resources for teens, and yet teen dating violence is reaching alarming rates. One in three high school students has been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. Thirty percent of all homicides against teenage girls are committed by their male partners. Partnership Against Domestic Violence believes it’s critical to reach preteens and teens while they are still forming their attitudes about dating. With education, patterns of abuse can be avoided before they become learned and ingrained.

CATHY WILLIS SPRAETZ

Spraetz is president and CEO of Partnership Against Domestic Violence in Atlanta.

Formula can change destructive behavior

In his article on men stopping violence, Yolo Akili provides a model for anyone seeking to change destructive behavior. The formula is take responsibility for your actions, be aware of the darkness in your own soul which seeks to control, be in community with others who will provide a container for your work and do some piece of the work every day.

This formula stands in contrast to blaming others, denying your destructive potential, hiding from others and yourself, and distracting yourself with activities to avoid facing the problem. Traveling down the road that Akili is on is painful, sometimes lonely, and deeply rewarding and soul-satisfying. I want to thank and commend Akili and others for resolving to grow into mature men of depth and character.

DARBY CHRISTOPHER

Dunwoody