When did murder become acceptable?
Recently, we witnessed bloodshed and death — not in a school setting but on the streets of New York City. No innocent bystanders were hurt, there were no hostages to save, and it seemed no one was in danger except the target, a man on his way to a business meeting.
It’s easy to harbor ill will toward much of corporate America. Health insurance claims are often and unfairly delayed and denied. Rates are increasing beyond our wages, with no end in sight. But killing the chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, is just another senseless death in New York City, a murder that will change nothing.
Social media is on fire with theories, speculation and even celebration. Many are seeking a way to send the accused money for his defense. The accused is taking on folk hero status. When did killing become acceptable? We, as a people, are headed down the wrong path.
DAVE FEDACK, DOUGLASVILLE
America’s influence will suffer under Trump
President-elect Donald Trump is now the symbol of what America has become. Voters, did you consider the long-range effects Trump’s selfish and vindictive policies will have on America’s prestige and influence within the body politic of our planet?
America will have to redeem its positive influence in the world once Trump’s presidency is over. Investment in excellent public education is a positive response to a better America.
ELIZABETH HARTLEY FILLIAT, ROSWELL
Senate taking ‘advise and consent’ duties seriously
Hurrah for the U.S. Senate! Rather than rubber-stamp the incoming president’s nominees, senators are insisting on fulfilling their duty to advise and consent. In this way, they are defending the separation of powers as called for in the Constitution instead of letting the executive have everything. Keep it up!
MIKE WEST, MARIETTA
More reasons for permanent standard time
Regarding the Dec. 9 AJC guest essay “It’s about time to stop spring forward and falling back”:
Let’s end clock changes with permanent standard time.
Observing daylight saving time is equivalent to starting work and school an hour earlier than standard time each day. We advance clocks to trick ourselves into making it seem acceptable. Atlanta sunrise is currently never later than 8 a.m. Permanent standard time wouldn’t change that, but permanent daylight saving time would push sunrise past 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time for four months (122 days)!
Most people would not choose to set their alarms an hour early and wake long before sunrise in cold winter, but permanent daylight saving time would force us to. Permanent daylight saving time was hugely unpopular and reverted when it was tried in the 1974 oil crisis. Every advocacy group for health, safety and children’s well-being that has spoken on this issue urges against permanent daylight saving time and for permanent standard time. Permanent standard time saves morning sunlight, which is most necessary for mood, health, safety, learning and productivity.
DIANE SHACKELFORD, FLOWERY BRANCH
Data centers do not benefit Georgians
Ex-Public Service Commissioner Bobby Baker’s excellent Dec. 6 opinion piece, “Data centers will drive up electric rates for Georgians,” perfectly described why residential and small business electricity customers should not pay for constructing new and dirty generating plants to provide power for proposed data centers.
Georgia Power residential customers are already paying huge increases for the exorbitant cost overruns for Plant Vogtle. There are very few new jobs and dubious financial benefits to the residential customers and small businesses from these data centers. We will just pay even more for polluting our air. As Baker wrote, “New data center development should not be subsidized by tax incentives or discounted electrical rates.”
JIM KULSTAD, ATLANTA
