EMPLOYMENT
Goal of government never has been profit
J.D. Holmes’ letter concerning the “pitfall of collective bargaining” makes one glaring omission (“Story illustrates a pitfall of collective bargaining,” Readers write, Opinion, March 22). Public unions represent government employees, and profit has never been (nor will it ever be) a goal of government.
F.M. Ashmore, McDonough
STADIUM
Don’t forget how bad the old experience was
Does anyone involved with the proposed new open-air football stadium recall the days when the Falcons played outside? It’s time to come down from the luxury box, and consider the open-air experience of a normal fan during a December game in a chilling rain (which would also include the extra hike to and from MARTA).
The proposed stadium will be leaving a large group of Falcons stakeholders literally out in the cold. If history repeats itself, those stakeholders will eventually vote with their feet — and the result will be under-attended Falcons games with no local TV broadcast.
John Trent, Atlanta
HOPE
Deal, poor education fit perfectly together
Nothing much has changed in Georgia since I arrived here in 1962. Minorities are now to be excluded from the HOPE scholarship program (that is paid for by the majority of minorities). Check the numbers and one can see that the lobbyists get more bang for their “buck” than the minorities get for their “gamble.”
The Legislature has been cutting corners on education for years. They are working on cutting trees, selling booze, and defunding ethics reform — while ignoring the one basic need for this state — education.
Georgia will continue to be a “loser” state. “Come to Georgia and enjoy poor education” should be the billboard next to Nathan Deal’s face at every border!
Mike McGowan, Peachtree City
GOVERNMENT
We must stand up, say: No more money for war
The United States is out of money. We are broke. We are being told that programs must be cut to balance the budget — programs affecting education, transportation, food and medical needs. And yet, we have bombed yet another country that did not attack us — costing millions of dollars. Enough is enough. It is way past time for the American public to stand up and say to all these idiots: We have no more money for war. William E. Lynch, Adairsville
ENVIRONMENT
Billboards would make Lady Bird sad these days
Having just driven on I-75 south from Atlanta, I noted that the otherwise pleasant landscape was marred by the hundreds of double-decked billboards on both sides of the highway. Lady Bird Johnson, who worked diligently to beautify borders of interstates, would be appalled at the visual pollution that has taken place at the hands of commercial interests. I hope never to drive that section of that highway again. What were Georgians thinking in allowing this to happen? Maybe I expect too much. Perhaps they weren’t thinking.
Steve Franks, Hendersonville, N.C.
