This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Is two the limit?
Your article on couples’ decisions about bearing large numbers of children missed the point. Every baby beyond the first two born puts a strain on our environment, our clean water and air, our energy supply and our dwindling areas for wildlife. I’m not asking people today to have no children, just for couples to limit themselves to two births — replacing themselves. Those who want big families can adopt children who desperately need a home. Overpopulation is the basic problem that contributes to most of the things we worry about — pollution, migration, poverty, ignorance and climate change.
Mary Ann van Hartesveldt, Fort Valley
Are lies OK?
Thomas Friedman’s recent essay on the scope of lying and defense of Hillary Clinton’s lies versus candidate Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders is laughable. In the context of his admission, Hillary Clinton’s lies aren’t important because (A) they won’t impact us, the citizen, and (B) her lies were more about bad judgment, i.e., using a private email server. Do you really want a POTUS that routinely exhibits bad judgment?
The very nature of lying is to conceal the truth. Why do courts require an oath to the truth and commitment by witnesses, defense, prosecution and the judge? If lying is OK by Friedman’s standard when it doesn’t hurt someone how long do we calculate the future hurt? There is no way at the time a lie is told to know who or how someone will be hurt. If lying is OK why did God give instruction to Moses to make this one of the Ten Commandments.
Lies always hurt whether due to bad judgment or outright deception. Voters need to recognize that neither grand party has been telling the truth. Stop voting for the same lies and excuses and vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson. As a two-time successful governor and straight talk person — you’ll see real change conducted by a man who will tell the truth even if it hurts a bit.
Tanner Shultz, Macon
This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, June 8, 2016."