IMMIGRATION
Lax enforcement not a ‘win-win’ situation
The hospitality industry has now joined other industries to lobby for relaxed enforcement of immigration laws. These industries all say (in effect) that immigrants provide much-needed labor at low cost — lowering prices for consumers, while providing profit for troubled businesses. They argue that enhanced immigration law enforcement would destroy a win-win situation.
Lax enforcement is not a “win-win” situation. The losers include unemployed workers who will not or cannot work for sub-market pay. Others include those business competitors that elect to strictly comply with law. The immigrants are also losers (as they are fearful of objecting to bad treatment by employers).
The biggest loser is the character of America when we say, in effect, we should deliberately disregard what is right and legal, because it costs too much money.
Bill Fokes, Braselton
EDUCATION
New Orleans case spurs opposition to vouchers
I would like for Kevin Huffman or anyone else to explain how vouchers are supposed to help anyone but a handful of students (“Out of school zone, out of options,” Opinion, Feb. 14). When my son was in the New Orleans school system, he was forced to attend one of its worst high schools. One could apply for any other school if they were in a district with low-performing schools. But the list to get into another school was so long that he’d be 50 years old by the time he was accepted. Everybody wanted out.
That’s why I have been politically opposed to vouchers. Poor people see them as just a ploy to help wealthier parents pay for private schools with public money. Anyone explaining how this could help more than one or two poor children will get my support.
Muhammad Yungai, Decatur
ENERGY
Imagine a day when only richest are able to drive
This is probably the time to explore how we can temporarily secure oil prices for America by nationalizing the oil companies. There are too many adverse activities in foreign countries to gamble our economy and our security. Imagine a day if and when there is no oil available — or if gasoline is available, that only the most wealthy will be able to afford to drive.
Steve C. Hill, Conyers
EDUCATION
It’s time for the regents to live with what they get
I was reading about the HOPE scholarship’s problems. How about this: tell the Board of Regents that they have to live with what they get from HOPE.
The regents have abused the HOPE gravy train for years, and spent excessively. They have raised tuition and fees excessively because the HOPE funding supported this. Well, the funding does not support it any more, so it is time for the regents to live with what they get.
The Legislature must tell the regents that the tuition and fees will be what the HOPE generates and that the regents must live within that amount for HOPE students, period. What they charge non-HOPE students is another matter (and, I suppose, up to them).
Peter Toggerson, Lawrenceville
