Readers Write 9/30

WATER

Make fish, wildlife our allies in tri-state battle

As Gov. Sonny Perdue approaches negotiations over sharing the Chattahoochee River Basin with Alabama and Florida, it’s a good time to remind all sides that any deal must include sustaining healthy rivers for fish and wildlife resources.

Some have misinterpreted a recent U.S. District Court ruling to mean the Endangered Species Act is no longer a factor in the tri-state water talks. That is not the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect the basin’s threatened and endangered species.

To be clear, the federally protected Gulf sturgeon and three freshwater mussel species downstream from Lanier do not have to “lose” for metro Atlanta’s growing population to “win.” Sharing the basin’s water is not a zero-sum game.

We believe the opposite is true: Providing enough clean water for these species is the surest way to protect all uses, from drinking water and electric power production for metro Atlantans, to oyster harvesting and recreational fishing in Florida’s Apalachicola Bay.

Cindy Dohner, southeast regional director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

AIRLINES

Decisions have hurt airport businesses

Our airport’s businesses and their customers should not have to bear the burden of airport revenue shortfalls caused by the actions of the airlines.

In recent years, the airlines have pursued a strategy of reducing (or severely limiting increases in) capacity to control pricing and implement substantial fare increases. This strategy has depressed passenger traffic (and airport fees) at the same time our airport gave fee concessions to the airlines.

The airport businesses are experiencing reduced traffic and revenue as a result of the actions of the airlines. They will take a double hit to their profits if they now have to pay higher fees to the airport.

These businesses and their customers deserve some sympathy.

Ron Kurtz, Alpharetta

ECONOMY

Middle class is dying, yet media seem not to care

Middle-class workers are being devoured. Jobs have been cut, wages slashed and homes devalued, while the rich get richer from the proceeds. Neither political party is standing up for working people for the simple reason that they are put into office by wealthy individuals and corporations.

The corporate-owned news media do not report what’s going on. Although they point to how bad things are, they steer clear of drawing any conclusions or pointing out that working people are the big losers.

The devouring of the middle class goes on unabated because it isn’t even acknowledged.

After years of voodoo economics, the once-mighty American middle class is evaporating. It is excruciating to view the dismal future we have left to our children, and our grandchildren. We are the profligate generation.

Dean Poirier, Duluth