Let Forsyth road tolls pay for local projects
In “Use toll funds to build an overpass in Forsyth” (Readers write, Opinion, June 17), a writer stated Ga. 400 tolls should be used to build an overpass at Ga. 369 in Forsyth County. The Ga. 400 toll booths were constructed in Atlanta for temporary collection to fund a section of Ga. 400. The toll was approved with the condition that the toll be removed when the construction costs were repaid.
We should never have a double standard of justice that robs Peter to pay Paul by using money collected mostly from Atlanta and Fulton County residents to pay for projects miles away in Forsyth and other counties. Highway projects should be funded in a manner equitable for all Georgians. Commissioners in Forsyth and other counties have the option to implement local tolls there to pay for sorely needed projects, or to fund them through the normal means used for all other Georgia highways.
Georgia’s governor has the power to remove the Ga. 400 toll — but he has chosen to break his pledge to do so.
Garland Favorito, Roswell
Why not expand on de facto control?
Regarding “Presidents shouldn’t fear appointing activist judges” (Opinion, June 17), hurrah for George Will’s call for more activist judges (right-thinking Republicans, of course). With the right president, we can move from de facto control of the country by megacorporations and billionaires to a completely de jure operation — and the rest of us will scratch our heads and wonder whatever happened to “we, the people.”
Bob Hawkins, Duluth
Ban discrimination on pre-existing condition
Rep. Tom Price claims that HR 3000 would solve the insurance challenge of pre-existing conditions “through robust pooling opportunities” which somehow make insurance available and affordable to all, regardless of health status (“Patients should be put first,” Opinion, June 15). But, no matter how large the pool, it will always be in an insurance company’s interest to cleanse that pool of high-risk patients. The only known way to overcome this iron law of insurance is to ban discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, a step Republicans refuse to take and one that Price himself calls a terrible idea. Price is wrong.
GARY RATNER, ATLANTA
Don’t celebrate film that defamed region
Regarding the article on the “Deliverance” celebration (“Event to mark 40 years since ‘Deliverance’,” Living, June 17) No movie has ever been as defaming to a county, Georgia or a region than “Deliverance.” Celebrating this is absurd, and would only invite more viewers. Kudos to the Rabun County Commission for nixing funds for a festival.
Jim Hope, Norcross
MEDICARE
Response to “Goal: Coverage that won’t soak taxpayers,” Opinion, June 17
As a registered nurse with 30 years of patient-care experience, I was appalled by the misinformation in this piece. What does “soak” taxpayers is the unbridled extraction of public funds to private, for-profit, managed-care corporations that use people’s health care needs to make profits — while adding nothing to patient care or healthy outcomes. Adding another layer of private for-profit unaccountable bureaucracy is the problem — not the solution. Health care should not be a commodity, but a right. Public funds need to be used for the public good, not to enrich private companies. An improved federal Medicare for all of us is the first step toward a just and comprehensive health care system.
RITA VALENTI, Clarkston
