No deals for Boyer
When an elected official steals over $90,000 from taxpayers, the thief should be required to fully cooperate with law enforcement to identify and prosecute the co-conspirators involved. If no cooperation is offered, then additional charges should be applied for assisting and helping to conceal the illegal activities of others. Former commissioner Elaine Boyer owes DeKalb County taxpayers at least $90,000 plus her cooperation in prosecuting the others involved and to serve more than one or two years in jail. Why reward her for doing what she should do anyway if she is truly repentant?
TONY GARDNER, CUMMING
Battle for civilization
Kyle Wingfield is correct regarding the consequences of a weak foreign policy. Andrew McCarthy once wrote in the National Review, “Civilization is not an historical inevitability nor an evolution of mankind, but the imposition of human good on human evil. It is a battle that must be fought every day, because evil does not recede willingly before the wheels of progress.” How very true. Like it or not, with great power comes great responsibility. Arbitrarily drawn red lines, hashtag feel-good campaigns, and “hoping” that the world’s evildoers will “change” and recant their fanatical and vicious ways is unacceptably Pollyannish — and suicidal for civilization.
DAN COWLES, CUMMING
Freedoms lost under Obama
A reader recently wrote that a critic of the current president could be taken seriously only if five freedoms could be cited that have been lost under this administration. Let’s count. One – the freedom to decide what health insurance, if any, you purchase. Two – the freedom of health information privacy courtesy of mandatory electronic health records under government control. Three - freedom of government transparency as Obama repeatedly claims executive privilege for secrecy. Four – freedom of speech and assembly via HR 347 signed in secret by the president. Five, six and seven – under the National Defense Authorization Act, the right to due process, freedom from warrantless seizure and indefinite detention, and freedom from presidentially directed assassination. Is that sufficient?
DENNIS E. MCGOWAN, SNELLVILLE
Sign your family up
Today, the drums of war are beating almost as loudly as they were in 2002 when Americans were lied into a war. That lie has led to the rise of ISIS, and America contemplating getting in bed with Bashar Al-Assad, the de facto dictator of Syria. For all those in Washington who are leading the cheers for deeper involvement — especially concerning returning ground troops to Iraq — I have but one requirement: You must lead the charge, or send a family member to the conflict. No more wars without personal involvement. You want another war, invest yourself or your child.
PHIL MANSON, CONYERS
