Let’s give children best teachers possible
Regarding “Politicians, CEOs look at world differently today” (Opinion, Aug. 10), Thomas Friedman reports that among 70 countries compared for academic achievement, the U.S. is only average. In Olympics, we are at the top of the list. Apparently, we are better at producing great athletes than we are in producing great students. Maybe we should do what the mother of gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas did: sacrifice to give her daughter the best coach (teacher) available. If we sacrificed to give our children the best teachers possible, we would be doing what matters the most.
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
Full disclosure needed on airport contracts
Regarding “4 firms near loss of status” (Metro, Aug. 10), thank you for the AJC’s coverage of contract award disputes at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Corruption in awarding lucrative contracts defies description. We need full disclosure of how easy it is for these companies to find loopholes in qualifying for disadvantaged status.
ARNOLD SIMON, ATLANTA
Reports of bankers behaving badly
I note with interest the latest reports of bankers behaving badly. Now it seems that Standard Chartered has no problems with making illegal transactions for Iran, as long as they get their bite of the falafel. Can any reasonable person now doubt that in the end, our leading bankers seem only interested in bonuses, and in lining their own pockets? They are more than willing to work against the interests of millions upon millions of their customers and investors. They will not hesitate to lie, cheat and break the law if it suits their needs, and they care not a whit about the damage they do.
JEFF COGHILL, ATLANTA
Lower greehouse-gas emissions are a must
With the release of a recent study connecting climate change and extreme weather, it’s time to end the pseudo-debate about global warming and its cause (“Scientist: Data prove global warming,” News, Aug. 7). The only beneficiaries of this argument are the fossil-fuel industries, which appear willing to sacrifice a livable world in exchange for short-term profits. The discussion must now turn to how we can lower greenhouse-gas emissions in the most effective and economically feasible manner. An approach gaining support from conservative quarters is a revenue-neutral price on carbon that returns the money to the public, either as direct payments or lower taxes. Former Congressman Bob Inglis has teamed up with economist Art Laffer to promote this solution. Here’s hoping that congressmen Tom Price, Phil Gingrey and other members of the Georgia delegation will give this idea serious consideration, so that we can avoid a total meltdown — literally — of our climate.
STEVE VALK, ATLANTA
