POLITICAL HIRES
Response to “A hiring strategy that needs work” Opinion, Oct. 28
The Georgians who elected Governor Deal knew that he was assuming office with personal financial problems. A man’s first obligation is to his family — not his employer ( in this case, the people of Georgia).
Governor Deal must make appointments now that will benefit him later when he ends his career as a so-called public servant. Hopefully, after he leaves office, he will be asked to involve himself in lucrative business opportunities with the people that became enriched from his appointments and executive actions. To ask him to waste this opportunity as governor, and not to improve his future financial position, is silly.
GERSON PAULL, ATLANTA
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Deal’s friends benefit
from ballot measures
Thank you for your analysis of some of Governor Deal’s appointments and the ultimate impact on the future of the state (“Deal hires close to home”, News, Oct. 28).
You have pretty much confirmed my decision to vote against charter schools and multi-year leases — simply because I am concerned that the real reason behind the amendments is the ultimate enrichment of the governor’s friends, at the expense of taxpayers.
ROBERT W. PEPPEL, TUCKER
If amendment passes,
not all kids will benefit
Regarding “Competition promises better kids’ education” (Readers write, Opinion, Oct. 28), a letter writer stated that “should the proposed amendment pass, the state will have the power to create competition for public schools. … Everyone will benefit.”
I disagree. “Everyone” will not benefit. Not every child in Georgia will benefit. The amendment’s passage will draw resources from traditional public schools which, by law, must serve all of Georgia’s students, to serve only the few. Some of those “few” who will be well-served will be corporations which will manage some of these state-created charter schools for profit.
Students never benefit when someone is making money from their education. Freedom of thought will be compromised in those charter schools, just as freedom of workers’ thoughts was compromised by the managers of corporations who directed their employees in how best to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Vote “no” to Amendment One — and then work to improve Georgia’s traditional public schools, aided by public charter schools that will work with them (not against them).
ELIZABETH HARTLEY FILLIAT, ALPHARETTA
ELECTIONS
‘Neither of the above’
should be an option
I think most of us believe in the democratic process (perhaps, too much so).
A democracy requires an informed electorate, and when people who can enthusiastically vote for a president who gave us two wars on two fronts; doubled the national debt; gave the richest 1 percent a multi-billion dollar tax break; committed war crimes, and believed the financial industry should be self-regulating, the whole concept of democratic government is called into question.
We don’t need change you can believe in. We need an entirely new paradigm — one in which militarism, nation-building and compulsive interventionism into the affairs of sovereign nations who displease us have no part.
Am I going to vote? Not for either one of these guys.
RON SLADE SR., COVINGTON
BENGHAZI ATTACK
Libya response shows
need for new leader
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I walked over to Manhattan’s Ninth Avenue from my office, to witness the World Trade Center towers fall.
Regrettably, I feel that our country is no more secure now than it was then. I believe our administration’s inadequate response to September’s deadly attacks on our consulate in Libya makes this point.
I really do not expect that reasonable Americans truly feel that a community organizer is better equipped than a seasoned businessman to solve our economic problems.
It is time for change — before it is too late.
JOHN LATIMER YOUNG, NEWNAN
