Despite fears, sky is not falling
Chicken Little lives! The sky isn’t falling but, if you watch the news you might think that the sky is the only thing that isn’t. The most notable fountain of fear is the sunset of Obamacare. There is a general panic over its repeal, as if there won’t be a valid replacement, despite assurances to the contrary. Then there are the EPA employees in a tearful depression over the change in administration and potential agency mission. Immigration? Abortion? Education? The list of situations generating wholesale desperation is huge. Why? It boils down to a few simple facts. First, thinking has been replaced in the American psyche by feeling. Our grandparents would be mortified. Second, panic propaganda is the political weapon of choice for achieving enough anxiety to stimulate public backlash. The solution? Start thinking, stop being panicked by politicians’ deceit and stop being afraid of everything. We’re better than this.
DENNIS MCGOWAN, SNELLVILLE
Severe penalties needed for undocumented workers
The answer to illegal immigration is not a wall, or massive deportation. The answer is to eliminate the work. No work and the flow of illegal immigrants will become a trickle.
The answer for this is to penalize any person or company that hires an undocumented worker. Not just a slap on the hand but a penalty — $20,000 per person hired. An exorbitant amount? Yes. But once enacted, any company foolish enough to hire such a person deserves what they get. The problem we have is that undocumented workers are deported and they are replaced by new undocumented workers. A wall is just something to get around and they will soon be back.
Stop the jobs and you stop the flow. Not a fine of $100 or even $500 will work. That will be seen as a business expense. Yes, many companies will howl at this proposal as too onerous. If they do not hire undocumented workers, there is no penalty. Make the penalty hurt and the jobs for undocumented workers go away. The responsibility for proving the legitimacy of the worker should be on the employer. We already have a system set up to vet workers through E–Verify (it sometimes has problems, but that is not the employers’ fault). If an employer uses E-Verify, they should be off the hook. If not, they can assume the responsibility for proof. Now all employers are on the same footing. The ethical employers can compete with those that depend on undocumented labor. Legal Americans have a shot at getting the jobs. What is wrong with this program? It is too simple, no money can be spent, it does not generate campaign contributions and it does not tax the American people. Other than that, it is great.
SPENCER HOSTETTER, ATLANTA
Big money, gerrymandering are undemocratic
State Sen. Josh McKoon wants senators to be held accountable for their floor votes. But, due to gerrymandered districts, it makes perfect sense for senators to want some of their more-controversial votes to be kept secret. A Republican senator, wanting to oppose a draconian immigration, or religious liberty, bills may be concerned that the far-right of the GOP may organize a primary challenger for his/her next election.
Adding more complexity to this already-corrupted system, is big campaign contributors. There are corporate interests that are opposed to legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ citizens and oppose clamping-down on illegal immigration. These monied interests sometimes act as a counterbalance to the radical ideas resulting from gerrymandering.
But the problem is, neither should have sway over our legislators and their priorities. Our legislators are supposed to be accountable solely to us the electorate.
DON MCADAM, SANDY SPRINGS
Juveniles should not be charged as adults
As a licensed professional counselor with 30 years of private practice, I disagree strongly with juveniles being tried as adults for any offense.
Juveniles are not adults. There is a reason why we have terms such as child, juvenile and adult. Juveniles do not have the emotional maturity that adults (hopefully) have. I think we need to do everything we can to reclaim juveniles who become involved in criminal activity. Charging them as adults does the opposite.
SARA HINES MARTIN, ACWORTH
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