Cumberland horses should have better home
I must respond to the Living article from the Jan. 11 “Wild horses of Cumberland Island.” I am quite aware that money makes the world go round, but having recently camped on Cumberland Island, I couldn’t disagree more with Anouk Masson Krantz and her opinion that the wild horses should remain on a Georgia barrier island. They are not natural to the island and in fact their presence causes harm to the fragile ecosystem. Linking the island’s history to the horses is certainly not worth the misery these horses suffer and are forced to endure. I love wildlife of all kinds and am especially drawn to horses. While pictures of the wild (especially horses) against a background of ocean or sand dunes are impressive and perhaps unique, are we willing to subject wild horses to hunger, poor breeding, avoidable infectious diseases, and death by hanging while tangled by mane or tail while we click away and make money either on tourism or coffee table photography books? I hope that people who love Cumberland Island will give this much thought and read all of the arguments for and against the horses occupying this land. My vote is to give the horses a more humane and natural home.
LINDY HARRELL, TOCCOA
Better signage could increase toll revenue
The story “I-75 toll lanes help keep traffic moving, state says,” News, Jan. 27, failed to mention the requirements of having a pass to use the toll lanes. And while there are plenty of signs preceding the entrance ramps to the toll lanes stating that a GA Peach Pass is required, there is only a single sign further down the highway well past all of the entrance ramps which mentions that a NC Quick Pass or a FL Sun Pass can also be used to pay the tolls. Maybe if GDOT could place this signage before the toll lane entrance ramps, a few more out-of-state motorists might use the toll lanes, thus increasing toll revenue for Georgia and further easing the traffic for local drivers. While I’m a Georgia resident, I have a FL Sun Pass and routinely use the toll lanes, but only because I’ve seen the sign on previous trips.
MARK TUNE, BLUE RIDGE
Treatment of Dreamers a defining moment
When someone robs a bank, those who drive off in the car with the criminal are held accountable. It’s likely they’ll be charged along with the robber even if they were unaware of why he went into the bank. But, what if those who waited in the car were four-year-old children? Should they be charged with robbery? To those who want to deport “Dreamers,” these kids are just as guilty as their parents who brought them here.
Despite the facts that this is the only country these children have ever known, and that they have grown up to be honorable and productive, some hardliners want DACA kids sent away. If the president wants immigrants who have been vetted, who better than this group of kids? This moment in our history will show our collective compassion toward people of all colors. Or not.
MICHAEL BUCHANAN, ALPHARETTA
Tax cuts without spending cuts is a disaster
Some day in the not-too-distant future, we’ll look back on these times and be amazed at how foolish we were. Foolish for believing that tax cuts without any spending cuts wouldn’t bear disastrous long-term consequences, and for buying politicians’ snake oil claims that tax cuts pay for themselves. Like a lazy obese person who chooses to follow the no-exercise and heavy desserts prescription of a quack physician, we bask in the current stock market highs while letting our entitlements base grow. Debts mount. We ignore them, telling ourselves that our leaders would not take us anywhere bad. We stick our heads in the sand, refusing to acknowledge what we all know is true: They will do anything to remain in power. They’ll live easy lives in D.C. and many will cash in thereafter. We’ll all be left holding the bag.
ALLEN BUCKLEY, ATLANTA
About the Author
