ECONOMY
Let’s talk straight about fiscal straits
“Fed up with Federal Reserve money policy” (Opinion, May 10) by Thomas Sowell was well-written, simple and to the point — just the way I like it.
For me, there is too much voodoo, hijinks and smoke-and-mirror stuff out there. It’s time for some good, old-fashioned straight talk.
Joe Tabback, Alpharetta
TRANSPORTATION
Tyrone mayor moving in the wrong direction
I read with some amusement the column by Don Rehwaldt (“Treat metro counties fairly,” Opinion, May 11).
Tyrone’s Mayor Rehwaldt says that only 1.5 percent of the population uses mass transit. That may be true, but when you eliminate the portion of the population that does not have this option, the number rises considerably.
All modes of passenger transportation are subsidized to one degree or another. For example, the airports are not owned by the airlines — nor do they pay for the air traffic controllers or the navigation systems. They are paid for by the various governments (local, state and federal). No highway in Georgia (with the exception of the toll portion of Ga. 400) pays a nickel of its costs out of the fare box, so they are subsidized 100 percent by the taxpayers.
Rail transport can move more tonnage and more people less expensively, and with less ecological impact than any other mode of transportation.
We can’t pave our way out of a traffic problem. We’ve been trying for over 50 years, and the situation only gets worse.
Robert H. Hanson, Loganville
SOCIAL SECURITY
It’s time for America to put Americans first
I’m a 74-year-old senior who had my first job at the age of 12. Many seniors living today did the same thing. I retired in 2004. My income consists of Social Security and a small distribution from an IRA. Social Security did not receive a cost of living increase the last two years. We pay billions of dollars in foreign aid to countries that hate Americans. Has anyone noticed where they plan to cut foreign aid? No, of course not.
When are we going to stop being the “sugar daddy” for every country around the world except our own? I’m mad! We should cut foreign aid and put the money in Social Security, and other beneficial government programs. Use the money here to help solve our problems.
Jim Carter, Snellville
LAW
Marriage equality faces a lack of understanding
Bravo to Douglas L. Brooks for explaining why King & Spalding was absolutely correct in dropping the DOMA case (“Law firm right to pull out of DOMA”, Opinion, May 11). Edie Windsor had to pay thousands in inheritance taxes because she was married to Thea. Edie also cared for her until Thea was completely disabled, and died after 44 years together. I did the same with my late partner of 42 years, who died after 18 years of battling Parkinson’s. I do not believe that everyone who would deny us marriage equality “hates” us, but I do think perhaps they simply do not understand some of the implications of the legal discrimination that all of us in the LGBT community have to deal with.
Winston Johnson, Atlanta
