POVERTY
Stop blaming wealthy for problems of poor
The editorial “Giving people a fair chance” (Opinion, Jan. 18) implies the problem lies with America’s top 1 percent. Fifty years ago, our wise government officials declared a War on Poverty and vowed to stamp it out by taxing the “haves” and handing it over to the “have nots.” In 1964, 15 percent of our population was assessed to be living in poverty. In 2014, after the government has handed out trillions of dollars to the “have nots,” we still have a 15 percent poverty rate.
Since the total population has doubled in this 50-year period, the number of people living in poverty has also doubled. Perhaps these “Robin Hood” tactics aren’t working very well. Instead of continuing to vilify the rich, why not work harder to keep kids in school and obtain a good education or at least a meaningful trade skill? Why not work harder to prevent 13- to 19-year-old unwed and unemployed teens from having babies? Why not work harder to maintain two-parent families? Why not work harder to raise children in a church setting?
No, that takes work. It’s easier to sit back and blame the rich.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
NEW MEDIA
AJC’s digital format wins over a reader
Congratulations on your launch and subsequent enhancements to “Today’s Paper” and “My AJC.com.” I never thought that I would enjoy and appreciate the traditional newspaper in digital form, but I was wrong! You guys are terrific in digital form. I just returned from a cruise where several of my cruise mates were praising your digital newspaper, including some who no longer have home delivery available. Many others complained about television commercials and Internet ads and the hoops they go through — especially DVR/fast-forward — to avoid them.
I thought that I should write you about this, because it occurred to me that people on cruises are like me: discriminating and literate consumers. Such people should be a highly coveted target audience. I believe that a digital newspaper — especially one as well-designed as yours — reaches this audience more effectively than any other advertising medium. Please consider this to be an endorsement which you may share with whomever you choose. I earnestly want my digital AJC to thrive and will do my part to help. Thanks for a great job!
WILLIAM B. FOKES, BRASELTON
CITYHOOD
Race isn’t a factor in new cities movement
Shame on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Your article, “New Cities Ignite Debate about Race” (Jan. 27), is race-baiting at its worst. The article does not question the actions or results of elected officials, only their race. By your standard, the importance of bringing government close to the people and having fair elections does not matter. It is only about race!
Get off of it. I served for years on the committee seeking to incorporate Sandy Springs, and served as the volunteer interim city manager and as chairman of the governor’s commission. I can attest that race was never the issue. The issue was better government, closer to the citizens. For Johns Creek, Milton, Chattahoochee Hills and Dunwoody, I served as the principle adviser, and race was not an issue. The key issues were gaining local control of our zoning, and public safety.
Currently, I have been advising the leadership of the effort to incorporate Stonecrest, a predominately black community. Their issues are the same. The AJC opposed the formation of the new cities from the beginning and appears still anxious to do a hatchet job on them.
OLIVER PORTER, SANDY SPRINGS
