Tax chief shouldn’t act like a potentate The AJC has reported on the loophole that allows tax commissioners to collect fees for tax collection. “Tax chief may face pay cut” (News, Feb. 6) adds further fuel to the fire. Although Arthur Ferdinand’s office has the means to efficiently send consolidated tax bills and collect the monies, he is not the owner of this “business.

Stepping into politics drives wedge for group Susan G. Komen for the Cure opened Pandora’s box with its controversial decisions concerning funding to Planned Parenthood. This is not a matter of pro-life versus pro-choice. This is a real lesson in what happens when a popular nonprofit steps into politics — especially with a highly charged issue such as abortion.

For gifts over $500, issue a Form 1099 One excellent way of stopping the strong influence of lobbyists over our representatives is for a Form 1099 to be issued for each gift over $500. That way, representatives will have to pay taxes on the gift.

Athletic achievement valued over academics The Sports section of the AJC (“Drama at its best,” Feb. 2) carried extensive coverage of students selected to attend colleges of their choice on athletic scholarships. Many have been on the radar of numerous colleges even before their high school days.

There’s nothing new (or Newt) about them A letter writer claims that candidates bickering and attacking each other is “not entertaining or informative” (Readers write, Opinion, Feb. 2). These political games, however, have been played out in public as long as I have been voting — over 40 years.

A scene reminiscent
 of pigs at the trough Regarding your excellent article on lobbying (“Legislators graze on lobbyists’ tab,” News, Jan. 29) and Kyle Wingfield’s piece on the same subject (“When a little goes a long way,” Opinion, Jan.

Georgia needs to get tough about speeding The column “No easy fix to slowing traffic” (Opinion, Jan. 31) pulled my cord. Stop signs, speed bumps, traffic lights, etc. are not solutions. Georgia has too many inconsiderate, ill-mannered, self-loving, stupid drivers.

Gingrich a master at manipulating language Kudos to James Salzer for his article “Gingrich’s language set new course” (News, Jan. 29). He summarized clearly and succinctly the transformation in our political process over the past 30 years.

Rehabilitation makes more sense than prison Regarding “State’s chief justice: Reform sentencing” (Metro, Jan. 26), I have served as a grand juror. I am bound by secrecy — but, in general, a number of cases we heard amounted to “nuisance crimes.

It’s time to reform 
the payment system Regarding the Truth-O-Meter “Polls mostly support Price’s Medicare claim” (Metro, Jan. 24), the bottom line is pretty clear and convincing: the Medicare payment system for physicians in the U.

Future is more crucial than tax returns What’s wrong with us? We are wasting time asking for candidates’ tax returns when our goods are made in China and our national debt is projected to eventually top $20 trillion. We should be asking: What kind of country are we leaving our grandchildren and great-grandchildren in a generation or two? My wife will never vote against Barack Obama.

‘Taking our country back’ isn’t a racist wish A recent letter (“Take our country back? From whom, I wonder,” Readers write, Opinion, Jan. 22) aptly displays today’s norm: that any hint of disagreement with the political left must be branded as racism.

It’s not other people’s money — it’s our own The price of a college education has nearly doubled at Georgia Tech since my daughter started there. The fees have skyrocketed along with the tuition. The increase at Georgia State University was even worse.

Those who cheated must give money back Regarding “APS to return bonus money” (News, Jan. 21), I agree with state Superintendent John Barge that APS must repay the more than $363,000 it earned as a result of falsified test scores.

Obesity is not a disease, it’s a choice you make Regarding “Newest face of diabetes” (Living, Jan. 21), so now it’s the smiling face of Paula Deen. She is just a more famous example of baby boomers and those who follow who eat themselves into being overweight or obese, get diabetes (and/or other serious conditions) and contribute to the growing cost of health care that will bankrupt us — if we don’t change course.

Blaming media no substitute for good ideas I wonder where the “liberal media” blame tag came from. There are a few types of media. Radio is (for the most part) quite conservative, featuring Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz, Bill O’Reilly, etc.

Post office could help voters get photo IDs There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the requirement to have government-issued photo identification to vote. Regarding the inability of some to obtain photo identification, there is a simple solution.

TRANSPORTATION I recently sat in a massive traffic jam on Ga. 400 caused by a wreck that blocked all lanes. As I watched a dozen or so ambulances, fire trucks, HERO units and police cars stream down the shoulder, I thought how difficult, deadly and costly such an accident might be if Gov.

Lots of questions about treatment of candidates I have three main questions regarding Maureen Dowd’s column “Romney’s religion shapes enigmatic personal history” (Opinion, Jan. 15). Should there be nothing sacred or holy in one’s personal worship? Why must a person’s method of worship be open to all? This attitude already has the government interfering in the lives of citizens.

Columnist improves on the ‘prattle’ about Paul Mary Sanchez’s column about Ron Paul (“Contrarian candidate for hope and change,” Opinion, Jan. 17) goes the way almost all editorials about Paul go: Many people, left and right, empathize with Paul’s concerns and views, but the nation couldn’t survive his medicine — and now we know he’s got decades-old baggage.

Winning obesity fight takes attitude change While the goals of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity are admirable, they are attacking the wrong “enemy” (Opinion, Jan. 13). We have been led to believe that we have an obesity epidemic and health care crisis.

To employers: There’s no perfect candidate Regarding “ ‘Skills gap’ leaves high-tech jobs open” (News, Jan. 12), I have seen the issue of the so-called “skills gap” firsthand, and it’s time companies stop blaming the “lack of skills” out there and look at their actions.

Ruling an example 
of a failed system Regarding “Court rules DeKalb fire captain should be reinstated” (ajc.com, Jan. 9): What a disgrace — reinstated with full pay, while the victim is dead. It’s no wonder we all have lost confidence in the system! 
Gene Henry, Atlanta

It’s all about profits, 
not employment The Republican Party in Georgia (and nationally) refers to businesses as job creators.

GOP presidential pick isn’t what’s important What a shame that we have to endure more than a year of presidential debates and media overkill for what is well-summarized in “Santorum respectable but Romney electable” (Opinion, Jan.

Politicians who served in military will be scarce While philosophically I agree with a letter writer (“Fire lawmakers who give the military short shrift,” Readers write, Opinion, Jan. 8), realistically we will see fewer and fewer of our elected representatives with military experience.

To improve the world, 
U.S. should stay home It is time for the United States to mind its own business regarding the Middle East. Let’s suppose Iran does come up with a nuclear weapon and threatens to use it. Israel will know before anyone else.

No separating church and state from pols While I appreciate a letter writer’s desire that a candidate’s religion not enter into the mix, I hope he realizes that any person’s “actions, words and experience” are influenced by his or her religious background and adherence, for good or for ill (“A candidate’s religion should be a non-issue,” Readers write, Opinion, Jan.

Governor can work
 to restore program Find a government program that is effective and helps people work to support themselves while their severely disabled loved ones are being cared for, and let the governor tout the program’s effectiveness to federal officials.

We’re all responsible for national security As the United States enters a new era concerning military forces and strategy, there appears to be a disconnect among policymakers on how best to secure this nation. Until we learn that most wars are futile, the least we can do is recognize that national security is everyone’s responsibility.

A candidate’s religion should be a non-issue The days of “my religion is better than your religion” should be over by now — let alone “my form of Christianity is better than your form of Christianity.” There seems to be a lot of hand-wringing these days about the possibility of Mitt Romney (a Mormon) being elected president — and it has gotten downright nasty in some circles.