HEALTH CARE
Doctor has no sympathy for drug companies
I wasn’t surprised to see Bob Barr trying to drum up sympathy for the pharmaceutical industry (“Shaking down drug companies,” Opinion, March 14). Still, at a time when many people can barely afford to pay for their high-priced meds, it takes a lot of chutzpah to try to make us care that companies that make tens of billions of dollars yearly have to pay a few million in fines occasionally (which they more than make up for in their “off label” use profits).
As a physician, I see daily the difficulties people have with trying to pay for their prescriptions — especially if they are unemployed and without insurance. The real “shakedown,” is what the pharmaceutical industry does to the American people. Dr. Kathy Minter, Marietta
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Give ex-offenders a chance to be productive
Archaic laws and practices severely restrict those with conviction records from returning to a contributing role in society. Drug laws cause many a young person to wind up with a record, and second-class (or third-class) citizenship. Illegal immigrants can get jobs easier. Is this the America that our forefathers envisioned?
Our system needs a complete overhaul. People of my generation did not encounter the problems of the young folks today. Why? Because drugs were not readily available in my time. The little known about them was enough to scare us straight.
Georgia offers a bonding program to those with a criminal record. Other services are offered through TOPSTEP. However, too few companies and employers are willing to take a risk on these folks.
I disagree with the war on drugs as it is being waged today. I disagree even more with a society that will not give our citizens another chance.
Bill Millette, Acworth
EMPLOYMENT
Name calling doesn’t advance union debate
I was particularly interested in “Should states take bargaining rights away from public unions?” (Opinion, March 15). Nick Schulz presented his argument clearly, logically and factually. Michael Wilson, on the other hand, resorted to name-calling and whining about entitlements. As is so typical of someone who can’t defend their position, he resorted to name-calling, and tried to focus our attention on something other than the issue at hand.
Greg Berry, Marietta
TAXES
Corporations, winners; middle class, losers
I am trying to grasp how the current Georgia legislative session is helping the middle class. How does providing tax breaks for corporations in these times of extreme deficits help? How does allowing utilities to donate to political campaigns help? How does cutting down trees to pollute our highways with more billboards help? How does furloughing teachers help?
As a father of two kids, I would like to know if there is one piece of legislation that will improve our lives — not the lives of the corporate upper class, who this Legislature obviously serves.
David D’Agostino, Atlanta
