Deciding against Falcons PSLs
Tim Tucker’s expertly written article relating to Atlanta Falcons’ seat licenses, or PSLs, captures well the issues and related fan frustrations (“Fans put down $7.5 million,” News, March 29). Mr. Tucker’s article should serve as a warning to team owner Arthur Blank and his marketing lieutenants not to be romanced into believing that the average fan will embrace things in the manner in which some have thus far, especially since many of those payments were made from corporate checkbooks. As a longtime season ticket holder, our decision not to buy the PSLs is more pragmatic and mathematical than emotional. As I calculate it, I will be able to buy brokered seats at twice my current ticket price, go to every regular season game and still not hit a $10,000 PSL spend for over 15 years.
GEORGE LEVINS, ALPHARETTA
A nod to free-range parenting
Bravo to Gracie Bonds Staples for her article (“Pluses of free-range parenting”, News, March 29) for taking a stance against overprotective parents and for free-range parenting. I guess it takes a real southern girl to show some common sense. Some will argue against such saying the world and times have changed. I say parenting has changed and not necessarily for the better. Being a child of WWll generation of parents, I was given a wide swath of boundaries to explore. I respected my parents and other adults and did not abuse the privilege because I new there would be unpleasant consequences. Over the years I developed a great deal of confidence, self sufficiency and independence. Today there is unbound praise (trophies, medals and ribbons?) for children who simply show up. No wonder we have a young generation of self-centered, helpless kids.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
Marijuana science should come first
The Georgia legislature succumbed to the pressure this year and passed a “medical marijuana” bill. Pressure was brought mostly brought by fearful people who are convinced it is just the thing needed for their loved ones’ suffering from a disease whose symptoms have not responded to traditional medications. One thing that bothers me about this action is that it is being taken with little, if any, scientific basis. The evidence supporting it is anecdotal. Why should THC not be treated like any other chemical proposed for human use as a drug? The FDA has a process for approving drugs and regulating their use after much data has been collected and a systematic scientific evaluation has been performed. If marijuana contains a chemical that can alleviate suffering, I am good with that. But let’s get the horse back in front of the wagon and do the science first. A regulated drug should not be put on the market by legislative action just because anxious people think it “works.”
JIM IRVIN, CANTON
