FEDERAL DEBT
Borrowing to pay bills only delays bankruptcy
President Obama is urging Congress to increase the debt ceiling. Well, I have news for Mr. Obama: Borrowing money to pay your bills is not paying your bills. It is simply transferring your bills from one creditor to another. It’s like using your Visa card to pay your American Express bill, and your MasterCard to pay your Visa bill. You might get by with it for a while, but sooner or later, your house of (credit) cards will come tumbling down. This is the direction in which our country is heading. Our ability to print money might stave off bankruptcy temporarily — but sooner or later, we’ll be another Detroit on a grander scale.
If our so-called political leaders were stupid, I might forgive them for what they’re doing to America, but they’re not. They just don’t care, as long as they get their fat salaries, incredible benefits and nearly lifetime tenure.
Wise up, America, and demand fiscal responsibility from our government before it’s too late.
RICHARD DOWIS, WALESKA
COMMENTARY
Call Obama a ‘phony’? Just look in the mirror
In his column “With phony like Obama, facts don’t really matter” (Opinion, Sept. 3), Thomas Sowell writes, “Like other truly talented phonies, Obama concentrates his skills on the effect of his words on other people — most of whom do not have the time to become knowledgeable about the things he is talking about. Whether what he says bears any relationship to the facts is politically irrelevant.”
It seems that Mr. Sowell could be writing about himself, as well as many other columnists of his ilk. Ironic.
KARL KONING, CUMMING
IMMIGRATION
Bill should welcome international students
As an educator at a university in the Atlanta area, I work with international students who struggle daily for the honor of studying here temporarily.
I stand with the majority of Americans in support of a common sense, comprehensive immigration bill with a clear, efficient and inclusive path to citizenship. The time is now for the House of Representatives to act. Anything less will be unacceptable to me and to the majority of other Americans.
A common sense bill would allow us to be more welcoming to talented international students. These students brought millions of dollars to Georgia in the 2011-12 academic year. I also see the incalculable academic and cultural benefits these students bring to my campus and our community. Unfortunately, as soon as we educate these nurses, entrepreneurs, teachers and scholars, we send them away.
I expect my representative, John Lewis, to stand up for what is right, and not let Washington politics get in the way of passing an immigration bill that is common sense and comprehensive in its approach.
BRETT REICHERT, ATLANTA
