GOVERNMENT
Politically fueled crisis threatens more jobs
While American families struggle to save every dollar and every job, the U.S. House failed to act on a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (“Proposal to end FAA shutdown falls apart,” News, Aug. 2). This plan furloughs nearly 4,000 wage earners; loses an estimated $200 million per week in tax revenue and stops work on billions in airport construction grants.
This damage to our nation’s economy is inflicted in an effort to cut rural air service subsidies, and change federal labor laws to make it more difficult for airline workers to unionize.
House (and Senate) members were elected to debate these issues on their merits — and not to sacrifice American jobs and tax money to promote their party’s agenda.
Tony Gardner, Cumming
POLITICS
Tea Party wins battle in war on government
Marc A. Thiessen applauds the Tea Party’s “victory” in the battle of ideas in “Calling the winners and losers in the deal on debt reduction” (Opinion, Aug. 2). They can celebrate a legislative victory, to be sure, but it’s one that they achieved by threatening the country with economic disaster.
As for ideas, they have only two: all taxes are too high, and should always be slashed; and government can never do anything good. These are often accompanied by sidebars about President Obama’s birth certificate, or evidence-free accusations about “Obamacare death panels.”
Many Americans grumble when they pay their taxes. But we also like the things that only government can provide. Safe water, clean air, a functioning transportation system and care for injured veterans are benefits most of us would be loath to give up for lower taxes.
Fred Roberts, Decatur
POLITICS
Obamas navigate murky fishbowl with grace
Regarding “Obama’s path goes from poetry to pure drudgery” (News, July 29), although this piece was well written, and much of it has a modicum of truth to it, I question the statement about First Lady Michelle Obama’s not being “as prepared for the airlessness and isolation of ‘the bubble’ as some of the first ladies before her.” Do you believe that she entered her position under the same circumstances as all other first ladies?
All first ladies and their families must give up total privacy once they occupy this coveted position, but never have I witnessed any first lady who has been subjected to the overt resentment and vitriol this first family has had to encounter. From my observation, other first ladies also lived in “fishbowls” — but they were allowed to “swim” around in more peaceful waters as America and the rest of the world watched them. The Obamas have lived in a fishbowl of murky water from day one. Even under those circumstances, they have tried to do so with dignity and grace.
Joan Nelson Hood, Atlanta
MEDIA
Reader gives kudos to headline writer
Whoever came up with the headline “Plan OK’d, then KO’d” (News, July 30) deserves a raise.
Bob Rohrer, Atlanta
