GOP candidates hankering for war
Regarding “GOP candidates court evangelical voters” (News, Aug. 5), lately, at most any given time, you have some Republicans pushing for more U.S. troops on the ground in the Middle East — from Sen. John McCain and former Vice President Dick Cheney to the present Republican presidential candidates. Presidential candidates Bush and Rubio continued the push for war at the Nashville Conference and also pledged to protect “religious liberty.” The Iraq war, with thousands killed and thousands wounded — and the expenditure of billions increasing the national debt, including billions of cash unaccounted for — was not enough. The fact that the majority of Americans are tired of war is not enough. The fact that Iraq “wounded warriors” are reduced to soliciting help on TV is not enough. “ They also favor killing the diplomatic solution to ending Iran’s nuclear program – even if the alternative is war.
WILLIAM SEGO, ATLANTA
System would check lawyers, help patients
It’s no surprise that state Rep. Dusty Hightower (R-Carrollton), a trial attorney, opposes a proposal to bring swift, fair and just compensation to patients who have been injured by doctors. (Opinion, Aug. 7) His wallet will be impacted, but his clients will benefit. The proposed no-blame, administrative plan called the Patients Compensation System would make it less likely that patients would need to hire trial lawyers. Currently, when patients win lengthy court battles, they must sign over huge portions of their payouts to lawyers for attorney fees and legal expenses. In some cases, patients wind up with nothing. Under a Patients’ Compensation System, injured patients would be able to keep more of their compensation as a panel of healthcare experts would make awards based on a schedule of historical payment related to each loss. Trial lawyers claim the Patients Compensation System is unconstitutional, but it is a proposal no different than our workers compensation system enacted a century ago to speed up justice for those who have been injured at work.
WAYNE OLIVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PATIENTS FOR FAIR COMPENSATION
Georgia officials should recognize climate change
I am very grateful for the AJC special report entitled (“Alarm, skepticism greet climate change warning,” News, Aug. 9). As an older citizen concerned about how we make wise choices for future generations, the fact that our current Republican leaders, Governor Deal, senators Isakson and Perdue have not yet offered support for the Clean Power Plan or other legislation to protect Georgia citizens is bewildering. I know they mean well, but the science is real, the evidence is mounting and the time to assess the hazardous cost of greenhouse emission has passed. Republicans are going to lose votes over their resistance to act on climate change.
ROBERT JAMES, ATLANTA
