Sports
As the golf world remembers the 25th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ Masters victory, I’d like to pass on the following true story.
Back in the early 1980s, my wife and I attended the Doral Open in Miami. At the end of the day, we were having a cocktail on the far edge of the Doral Country Club patio.
As we sat and sipped, we observed Jack Nicklaus walking along a garden path. As he approached our table he stopped, greeted us, and asked if we were enjoying the tournament. After a short conversation he thanked us for coming out and supporting the tournament. To say the least, we were awestruck! Imagine that — a person of Jack’s stature stopping to chat and thank a young couple for coming out and supporting the PGA Tour.
Here’s a tip of our caps to the Golden Bear as he enters his golden years! He’s one of the greatest golfers ever — and a gentleman, too.
Bob Conover, Marietta
POLITICS
Criticizing our leaders is a right unrelated to race
The implication in “So glad Tucker has gone to bat for Obama” (Readers write, Opinion, April 3) is troublesome: “Is there still prejudice in the South? Is that why so many people are so ready to criticize our president?” the writer asks.
This writer is misguided. “Our president” is no avatar. He’s a politician. It behooves us, therefore, to watch him closely, and to freely criticize him when he embarks on extra-constitutional ventures like attacking other nations without consulting Congress and without senatorial approval.
Moreover, the right to criticize politicians is no frippery. It is a hallowed right. It is enshrined in our sacred Bill of Rights. It is a right which keeps us all free. The notion that criticism of a president is racist or declasse is specious and dangerous.
It is especially specious and especially dangerous when the politician is a gifted orator. Beware of politicians and their siren songs. Herbert Shafer, Sandy Springs
Bigger problems than those listed by Tucker
I agree in a way with Cynthia Tucker (“Wish we’d attack U.S. problems,” Opinion, April 3) in that the Obama administration has largely ignored serious domestic problems. The issue I have with Tucker’s column is that the problems she cites are not serious ones (or even relevant).
To ease her angst on defense spending, Tucker might wish to read the preamble to the Constitution. In that paragraph, the Founding Fathers defined one legitimate purpose of government clearly and explicitly — no judicial interpretation or activism needed.
In my reading of that document, and the ones that followed, I somehow missed the part on Head Start, government health care and enslaving the populace by making them dependent on government hand-outs. Len Cayce, Suwanee
PENSIONS
Don’t criticize retirees who did nothing wrong
Regarding “Pensions under water” (News, April 3), I feel sure that you meant to point out in this series the abuses by those who have extremely high pension incomes, or those who did not work as long as necessary to receive high pensions.
As this article pointed out, the formula for TRS pensions is well known — as are teacher salaries. I really don’t believe my neighbors need to know my current income. I would probably tell them if they asked, but few are that rude.
Some people have now questioned my right to have a retirement income and insurance benefits. They are angry that some of their tax dollars go there.
I worked in a profession where higher income was possible only through COLAs and step raises. I followed the rules and retired with enough income to meet my financial obligations. I planned ahead. I pay taxes.
What is the problem? Meredith Edmondson, Decatur
TAXES
Impose a fee for relying on illegal immigrants
Never mind the high jobless rate in Georgia. Let’s just say it really is necessary to import and support an illegal workforce to keep Georgia’s economy going. Who’s supposed to pay the costs? Instead of citizens paying through regular and special purpose sales taxes, income and property taxes, how about hitting up the big users for the costs of the illegal labor pool? Let’s impose impact fees (on agribusiness and construction companies, for instance).
Businesses crying out against legislative control of the illegal labor pool should pay their fair share. Taxpayers have done that already — and then some. Roger Carter, Woodstock
BUDGET
Now is the time to realize need to cut defense costs
We are now entering a period when we have the greatest chance in years to make real progress on cutting the bloated military budget. The current budget discussions provide a rare opportunity to address military spending in general, and misguided nuclear weapons spending in particular.
In 2011, we should take advantage of the favorable climate to discuss budget priorities and help the voting public come to see that billions of dollars spent on weapons will not make us safer, but will, in fact, put our health and security at risk.
According to Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” Darren Ginn, Atlanta
