Readers Write 8/12

WATER

Alabama, Florida 
do envy our growth

Jay Bookman’s “It’s not really a fight over water ” (Opinion, Aug. 4) is excellent — and “hits the nail on the head.” Alabama and Florida are envious of Atlanta’s growth, and these states want some of the wealth spread around. That’s called socialism, folks, and it doesn’t work.

Emily Woods, Atlanta

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. two-faced with Israelis, Palestinians

It’s bad enough that the Israelis continue to build illegal Jewish settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, but we have learned that they recently evicted more than 50 people from their homes to move in Jewish settlers, after a court order in the settlers’ favor (“Palestinians evicted, Israelis in,” News, Aug. 3). Instead of getting tough with Israel, the United States continues to provide more foreign aid to the Jewish state than any other nation. We talk about equal treatment for all races, but look at what we actually practice. We have one standard for the treatment of Israelis. We have a second standard for the treatment of Palestinians. America has reasonably moral policies at home, but our foreign policy is as corrupt, hypocritical and violent as any of the dictatorships we love to look down upon, and occasionally bomb.

James J. David, Marietta

HEALTH CARE

Insurers make decisions for you right now

Dr. Todd Williamson’s comments about the proposed legislation taking away a patient’s right to choose his or her own health care or doctor are absolute nonsense, and make me question his motives (“Doctor’s orders: Change minds,” News, Aug. 2) . Apparently, he has not read HR 3200, and is just parroting the talking points issued by the insurance companies. He seems to be unaware of how the current system works. The present system permits the insurer to determine if a patient can see a particular doctor, and also makes the decision as to whether a procedure is necessary. These determinations are based solely on profit, and not on patient care. With the number of the uninsured growing, it is criminal that a man, who takes an oath to “first, do no harm,” would abuse the trust placed in him, by putting partisan talking points over that most sacred of oaths, and those who need him most.

Jay Trevari, Norcross

BUSINESS

Owners have more options than layoffs

I have some questions for Kyle Wingfield, who uses a Subway franchisee to show why minimum wage laws and health care mandates are bad (“Obama saving jobs? Not at Subway,” Opinion, July 30). Has this man earned more than $250,000 a year? Does he live in an ordinary home or a McMansion? I work for a company where the owners have taken pay reductions. Can’t other owners do the same? Too many business owners who complain about having to pay decent wages and provide health insurance have not worked hard enough at finding ways other than layoffs to make a profit and are unwilling to sacrifice as much as they ask of their workers. The federal minimum wage has never been enough to support one adult, let alone a family — which is why some states are setting theirs higher.

Matthew G. Leger, Atlanta