Readers Write 11/9

ECONOMY

Recession not over until the jobless find work

I 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. But for me, the United States will continue to be in a recession until the unemployment rate begins to fall. Until people have jobs and are able to provide for their families, and feel like they are being productive, the recession will continue to have an impact, both economically and psychologically.

Jerry Schwartz, Alpharetta

MILITARY

With current GI Bill, long wait will be worth it

I read with interest the op-ed from Linsay Rousseau Burnett, the GI who is waiting — still — for a check (“GI Bill beginning to look like an IOU to many vets,” Opinion, Oct. 29).

The same thing happened to me in 1966, when the Cold War GI Bill was introduced. About 250 vets felt stranded and frustrated at my school, but once the system got rolling, we almost forgot the earlier rocky road.

Burnett should be thankful she’s getting the current GI Bill instead of ours. In 1966, my benefit maxed out at $185 per month. That was it. Nothing for tuition, books, or housing. I had to supplement my income by working as a janitor at the school, until I lucked out and got a job on the sports staff of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Palm Beach Junior College was the only school the vets in my area could afford. Linsay’s GI Bill will get her through Stanford.

Kent Mitchell, Stone Mountain

STATE PARKS

Jekyll Island deal
smacks of cronyism

Re “LLC will make a 220 percent profit from the sale of beachfront time shares and condominiums on land owned by the citizens of Georgia, even after paying costs for development and marketing” (“Jekyll giveaway robs our state jewel,” Opinion, Oct. 23): This reeks to high heaven, like a dead smelt on a hot summer beach. It smacks of cronyism and under-the-table shenanigans. It seems that the age-old practice of piracy is being revived along Georgia’s golden coast, with the complicity of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority. I, for one, won’t stand for it, and I hope the concerned citizens of the state of Georgia won’t, either.

David A. Brown, Summerville

BUSINESS

There are better ways to stimulate employment

Who was the business school dropout who conceived the idea that allowing a tax credit to hire someone, so you could pay them $40,000 a year, would somehow encourage some business to actually increase employment? Businesses hire people because they need a task done — not because the net pay can be reduced.

The best way to stimulate employment is to create a demand for some product or service. Allow businesses to accelerate depreciation on new capital items. Allow them to write off the entire cost in the year of acquisition, or maybe over two years, rather than the normal five to 30 years.

Businesses will order capital items like cars, trucks, machine tools and computers like never before. And the best part is, there is not a dime paid out of the U.S. Treasury.

Earl Hider, Snellville