Public trust
Georgia too obsessed with privatization
Although the individuals named in your article “Partnerships help parks cut costs, raise revenue” (Metro, Dec. 28) deserve praise for their imaginative way to raise revenue for Cloudland Canyon State Park, it’s alarming to read that the Department of Natural Resources has suffered a 30 percent drop in funding since 2008. The article bodes ill for the future of the public trust in Georgia. Once government starts backing away from its responsibilities, our officials will refuse to ever shoulder those obligations again.
The Georgia state government has become obsessed with privatizing the public trust heedless of the people’s future. We must insist that our elected officials stop this runaway privatizing of that which belongs to the public, resist the intrusion of business interests into our affairs of government, and protect and improve our environment. STEVE WILKERSON, LILBURN
Politics
House members must learn to compromise
Our system of government (specifically, the legislative branch) was founded on the need for compromise. That principle has been hijacked by a minority of dissident Republicans in the House of Representatives elected as tea party candidates. They have proven themselves to be intransigent, obstructionist ideologues unwilling to compromise or govern — to the great detriment of the average Joe. The best way to “take our government back” is to remove them as soon as we can, for more moderate representatives who are willing to serve in the best interest of all segments of society — even if it means compromise. WILLIAM JORDAN, LAWRENCEVILLE
After 9/11
Assistance for military veterans appreciated
The PolitiFact Georgia story “First lady overstates president’s role in veterans assistance bill” (Metro, Dec. 29) labels the president’s wife’s statement as “half true,” in part because in 2008 Sen. Barack Obama supported the bill “along with most other members of Congress.” The story states that the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act “was opposed by President Bush and Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, who feared the generous education perk might hurt military retention.”
While true, the story omits the critically important fact that all seven Republican congressmen from Georgia opposed the bill in a vote on May 15, 2008, and both senators publicly opposed the bill. After significant criticism, they changed their minds and voted for the final bill. But, unlike President Obama, they did so only for political expediency and not because they thought veterans deserved improved benefits. I appreciate those who voted for the new benefits, since I am using them to further my education at the University of Georgia. STATE REP. SCOTT HOLCOMB, D-Atlanta, Army Veteran
