Readers Write 11/13

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Look at what’s involved in reprocessing waste

Re “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. We are still having to deal with the waste legacy that was created the last time we engaged in large-scale reprocessing.

The nuclear waste reprocessing plan that Nolan Hertel is greenwashing by calling it “recycling” is like feeding milk to a cow in order to get rid of it. That cow (reprocessing) will only produce more milk, and a lot of manure (highly radioactive nuclear waste).

Betsy Rivard, Atlanta

HEALTH CARE

Give Medicare coverage to all who want to have it

Making Medicare available for anyone to choose is the most fiscally responsible, and the cheapest, most effective and fastest way to fix our broken health care system. The structure is already there; people understand how it works, and it saves both individuals and the government money. Take the easy, obvious answer, and expand Medicare coverage to all who want it. I do.

Beth Carr, Atlanta

STATE PARKS

Muir’s old words offer caution about Jekyll

Thanks to Babs McDonald for exposing the similarities between the JIA’s contract with Linger Longer, and 19th-century profiteers who despoiled the Grand Canyon and Yosemite (“Jekyll giveaway robs our state jewel”, Opinion, Oct. 23). Like McDonald, I, too, could not help but think of the JIA’s trafficking of Jekyll Island while I viewed Ken Burns’ national parks series. However, more appalling than the JIA’s irresponsible contract with Linger Longer are the likely ecological and aesthetic consequences of the arrangement.

In his film, Ken Burns illustrates the results of greed-driven private ownership of America’s most scenic landscapes: wholesale destruction of forests, and unrestrained development that lay waste to the parks’ beauty.

John Muir’s words on this topic, nearly 100 years old, should serve as a cautionary note as we consider the future of Jekyll Island.

Brenda Deily Constan, Decatur

STATE PARKS

Don’t turn Georgia’s jewel into a big mistake

We are distressed by the fact that the JIA seems to be more interested in making agreements with Linger Longer that do not seem to be in the best interests of the citizens of Georgia (“Jekyll giveaway robs our state jewel,” Opinion, Oct. 23).

Turning Jekyll into the next beach enclave of the wealthy at the expense of everyone else seems to be a big mistake. There are already too many traffic-congested islands with gigantic mansions along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Making Jekyll Island another one of these would be depressing.

We would hope that the JIA would make their decisions based on what is best for the typical citizen of Georgia, and keep Jekyll the beautiful, unique state park that we all enjoy.

Tom and Michele Simpson, Athens