FOOD
I was absolutely amazed and disgusted that the powers would feed apple juice and Cocoa Puffs (surely one of the worst of the many garbage cereals on the market) to hungry children ("Hungry? Eat at no cost," Metro, June 18). Talk about sugar overload and empty calories! It is not surprising that we have an epidemic of obese children. Surely, hungry children would eat another low-sugar cereal, and an apple or banana. Possibly, the sugar breakfast is cheaper, but in nutrition, you usually get what you pay for. We would hope that "educators" would try to educate children and their families on better nutrition, but they have missed their opportunity on this program.
Diane McCutchen, Peachtree City
HEALTH CARE
Is the focus on patients or on making money?
Most health care providers share Cynthia Tucker's disgust with other health care providers who abuse patient trust for their own enrichment ("Follow the money in Rx debate," Opinion, June 17). As taxpayers, we are also concerned about economic consequences of this behavior. Dr. Atul Gawande, cited in her editorial, points out that the fundamental issue in health care reform is not who pays, but what system they pay for. Private insurance may be motivated by profits, and public insurance will be driven by politics, but the most important question is whether health care providers are professionals who use their skills for the benefit of their patients, or business people primarily focused on making money. This is primarily a struggle within the professions themselves. The best predictor of whether the reforms we make in our system succeed in improving the health of our patients, while controlling costs, is whether these changes promote professionalism in health care providers.
Dr. David H. Lawson, Decatur
It's time to fight for the middle class
Come on, this is a no-brainer! We pay more for health care as a percentage of GDP, and get less in return (infant mortality, longevity and chronic diseases like diabetes) than any other modern industrialized country! My senators and representative have "socialized" health care. How's that working out for them? Has anyone in the House or the Senate opted out? If so, I'd like to know about it. This is all about money — pure and simple. This is another glaring example of why we need real campaign finance reform. The time for change is now. Democrats, stand up and fight for the middle class, and what is right.
Mark Hatfield, Tucker
America's system
starting to backfire
The American "health care" system is a racket that is now beginning to backfire on the exploiters of sickness and injury, made worse by the unhealthy lifestyle they have promoted for decades by advertising self-indulgence as an expression of "freedom," and by stifling health education programs in the public schools. For a while, they were increasing their market for expensive services. But now they've gone too far.
Harris Green, Big Canoe
COLUMNISTS
Wooten proves we canagree to disagree
Re: "Bound by mutual respect" (Opinion, June 7): I have been reading the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for over 30 years. I cannot imagine not opening my door to retrieve the AJC in the morning, and I have trouble understanding anyone who does. I am also a die-hard, card-carrying liberal. And yet, I cannot imagine the AJC without Jim Wooten, the guy I love to hate. In the past, when I saw his column I thought, "Oh, not again. Okay, I'll read it." It never failed to provoke thought, but we never agreed. Never. His tribute to Cynthia Tucker was, of course, moving, but also representative of what the United States is about — we agree to disagree, we have no fear of doing so and we can still have much respect for each other. I look forward to Jim Wooten's weekly column when he retires. I may not agree with him, but it's perfectly all right.
Lisa Roberts, Marietta
Thoughts on young flocking to GOP
I was not impressed with the first couple of columns by the AJC's new conservative columnist, Kyle Wingfield, because they just seemed to rehash the usual Republican talking points. However, I have to give him credit for original thinking in "Obama costs drive young to GOP" (Opinion, June 18). He is certainly the only person in the world who thinks young people are rejecting Obama, and flocking to the GOP.
Don Lake, Decatur
ENVIRONMENT
Drought 'over,' and
bad habits re-emerge
Re: "Time to plan for the next drought" (Opinion, June 17): well, it took no time at all after the state declared the drought "over" for people to start watering their lawns with sprinklers at midday. People should really take Sally Bethea's very good advice: "A serious culture of conservation will ensure that we do not lose the savings we have achieved so far. It's not fair to the businesses and families who have given up old, intense water uses in hopes of a sustainable future. Merely recommending that people refrain from watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is not enough. A permanent ban on wasteful daytime watering by all users is essential if we're going to retain the 15 percent water savings we've achieved to date." I'm not holding my breath that all the oblivious ostriches out there will remove their heads from the sand, but I vow to use water as sparingly as I have for decades.
Mim Eisenberg, Roswell
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