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
