Readers Write 10/27

POLITICS

If you hate government, you shouldn’t run it

If I invited a guest into my home, and that guest trashed my house, spent all my savings and ran up massive debt, I would not invite that guest back into my home. That’s the situation our country faces with the upcoming election.

Why would any but the most extreme conservative invite the Republicans back into power, knowing their policies helped to crash our economy, cost hundreds of thousands their jobs and homes, and trashed our reputation in the world? Having learned nothing, Republicans are touting the same tired policies that contributed to so many of our problems today. The difference is that now we know they are proven failures.

We can avoid more damage to our country by remembering this in November: People who hate government shouldn’t be elected to run it.

Bruce White, Tucker

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Dogs seem to be more important than humans

When Mike Vick was alleged to have mistreated some dogs, the public hue and cry demanded that he lose his job, go to prison and pay a substantial fine.

When Troy Dale West beat a human female as if she were a dog, he got six months! Georgia: the hate state.

Erskine C. Ragland, Covington

MENTAL HEALTH

Osterman’s column makes him a hero

Jim Osterman (and Rosalynn Carter) are heroes (“Outing those demons that kill,” Opinion, Oct. 23). They want people to recognize depression as an illness, rather than a crutch or lack of character.

It was necessary for me to retire early from a local school system because of deep depression. As in Jim’s case, medication and therapy now allow me to stay away from that dark hole I lived in for so long. My life is full of music and art and friends. Osterman is a brave man to write this piece. His powerful column will save lives, and I thank him for that.

Martha Renfroe-Garner, Pine Lake

SOCIAL SECURITY

Time for Americans to plan own retirements

The issue of Social Security is, and has been, debated for a long time. When Social Security was initiated, the average life span was 60. Now people are living well past that — putting a serious strain on resources to keep up with the demand. The problem is that we have been told from early on in our working lives, that we will have Social Security to live on when we retire.

The burden now falls on current workers to pay for those who have retired. Many live far above their means. Somewhere in our educational system, there must be mandatory classes in economics.

Managing our money so we can save for the future should be everyone’s responsibility. It should not be the obligation of current and future workers to support those who should have been able to plan and save for their retirement.

There will always be exceptions for the truly poor and sick, but the majority of those currently employed or beginning their careers must plan for their own retirement.