AJC changes: Responses to "A less liberal slant, please" and "Move toward center to keep readers," Letters, July 19

Ideology has nothing to do with it

The glee with which some readers seem to regard John Mellott's letter reporting on the shifting fortunes of the newspaper business is amusing at best ("Charting the right course in extremely difficult times," @issue, July 17). They seem to think the AJC's problems would go away if you would repent and follow the editorial slant of their media, i.e., Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, et al., which they laughingly claim to be "balanced."

The shift in advertising dollars is due to the Internet, not ideology. The idea that advertisers are deserting the print media because they disagree with their editorial positions is nonsense. Americans are as married to their newspapers as they are their cars, the only difference being that just about everyone can drive but not everyone can read, at least not discriminatingly.

If you want to placate these "on-and-off" subscribers, never print a story they don't want to see in print and never, ever print anything that challenges their biases.

JAMES T. MILLER

Hoschton

Don't move any further to the right!

The letters in Saturday's AJC urge the paper to move more toward the right and center to garner more readers. In other words, tell Georgians what they want to hear. I've noticed that letters you choose to publish are ever more leaning to the far right. Jim Wooten's reactionary opposition to all things progressive, whether critically needed rail or alternative energy sources and pollution reduction, seems to be the dominant theme. If the AJC is contemplating becoming a controversy-free mouthpiece for far-right voices that keep Georgia from moving forward, please cancel my subscription now.

JACK MILLER

Atlanta

The economy: Responses to ''Suddenly socialist,'' Editorial, July 16

Slacker bailout

What really happened to the financial markets was that too many people were given the opportunity to join other responsible folks in home ownership, and they failed.

Now the responsible folks are going to have to pay the bill for the slackers. The cash used for the bailout belongs to the taxpayers, not the government. This is not socialism; this is another form of welfare.

JACK FRANKLIN

Conyers

Free, to a point

We all know that we shouldn't regulate "free" enterprise when the market is booming, lest we "kill the goose that lays the golden egg." And we dare not encumber "free" enterprise when times are bad because of the adverse effect on employment and the health of the economy.

The editorial hit it dead center. Keep up the good work and the clear thinking. The middle class is the target.

JOE FOPPIANO

Austell

Help the growers; buy extra 'maters

I heard on the news that the tomato growers of America are expected to lose $100 million as a consequence of the salmonella scare. Now that tomatoes have been deemed safe to eat, I suggest all of us go to the grocery store and buy twice what we normally would and give tomatoes to friends, neighbors, food banks, etc.

Because health officials did their duty in warning the public about the possible dangers of eating tomatoes, the growers suffered grievously. Now that the warning has been lifted, let's do what we can to help them recoup their losses.

H.R. GREEN

Jasper

Lanier ever lower, so conserve water

Jim Wooten's comment about Lake Lanier ("Buts, wayward beagle, King kids," @issue, July 18) serves as an important reminder that the problems with Lake Lanier are not solely the result of the drought.

In spite of recent rains, Lanier is still at a record low for this time of year, a fact that seems to have evaporated from the headlines. We saw Lanier drop a foot or more per month between April and December 2007. After modest rises early this year, once again Lanier is dropping and is projected to drop a foot over the next month.

While Lanier's plight is attributable at least in part to the operation of Buford Dam, water conservation continues to be vitally important. Look for ways, large and small, to be more efficient in how you use water. As we head into the drier months of the year and as the drought is expected to worsen, we must make every drop count.

SAM OLENS

Olens is chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

City Council ill-serves Atlanta

Kudos to Cynthia Tucker for reminding us of the upside-down priorities of the Atlanta City Council ("Pricey council does a number on Atlanta's police," @issue, July 16). Faced with a daunting deficit, council members have obviously placed the safety and well-being of all Atlantans below that of their own bloated salaries, staff and perks.

To allow increases for themselves, while cutting essential fire, police and ambulance services, is truly a dereliction of their duties as public servants. Perhaps they've confused who's to be serving whom?

STEVEN CHARLES

Atlanta

Nuclear revolution

Sooner or later, nuclear power will be made entirely safe as a source of energy. Our scientific genius will bring this about. Wind, sunlight, water, natural gas, oil and coal will become merely supplementary as energy sources. The economic and financial changes that will result will of course be revolutionary. Our country was born as a revolution.

WARD PAFFORD

Decatur