MILITARYService gives back 
to those who serveOn Veterans Day, I reflected with pride on my military service to my country. It occurred to me, however, that I had also received much from the military. Many opportunities resulted from a decision I made in 1961.

EMPLOYMENTDiscomfort with others no reason to break lawGeorgia legislative counsel Sewell Brumby is uncomfortable about working with a transgender person (“Hired as a man; fired as a woman,” Metro, Nov. 9). Change seems to frighten him. But, since when is feeling uncomfortable about change a justifiable reason for skirting civil and moral law?In 1863, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which made many people uncomfortable.

EMPLOYMENTTransgender firing 
is unAmericanRe “Hired as a man; fired as a woman” (Metro, Nov. 9): I’m a 61-year-old white, male heterosexual. I know no transgender people. That said, I find the firing of Vandy Beth Glenn for any reason other than professional incompetence deplorable, and an affront to all who more than superficially value the basic tenets of American democracy.

MILITARYRemember America’s troops, past and presentAs a proud Desert Storm veteran, I find it tragic that so many of my fellow Americans view Nov. 11 as just another day off work. I lost friends as a result of Vietnam, and I made a promise to their families that they would never, ever be forgotten.

CARTOONLuckovich clearly feels drawn to ObamaRe Opinion, Nov. 6: Has anyone else noticed that Mike Luckovich seems incapable of a political cartoon that in any way takes aim at the Obama administration and his policies?No one is laughing at the health care debate, and a more realistic image would be the couple sitting on the couch with fear in their expressions at the Democratic health care plan, and the prospect of our government controlling yet another portion of our lives.

RLee: Educators are not babysitters. It is the teacher’s job to educate students. I am sure this decision was made based on what is best for students educationally, not because teachers want more days off.

Please explain: Someone please explain to me what exactly is so horrible about going back to school the first week of August.

TRANSPORTATIONResponse to “State dumps its toll road partnership.” Metro, Nov. 3

Our state Department of Transportation has demonstrated ineptitude in performing basic responsibilities, and in finding transportation solutions that efficiently benefit Georgia’s citizens.

NUCLEAR ENERGYLook at what’s involved in reprocessing wasteRe “Funds for nuclear reprocessing sit idle as energy needs grow” (Opinion, Nov. 3): I think one needs to look at what is involved in reprocessing (not recycling) nuclear waste. Reprocessing actually creates high-level radioactive liquid and sludge that need to be managed as more high-level radioactive waste.

HEALTH CAREMedicare patients suffer from rationing nowMedical rationing is already here for Medicare subscribers, and my father is a victim of this rationing. He is taking chemotherapy, and is denied the drug that treats anemia caused by his chemo. The chemo makes him nauseous and tired.

CIVIL RIGHTSCracker Barrel impedes our nation’s equalityIn an AJC op-ed (“Diversity is crucial to our business,” Opinion, Oct. 29), Cracker Barrel’s president and CEO Michael Woodhouse called the hate-crime beating of Tasha Hill an “altercation” that led to a “spirited debate over race relations.

ECONOMYLukewarm won’t do here in ‘Hotlanta’Let’s put the “Hot” back into “Hotlanta.” Want to get young people to the polls? Find a mayoral candidate who will adopt that slogan. Since Mayor Shirley Franklin took office, bar hours have been abbreviated, and the city’s largest festivals have been kicked out of Piedmont Park.

HEALTH CARE

A soda tax won’t curb the problem of obesity“Should health policy include taxing unhealthy foods, drinks?” (Opinion, Oct. 27) suggested a tax on sweetened drinks as a way to address the nation’s obesity problem. Dr. Stanley Cohen seems to make a very reasoned argument, and there is no doubt that we must do something about America’s obesity epidemic.

The score gap between state and federal testsMichael Dib: Since 2004, Fulton County schools have seen a year-over-year drop in eighth-grade scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. In fact, the drop has been 18 percent over this time frame for math. Since 2005 we have seen a 40 percent drop in the number of students passing algebra and geometry End-of-Course Tests.

ECONOMYRecession not over until the jobless find workI was encouraged to read that the gross domestic product is up 3.5 percent (“Economic pulse beats stronger,” News, Oct. 30). I realize that there are a number of factors that determine the GDP, and this is an indicator of our country moving out of the recession.

