Regulations keep irresponsibility in check
Why can’t we get rid of bad ideas? U.S. Sen. David Perdue writes that now we can get rid of “the regulatory regime that’s has been sucking the life out of the free-enterprise system.” Actually, the so called free-enterprise system has sucked the life out of the American people. After the Great Depression, regulations were passed to prevent irresponsible corporate behavior. Those regulations, while under constant assault, kept us relatively safe for almost 80 years. Then in 2008, irresponsible corporate behavior crashed the system again, once more sucking the life out of middle-class Americans. We’ve only had eight years to recover. Do we have to have another crash to get rid of this bad idea?
DON LEE, LAWRENCEVILLE
Reid retiring a cleansing political event
That anyone would quote Sen. Harry Reid and give him kudos for burdening Trump with the task of bringing us together has already killed their argument. But that’s what E.J. Dionne Jr. does in his contribution to the Left’s Chicken Little meltdown (“Bannon’s new job just one sign of the trouble to come,” Opinion, Nov. 18). The retiring Sen. Reid has been one of the most divisive, partisan, opportunistic people to serve in the Senate. A man who knowingly lies (e.g., “Romney hasn’t paid taxes in 10 years”) and then relishes the results. To correct Dionne, one need look no further than Reid for “defining down what we have a right to expect from our leaders.” To recast the column’s title: Reid is one sign of the trouble that’s been. His departure from the Senate may be the single most cleansing political event of the 21st century thus far.
GREGORY MARSHALL, MARIETTA
How will Trump respond to climate change?
Drought. A new normal as the climate changes. Water restrictions. An inconvenience, but with manageable solutions. Looking beyond Georgia’s water headlines, one can view much more serious water problems worldwide. Drought preceded conflict in Syria which led to war and the refugee crisis. Drought in Africa, which is not easily managed, lead to massive migrations, death and misery. Military leaders call climate change a threat multiplier. In Georgia, crops and drinking water are threatened. Throughout the world, war, famine and migration threaten civic stability with grave consequences for the economy and our military. Will President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican majorities in Congress respond to this threat? Putting a price on the harmful carbon pollution that underlies our water shortages would, over time, reverse these changes. Just as importantly, market forces would bolster cleaner energy, efficiency and grow jobs and the economy in the process. A clean, healthy environment can be had with minimal regulation and is a win-win for Georgians and our world.
JEFF JOSLIN, ATLANTA
Clinton should admit she was flawed candidate
In the aftermath of Hillary Clinton’s defeat, the press and pundits are trying to figure out what happened. The most recent opinion being thrown out is Facebook’s fake news. There’s one problem: it won’t stick.
At some point, you must look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. The lost election can be blamed on one person. Her name is Hillary Clinton. In a bigly way, the Democrats nominated a very flawed candidate. How so? Start with her husband and end with email. Of course, in between there were many issues. Democrats, do yourself a favor — do not blame it on a whitelash — as a white man, I take offense to that. Do not blame it on the uneducated. I didn’t have to take a poll to know that many highly educated wealthy people voted for Donald Trump. Don’t blame it on Comey. At the onset of your email woes, if you were candid with the American public, it would have been a non-issue.
Secretary Clinton, do the Democrats a favor: Have a press conference and own up to the fact that you were a flawed candidate. It will allow them to get over their grief and move on.
KEN LEEBOW, MARIETTA
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