TOBACCO TAX
Apply the same taxes for every fast-food meal
I am not defending smokers (even though I am one), but the sin taxes are getting out of hand. There are at least 50 contributors to coronary heart disease besides smoking. Obesity is right up there at the top. A major contributor is fast food (and other less-balanced meals).
Often, the excuse to raise the sin tax is to pay for health costs. Since obesity (especially among children) has become a major problem, then it only makes sense that the activities that contribute to that should be subject to the same sin taxes that are levied on tobacco and alcohol. I propose the same taxes be applied to every fast-food meal sold (no exceptions), and be devoted exclusively to trauma centers. Don’t put this money into the general fund — put it aside exclusively for this purpose.
Pem Williams, Woodstock
SOCIETY
Hat’s off to captain for his kind gesture
While flying back recently from New York, threatening weather conditions made a two-hour flight into a 10-hour flight (with delays and rerouting — plus refueling in Huntsville, Ala.). We had 37 young high school students on board. We spent all this time with no food, except pretzels.
Our captain took out his credit card and ordered pizzas for everyone. We each received two slices of pizza while the plane was refueling. I personally found this gesture one of the kindest and most generous things I have witnessed in many years. My hat is off to this great captain, Andrew T.
Esther Rechtman, Decatur
TAXES
Community Food Bank worthy of your donation
A basic economic principle is that a tax on groceries is regressive: It places an unfair burden upon the poor. In these very difficult times, the Georgia Legislature’s proposal for a tax on food is a spectacularly bad idea. If the Legislature needs to raise additional funds, a tax on political contributions might be a good place to start. I encourage anyone who shares this view to contact their representatives before the vote.
I would also like to highlight the wonderful works of Bill Bolling and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Bolling’s organization is a very well-run non-profit that puts food on the table of some of our neediest citizens. It is very easy to donate time, money and food to this worthy cause.
Jonathan Yaeger, CHAMBLEE
POLITICS
Gingrich’s not the leader our nation needs now
Newt Gingrich first distinguished himself by teaching politicians how to say even nastier things about each other. He worked to impeach an American president for the exact infractions that he himself was committing at the time. And, he ran away from his responsibilities because even his own party lost all respect for him.
Yep, that’s the kind of principled, solution-focused leadership our country needs in these troubled times.
Tom Tortorici, Atlanta
