Readers Write: Jan. 29
Politicians should talk to us — not at us
Why do politicians not talk to us?
If our politicians are professional, informed, knowledgeable and honest, why do they have to read everything that they wrote in advance? Can they not just give frank statements or honest answers from their heart and memory? Surely they might need notes, but speaking from the heart has been replaced by speaking from the paper or teleprompter. Local commissioners, state and national legislators, the president and his cabinet — all would give me an increased confidence in their honesty if they talked to me instead of read to me.
JOSEPH SKILLIN, DULUTH
Vicious dog owner should be punished
Responsibility. A word frequently used, but seldom appreciated. When one owns vicious dogs, ownership entails responsibility to control the animals and not endanger others. Apparently the owner of two dangerous canines (“Schoolkids attacked by dogs,” News, Jan. 18), failed to understand this principle – and two innocent children paid the price for his failure. One with his life and the other seriously maimed.
Punishment. Another word frequently used and seldom appreciated. For his alleged transgression, authorities have charged him with involuntary manslaughter and two misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct. What a travesty of justice if these are the only charges that can be made for such a heinous action. Hopefully our legal system will have the means to compel him to face responsibility for his conduct and administer punishment truly appropriate to the situation.
MICHAEL L. SHAW, STONE MOUNTAIN
Carlson wrong about Underground
In Bill Torpy’s column on Jan. 23, according to Chad Carlson of the Atlanta Preservation Alliance, Underground Atlanta failed because “This place is fake. It has plastic flowers … People want authenticity.” Apparently, Carlson was not around in the early ’70s when Underground was in its heyday. At that time all surrounding counties and cities were dry. People had to go inside the city limits of Atlanta to purchase an adult beverage or have a nice dinner. Suburban restaurants were mostly limited to fast food and meat-and-three places. Underground Atlanta was a fun place where hundreds of people wandered under the city among restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment, carrying their beverages with them. Places like Dante’s Down the Hatch and Banks & Shane started there. When other counties began adopting laws allowing liquor, first in package stores and then by the drink, restaurants and other entertainment venues blossomed outside the city and there was less incentive to go into Atlanta. Underground failed because of progress, not because of plastic flowers. With more and more people moving into the city, it’s a shame it cannot be brought back to its original glory.
ANN HOWELL, LAWRENCEVILLE
DeVos not a worthy education candidate
At a time when the press is being inaccurately criticized by our new president, I was impressed by Maureen Downey’s calm, detailed and genuine effort to get the facts straight regarding Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos. (“Education nominee lacks experience, knowledge,” Metro, Jan. 23)
Downey politely states that DeVos “appeared to have done no prep on federal education law.” and that she (DeVos) admitted confusion with the IDEA (Special Education) and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
It is difficult to contain my despair that DeVos, after a purported career-long focus on education, could have this degree of ignorance regarding one of the fundamental roles of the federal government — to equalize education for all children. To me, it reflects not only her lack of experience in the field of public education, but a regrettable lack of interest in high-quality public education for children with disabilities. State legislatures never provided the important rights and protections of these federal laws. Both are the result of decades-long bipartisan efforts. I speak from 35 years of representing low-income children and adults with disabilities and sincerely hope for a more worthy candidate.
SUE JAMIESON, ATLANTA
