Letters to the Editor (2) - October 18 2006

Man with a plan

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As the Libertarian Party’s candidate for lieutenant governor, I was disappointed that my campaign was not even mentioned in Creative Loafing’s recent article about the lieutenant governor’s race (Fallout, “Lieutenant’s war,” Oct. 5). Outside the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s poll (wherein I was reported to have polled 2 percent of the vote), I have been polling between 5 percent and 6 percent of the vote. I believe that such percentages warrant consideration. (I wish that someone would investigate how the AJC conducted its poll.)

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Georgia regularly spends 40 percent of its budget on public, primary and secondary education. Overall, the system is broken. I am the only candidate who has a REAL solution to Georgia’s main problem: public, primary and secondary education. My solution would, aside from working, substantially reduce the income tax over a period of years. The details are available at www.buckleyforgeorgia.com.

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The world won’t end no matter who is elected lieutenant governor of the state of Georgia. This election is an opportunity for the people to take a major step in reforming our public education system. The more votes that I get, the more likely it is that real change will take place.

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-- Allen Buckley, Smyrna

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Rock the vote

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So, let me get this straight. It is perfectly OK for a black guy to represent a majority-white district in Athens, but it is NOT OK for a majority-white state to have all whites in the statehouse (Fallout, “White all over?,” Oct. 12)?

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You are essentially saying that white Georgians should not be allowed to vote for white candidates but they can vote for blacks running for office. If they do, they must be racist and bad.

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If the people of Georgia do not want Thurbert Baker and Michael Thurmond in state government, so be it.

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Leave it to the people of the state to decide who we want to elect and stop trying to advance affirmative action for our elected leaders!

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-- Jack Franco Handmacher, Norcross

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Play by the rules

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Regarding the hand-wringing over the impending closure of the day-labor center in Duluth, (Fallout, “Immigrant day-laborer center could close,” Oct. 12) all parties involved might do well to read the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A), Section 274: “A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

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-- assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

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-- encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

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-- knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

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Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.”

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Neither taxpayer dollars nor donations from churches should be used to fund a clearly illegal enterprise. The Duluth city government, and Mayor Lasseter, are under an obligation to uphold federal law, whether they want to or not.

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-- Chris Watford, Roswell

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Voice of the people

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Regarding Vince’s comment (.com-ments, “Move to Cuba!!,” Oct. 5), it’s easy for Vince to say government shouldn’t provide health care and people must simply make good choices to succeed. He obviously doesn’t realize the privileges HE has had. I’m not saying Vince is wealthy; just that there are many small privileges that accumulate in a person’s life allowing them to be successful. Countless others aren’t so fortunate; life isn’t as simple for them. Vince is lucky he’s always had health insurance, unlike many sick children and adults in this country. It IS the responsibility of the government to provide health care. Every developed country in the world provides health care, except for the one with the highest GDP — the USA. Why don’t you move to the North Pole? There you can build your own home, fetch your own food and water, dispose of your own garbage, and when you get really old, you can wipe your own ass.

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-- Kely Leiser, Atlanta

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Tell us how you really feel

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For once I agree with John Sugg (Metropolis, “Don’t talk!,” Oct. 5) — right-wing talk radio is one of the evils of contemporary American life. As Sugg pointed out, President Bush recently met with Neal Boortz and other right-wing, hate-radio propagandists. At that meeting, Bush showed off Saddam’s pistol. That pistol is very expensive. It has cost 3,000 American lives, 20,000 Americans wounded, 500,000 Iraqis dead and $400 billion. Getting that pistol has ignited a civil war in Iraq, boosted the prestige of Iran and spread terrorism in the Middle East. The world would like to see Bush chamber a round in Saddam’s pistol, cock the trigger, point it at his temple and pull the trigger.

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-- Keith Watkins, Atlanta

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WWJD?

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I read your article, (Flicks, “Campfire and brimstone,” Oct. 5) and I must admit that I’ve not seen the movie. However, the very last sentence in your article saddened me. Allowing Jesus to love you is something that should be welcomed. Jesus is not pushy. He is the perfect gentleman. He stands by waiting for us to receive His love and forgiveness. In this chaotic world in which we live, it’s comforting to know that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, Jesus is there to give mercy and offer a lifeline.

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-- Karen Finley, Marietta