Readers Write 10/15

ENVIRONMENT

Most treasured gifts should have no price

It is apparent from Rep. Paul Broun’s remarks (“Pro & Con Funding parks,” News, Oct. 4) that he believes the only things in life that have value are those that have price tags attached. I have news for Rep. Broun: life’s most treasured gifts should be without price — love, beauty and the environment, among others. Broun and others in the GOP stand against everything President Theodore Roosevelt (a sometime member) tried to achieve in establishing our national park lands. It’s no wonder this amazing president became disillusioned with the mendacity of his party and its coddling of institutionalized corporate greed.

Let’s hope the new administration has the best interests of our children (and Rep. Broun’s) at heart, and not the calculated greed for which he stands. When everything has a price tag, Rep. Broun, you’re right. Nothing deserves preservation — including your seat in Congress.

Phil Lanier, Monroe

ECONOMY

No ‘Merry Christmas’
to this holiday season

Can you believe it? Here it is, more than three months away from that celebrated Christian holiday called Christmas, and many stores already have Christmas trees and all of the glitzy ornaments displayed.

I walked into a large retailer recently, and was greeted by a battery-operated Santa singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” I turned the mannequin around so the motion sensor eyes would not allow this to happen every time a new customer walked by.

This is by far the earliest retailers have inundated us with this obnoxious demand for our dollars.

I called the retailer’s corporate office, and was told that the logistics of getting stuff to their stores necessitated this early roll-out.

And many people wonder when Dec. 25 comes around why it’s ho-hum, just another day.

You can bet I won’t be saying “Merry Christmas” in my greetings. Roger Daugherty, Decatur

MEDIA

Deaths from DUI, drugs also should be labeled

I see military casualties listed in the paper each day. These are people putting their lives at risk to keep America safe.

To put things in the proper perspective, I would like to see the AJC publish on the same page each day the numbers in the same age group killed in America while driving drunk, or under the influence of drugs.

Ed Wolak, Moreland

FOREIGN POLICY

War never works, and
it won’t this time either

War solves nothing anymore. It is a blasphemy. We are wasting precious resources that we could be using at home, toward getting people health care. U.S. foreign policy is abominable and has been for several decades. Our nation’s economy is collapsing. We can’t afford this. So many people have died, and for what? For an illegitimate government that rigs elections? Occupation never works. It won’t this time.

Peter DeLorenzo, Atlanta