HOPE
Response to “HOPE reduction creates new losers.” Opinion, March 13
Columnists Lloyd and Fergus theorize that HOPE reductions will result in disproportionately allocated monies. They feel HOPE money awards should be akin to Little League baseball. Everyone gets a trophy, just for showing up.
Clearly, their essay is lacking statistics. When comparing scores in Meriwether County to metro Atlanta’s, the essay should also note the percentage of population that has attained a degree beyond high school — and if it could be measured, the percent of families that expected their children to attend college in the first place. Educational opportunity has to start in kindergarten. By the senior year of high school, it’s too late.
Jay Brower, Atlanta
Access to lottery tickets should be expanded
Much attention has been given to ways to slow down the HOPE expenses. What about attention being given to ways to grow revenue (i.e., to increase lottery ticket sales)?
Gas stations are a major point of sale for tickets. I believe that grocery stores are, too. But I really don’t see any kind of push or urgency to sell tickets at these two important outlets. Most folks never enter the gas station store (as they purchase their gas at the pump). That means the “want fries with that?” concept fails to apply. Couldn’t a way be found for lottery tickets to be sold at the pump?
Why can’t the grocery store cashier say, “Want a lottery ticket with that?” With some focus and drive, this concept would significantly increase revenue for our precious HOPE.
It seems easy to me — but sometimes, the best ideas are the easiest.
Steve Connor, Alpharetta
MEDIA
‘Gotcha’ news performs an important function
Mary Sanchez’s piece, “‘Gotcha’ news goes too far” (Opinion, March 13), was simply more sanctimonious drivel from a leftist embarrassed that more of her media cohorts had been outed — something now occurring with increasing frequency.
If Sanchez really thinks these NPR “progressives” (the modern euphemism for socialists) would have admitted to their bias in a more formal reportorial setting, she must not get out much. If she did, she’d know that courts have repeatedly ruled that cops can use all manner of deception in securing evidence and confessions. Can you say “undercover”?
Ah (say you), there’s a difference. Yes, there is.
When cops do this, they’re attempting to solve crimes against individuals and property.
When folks like O’Keefe do this, they’re attempting to expose far more subtle crimes by those seeking to overturn an entire way of life.
Which is more important?
Dick Bachert, Norcross
NPR incident doesn’t amount to entrapment
Mary Sanchez pontificates on the tactics of entrapment in her piece on NPR’s foul-up (“‘Gotcha’ news goes too far,” Opinion, March 13). Entrapment is defined as inducing someone to do something that is contrary to their basic nature. Unless I’m a complete idiot (and that’s possible), no one induced NPR’s former fundraiser to say the things he said, or compelled him to salivate at the chance to receive millions.
B.B. Tharpe, Conyers
In caricaturing Gingrich, Luckovich ignored news
Regarding the Luckovich cartoon (Opinion, March 13): good old Mike Luckovich!
Even with the turmoil in Libya and the Middle East, and a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan with possibly thousands of lives lost, he can still focus on the main issue: bashing conservatives (in this case, good old Newt).
Way to go, Mike. That’s really keeping your eyes on what’s important in the world.
Gary Senesac, Cumming
DEVELOPMENT
Clean, fix and maintain what’s already in place
Regarding “Filling downtown’s gaps” (Business, March 13): I think a very important part of the overall picture is the impression the metro area presents to businesses and people considering moving here. If you travel along any of the interstates or major highways into the metro area, one of the first things you see is how much trash there is along the roadsides, how neglected the landscaping looks, and the lack of maintenance of roadside structures such as guardrails and road signs. The impression given is of a city in decline.
If I were a business considering relocation, I would think twice about moving to an area that appears to be poorly maintained. I think one of the things the metro area could do that might help attract businesses and people is to clean up and repair the structures already in place. This does not require new, major construction — just cleaning up and maintaining these fabulous structures.
The city, county and state governments should consider putting more funds into maintaining what the area already has as one way of presenting an attractive image for those considering moving here.
Don Schreiber, Avondale Estates
JAPAN
Japan chose wrong site for its nuclear complex
I think it was a serious error of judgment for Japan to build a complex of nuclear reactors on a historical earthquake zone beside the ocean. Two moving geological plates meet just off-shore of the reactor complex.
If one of the other reactors exploded, a large area of Japan could become indefinitely uninhabitable because of the presence of radioactive materials deposited there. Radioactive isotopes would enter the soil and water, and from there be incorporated into food chains. That would render farming and fishing impossible.
I hope that this does not destroy the nuclear power industry. France has proven that these units can be built and operated safely.
John V. Aliff, professor of biology, Georgia Perimeter College; editor, Georgia Journal of Science
