RACE RELATIONS
Columnist overstates
black-on-white attacks
Thomas Sowell fails to note that most violent crimes are not only intra-racial, but between people who know each other (“Need honest talk about black-on-white violence,” Opinion, Oct. 29).
Cases of interracial violence, such as the Trayvon Martin case and the incidents that Mr. Sowell cited, are the statistical outliers — not the norm. One could say that the best way to prevent being the victim of a violent crime is to never date, have friends, have children or get married, given how often it is that close family members and friends, rather than random strangers, are the perpetrators of violence.
LEAH MICKENS, ATLANTA
COMMENTARY
Artist owes apology
for Challenger sketch
Several people have complained about Mike Luckovich’s cartoons crossing the line between humor and being disgusting.
Apparently, IOKIYAR (It’s O.K. If You Are Republican). To use an image like that of the Challenger disaster in an attempt at political humor is disrespectful to the heroes who died in that tragedy (Opinion, Oct. 27).
Michael Ramirez owes the families of those astronauts a sincere apology.
RICK CLAUSSEN, ATLANTA
HEALTH CARE
Amateurish process
preceded web launch
The explanation and analysis in the Truth-O-Meter article on testing of the Obamacare site (“Commentator’s goof in talking about glitches turns out right,” Metro, Oct. 26) was spot-on. Well done.
To introduce new and/or significantly modified software with a minimum of “glitches,” it is standard practice to conduct extensive testing months before a public launch. A timely “freeze” is routinely imposed on specification changes and additions prior to testing. It appears that these elements were not included as an integral part of the development and roll-out of the Obamacare site. The process followed in this case was very amateurish — and certainly not worth the millions paid in our tax dollars.
I would estimate that 95 percent of the general population is not familiar with these key elements of software development. This article did a spot-on job of providing relevant details of such.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
TAXATION
Welcome to Georgia:
vehicle levies a shock
I moved from Montana to Georgia a few weeks ago. I still own property in Montana, but was told I had 30 days to get a Georgia drivers license and title and register my vehicles in this state. I was blown away when I was taxed just under $1,200 to title and register my 1999 car and 2007 truck. I have owned my Honda for 14 years, and they just taxed me?
I now have such a bad taste in my mouth over this tax, and how the state of Georgia treats those who move to their state. I didn’t just buy or sell a vehicle. It has been mine for years.
In retrospect, I should have continued the insurance, license, registration and title based on my Montana address. Your vehicle taxes have provided the state of Georgia with a black eye, and has this retiree wondering about the choices he has made.
Retirees: Beware, if you are considering moving to Georgia.
GREGORY PAULAUSKIS, MARIETTA
