Let’s return VA to its original purpose
In response to “Georgia veterans deserve first-class care” (Opinion, Aug. 7), with all due respect to Rep. David A. Scott and Sen. Johnny Isakson, one thing that would help cure the VA health system is to return it to its original post-World War I purpose: Provide treatment for veterans with service-related wounds, illnesses and/or disabilities. It never was intended as free health care for all veterans, nor were they promised it would be. There are too many veterans who have, or can afford, health insurance going to the VA for items, such as eyeglasses, that aren’t covered by their plans, or that they can well afford to pay for out of pocket.
JOHN K. OTTLEY JR., ALPHARETTA
Atlantans too busy to save buildings
Two historic churches around 100 years old, both appraised at around $2 million dollars each, sell to the Atlanta Falcons and GWCCA for $14.5 million and $19.5 million, and no one thinks to use some of the profit to save them by moving them? (“Church demolition complete,” Metro, July 30). Successful preservation includes the Fox Theater, Ivy Hall through SCAD and most recently, Polaris, the Hyatt’s 1967 flying saucer-shaped restaurant. Tourism thrives on history; businesses and their employees relocate with more enthusiasm to cities that are unique. We had one of the largest-curved screen movie theaters in North America until it was demolished in 1995. The 1926 Columbia is now a parking lot. Now we have a chance to save the 1967 Atlanta Civic Center.
CRAIG BROMLEY, ATLANTA
Do public/private efforts buy votes?
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden’s op-ed about funding public/private job-creating partnerships coincided with an email I received about just such an opportunity (“Restore opportunity for all,” Opinion, Aug. 5). It came from the Atlanta Beltline Heathcare Partnership, the organization cited in the editorial as a prime example of this plan. But the email stated preference would be given to job applicants in certain zip codes. Mine wasn’t included. Wasn’t that once called “redlining,” a discriminatory lending practice roundly condemned in the past? Is this plan really “opportunity for all,” or simply a tactic to use taxpayer money to buy votes for Democrats?
BILL FOGARTY, ALPHARETTA
