Nonbelievers would be open to harassment
The recently proposed legislation in Georgia concerning the “In God We Trust” vehicle license plate discriminates against at least one in 10 Georgians (“Georgia license plates could sport “In God We Trust,” ajc.com, Nov. 15).
People’s personal faith positions don’t belong on government property — and forcing atheists to pay a fee (even a small one) to be sure their plates are free from religion is far from equal treatment.
Not only does this force atheists and humanists to pay or pray, it will publicly reveal all those who pay to cover those words, opening them up to harassment and possible vandalism. If a nontheist keeps the “God” language to avoid potential trouble and added cost, they have to live a lie.
Forcing nontheists to lie or out themselves is morally wrong — and certainly not the business of government.
Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director, American Humanist Association
A few changes would take us a long way
In an attempt to quell some of Atlanta’s notorious traffic woes, I submit the following proposals.
An HOV lane could be introduced on more roads. Doing so would be extremely beneficial to existing carpools and encourage the use of more such transportation.
A truck-only lane could be introduced all around I-285. There is an enormous volume of truck traffic on I-285. Channeling the trucks into a single lane will free up more room for other vehicles.
Digital traffic signs could be modified to offer decision-support information. For example, near Spaghetti Junction traffic speeds for I-85 South and I-285 East could be displayed, so that drivers could determine which would be a better route for them.
The above alterations are easy to implement (in terms of infrastructure required) and will largely streamline traffic.
Joseph Berchmans, ATLANTA
Worker quality leaves a lot to be desired
I have observed garbage and trash pickup for many years in Atlanta, over several city administrations and several city councils.
Both the City Council and each administration appear to have one thing in common: trading city jobs for votes.
The efficiency of city workers is so low it cannot be measured. My street in southwest Atlanta looks worse after garbage pickup than before the trucks came down the street. City workers leave debris scattered all over the street. I have called to complain and a supervisor tells me the trucks do not carry brooms and shovels.
I strongly feel that if this administration (and the Atlanta City Council) were serious about efficiency and cost, it would bid out these jobs to private companies for considerably less.
Harvey L. Cooper, Atlanta
