ENVIRONMENT
Romney energy plan ignores real costs
The recent article about Mitt Romney predicting energy independence for North America by 2020 illustrates an illusion that is detached from reality and prevailing attitudes globally (“Romney touts offshore drilling,” News, Aug. 24).
For decades, U.S. presidents have promised energy independence, but the only way we’re going to achieve it is by reducing our appetite for fossil fuels. Initiatives like the Barack Obama administration’s increased fuel economy standards are a great start. Legislation that puts a price on carbon emissions and returns the revenue to the public is another key step that will offer an incentive to develop domestic alternatives that don’t destroy the environment. The jobs of the future are in renewable energy and efficiency initiatives. Romney’s plan is a misguided and dangerous fairy tale that ignores the costs of our fossil fuel addiction.
BRANDON SUTTON, ATLANTA
COLUMNISTS
Gail Collins should be added to AJC lineup
I would like to second a letter writer’s suggestion (“Gail Collins entertains as well as informs,” Readers write, Opinion, Aug. 23). With the unfortunate loss of Molly Ivins a few years back, Collins has become — by far — my favorite liberal columnist. I wish you would include her column in the AJC. I have nothing against your current crop from the left (I read them all), but Collins is head and shoulders above the pack. Perhaps you could replace one of your existing female columnists with Collins’ column. She is so entertaining that it is a shame I have to go to another website to catch her writing.
RON CURRENS, ATLANTA
CHARACTER
Our society is losing its values, morality
It’s appalling to see that as a society, we are losing our character, morality and values. In this world of greedy chief-executive officers and power-hungry politicians, lying has become the norm. Now we find hospitals and educational institutions jumping on the bandwagon.
Why are we paying millions of dollars to football players who take pride in and get special bonuses for intentionally hurting players on other teams? Why are we paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to school principals and hospital administrators who justify cheating and lying to the public? Where is the outrage?
The schools, universities and teachers we entrust to mold young minds are busy committing character suicides at an unprecedented rate, and covering the facts with lies and false documentation. Is it not a shame that we have no one left with a clear conscience to teach young minds our grandmothers’ lessons: do not lie, tell the truth, help others and find happiness in giving and not possessing?
If we do not change as a society, we will find ourselves at a crossroads where differentiating lies from truth will become an impossible task.
ASHOK KAKADE, CARROLLTON
