Casino gambling is sure political bet
Just as the 2015 Georgia General Assembly took control of the milestone transportation initiative and made it happen, the 2016 General Assembly is going to have to take control of the next big milestone in our state. MGM Resorts has expressed a desire to bring casino gambling to Georgia with no incentives from the state (“MGM leads behind-the-scenes casino push,” Metro, July 19).
Atlanta and Savannah are mentioned as prime locations for casino/resort complexes. The Atlanta location would be a $1 billion development. The planned casinos would add an estimated $250 million per year to the pre-k/HOPE funds, create thousands of jobs, provide a tremendous boost to the economy, and be a boon for the tourist and convention business. This is a “win-win” for everybody.
It is ironic Gov. Nathan Deal has reservations about this initiative, given his tremendous ongoing support for the lottery (gambling) funded pre-k and HOPE programs. He can elevate himself into the same company as the founder of this nationally recognized program, Zell Miller, by assuming the leadership position of this fantastic upgrade opportunity.
JOEL SMITH, STOCKBRIDGE
What’s problem with 2 mommies?
I am not sure what the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons thinks about its executive director's guest column ("Not a good thing that Heather has two mommies," Opinion, July 22), but if I were on the board, I'd be very embarrassed by Jane Orient's confused thinking. I've heard and read many arguments against allowing same-sex marriage, but the possible loss of a patronymic at birth or the maternal love of a biological mother are new to me as possibilities. By the end of the column, I truly wasn't sure whether Ms. Orient was writing the whole thing tongue-in-cheek or whether she was serious.
Same-sex couples still provide two sets of grandparents to their children, and heterosexual couples who adopt have a child who does not experience the love of a biological mother. So what’s the problem again?
JAN HARRIS RABINOWITZ, ATLANTA
Iran deal could put military at risk
Some of the most deadly devices used against our servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan are improvised explosive devices and explosively formed penetrators. Iran is a major manufacturer of these devices, which continue to maim and kill our servicemen. As part of the emerging deal with Iran, the Iranian economy will receive around $100 billion. What assurance do we have that this relief won’t be diverted in part to create more of these deadly weapons? We run the risk of funding the murder of our own servicemen.
JACK L. ARBISER, ATLANTA
