GOVERNANCE
President’s vacations are really a non-issue
I don’t understand all the angst about President Obama — or any previous president, for that matter — being on “vacation.”
The president is still the president no matter where he is, surrounded by all of the communications and decision-making tools required for the job. When the president goes somewhere to relax, the keys to the White House aren’t handed off to the vice president. The president is always “on duty,” whether in the Oval Office — or on the 7th hole of the golf course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
DAVID PORTER, PEACHTREE CITY
BIPARTISANSHIP
To govern, we must be willing to compromise
Thank you for publishing the statements of U.S. Sen. Chambliss and Rep. Johnson (“High time to do what’s right,” Opinion, Sept. 6, and “Governing means seeking solutions,” Opinion, Sept. 6), reminding us that our constitutional republic was founded on the idea that with a legislative body of two houses, checked and balanced by a separate executive branch, the overriding principle for progress and reform is the necessity for compromise between differing agendas.
With varying degrees of success, that principle has worked well until the recent elections of certain extremist ideologues who seek to rule from the minority and impose a system of government by temper tantrum, and who have proclaimed “compromise” to be a “dirty word.”
I don’t believe these ultra-conservatives could have passed my high school civics class. As I look at the field of Republican successors to Sen. Chambliss’ office, I tremble in fear.
KURT OHBERG, ATLANTA
MILITARY SERVICE
Politicians should tell why they didn’t serve
In a letter submitted to “Q&A on the news” (Metro, Aug. 30), a question was asked regarding the percentage of members of Congress and the Cabinet who have military experience. I believe this question was submitted because it has become painfully obvious our political leaders are no longer our best, brightest and courageous. It is hard to understand who is leading anything inside the Beltway.
The response stated, in part, that 19.6 percent of Congress has served or is serving in the military.
Not everyone is suited to serve in our combat arms, but our military provides many areas of service not combat-related. My question is, “If you want to be a political leader in our great country but chose not to serve in our military, why did you not?”
Leadership in our country is developed through our armed forces — not at law schools or colleges of business. It seems that politics has become a career path all to itself, and this generation seems to be headed in the wrong direction, with personal courage lacking. I am concerned.
BLAIR TIGHE, JOHNS CREEK
