PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Taxpayers paying for
Chip Rogers’ new job
In your article on Chip Rogers and his $150,000-a-year position at Georgia Public Broadcasting, you said, “Gov. Nathan Deal played matchmaker between Rogers and GPB’s president, Teya Ryan” (“GPB feeling the heat after hiring Chip Rogers,” ajc.com, Jan. 30).
It seems to me that a more accurate description would have been that Deal was the one holding the shotgun at the wedding of this “problem child.” This is actually a twofold tragedy. The taxpayers are forced to pay the salary for a job that GPB didn’t want or need in the first place, which has caused at least one employee to quit in protest.
The good news is that Georgia is a right-to-work state — and what I’ve always heard is that any employee can be let go during the first 90 days with no reason having to be given by the employer.
Nathan Deal, I could use one of these $150,000-a-year jobs, too! Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.
BRUCE BURNAMAN, WOODSTOCK
MIDEAST PEACE
Hagel backers display
anti-Israel hypocrisy
One has to appreciate the cynical humor of the letter supporting Chuck Hagel and criticizing the Israel lobby and Israel in general (“Hagel right to stand up to pro-Israel lobbyists,” Readers write, Opinion, Jan. 30). What a profound conclusion: Look at the situation in the Middle East. Israel is to blame because they build illegal settlements.
The hypocrisy has got to be pointed out.
There are violent protests going on in Egypt against the decrees of the new regime — not to mention the widespread public rape and sexual molestation of women protesters. How many settlements are being built in Egypt?
There is violent civil war going on in Syria. Is Israel to blame?
How many Christians feel safe (or are even left) in Lebanon next to the Hezbollah?
Let Hamas declare: We want peace. Let them end their vile hatred of Israel, and recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Let Israel have a real peace partner, and then there can be jubilation for the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Until that time, Israel needs to stand strong, and maintain security for Israel.
JULIE SILVERMAN, ATLANTA
POLITICS
To achieve reform,
ID unethical behavior
The state politicos discuss the need for ethics, and then sideline us by trying to define a lobbyist — as though, if we can harness lobbyists, we will automatically get ethical politicians. Let’s get back on track.
Ethics has to do with morals, and morals have to do with making the distinction between right and wrong in conduct. Everybody has innate knowledge, and we know the difference between right and wrong conduct in our lives.
Because we are humans, we do not always practice ethical behavior in our everyday lives, and we rely on rules and regulations to tell us what our peers will accept as correct or ethical behavior.
Is it right or ethical to accept something that might not be good for those for which we have been given responsibility? We all know the correct answer, but sometimes rationalize. So, let’s just identify unethical behavior for an ethics commission.
BOB DRUKTANIS, SHARPSBURG
