Expanding Medicaid important for Georgians
With the beginning of the legislative session, Georgia’s GOP legislators have a choice to make.
After denying coverage for 10 years, they can finally expand Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of their neighbors. By joining 40 other states (many of which are red states), they could embrace the humanity and fiscal responsibility of full expansion, especially since the federal government pays 90% of the cost.
Or, they can continue Gov. Kemp’s Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, which has already delayed full expansion for six years and, by any objective analysis, has been and will continue to be a failure.
A dramatic increase in Georgians’ access to health care is far more important than a potential blemish to the political aspirations of a single politician.
DON HACKNEY, ATLANTA
Not persuaded by school choice argument
I thoroughly read Michael O’Leary’s opinion piece on school choice, hoping he could sway my opinion about vouchers for any child, without special needs or special circumstances, in public school. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get past two aspects of his argument. (“I’m a UGA student. I back school choice” Jan. 16).
The first aspect was the concept that public schools are considered a “commodity” and, therefore, have to compete for excellence and public money. This leads to my second concern in his argument: competition, as it pertains to public education for children under 18.
To have fair competition, the playing field for all participants should begin on a fair and even starting point. I can’t think of any venue less fair than a public school competing with a private school (or homeschooling). Public schools are designed to educate all children, regardless of disabilities, language barriers and other special needs. Private schools have the luxury of handpicking the children they wish to teach. Even with government mandates that require some admission of special students, it is nowhere near a public-school ratio for special needs students.
These are a few ways the playing field for private vs. public school competition is unfair from the starting line. Insisting on unfair competition to justify a voucher program is inherently flawed.
His argument brings to mind the past failed concept of “separate but equal.”
ANNE CONKLIN, CARTERSVILLE
FBI’s Christopher Wray was one of the good guys
Reading the AJC’s profile on Christopher Wray (Exiting FBI chief cites threat posed by China,” Jan. 14) gives hope that not all of Trump’s cabinet choices are a dumpster fire. Not only is Director Wray an accomplished attorney and Georgian, he is a statesman, devoid of ego, who stuck to the mission of the FBI despite the relentless outside influences of politics. The long list of domestic attacks that his office thwarted reminds us of how critical that position truly is.
Perhaps there’s a statesman/stateswoman among this recent pledge class of cabinet nominees. We can only hope.
Thank you for your service, Director Wray.
PATRICK CHESSER, SANDY SPRINGS
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
