CHILD ABUSE
Flowers can remind us how system failed kids
The flower of justice for murdered children is beginning to bud: Georgia’s child welfare agency has fired two workers and punished four others (“Workers fired in starving death,” News, Dec. 12).
As living tribute to Emani Moss and Eric Forbes, beds of pink and blue flowers should be planted and maintained at each county courthouse in the state of Georgia, and on the grounds of the state Supreme Court and Capitol, and at the offices of Georgia’s child welfare agency — a reminder to all who would allow a child to be mistreated to the point of death that they will pay with their jobs and jail time, and those committing the murder will pay with their lives.
BILL SMITH, STOCKBRIDGE
All bear responsibility for youngsters’ safety
Just one look at a picture of Emani Moss, and the heart breaks.
As much as state DFCS workers failed, our society also failed. When we cast aside morals, marriage, family fidelity, love and respect for all, we manufactured our own killing field — one for our children.
Let each one of us take responsibility for failing as human beings. We make our society, and we must take the blame. Innocent children must not suffer because we stumble. Let them live in the shelter of love with every effort we can make.
CATHERINE BOONE SHEALY, ATLANTA
GOVERNANCE
Neither party cares about ordinary folks
How great is it that the Pentagon stands to get its funding restored, but 1.4 million Americans out of work, through no fault of their own, have been thrown overboard? Don’t forget about food stamp cuts, too.
Is the system not really working for ordinary people any more? That’s no problem; you can always vote out the corporatist incumbents in the next election cycle and replace them with challengers hand-picked for you by the corporations — that is, if the corporatist incumbents let you vote next time around.
The system is rapidly losing its legitimacy. Neither the Republican nor Democratic party has our backs.
DEAN POIRIER, DULUTH
ENERGY
Carbon tax, rebate law would aid environment
I was pleased to see that President Obama has pushed for the federal government to meet 20 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources (“Renewable power pushed,” Business, Dec. 6). This can reduce environmental damage, promote American energy independence, and lessen pollution that causes global warming.
While this and EPA rules on power plants are good steps, none of these would be necessary if Congress would take the sensible approach of passing carbon tax and rebate legislation. Taxing carbon dioxide in fossil fuels at the source and returning the revenue back to citizens would provide a stronger incentive to move toward a viable solution for our energy problems.
DEBASHIS GHOSE, ATLANTA
