Letter-writer wrong about PSC, Southern Co.
In his letter to the editor, (“If rates raised, PSC should be punished” Letters, April 26), the writer showed his ignorance and his leftist “pro-Bernie, take it from the rich” agenda. He wailed that raising the rates would constitute a massive transfer of wealth from poor and middle-class to wealthy Southern Company shareholders. Southern Company (SO) stock has always been considered a “widows and orphans” stock because of the safety of this stock bearing reasonable but limited dividends. The PSC regulates rates Southern Co. may charge. No holder of Southern Company stock will become wealthy because of it. I and my wife hold a small amount of Southern Co. stock, having routinely invested in it for over 30 years. We are certainly not wealthy and will be dependent on “SO” stock for much of our retirement. Obviously the writer is ignorant of the fact that most Southern Co. stock resides in retirement plans and is not held by the wealthy he so obviously despises.
I don’t know how much of the cost overruns should be absorbed by stockholders, but it is worrisome that our educational system has produced so many leftist “Bernie believers” like the writer who spout the ignorance that the PSC is a slave to Southern Co. stockholders.
ERNEST WADE, LOGANVILLE
Donald Trump is a time bomb
It’s ironic that Donald Trump accused Hillary Clinton of playing the woman’s card, when he has been playing the white, male, racist, bullying ignoramus card ever since he appeared on the public stage. Don’t be fooled by his new politically correct image, carefully constructed by a team of paid consultants. Behind that new front that he wants us to see is a flawed megalomaniac. He only understands getting his way, and has no inclination to approach complex world problems with a reasonable attitude that would keep us safe and prosperous.
TOM MCMANUS, ROSWELL
We must broaden boundaries, humanity
Given the presently most divisive environment in the land, the editorial “Learning a better way,” from May 1 is truly inspirational and enlightening. The message especially addresses those who are “angry and fearful,” inclined to see their own “realities, truthful or otherwise,” and others as “enemies, not as fellow people of good will, who simply believe differently.” Unfortunately, those with narrow perspectives are less likely to read or internalize the message.
The editorial asks that we discover anew our “common humanity,” the most important trait that we all share from birth to death, despite our self-selected mutations in between. With that emphasis, let’s seek and encourage more and more of our fellow humans who broaden their vistas and who are willing to expand their boundaries. Or else, by alienating those who are viewed as “others” or “less human,” we alienate ourselves and diminish our own humanity.
Indeed, our boundaries seem to be expanding. A recent GlobeScan poll for the BBC reveals a majority (51 percent) of people in the world identify themselves as “global citizens.”
S.M. GHAZANFAR, ACWORTH
Trump correct about nation-building business
I am not a Trump fan. However, unlike Jay Bookman and other commentators, I see no contradiction in Trump’s philosophy of “getting out of the nation-building business and instead focusing on creating stability in the world”.
Some countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, etc. have shown they are not sufficiently unified and civilized to function as a democracy. They need a strong, autocratic leader to maintain internal order and stability. Thus, it is in America’s best interests to leave such leaders in place, as long as they do not try to go outside of their national boundaries.
This and other goals or policies espoused by Trump (e.g. helping our middle class, which is an essential strength of our democracy, and de-emphasizing social issues) should be key elements of the new Republican Party, which will have to reconstruct itself after Trump destroys the party in the 2016 election.
RON KURTZ, ALPHARETTA
About the Author
