Tea party wrong about economics
Tea party Republicans and others are loudly complaining about current economic policies, citing “fiscal irresponsibility” such as dangerous deficits, high taxes, an unbalanced budget and imminent inflation. Many leading economists disagree with each other regarding which policies are sound and which should be changed. These issues are complex, but something quite obvious is being ignored. The dollar has long been the strongest currency in the world.
Today, the dollar is even stronger, compared to other currencies. Major international companies and other international investors are not rushing to convert dollars into other currencies. Rather, they are doing exactly the opposite. They want dollars. Experts believe the U.S. economy is the strongest in the world, and they are showing this clearly by their actions. This means our current economic policies are working extremely well. So why should we radically change them? The tea party is working against America’s best interests.
BILL FOKES, BRASELTON
Muslims seek to undermine America
Historically, Islam has been a religion of conquest by force. Today in the West, it is still a religion of conquest but by more subtle methods: Immigration without assimilation, then overrunning the host country’s culture. Examples are the Netherlands, France, Germany and other countries that are losing their culture and identity. Germany’s Angela Merkel recently stated, “Multiculturalism does not work.” The vast majority of Americans do not want this cult in our society. Washington is ruining America by allowing Muslims to immigrate here. I suggest that the AJC take a poll and publish the results so politicians can serve us better.
CAROL ENGELBERT, MARIETTA
McCain was right: Torture is wrong
Dick Cheney, who received five draft deferments during the Vietnam era, claims that waterboarding and other techniques are not torture and that it is acceptable that innocent people were mistakenly imprisoned by the CIA — and that they died. Meanwhile, Sen. John Mccain, a veteran who served honorably and was tortured himself, states clearly that waterboarding is torture and that the CIA’s techniques were “shameful … stained our honor, did much harm and did little practical good.” I’ll take the side of the war hero over the draft dodger.
CHARLES DRIEBE, ATLANTA
Cheney’s attitude is costing us respect
Conservatives say it’s important to govern according to the ways laid down by our founders. In other words, past beliefs should influence current decisions. Dick Cheney denies that waterboarding is torture. After World War II, the United States and its allies held war crimes trials in Japan. Any Japanese soldier who was found to have waterboarded a prisoner of war was convicted and hanged. The Japanese felt the ends justified the means and felt the rapid and effective collection of intelligence was vital to a successful struggle.
When Cheney was asked about errors made by the CIA and about innocent people being locked up, he said, “I have no problem as long as we achieve our objective.” Which, to me, is just another fancy way of saying the ends justify the means. I believe that Cheney, and people like him, are rapidly causing the United States to lose the respect it once had.
TIM YODER, ATLANTA
