Central America kids seek paradise
In reference to “Shedding crocodile tears over migrant children” (Opinion, July 30), Jay Bookman’s logic and facts are skewed. Granted, 1,200 or so children added to the roles of assistance recipients in Georgia will do us no great harm. The point is: Where does it all end? Do we go to Nigeria, rescue the kidnapped girls or bring in starving children from Mali, the South Sudan or Palestine?
Using Bookman’s logic, if our “hearts went out” to them, we should invite much of the world to our doorstep. The fact is, if they were really fleeing only violence, they would stop in Chiapas or Qintana Roo, the safest parts of Mexico. They speak the language there. Or go to Nicaragua, Costa Rica or Belize. Their parents could visit them.
Let’s recognize this invasion for what it is. To most of the world, our home is a paradise. They want part of it. For them, the kids may be the key. Remember Don Henley’s words: “Call someplace Paradise, kiss it goodbye.”
LAWSON THOMSON, MARIETTA
GOP legislators must do their jobs
For the past six years, Republicans have done everything in their power to obstruct the twice-elected president of the U.S. In their words, they wanted him to "fail." That would mean America would fail. Despite their efforts, things economically have improved on the disaster bequeathed by the Bush Administration. Imagine how much better the nation might be doing if congressional Republicans actually did their jobs.
Our current Congress is only one-fifth as productive as President Harry Truman’s famous “do nothing Congress” of the late 1940s. Now they are about to go on a six-week vacation, having done nothing about the crisis on our Southern border, the minimum wage, a crumbling national infrastructure and long-term unemployment, despite the president’s reaching out on all these and many other pressing issues.
Even when Democrats have attempted to pass legislation previously written or endorsed by Republicans, they refuse. Yet the Republican-led House voted Wednesday to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to sue the president for action they actually supported. Legal experts almost unanimously point out Congress has no legal “standing” to pursue this thinly veiled attempt to rile up their tea party base. Sounds crazy? The only thing crazier would be actually re-electing a Republican Congress for two more years of obstruction and political games.
RICHARD PRIMUTH, VILLA RICA
