NNIVERSARY OF 9/11
On this, the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, it is hoped that many will proudly fly the red, white and blue from their car windows, as we did on that fateful day in 2001. So much has changed since that day — but hopefully, our patriotism and love for this country have only grown. Come on, America. Show your true colors!
Pat Brannon, Duluth
Let’s seize opportunity to love, help one another
Is it possible, even now, to acknowledge that it was the World Trade Center that was bombed, and that our trading partners from all over the world died there?
That event was (and still is) an opportunity to grieve with the families of these, our friends and partners — and to work together to learn how to love, appreciate and help each other in our daily lives together on this little ball.
Susanne Dabney, Atlanta
Airline industry’s response not on target
Ten years after Sept. 11, what have the airlines learned about safety and security? Nothing.
The Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration have engaged in pseudo-security measures such as targeting children and seniors in wheelchairs, and other actions — such as a pat-down I received in San Diego, along with a comment that I needed to buy some plastic underwire bras.
As an airline crew member, I believe there has not been a repeat of Sept. 11 strictly because of dumb luck — not because of current security measures.
BARBARA SPENCE ORSOLITS, SMYRNA
EDUCATION
Hope AJC will continue digging into college pay
“No recession in college pay” (News, Sept. 4) was a nice eye-opener on excessive higher education salaries.
What I discovered with a child attending an “elite” university was how seldom he had a tenured professor in the classroom.
Most of his instructors were in their late 20s, while the tenured profs were off writing or doing “research.”
Interestingly, the instructors were quite capable — leading me to wonder what exactly the professors could add to justify their high pay. One possibility is “prestige.”
Few parents know anything at all about teaching-staff credentials. How about a follow-up article? Jim Dillon, Atlanta
POLITICS
America’s leaders need to tell us the hard truth
Thomas Friedman’s column (“Cold War could’ve been a role model,” Opinion, Sept. 9) eloquently explains why any solution to America’s current problems will inevitably require painful sacrifice by all Americans.
Friedman then calls upon President Barack Obama to set an example — by telling Americans this cold, hard truth, even though doing so could be political suicide. This is not enough.
Leaders from both parties should come clean with the American public. These so-called “leaders” will not do so unless the American public demands it. Everyone who understands the situation, regardless of political affiliation, should demand this. Any spokesperson for any political party who refuses to support painful sacrifice, for the benefit of all, is a coward and a liar. Such spokespersons are worthy of the scorn and contempt of the American people. BILL FOKES, BRASELTON
JOBS
Business owners express unease over Obama
I read with interest the article “Recession over; jobs still elusive” (Business, Sept. 4).
In my job as a management consultant, I work with many owners of small and medium-sized businesses.
What these people tell me routinely is that they could hire more employees, but they are reluctant to do it while President Barack Obama is in office. He simply represents too much political uncertainty.
The health care law is presented as “exhibit A” in this argument. Nobody knows how much it will ultimately cost to hire a new employee, so it’s best to be cautious.
From my perspective, it seems obvious that liberal policies do not create jobs, and the current administration is the main reason that jobs have not recovered in the private sector.
Many people do not want to hear this, but it is the reality.
Craig Cochran, Kennesaw
Recovery unlikely with Obama in office
As a retired business owner and consultant to many small businesses, I know that the real creator of jobs in the private sector is more business — customers demanding more of a company’s goods and services. Lower payroll taxes, hiring incentives, cheaper bank loans and other things government can do may help a little, but they are not creators of strong job markets. Customers (and businesses) are holding back on purchasing of goods and services because they fear what the future may hold. They have lost faith in government programs to stimulate the economy and they have no confidence in President Obama’s ability to fix anything.
Given the situation, methinks the only economic recovery plan from President Obama that consumers and businesses in the private sector would get excited about would be for him to announce he is not seeking a second term as president. If that were to happen, the economy would recover.
LEON WHITE, MARIETTA
Students should choose majors that will pay off
Regarding “The young ‘recalibrate’ job dreams” (News, Sept. 4), one of the students or graduates mentioned was a history major, another a theology major.
They made poor career choices in today’s reality, and the chance of their prospects improving soon is dim.
This should be a lesson to all students: Focus first on a major with good employment prospects, and focus second on your dream.
Christopher Johnston, Dunwoody
GLOBAL WARMING
Climate scientists aren’t talking nonsense
It amazes me that there are people in this country who, instead of believing independent scientists with training in climate science, will believe a radio talk-show host with no training in climate science. All these people need to do is look out their window and remember what the prediction for global warming is: crazier weather.
Bruce Hansen, Stone Mountain
HEALTH CARE
Destitute patients given a death sentence
The letter clarifying the shortened life expectancies of the former Grady dialysis patients (“As a society, we have to make a decision,” Readers write, Sept. 7) should be printed in huge letters on a full page of the AJC.
These patients have indeed been given a death sentence.
I can only assume the lack of public outcry on this issue is a result of not understanding the impact of the decision to discontinue funding for the dialysis treatments.
Lynn Payne, Decatur
