Japan should apologize for WWII
For the first time ever I agree with Leonard Pitts on something (“Should America apologize for Hiroshima? I say no,” Opinion, May 22). Not only should America never feel the need to apologize to Japan, but Japan should have been required to apologize to the world, and to her own citizens, each and every year for the unspeakable horror they inflicted on both sides. They should then offer their heartfelt thanks to the United States for being the kind of people who rebuild and reeducate the vanquished. Conversely, one shudders to think what a victory by Japan would have looked like.
GRANT ESSEX, WOODSTOCK
Stadium funding is crony capitalism
On May 24, it was written that Atlanta would host the 2019 Super Bowl, with taxpayers out $46 million — with $10 million lost to waiving sales taxes on tickets. Bloomberg News wrote the Atlanta Braves took taxpayers for $500 million in building three stadiums in the Southeast. Wikipedia reports public spending for the Atlanta Falcons stadium is close to $600 million.
When you examine public spending by federal, state, and local governments for subsidies for renewable energy sources of solar, wind, ethanol from corn, other biofuels, etc.; annual costs are many tens of billions.
All these tax dollars benefit those in the upper few percent of income. This is called “crony capitalism” in which tax dollars are taken from the middle class and given to the rich. This has spawned unrest as shown in the 2016 election primaries by a forgotten middle class whose needs are ignored.
JAMES H. RUST, ATLANTA, POLICY ADVISOR, HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
Serious climate change can’t be ignored
The AJC’S USA Today story titled “Global warming hits record temps, cooking coral reefs,” on May 17 lays out the grim statistics that will drive the social and political lives of our children and grandchildren. The authors explain that the level of CO2 measured at the observatory at Mauna Loa has reached a monthly average of 407.42 parts per million in April.
This level is the highest on the planet in millions of years. We have changed the basic chemistry of our planet’s atmosphere and oceans in a way that has not occurred in millions of years.
The seriousness of this issue can no longer be ignored. Everyone should urge their congressmen and senators to advance legislation to directly address this problem. The carbon fee and dividend is the simplest, most universally acceptable tool to adopt at this time.
TERRY SCHIFF, ALPHARETTA
Bathroom laws based on scant evidence
I’m confused. Despite thousands of innocent citizens killed and injured by guns each year, conservatives assure me that gun control legislation would be ineffective because criminals merely ignore codified restrictions.
Furthermore, an adult's Constitutional right to bear arms virtually everywhere supersedes any other consideration. I must grin and bear my discomfort when a couple brings their revolver and assault weapon to my kid's playground. Now I hear these same voices championing a law that will surely stop all pedophiles in their tracks and curtail sexual molestation of my child in the bathroom. Even though there is scant evidence that any transsexuals are at risk to offend, the abrogation of their 14th Amendment rights is a small price to pay for my comfort. George Orwell is surely smiling.
DAVID AYCOCK, FAYETTEVILLE
