All children need a ‘medical home’
Like many health conditions, obesity is easier to prevent than to treat.
Georgia’s pediatricians applaud the AJC for highlighting obesity and appreciate the thoughtful comments from Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald (“Epidemic has heavier price for children,” Opinion, June 27) and Phillip L. Williams, M.D. (“Obesity’s fiscal fallout,” Opinion, June 27).
All children should have a medical home, a pediatrician or family physician who provides and coordinates their care. Children with a medical home will be seen regularly during their first two years of life — when establishing good eating habits (including breastfeeding) is critical.
As children move into their preschool and school-age years, we continue to emphasize healthy eating, and focus on physical activity and reducing screen time. As part of Georgia’s SHAPE program, school children will receive a FitnessGram detailing their health status. We encourage parents to bring the FitnessGram to their child’s checkup and work with their physician to establish healthy lifetime habits. Treating obesity starts with prevention.
ROBERT WISKIND, M.D., PRESIDENT, GEORGIA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
Republican critics just playing politics
Anyone who believes the GOP opposition to Obamacare is not rooted in mere politics is naive. At the state level, several governors have sought repeal — and almost all are Republican. If Obamacare is so bad, why aren’t all states objecting? Moreover, if the GOP has such a slam-dunk case against Obamacare, why do they need to resort to misinformation tactics such as death panels?
The millions the GOP has spent on the spread of misinformation means they can’t make their case on the facts. Americans are so inconvenienced by having to sift through all the misinformation on Obamacare that some will buy into the false data — and that is unfortunate.
JOHN PETZ, ALPHARETTA
Supporters’ ads are slick propaganda
Several things bother me about the T-SPLOST advertising campaign. The ads have a polished, cheerleading quality that is worrisome.
Every elderly person, single mom and minimum-wage earner will have to pay the tax, too — not just people who can afford it.
The ads are vague about who’s footing the bill for them.
How do the individual sponsors stand to gain from a tax that falls on everyone? Can they really guarantee more permanent jobs, or more businesses moving to Atlanta? Are they accountable in the long run? The way this referendum is being presented is not fair play.
In addition, billions in new taxes would go for scattershot, little fixes in transportation. It would all add up to not much — except money from every person’s pocket.
PAT SINGER, ATLANTA
