Vets deserve long-overdue VA reform

As a military veteran, I’m dismayed to read yet another AJC story on the seriously flawed leadership at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (“VA’s contradictions on director’s fate point to a troubled culture,” News, Nov. 12). Shortcomings have been exposed by the AJC for years with no improvement. Since 2017, there have been six secretaries or acting secretaries of Veterans Affairs. The VA is the only lifeline available to many veterans, and many of us who are able try to not tax the system. On those few times I have used the VA, it is evident that inordinately long wait times for appointments and lack of concern by many employees is endemic. The revolving door at top positions must be closed, and oversight instituted to ensure more timely and better care for those who contributed so much to our country.

MICHAEL L. SHAW, STONE MOUNTAIN

Perhaps Walter Williams is correct in suggesting we adopt a South Africa-style Population Registration Act to help sort through the racial and sexual categories that he seems so afraid plague our society (“Liberal agenda on race, sex produces identity problem,” Opinion, Nov. 14). Malingerers, he worries, could fool the U.S. Army into assignments of less physically demanding combat over claims of gender declaration. Prisons might suddenly need to become unisex. Elizabeth Warren might even try to open a casino! But more than anything, Williams’ suggestion of eliminating racial and sexual declarations would help dispel the confusing anonymity of social media to the recruitment efforts of white supremacists, and prevent “racial fraud” so as not to confuse your run-of-the-mill white bigot with a black Nazi. Thank goodness for the reader that the AJC has already been proactive in this effort by printing photos of your illustrious contributors!

MARTIN MUTSCH, ROSWELL

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In this photo from 1997, then-U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. (in wheelchair), and fellow senators (left to right) Bob Kerrey, D-Neb.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; Charles Hagel, R-Neb.; John Kerry, D-Mass.; and Chuck Robb, D-Va. walk along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall behind the wreath they would lay to commemorate the 15th anniversary of groundbreaking for the memorial. All six senators served in Vietnam, and Cleland lost both legs and an arm in that war. (Rick McKay/Washington Bureau)

Credit: Rick McKay

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com