Beltline’s an expensive joke benefiting only elites, politicians
What is this exalted, expensive Beltline project supposed to do? Run circles around Atlanta? So that a minority of bikers and hikers can now move freely? Since many don’t ride bicycles and still walk on sidewalks, what problem does this solve? Now add a little dab of rapid transit for a big dab of money? More trolley cars? Better locations for new apartments for the wealthy and more advertising space – for low-income families? What a joke! I hear jingles in the pockets of investors and new mayoral “buddy” committees already established. In case you haven’t noticed, “The emperor has no clothes!” Just a money belt.
CATHERINE BOONE SHEALY, ATLANTA
U.S.’s long meddled in affairs of other nations, too
Now that Russian meddling in American elections and affairs of state has been widely acknowledged even by those whom benefited most from the interference, U.S. citizens can appreciate how it feels to have their sovereignty threatened. Our government has been responsible for election-rigging, the dissemination of disinformation and the outright removal and even assassination of democratically elected leaders in other nations. In Iran and Guatemala in the 1950s; in Vietnam and the Congo during the 1960s; in El Salvador and Chile in the 1970s; with the contras in Nicaragua and the Marines in Grenada in the 1980s; in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 1990s and 2000s, and in Cuba throughout the entire latter half of the 20th century, America has been involved in regime change to advance its own interests around the world without a thought for the legality or morality of these disruptive practices. Now that these “meddlesome chickens” have come home to roost on our soil, let us be thankful that we still have a democratic and fair system to choose our leaders. Or do we?
WILLIAM C. FLEMING, ATLANTA
Judge should step down after unwise decision
Judges are themselves to be judged by the citizens of the community they serve, based to a great extent on their ability to apply wisdom and sound judgment to cases before them. Based on these two requirements and her oath to protect the innocent, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Doris Downs failed miserably by releasing convicted violent offender Jayden Myrick after his serving only 2½ years of a 15-year sentence for armed robbery (“Second chance tied to tragedy,” Metro, July 24). Her totally unwise and unjustifiable ruling, opposed by the Fulton County District Attorney, authorities say resulted in the shooting death, allegedly by Myrick, of an innocent young husband and father visiting Atlanta for a wedding. If Judge Downs has any honor or sense of professionalism, she will immediately resign her position. If she does not, the responsible authorities should begin proceedings to remove her from office. More innocent lives could be at stake.
PAUL MASSEY, PEACHTREE CITY
Rigging the system’s proved a bipartisan game
While I don’t often agree with Walter E. Williams, I find myself agreeing with his column that the job of our Supreme Court justices is to “act as referees” who “enforce the U.S. Constitution” (“Supreme Court needs to be referee of our nation’s rules,” Opinion, July 18). His premise is that our Constitution represents the rules of our game. By his reckoning, we should be more concerned that our justices uphold the Constitution. I also agree with his notion that judges should “uphold and defend” the Constitution rather than “rig the game to benefit one American over another.” What Williams failed to comment on was that the GOP, specifically Mitch McConnell, “rigged” the process by refusing to allow Merrick Garland to be considered as a Supreme Court justice. He, and they, also failed to confirm many district and circuit judges during the Obama years. This not only hampered the federal bench nationwide but, at the least, gives the appearance of rigging the system.
PETER THOMAS, ATLANTA
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