RESPECT FOR PAST PRESIDENTS
Response to "Bush matriarch reveals refreshing political truth" Opinion, April 28
Maureen Dowd’s column might have also revealed a refreshing truth, had she stayed on the course on which she began her piece. She could have illuminated the reader with the reasons why our country was not founded on political dynasties, or even her opinions on a possible run for president by Jeb Bush.
Instead, she launched into the same tired rant about George W. Bush’s presidency and why he is to blame for all of our current woes. More than four years and another election have passed since W., as she so disrespectfully calls him, occupied the White House. The former president has not sought the limelight, nor disrespected his successor. Isn’t it about time liberals like Ms. Dowd did likewise?
SHERYL WILLIAMS, DOUGLASVILLE
CORPORATE PAY
It’s obvious why some
CEOs are so enriched
Regarding “Why some CEOs get paid so much” (Business, April 28), the reason some CEOs get paid so much is simple: Because they can. We would all be millionaires if our salaries were determined by our friends, cronies and self-serving compensation consultants.
While somebody in the company is ensuring that the employees who do the back-breaking work are paid the lowest salary that the company can negotiate, is anyone negotiating the lowest possible salary for the CEO? Of course not. In many companies, the system of CEO compensation is morally corrupt and broken.
GERSON PAULL, ATLANTA
PERSONAL JOURNEYS
Asperger’s individuals
have hopes, dreams too
Kudos to Omar Troy’s courage and to Nalley Lexus-Galleria for embracing a program hiring individuals on the autism spectrum (“The barista,” Living, April 28).
People with Asperger’s, like Omar and my nephew, are unique. My nephew is a wiz at math and history, but he, too, constantly works on correctly interpreting social cues and fitting into what our society has deemed “normal.” The intensity and focus of my nephew’s knowledge of history may seem extreme, but we like to think of it as passion.
Like many young people, Omar and my nephew want to turn their passions toward college studies, and have a desire to achieve a happy and prosperous future. Our society constantly puts labels on people and their perceived conditions. Individuals with Asperger’s have many challenges, but with the support, understanding and acceptance of family, friends and business, our society will begin to embrace and benefit from the special skills, knowledge and passions of these very unique individuals.
CATHY WHITE, TUCKER
FEDERAL REVENUES
Flat tax couldn’t fund
our nation’s greatness
Regarding “Woodall overstates use of flat tax in former Soviet states” (Metro, April 29), PolitiFact did a good job in clarifying statements made about the flat tax without including an opinion of it, so I’ll give mine.
I don’t think a flat tax that everybody could afford could possibly support the kind of country we have. Without a progressive income tax, we wouldn’t have a strong enough national defense, a good educational system, interstate expressways, or very much of anything that has made our country as great as it is.
With all of us asked to give according to our means, it sickens me to see multi-millionaires and billionaires lobbying for tax loopholes and hiding their money in offshore banks — while our young men and women give up lives and limbs to protect us all. Shame on them.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
