PUBLIC AID
Food stamp recipients
poorly served by state
Many thanks to the AJC for its exposure of the Division of Family and Children Services’ failure to maintain a working call-in system for food stamp recipients renewing or applying for benefits (“Phone problems stall food stamps,” News, Oct. 18).
Among other outrages illustrated in the story was DFCS Director Sharon Hill’s callous, dismissive comment that clients who can’t get through by phone after hours of trying would just come into the office. Surely, she knew full well that her office staffers were turning recipients away.
Obviously, Ms. Hill should resign immediately — but there’s a deeper problem here. Georgia refuses to raise and allocate enough funds to operate state government services. The atrocity at DFCS is an example of what happens when voters turn government over to Republicans who don’t believe in government.
CHRIS MOSER, LITHONIA
Unlimited handouts
promote dependency
This is regarding the letter writer who accused Republicans of being “mean spirited” because the Georgia Public Service Commission wanted to add a $5 charge for “free” cell phones (“Mean-spirited ideology moves Ga. Republicans,” Readers write, Opinion, Oct. 18). That is a typical liberal “holier than thou” comment. Somehow, they think the GOP wants people to starve, and kids to die. I am sick and tired of the left telling us how mean and heartless we are because we don’t support unlimited handouts.
Although well intentioned when they started, programs such as welfare and food stamps have created a permanent dependency on “other taxpayers,” and this is now a way of life for generations. What we are sick of is continuing business as usual. In my opinion, what is mean spirited is giving people an incentive to not work, and to reward them for bad behavior.
There is a place for programs for the truly needy (which I support), but I would much rather have my money going to fixing the roads, bridges and schools than to be paying for cell phones.
GREG JOHNSON, JOHNS CREEK
COMMENTARY
Cartoonist’s bias is
offensive, not funny
I have to add my voice to the growing number of readers who have criticized Mike Luckovich.
One would expect a political cartoonist to be witty, and to provide satire regarding contemporary events. Unfortunately, Mr. Luckovich’s bias prevents any humor from coming across. Worse yet, his cartoons are often offensive.
For a newspaper that claims to be credible, compelling and complete, Mr. Luckovich’s work results in your coming up short.
ROBERT REID WEST SR., POWDER SPRINGS
