PUBLIC SPENDING
Atlanta should focus
on things that matter
At the same time our city officials are contemplating building a $1 billion dollar stadium (“Stadium lobbyists give officials perks,” News, Nov. 13), elsewhere, city officials are also investigating the cause of the crash of a rebuilt police helicopter (“Copter investigation will be long, detailed,” News, Nov. 13).
Where are the priorities of our city leaders?
DAVE CURRY, ATLANTA
BIPARTISANSHIP
GOP shares blame
for gridlock in D.C.
Regarding “Romney offered to work with other side” (Readers write, Opinion, Nov. 12), the reason President Obama did not say anything about working with Republicans is that for four years, the GOP vowed to thwart every action the president put forth to make sure he did not win re-election. The do-nothing House did exactly that: They did absolutely nothing but fight President Obama — and look where it got them.
The Republican Party must look at every angle of their platform, and revise it to be inclusive ( not exclusive).
LINDA S. RHOADES, MARIETTA
HURRICANE SANDY
Obama missed chance
to help storm victims
President Obama missed a great opportunity to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.
By executive order, he could have mandated thousands of electrical workers (and workers from other fields) from surrounding states to converge on the storm ruins, to help restore power. He could have asked FEMA to arrange travel and lodging logistics for these workers as well.
GLEN LILLQUIST, MCDONOUGH
POLITICS
Moderate voices lost
amid activist clamor
As pundits try to figure out why Mitt Romney lost to President Obama, it might be instructive to examine the real problem that has bedeviled the Republican Party: the over-importance party activists have on the nominating process.
These activists are vociferous in their beliefs, and potential candidates know that to have any chance of getting elected, they have to embrace policies like promoting the outlawing of any and all abortion; open availability of weapons to anyone, any time; and a “let them eat cake” mentality concerning people who might need governmental support of any kind.
This stridency is so off-putting that moderates are left with either adopting these unappetizing beliefs — or voting for a seemingly more moderate candidate from another party. The fault lies not with these party activists who put their energy in nominating a standard-bearer, but with the laissez-faire attitude of the broad, moderate base of the party.
ERIC SANDBERG, ATLANTA
ELECTIONS
Romney loss means
diminished America
I came out of my political shell in January to hear the candidates. I listened; I thought, and I prayed. I voted for the candidate that could solve our problems in the long term. He lost.
Now, I will bear the consequences, along with the rest of our nation. I will survive, but with the knowledge that my grandchildren will never experience an America with all its opportunities and liberties that I have grown up in. It saddens me.
TED SCHLITZ, SMYRNA