CIVIL RIGHTS
Scalia wrong, voting
not ‘racial entitlement’
There has been so much craziness coming from the right wing in the past few years that I truly believed I could no longer be shocked by anything. However, when I saw the comment by Justice Scalia calling the Voting Rights Act a “racial entitlement,” my jaw literally dropped (“Tough questions on voting law,” News, Feb. 28).
How is attempting to secure the right to vote for all a “racial entitlement”? It seems that from what has been going on lately — flagrant attempts to disenfranchise minority voters — this legislation is still very much needed. While my rights as a white woman have long been guaranteed, I just want my country to live up to its ideals for all.
CAROLYN FARLEY, ATLANTA
MINIMUM WAGE
Exorbitant CEO pay
dispiriting to workers
An article in a recent AJC concerned a hefty pay increase for the Genuine Parts CEO (“Genuine Parts CEO gets 30% raise to $10.7M,” Business, Feb. 27).
How can any company in good conscience tell their employees that they will freeze or lower their pay, and give a very big increase to the CEO? This article talked about the pay raise for the CEO. Then, a piece in that same newspaper talked about not raising the minimum wage to $9 because it would hurt businesses (“Wage hike bad idea for many reasons,” Opinion, Feb. 27).
How can any person agree to these practices while their employees are hurting — while they make sure the top-tier employees are living like kings? A company can do very well with good supervisors and good employees, and any company can do very well without a multi-millionaire CEO.
OTIS C. HICKS, MCDONOUGH
Pay-hike critics don’t
understand poverty
Kyle Jackson has obviously never lived in poverty (“Wage hike bad idea for many reasons,” Opinion, Feb. 27).
He strongly objects to President Obama’s call to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour. Even this proposed increase would make it virtually impossible for a person to purchase essential needs, especially for a family. Jackson’s attitude presumes that individual employees do not matter, as long as small business owners thrive. Further, he claims that “politicians … have no business telling people how much to pay employees.”
It is precisely because of that attitude that government must intervene on behalf of individual workers. Jackson’s approach would keep them in poverty forever.
CHARLES DEWEESE, BUFORD
DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Do liquor deaths mean
alcohol needs control?
Since alcohol-related deaths are three times higher than gun-related deaths in the U.S, I trust a national campaign will be under way soon to combat these unnecessary deaths. Reasonable people would hope to see no more 24- or 12-packs. Why would a person need a package with that much capacity? What are you afraid of: a shortage? We all know you don’t need that much to get a buzz.
Clearly, mental health checks are in order, so we can be certain that those who choose to drink are responsible enough to do so. I think a yearly screening would be fine. These are simple and reasonable measures that we can take to protect ourselves and our families. We must come together in the name of safety.
I do not believe this, but I’m trying to make a point. I hope I did.
SHAWN STAFFORD, MARTIN
