If cash doesn’t buy influence, why give?
According to lawmakers, the contributions they received leading up to the recent tax vote didn’t influence them (“Money flowed before big vote,” News, April 22). Ergo, the business owners who made them must be stupid and spending their money to no effect. Let’s remember that the next time a politician tells us how much they trust businessmen to benefit our society if they are left free to make decisions unfettered by oversight or regulation. Either businesses are run by stupid people who can’t be trusted with our economy or political contributions achieve what they’re meant to. Either way, we’re being had.
Bob Wolfson, Marietta
At last, a Legislature immune to temptation
The recent article on our trustworthy lawmakers brought to mind something I felt needs to be said (“Money flowed before big vote,” News, April 22).
I have lived all of my 85 years in Georgia (with the exception of two years in the service), and just want to say how lucky I am to live where our elected representatives don’t need any restrictive laws to protect them from succumbing to the temptations of lobbyist money.
I am relieved to know that the wonderful members of our Legislature are immune to the temptation that surrounds them daily under the Gold Dome and elsewhere.
I don’t see that we need any laws regarding influence peddling, for we are truly blessed in Georgia with a unique group of people immune to that sort of thing. It is amazing to behold and I’m glad to see such a group once before I die.
GENE RHODES, ROSWELL
Feds have a role to play in free enterprise
A reader wrote that he was upset that a big deal is being made about dogs in the presidential election, instead of the more serious issues of the day (“Election too critical to be left to the dogs,” Readers write, Opinion, April 25). The writer repeated talking points about how the federal government is infringing on his rights under the Constitution and how the government should get out of his way so he can succeed or fail on his own.
I challenge those who say these things to make a specific list of all of the ways the federal government gets in your way or infringes on your rights. The government has a role to play in the free enterprise system. When the government shirks that role (as it did under the George Bush administration), we end up with a near collapse of our economy. I do not want to repeat history.
Mike Haremski, Tucker
Obama’s team a lot better than Bush’s
How stupid to refer to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Harry Reid as the “Three Stooges” after the George Bush-Dick Cheney administration (“Political humor,” Readers write, Opinion, April 22). I could point out dozens of examples of lousy decisions, lies and incompetence perpetrated by that administration.
The current crop of Republicans are focused on all the wrong things, while the Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to help rebuild the economy, make health care accessible and pass reforms to help, not harm the country.
Eric Pearson, Atlanta
Response to “Romneys sing different tune when with rich pals.” Opinion, April 22
Maureen Dowd used inflammatory and critical language. Why not be clear about what the issue is? Is it possible to be compassionate, caring and concerned about another human being without personally experiencing what another is suffering? The answer is “yes.” God set in motion a biological plan that politics and law cannot change. Women bear the children and a parent (mom or dad) makes the best caretaker. Why can’t parents who make that sacrifice be respected — rich or poor? Peggy Fagre, Acworth
