BANKING REFORM
Banking regulations must be enforced
A letter writer (“Reader agrees with Gingrich on Dodd-Frank,” Readers write, Opinion, Nov. 27) comes up with the usual arguments that bankers posit against the Dodd-Frank act — but the bottom line is, banks have been allowed to run rampant over the regulations that had been hard-won over the last decades.
In Georgia, we have the weakest rules and regulations — which is why we are No. 1 in bank failures. This is the best argument against letting any industry (but banks in particular) regulate themselves. Self-regulation has never worked, and never will.
Greed, exemplified by the good-ol’-boys board of directors, allowed bankers to make bad loans that were under-collateralized and doomed to fail.
When these banks failed, the American taxpayer paid the bill to clean up the mess — but the bankers didn’t lose a dime.
The fact that Newt Gingrich has the audacity to throw stones at Dodd-Frank makes him part of the problem.
Capitalism must have strong, reliable banks. This country cannot go through another 2008.
Deborah Heisman, Athens
LUCKOVICH
It’s wrong to poke fun at attacks on the Amish
Shame on the AJC for publishing a Mike Luckovich cartoon I found to be very insensitive, regarding the recent attacks on the Amish (Opinion, Nov. 27).
These are a peaceful people. The recent attacks by a splinter group should not be a cartoon subject.
William M. Anderson, Alpharetta
FEDERAL DEFICIT
No-new-taxes stance is unreasonable
Many people are upset with Saxby Chambliss for negotiating with the Democrats — but at least he’s doing something.
Apparently, most people in Georgia want no tax increases — even though the Democrats have demanded some increases as a condition of bargaining.
Taking a position of no new taxes is essentially like saying at the beginning of a compromise meeting, “We’ll reach an agreement only if you will agree with what I propose.” It’s unreasonable and unrealistic.
Very few Georgians would agree to or accept the spending cuts necessary without tax increases to get close to a balanced budget, assuming that is the goal (as it should be). No Republican will propose such cuts.
So, if a 10-to-1 ratio or even a 6-to-1 ratio of cuts to increases is available, any reasonable person would accept such a deal. Unfortunately, too many in our state are unreasonable.
Allen Buckley, Smyrna
TRANSPORTATION
Real progress unlikely without transit systems
Until Americans end their love affair with their personal vehicles and build good transit systems (rail, trams and buses within and between cities), there will be crowded highways — no matter how much is spent on widening and adding roads.
All major cities in the world, including those in the United States, have public transportation.
If Atlanta wants to become a “world-class city,” money should be spent on public transportation. It is not the size of the population that matters.
Josephine Maloney, Sandy Springs
GAMBLING
Baptist group’s input unneeded, unwelcome
I was certainly relieved to read that Ray Newman and the Georgia Baptist Convention members are working diligently to protect the citizens of Georgia from themselves by opposing HR186, which would open the door to horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia (“Gambling leads to dire results,” Opinion, Nov. 30).
I imagine the GBC is redoubling its efforts on this issue since it lost on the Sunday alcohol sales issue. I am thankful that there is a wise and omnipotent organization in place to ensure that I don’t step out of line.
Seriously, I don’t have an opinion about gambling one way or another.
However, I strongly resent the GBC’s efforts to impose its religious beliefs on the citizenry. Here’s a news flash: Not every resident of Georgia believes in God. Not all are Christians, and some have confidence in their own ability to lead happy, productive lives without the assistance of God or the GBC. The GBC’s assumption that the voters need, want and appreciate their guidance is arrogant.
There may be perfectly good reasons for HR186 not to pass — but adherence to biblical doctrine is not one of them.
Lynn Wagner, Atlanta
PHILANDERERS
Find out whether those accused broke vows
Those in the pubic eye (particularly politicians) come under greater scrutiny than the average citizen, and that comes with the territory when one chooses public life.
When such scrutiny reveals an extramarital affair, there are those who are outraged and those who feel one’s private life should be private. Regardless, shouldn’t the real issue be whether or not one can be expected to keep an oath?
When one is married, if one pledges to keep himself or herself only unto his or her spouse, that person violates a pledge if an extramarital affair occurs.
If one’s marriage vows contained no such language, no oath was broken. When a politician is sworn into office, he or she takes an oath. If a person is not prone to keep a pledge or oath, can such a person be trusted?
Before anyone condemns a politician for an affair, let’s find out what that person’s marriage vows said. If there is no wording expressing faithfulness to the spouse, we may not like it if an affair occurs — but the person engaged in the affair did not break any vows.
Mike Deal, Alpharetta
HOMELESS SHELTER
Response to “Downtown shelter fights for survival.” Metro, Nov. 27
As I was reading this article, I became very angry. How could this happen here in the United States? We can send billions of dollars all over this world to help foreign countries, yet we cannot take care of our own homeless, jobless families and children. The need is growing daily. We have so many large corporations in downtown (and surrounding counties), and I do not understand why no one has stepped up to the plate to help. Are we upside down, or what? Prayer is not enough. Sometimes, action is what the God that I know wants.
Barbara Golden, Woodstock
