Readers Write 12/01

GOVERNMENT

Why did it take so long
to bring fraud charges?

Re “Food contractor indicted for fraud” (News, Nov. 17): yes, that’s news, and reprehensible conduct, if proven true. However, the larger crime is that government agencies have known about the possible abuse since 2005. Is there any rational reason that in such a case, it would take almost five years for charges to be brought — while the fraud not only continues, but grows?

Rather than U.S. attorneys being proud of presenting their findings, they should be ashamed of the inordinate amount of time it took to reach this point in so vital and sensitive an area. Their delay has been costly to the military personnel, and to the citizens footing the bill.

Michael L. Shaw, Stone Mountain

HEALTH CARE

Penalize bad behavior, subsidize good behavior

The answer to the co-payment question is not either/or, but both (“Are higher co-pays the answer to controlling medical costs?” Opinion, Nov. 10). The success of consumer-driven health care is simple: penalize behavior you don’t want to encourage, such as non-emergency visits to the emergency department, and subsidize healthy behavior. Chronic disease accounts for three-quarters of all health spending. Charging these individuals co-payments for drugs that can keep them healthy makes no common sense.

Kelly McCutchen, president, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

SOCIETY

Stranger’s kindness
a welcome blessing

To the gentleman who recently found my purse in the shopping cart in the Kroger parking lot in Duluth, and turned it in unscathed — thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Bless you for saving my day, and for restoring my faith in the kindness of strangers.

A. Nelson, Norcross

MEDIA

Columnist doesn’t bow to political correctness

The AJC is to be congratulated for having Charles Krauthammer’s honest weekly article. It is so refreshing to find a writer who does not hide behind political correctness.

His latest on the Fort Hood murders makes no excuse for the shooter (“Medicalizing and rationalizing mass murder at Fort Hood,” Opinion, Nov. 13). It’s about time for those in authority from the president on down to take a look at the Koran. If they did, such incidents would not be a surprise. Political correctness is a cover-up.

Yes, Charles, we have lost our moral bearings.

Andrew L. Frahler, Atlanta

PUBLIC SAFETY

Chip system would stop texting while driving

I have no doubt that texting and cellphone use while driving is extremely dangerous, but a perfect solution is immediately available. My car’s GPS system has a chip which prevents entering new information while the car is moving. Requiring that this same system be installed in cellphones would prevent calls and/or texting from occurring while in a moving vehicle. A modification could allow a warning if an immediate reply to an incoming call is needed, and the driver could pull over and return a call. Passengers would just have to adapt.

John T. Downey, Cumming