Keep Postal Service strong
To the editor:
Northeast Georgia is blessed with many state and national parks or forests. They are a tourist attraction and improve the local economies. These amenities make living here more enjoyable.
State and national parks do not usually earn enough revenue to cover their costs and depend upon state budgets, dedicated sales taxes or federal funding. Seldom is there a cry to make them more efficient or to cut their funding.
Why point this out?
Currently the U.S. Postal Service is removing mail drop boxes and has began dismantling over 600 mail sorting machines to reduce cost. These actions have resulted in delays of service. These delays may result in life or death situations. Medications must arrive on time. Those in need of medications cannot have interruptions in service.
There are businesses who depend on the Postal Service to deliver their perishable merchandise, such as cheeses or meats. Delays can ruin their products.
Recently mail couriers have been instructed to leave on their routes at appointed times, even if additional mail is sitting there. Medications, perishables or even Social Security or Veteran’s checks that are not loaded will be delayed.
I believe these actions to improve the efficiencies of the Postal Service will undermine confidence in the system and weaken it.
Government agencies almost never turn a profit. Libraries come to mind but there is an endless list. Animal Control, fire departments and the public health departments never cover their costs. The CDC and FDA do not try to earn profits. We have interstate highways and state and local roads that are paid for through taxes.
Why pick on the Postal Service? It probably funds a greater portion of its expenses through internally raised revenue than any other government service.
The public having a postal service is a Constitutional right. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 7 empowers Congress to establish Post Offices and Post Roads. Nowhere in the Constitution does it claim the postal service has to earn a profit or even break even.
Rather than gut the Postal Service to reduce costs, through tax revenue, the government needs to supplement the system.
Jimmy O’Neill
Cleveland
A response to ‘Racial Conflicts Continue’
To the editor:
I am responding to the letter by Mr. Turner in the July 31 edition of The Northeast Georgian. I agree that racial conflicts are continuing, and President Obama possibly could have done a better job handling the conflict in Ferguson, Missouri.
But what about Trump? Where was he after Charlottesville, Virginia? After the murder of George Floyd, the shooting of Breonna Taylor, or the killing of Rayshard Brooks and others? Instead of mediating the situation, he had the military use tear gas on the peaceful “Black Lives Matter protesters in Lafayette Square, just so he could have his “photo op” – holding the Bible upside down!
A good president is a president for all people and should try to unite the nation and bridge differences instead of fanning the flames of division!
Mr. Turner also states in his letter that the violence over the last four months were “100 times worse than what the KKK did in the past 75 plus years.” I would like for him and your readers to consider the following facts that I found on various internet sites. Since 1945, there were 21 African Americans lynched, according to research from Douglas Linder at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, there was the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Church in Birmingham killing four young girls and 1964 murders of three Civil Rights workers. That brings the total death count for this time frame to 28. Multiply this by 100 you get 2,800! Remember it was Trump who called the military to the cities, even against their loudly voiced opposition that ultimately caused the protest!
With all the racial injustice going on, I cannot imagine what it is like to live in this country as an African American, a Latino or any other minority for that matter. The “White Supremacist” movement is very much alive in our country and is slowly poisoning us more and more! But then, what can we expect if we have a racist as a president!
Hans J. Wiegert
Alto
Exercise your right to vote
To the editor:
I wonder if I am living in the same world as last Wednesday’s letter writers!
They call themselves Christians but don’t see the hypocrisy of our President. Trump’s hate-filled rhetoric and name-calling is in direct contradiction of the commandment “Love thy neighbor.” And what about “Thou shalt not bear false witness?” He has made numerous accusations that are based on absolutely no evidence.
On top of that, he bullies those in opposition to him, and expects that whatever he says is what should be done, without question. Unfortunately, that type of governance is a dictatorship. We live, at least for the present, in a democracy. The Congress we elect must work together to find common ground and create meaningful legislation that will meet the needs of the diverse populations of these 50 states. Only then can the president carry it out. But Trump has no interest in working with Congress, and the Senate has been complicit in this, by sitting the majority of legislation that comes out of the House.
Then, there’s his lack of leadership surrounding COVID-19. Yes, the science keeps changing, but a leader admits that. He doesn’t ignore and undercut the scientists’ advice, and he doesn’t strive to divide and confuse the nation.
Now, he has discovered the power of the “presidential emergency action documents” (PEADs), which differ from powers invoked in a “national emergency.” These documents are Top Secret, although so far no president has seen fit to invoke them. Trump has referred to them and is obviously considering using them. His abuse of the national emergency powers of the presidency make possible use of an ultra-secret PEAD more terrifying than any socialist agenda. Throwing out the protections of the Constitution is the first step of any dictator!
I can’t believe this is the best that the Republicans can come up with. But that’s the choice: Biden/Harris or Trump/Pence. As was evident in 2016, every vote counts. You have several valid options, despite the current administration’s attempts to cast doubt. Don’t let anyone suppress your vote.
Think for yourself and vote your conscience.
Judith Ross
Clarkesville