Cain’s take arrogant, offensive
Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain’s allegation that blacks are “brainwashed” for ignoring the Republican Party’s principles and platform smacks of the arrogance that his own party constantly projects.
I personally take umbrage (as do many of my friends) at Cain’s implicit notion that intelligent and well-informed blacks are helplessly under the sway of the Democratic Party.
Apparently, Cain thinks that his personal financial acquisition gives him license to deride others who for good reasons see the Republican Party as an undesirable, exclusive club with a self-acclaimed birthright to lead this country.
Cain is not even a shadow of President Obama, who has a sense of history, insight and vision. Those qualities have endeared the president to Americans across the social/economic spectrum.
Contrary to Cain’s contorted view, it is precisely because blacks apply critical analysis that they will reject resoundingly his half-baked alternative tax policy.
As the campaign unfolds, Cain will be held accountable for his pitiful invective and the facile policies he advocates.
Earle St. Aubin Scarlett, Atlanta
Anti-rail column trite, omits important facts
Ronald Utt in his opinion column (“A new Amtrak station is a waste of money,” Oct. 11) has provided the latest in a long string of anti-passenger rail diatribes to come out of the Heritage Foundation and similar organizations. He just added a little local Atlanta slant to it.
What Utt doesn’t discuss is that all forms of public transportation are subsidized. Airlines don’t build airports or employ air traffic controllers; they just nickel and dime the traveler for everything from pillows to peanuts.
Who pays for the 33 percent of the FAA operating budget that air travelers don’t? Taxpayers do — even those of us who don’t or won’t fly.
Let’s take that money and apply it to current high-speed rail technology that could go from Atlanta to Charlotte, Birmingham or Savannah in three hours or less, eliminating the need for many shorter airline flights.
A recent report by the Public Interest Research Group concludes that highway “user fees” (fuel taxes, tolls, etc.) only pay half of the long-term cost of building and maintaining highways and that is consistent with other studies through the years.
We have an immediate example of that principle right now with the HOT lanes, which even GDOT admits will never pay for themselves.
Tax dollars must be spent wisely during thin and no-so-thin times, but let’s have all the facts and make transportation decisions based upon balanced plans that truly make the best use of resources.
STEVE VOGEL, PRESIDENT, GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
