Readers Write 8/06

SOCIETY

An opportunity for 
real dialogue on race

The arrest of Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. has touched off a huge debate as to the mind set and intention of this veteran police officer, who is purported to be a subject expert on racial profiling, and whether or not Dr. Gates, perhaps the foremost expert on African American culture in this country, was justifiably uncooperative.

The bottom line is that both these adults behaved like a couple of fifth-graders. “Gatesgate” should serve as a touchstone to ignite meaningful dialogue on race, class, profiling, and abuse of power. It has helped to bring all of these issues front and center. Where we go from here is totally up to us.

Michael Mills, Tucker

LAW

Judicial independence essential to democracy

Phil Kemp’s “Ruling Aimed at Activist Judges” (Opinion, July 29) claimed that the Brennan Center for Justice “opposes all judicial elections.”

That is wrong. Indeed, two years ago we brought a case to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking open, competitive judicial elections in New York state. The Brennan Center supports reforms that strengthen judicial independence — whatever the method of judicial selection — because we believe our democracy cannot function without an independent and impartial judiciary.

Useful reforms for elective systems include public campaign financing, as in North Carolina. Systems that rely on appointments, not elections, can also be improved — such as by including advisory commissions that reflect appropriate diversity. And in both elective and appointment systems, strong, effective codes of judicial ethics with meaningful disqualification rules are important.

The arms-race spending in modern judicial campaigns and the increased expenditures by special interests pose serious questions for real judicial independence. Judicial independence is central to the rule of law and transcends ideology.

Susan Liss, Brennan Center for Justice, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY School of Law

WATER

Water war should spur leadership change

Re: Lake Lanier, whatever solution is reached, three outcomes are likely. Atlanta’s main source of drinking water will not be cut off. No party will be happy. And, the price of water will rise.

With Atlanta already paying among the country’s highest water rates, more stringent conservation measures will be obvious, and mandated.

Short of heavy investment and new technology, or civil disobedience, what Atlanta really needs is to throw the bums out who got us in this mess, and elect new leadership.

Mark Eisen, Atlanta

HEALTH CARE

Let’s give health care overhaul a chance

Our broken health care system needs fixing. Please cooperate with President Obama’s reform bill. The difficult we can do right away — the impossible will take a little while longer. We all can benefit from a healthier society, so let’s give it a try.

Florence Schwartz, Winder