Cartoonist
Luckovich’s voice needs to be balanced
“Readers write” of Sept. 9 (Opinion) contained a letter complaining of “anti-Obama propaganda” in the cartoons by Michael Ramirez, and argued for a “more rational guest cartoonist ... who can raise the level of discourse.” What — and leave all the propaganda to Mike Luckovich?
Today’s AJC has more sense than that.
Clayton Farnham, Atlanta
U.S. neighborhoods
We should all ask ‘What has happened?’
Upon returning home recently from an errand, I pulled over to pick up some trash near my neighborhood. A young man approached me from the nearby convenience store to ask what I was doing. Upon explaining that I was just trying to do whatever I could to take care of my neighborhood, he said that he had just returned from overseas after several years of deployment, and wondered if I might answer a question for him. He asked, “What has happened to my country since I left?” Both of us became quite tearful. All I could say was that there are at least two of us left who still care, and that’s a great start. I was proud to have crossed his path, and pray that there are many more like him.
It seems that the tragedy of Sept. 11 briefly brought the nation together, but we have since begun to fragment and drown in political muck — while people like this have risked it all, and sometimes look back and wonder why. The young man I crossed paths with deserves better.
Paul Allen, Norcross
Editorials
Columns by Krugman give a touch of reason
Thank you for your new editorial pages. I was beginning to think that you were going the way of Fox News, as your editorials were becoming more and more slanted to the right.
I especially commend you for adding Paul Krugman’s column. His is a voice of reason that is sorely needed in these chaotic times. It is good to be able to hear all sides in national discussion — and not just the loudest voices.
Mary Bagwell, Atlanta
Stimulus money
In these times, excuses for not spending lame
In my opinion, anybody receiving stimulus money and socking it away for fear of the future is making himself or herself a big part of the problem in this economy. Shame on anyone who does this. It is, indeed, holding our country hostage in a time of great need. This includes schools, as well as other businesses.
Excuses for not using this money are lame at best.
Phyllis Glover, Waco
Economy
U.S. must be willing to invest in its future
Jump-starting the economy will take investment. If there was ever a time for us to forgo partisan politics, it is now. America must be willing to invest in its own future. Education, small business, clean energy, and those who lead in science and technology are America’s future.
If Congress acts and speaks positively about the American Jobs Act, consumers and businesses will respond accordingly by spending and investing. Congress asked President Barack Obama to lead, and he has fulfilled his obligation to the country. It is now time for Congress to become leaders for the American people and put measures in place that will balance the contribution and sacrifice for all Americans.
Benita West, Stone Mountain