MEDIAIs activism limited
to liberal causes?I find it amusing that your reprint of Bob Herbert’s column “Only action can remedy nation’s ills” (Opinion, Oct. 28) encourages more citizen activism, in the light of the “New York Times” (and your) attitude toward the recent “Tea Parties” — or is “social activism” limited to liberal causes only? Media hypocrisy?Bob Reardon, Marietta

LAKE LANIERDon’t allow lake levels
to destroy shorelineI have lived at Lake Lanier for over six years now, and have watched the lake rise and fall from its record low, to the high after Hurricane Ivan, which raised the level well past what’s been talked about as the new full pool mark.

HEALTH CAREPublic health option is like police, firefightersKeeping our population healthy is much too important to be left to private interests who have repeatedly demonstrated that their own profit is a higher priority than the good of the country.

HEALTH CAREAccess to right tests could cut death ratesI am deeply concerned by “Lawmakers may revisit state health care insurance mandates” (ajc.com, Oct. 22), which questioned the value of the critical patient protections now offered under Georgia law.

BANKINGLet us hear your input on failure of being firstWhat is it about the social foundations of Georgia which make it lead the nation in bank failures? I don’t dare give my explanation, since it would get me attacked left and right — but I would like to encourage others to opine on this matter.

Teaching is not a career for the weak-heartedI have only two words for college teacher Alicia Howe: Thank you.As a top student who chose teaching as my life work, I am called upon weekly to defend my choice. People assume that I did not want the challenges of law school or medicine.

HEALTH CAREPreventive care must be mandated, paid forI was somewhat alarmed at the proposal (“State-mandated coverage revisited,” News, Oct. 23) of Rep. John Lunsford to eliminate mandates for preventive health screenings and tests.That sounds like it might be an initiative to save dollars for the insurance company, but it might wind up costing clients more in the long run, if we have to pay for procedures out-of-pocket.

Environment

Jekyll Island State Park is among the most beautiful and accessible of this country’s national and state parks. Its miles of fabulous, uncluttered beaches are rare, unique, and precious to Georgians and to visitors from across the U.S.A. Generations of Georgians have vacationed at its hotels and romped on its lovely beaches, but the current crop of state politicians appears hell-bent to hand over this fragile, exquisite barrier island to wealthy campaign donors for their profit and exploitation — public opinion be damned.

SOCIAL SECURITYCost of living actually went down from 2008Re “As cost of living rises for seniors, so should the size of their checks” (Opinion, Oct. 20): the Social Security Administration is not denying a 2010 cost-of-living adjustment.

BUSINESSTanker issue will test U.S. trade policyThe article describing French manufacturer EADS’ complaints about the Air Force’s tanker (“Sessions wants to block funding on $35B tanker,” ajc.com, Oct. 1) failed to mention that their tanker was built with subsidies that the World Trade Organization just ruled illegal.

MEDIAN.Y. Times report on Fox was step back for AJCIt is almost laughable that the AJC would reprint an article from the New York Times about the administration’s attack on Fox News (“White House takes on the media,” News, Oct.

CENSUSSuccess of 2010 count
is in hands of residentsAs mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is taken every 10 years. Your participation is required by law.As mayor of Atlanta, I intend to fully cooperate with the Census Bureau as they perform their duties.

Students need basic math skills to thriveKen Sprague is right on the mark with his criticism of Georgia’s math requirements. The most challenging courses possible should be offered to students who choose them. To expect such work from all students, however, is elitist and discriminatory.

SECOND AMENDMENTKid packing a pink gun? What a pack of nonsenseReading “The politics of packing heat in public places” (Metro, Oct. 18), once again, I am grateful that our state is blessed with public servants so ardently striving to solve the people’s problems and to protect their rights.

SOCIAL SECURITYWith no cost of living increase on my meager Social Security benefits this January, I can’t help feeling that I’m helping to pay for someone’s health insurance. Is this President Barack Obama’s idea of “sharing the wealth”?I think Obama already knows he’s only going to serve one term, and he’s going to squeeze out all he can — while he can.

FOREIGN AFFAIRSDuty, honor, country should work both waysWhile the Obama administration prepares our next move in Afghanistan, my oldest son, Jon, prepares for his senior season of basketball at West Point. As President Obama carries the burden of sending more American sons and daughters to a foreign land, my family carries the burden of a potential unspeakable day ahead.

PUBLIC SAFETYIncrease in guns is not the answer we needSteve Reba’s neighbor is another person’s neighbor, who is part of a neighborhood, which is part of a city in the nation in which I live (“We’d rather protect guns than lives of good dads,” Opinion, Oct.