Readers Write, 9/30

POLITICS

Arrogance is a major danger to America

I despise the arrogance that dominates current political discussions. We have arrogant politicians, arrogant talk show hosts, arrogant slogans and even an arrogant “Tea Party” movement. Why is there so much arrogance? This is largely because arrogant speakers create strong emotions (usually hatred), which motivates an unhappy public to take action.

The speaker can seem to be intellectually superior by insulting all opposition to his or her suggested action. This appeals to confused and uninformed people, who decide to follow the speaker and thus become arrogant themselves. Simply stated, arrogant leaders combine ignorance and meanness to obtain power.

Arrogance produces negative, destructive attacks, rather than positive, creative solutions. Thus, arrogance works much like terrorism. I am convinced that political arrogance is more dangerous to America than terrorism. We should fight political arrogance just as vigorously as we fight terrorism. Arrogance can be destroyed with mutual respect.

Bill Fokes, Braselton

POLITICS

Turncoat Democrats should rethink loyalty

The Democratic candidates who seek election this fall and who distance themselves from President Obama and his agenda (which he was elected to pursue) are a disgrace to the party and the country as a whole.

It takes courage to make tough decisions in these hard times. To abandon the president in these perilous days is indeed a disgrace. The president needs the support of all Democrats if he is to be successful in correcting the chaos he inherited.

What do these turncoat Democrats think they will do in Washington if the president is not successful and is not reelected in 2012? They will be sitting on their hands, while the Republicans dismantle all the progress we have made in just two years.

Lyman Delk, Atlanta

POLITICS

Term limits only thing that can save Congress

Bob Barr’s comments on the “GOP Pledge” are well taken (“GOP ‘Pledge’ is no game-changer,” Opinion, Sept. 27) . I remember the “Contract With America” and its early success. I also remember with great sadness what happened very soon after the early reforms were accomplished. These idealists learned the stark reality of our Congress, whose main job is to get re-elected. Idealism slowly fades, compromise becomes the order of the day and struggling to get into committees the chief object.

By the end of two years (maybe earlier), it became obvious that the new folks looked and acted just like those who had been around awhile. So, the main piece of legislation of the Contract was the one that failed: term limitation. I fear that it will never pass, for when it does, Congress as we know it will no longer exist. Probably everyone in the nation knows that would be a good thing; except, of course, the congressmen themselves.

Richard Stewart, Doraville