Readers Write 11/21

DEMOCRACY

The announcement of Prince William’s wedding (even though royalty is powerless now in Britain) is a window into how royalty can be so corrupt and destructive in government. Monarchy, as an ancient form of governing, is still alive in the form of oppressive socialist regimes. Children born into high society are guaranteed success, fame and a glamorous lifestyle. On top of being lucky to be born, they also gain the fanatical fascination of millions of others worldwide wishing that they were royalty.

Be thankful we live in America. No one person is born into royalty. Anyone can become royalty by opportunity. No one can pass their royalty by birth to another. We hear countless stories about how one person came from sheer poverty to become a millionaire by hard work, creativity and motivation. This reward system of opportunity is the core to America’s success.

Mike Callahan, Richmond Hill

RELIGION

Would-be female deacon must be crazy

I read with interest your piece on a woman who wants to be a Catholic deacon (“To serve God, she’ll challenge the church,” Metro, Nov. 14). I await a follow-up article on all those in the asylum who believe they are the pope.

Bill Donohue, President, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

TRANSPORTATION

Have to laugh at Reed’s optimism over streetcar

Mayor Kasim Reed’s comments about the streetcar project are laughable at best (“Streetcar will lead Atlanta toward future,” Opinion, Nov. 14). He says that this boondoggle will lead Atlanta to the future. How?

MARTA is experiencing serious budget cuts, and salivating over a grant seems to be totally out of sync with good judgment.

The AJC Editorial Board opinion is right on target: This is a real stretch — to nowhere.

R. L. Turner, Atlanta

Unfair to paint streetcar as traffic’s red herring

Regarding “Fiscally, streetcar seems like a stretch” (Opinion, Nov. 14): The streetcar should not be the red herring for area traffic congestion.

First, the streetcar wasn’t meant to fix Atlanta and the region’s traffic problems, but to move conventioneers and visitors around the central city, placing all in a short walking distance of hotels, convention and tourist sites. It will also be used by office workers and residents commuting to other sites not on a MARTA line.

Second, conventioneers typically fly into Atlanta and are not an impact on the daily commuter congestion. Conventioneers and visitors generally do not travel the roadways during peak traffic hours. Visitors coming by car generally will not travel during peak commute hours, and anyone who travels by car to any metropolitan city understands that.

Bill Balzer, Atlanta

GOVERNMENT

Tax credit for buying a Volt squanders money

George Wills’ column kind of got me riled (“A lot of hype surrounds GM’s ‘all-electric’ Volt,” Opinion, Nov. 14). The U.S. government is going to give a tax credit to people buying a Chevy Volt? Seeing as how such a small number of these electric cars are going to be built, why do we need a tax giveaway by a bankrupt nation?

My question is: Why are the politicians (including the president) responsible for this obscene squander of taxpayer money walking around as free men? Tell me!

Geoff Knafou, Hog Mountain

TRAUMA CARE

Seems we'd pay quite a high price to avoid $10

Brian Wilson’s letter (“Goal laudable, but method of funding isn’t,” “Readers write,” Opinion, Nov. 14) explains that while he believes in the theory of having emergency care centers throughout the state, he voted “no” to the method of funding the project through a $10 extra tax on auto tags.

To him, it was a matter of all Georgians benefiting through the life-saving centers, and therefore, all Georgians needing to be taxed. Those who do not own a car would escape the $10, so a more equitable version of the bill would be perhaps raising the funds through a state sales tax. I guess that a 1 percent state sales tax would be preferable to having some people escape the payment of $10.

Jack Needle, Stone Mountain

GOVERNMENT ETHICS

Sad to find Perdue, Deal share same bad habit

It is disappointing (but not surprising) to find that our current governor, Sonny Perdue, like our governor- elect, Nathan Deal, is ethically challenged in the same way (“Perdue sparks ethics unease,” News, Nov. 14). Both use their elected office to advance their business interests. The idea that any constituent can get their access to power is ludicrous.

Michael A. Harrington, Dunwoody

AIRPORT SECURITY

For some air travelers, pat-downs nothing new

Regarding airport security: I use a wheelchair, and cannot walk at all. I cannot go through a metal detector, and I can’t stand for a scan.

I have been getting patted down for years. Welcome to my world!