Keep fighting for the Clean Air Act
The American Lung Association is pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed updated clean air standards that will prevent thousands of premature deaths and take steps toward clearing hazy air (“EPA proposes stricter standards for soot pollution,” ajc.com, June 15).
The Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 report shows progress in improved air quality, a trend driven by standards set under the Clean Air Act. Yet the Clean Air Act faces assault in Congress from those who would compromise the air we breathe.
A more protective air standard will save lives. We urge all Americans to keep “fighting for air.”
June Deen, state director, American Lung Association in Georgia
Attacking ‘intellectual elite’ is short-sighted
The major issues of our times (including taxes, unemployment, health care, immigration, foreign policy, the environment, etc.) have one thing in common: They are all incredibly complex. Resolution of these issues in a way favorable to America will require heavy involvement of some exceptionally smart people.
Nevertheless, each of these issues has a strong advocacy group that attacks “the intellectual elite.” These attacks are obviously attempts to distort truth. Intellectuals on both sides of each issue are needed for successful resolutions.
Rejecting intellectuals is a sure-fire way to advance oversimplified solutions.
Attacking intellectuals is typically the strategy of a few to advance their personal goals at the expense of the country’s general welfare.
Bill Fokes, Braselton
Education budget needs a stimulus
President Barack Obama has pressed Congress concerning a stimulus that would allow the federal government to assist state and local governments. Throughout history, this has been an effective tool used by several presidents when the economy is in crisis. It did not matter whether they were Republican or Democrat, they used this means and it worked.
In Georgia, it doesn’t matter whether a person is a Democrat or a Republican — one cannot help but see that we need assistance concerning our educational budget. We are continually reading about cuts in large and small educational systems due to a lack of funds. Do Georgians want funds for our educational systems currently in a budget crisis? If so, we need to urge our congressmen to act now.
Mack Graham, Douglasville
DeKalb board needs to get back to basics
After reading about the proposed cuts in the school budget concerning items not related to education, I am not surprised DeKalb has a budget deficit (“DeKalb budget wishes at odds,” Metro, June 20).
The board of education must get back to basics by funding English, math, science, social studies, physical education and the arts. Everything else should be funded by the affected parents (or cut). Abolish administrative overhead. Put the school principals back in charge of educating our children and pay teachers a decent wage.
Guadalupe A. Reyes, Dunwoody
