POLITICS
For the best, Wisconsin could send aid to Japan
It’s amazing that in the twinkling of an eye, a crisis like the earthquake in Japan can put priorities in perspective. I refer to the complete obstruction of justice (and anarchy) displayed in Madison, Wis., which was encouraged by unions of public employees. Union leaders say they have just begun to “fight.”
I would like to offer an alternative to the protest. In light of the tsunami that almost wiped out a country and its population, could the union bosses take a deep breath, call off planned protests and earmark the amount of union dues collected from hard-working union members (normally designated to support Democrats) — and send that to help our Japanese friends and allies? What an example that would be for the “workers of the world” who have united.
Barbara Pennington, Atlanta
HEALTH CARE
At your expense, life is looking a lot rosier
I would like to thank critics of programs requiring everyone to have health care. They consistently amuse me.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I lost my job and my health insurance. After three surgeries, months of chemotherapy, and treatment for other health problems, I was no longer able to work. My only income (since age 48) is Social Security Disability. I’ve had Medicare since age 50. Unfortunately, during that period with no health insurance, I had unpaid medical bills exceeding $100,000. I had no choice but bankruptcy.
My situation is not unusual. Maybe we should just forget about “Obamacare” and continue to let people with insurance pay for health care of the millions of uninsured. Thanks to you, I should be able to live another 30 or more years — all at your expense.
Toni Hitchcock, Winston
TAXES
Unfairness, illegalities should catch attention
In the last 25 years living in Atlanta, I have seen many taxpayer abuses, but the most egregious is the tax abatement case.
For the Fulton County Board of Assessors to selectively grant specific developers a 50 percent tax abatement which has to be made up by all other taxpayers is grossly unfair, to all other taxpayers who must make up the difference.
I have attended the meetings of this board which approves of these huge abatements without any rhyme or reason other than “jobs.” But the jobs are minimum wage chamber maids or office cleaning, while there are no new jobs added to 191 Peachtree Tower or the Marriott Marquis or the Peachtree Center built 20 years ago.
The board has approved of 48 major projects for the 50 percent tax abatements, involving more than $100 million annually which must be made up by all of the other taxpayers in the county.
The taxpayers must be made aware of these unfair and illegal tax abatements.
John S. Sherman, President, Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation
