Everyone wants to cut the deficit, now it’s your turn to tell us how for a story to appear in the AJC.

Here are some of the ideas proposed Wednesday by a national panel. Tell us which ones you like and which ones you hate.

Would you:

• Raise the Social Security retirement age, increase payroll taxes and trim benefits?
• Reduce Medicare payments to doctors and institute a tax on employer-provided health benefits?
• End the mortgage interest deduction and the child tax credit in return for lower basic tax rates?
• Reduce the corporate income tax?
• Raise the federal tax on gasoline?
• Cut military spending, especially on new weapons systems?
• End congressional “earmarks”?

If you’ve got an opinion to share, please contact Katie Leslie (kleslie@ajc.com, 404-526-5969) or Craig Schneider (cschneider@ajc.com, 404-526-5463).

Let the cutting begin!

Continue reading AJC wants your ideas on how to cut the deficit »

A tragedy all around.

For the families of Robert Carter; his wife, Delisia; their 2-month-old son, Ethan Carter; and Delisia Carter’s daughter, 9-year-old Kayla Lemons. And for another child, 6-year-old Morgan Johnson.

All were killed in south Fulton in that 2009 Easter Sunday crash caused by 24-year-old Aimee Michael, a college grad who fled the scene and covered up her role for days with the help of her mother, Sheila Michael, who the judge in the case said “failed” her daughter.

The case is also a tragedy for Robert Michael, a former Marine working for the military overseas who returned to see his daughter and wife led off Friday in chains to serve 50-year and eight-year sentences, respectively.

Did the punishments fit the crimes? Could they ever in a case this tragic?

Continue reading ‘09 Easter Sunday crash leaves heartache all around »