TESTING CANDIDATES
Response to "Candidates should have to pass test, too." Opinion, Readers Write, Sept. 16
I’m in the job market now for the first time in over 25 years. I’ve had to submit to many behavioral and personality tests to be considered for any job. I agree with the letter writer who said that our elected “leaders” need to submit to them as well.
This should begin to fix a lot of the problems we face today. Perhaps an assay of their history knowledge would be invaluable as well. The adage is right: Better remember history, or you’re doomed to repeat it.
RICHARD VOORHIS, CUMMING
WATCHDOG JOURNALISM
We need an ethics commission with teeth
The arrogance of ethics violators to lie, cheat and steal lies in their access to the power and influence that comes with their positions (“State watchdog loses a lot of bite,” News, Sept. 16). It’s sad to see the longterm harm this causes Georgia residents, especially those most in need of the state’s limited resources. Now, with Georgia’s ethics commission virtually made powerless by those who would suffer most from its strength, I have come to realize the only real watchdog we have is the AJC.
It has done an extraordinary job over the years of uncovering many egregious violations throughout our public service system that would never have seen the light of day, had the transgressors not been forced into the open through public scrutiny of this newspaper. But taxpayers should not have to depend on a newspaper to hunt down violators.
So to Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia General Assembly, I say, “Give us an ethics commission with teeth so we can watch you, for you definitely need watching.”
JOAN PIEDMONTE, MILTON
EDUCATION
Bookman hits charter school nail on the head
AJC columnist Jay Bookman has absolutely nailed the intent of this proposed amendment (“Charter measure needed?” Opinion, Sept. 16). As Jay suggested, it is a scheme to take charter schools away from local control, so that the control will be in the hands of well-connected, affluent people (WECAPs). These WECAPs will then be able to send their children to quasi-private charter schools using public funds.
RICHARD V. FULLER, MARIETTA
FALCONS STADIUM
It’s time to pay homage to common sense
An AJC article (“More hungry kids showing up for school,” Metro, Sept. 16) about the large number of children who come to school hungry cited a statistic that estimated some 610,722 children in Georgia were living in poverty.
It’s rather difficult to believe that we would consider building a showcase for a bunch of over-compensated and extremely well-fed prima donnas to prance around in a few times a year before we feed these children adequately.
I have no illusions as to the stadium funding being diverted to something either rational or beneficent, but isn’t it time that we step back, examine our own values, and insist that our elected officials occasionally pay homage to common sense regarding theirs?
BLAIR MINICK, ATLANTA
ELECTION 2012
Romney twists facts to the American people
Mitt Romney’s public response following the attacks in Libya and Cairo should raise hairs on the arms, legs and backs of Republicans and Democrats.
Is there a single American among the millions who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 who could have had the foresight to imagine that his or her vote would elect the first U.S. president who “sympathizes” with terrorist attackers and who “apologizes” for American values?
Confronted with a national tragedy, and barren of conscience, Romney continues to twist facts to the American people — and exposes the true, questionable nature of his character.
F. STEVEN WILLIAMS, RIVERDALE
