HEALTHCARE
High tuitions contribute to physicians shortage
In response to “Doctor shortage could change Ind. health care” (ajc.com, April 20), there are several well-documented factors that have led to the shortage of physicians in this country.
A lesser-known factor concerns the skyrocketing costs of attending medical school. Take Emory University. According to its website, the estimated cost of attendance for the 2012-2013 academic year is approximately $78,000. Over four years, this is a staggering amount by any standard.
It is true that the world of health care is changing, and that a shortage of doctors is occurring, particularly in Atlanta. However, homegrown institutions such as the well-endowed Emory could help alleviate the shortage by not forcing otherwise qualified candidates to (unnecessarily) incur extreme debt as a caveat to becoming a physician.
DAN SILVERBOARD, ATLANTA
SECOND AMENDMENT
Gun owners shouldn’t fear background check
There is a difference between the right to bear arms, and the abuse of guns. I think many Americans see that people with a legitimate reason to have and use a gun are not afraid of a background check. Such a check does not block upstanding citizens from exercising their constitutional rights.
CARRIE BROOKS, NICHOLSON
Senators just listened to their constituents
Regarding the letter “Cartoonist excels at lampooning stupidity” (Readers write, Opinion, April 19), to say that Mike Luckovich makes people think is a vast overstatement. His sophomoric take on politics was reflected in the cartoon of that day about the bipartisan defeat of the gun control bill (Opinion).
For the information of the voters that Mr. Luckovich caters to, we are actually a democratic republic — which means we aren’t governed by mob rule. The senators listened to their constituents, rather than the hyperbole from liberal politicians, mainstream media and liberals in general.
EDGAR CLIFTON, LAWRENCEVILLE
POLITICS
Pre-empting primary denies voters a choice
Regarding the recent story on Democratic Party Chairman Mike Berlon’s strategy to pre-empt the U.S. Senate primary by anointing a party nominee — and thereby avoiding a potentially bruising and expensive primary — the plan has a profound flaw: He’s leaving voters out of the vetting process (“Senate bid worries some Democrats,” News, April 23).
The purpose of a primary is to give voters a chance to select the candidate they consider best able to represent them, the party and its values. To sidestep that portion of the process to save money for the “real” election is both presumptuous and undemocratic. Georgia voters deserve better.
DR. BRANKO RADULOVACKI, ATLANTA
