EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is a selection of the responses from readers of MDJOnline.com in reaction to recent MDJ stories.

Employee pay study for county shot down …

Know the facts — Cobb County does not have unions. They do not recognize them or deal with any employee related member groups; this goes all the way back when Earnest Barrett was first elected in 1964 as Commission Chairman and said it would not happen. He did listen and treat all employees fairly, just and give raises and institute benefits as the county could afford them all thru his 20 plus years as chairman!

Taxpayerz — Will they look into the cost the county bears in collecting union dues from employee paychecks? Will the school district look into the same question? These costs cannot be insubstantial.

Copperblue — Are you aware that Cobb County employees, including Public Safety are not unionized?

Elle Taylor — ARC will do a pay study for a minimal cost! Quit wasting our money and then crying that you don’t have any!

What if — Employees have not had a raise in 4 years and the hits keep coming. Besides raising the retirement contribution of employees each year and the burden of double-digit medical insurance increases, the county now wants to take even more pay away from employees. … Talk about a morale crusher. Cobb County. “Expect the Best,” while we pick your pocket and give you more work to do with less money!

Cave In — Can you say election year “cave-in”?

Anonymous — It‘s time for Cobb County to follow Sandy Springs’ lead and privatize.

Cobb Resident — Good decision. There are less expensive ways to compare county pay and benefits than ANOTHER study.

Tired of it — If you have $350,000 to do a study why don’t you just give the employees a raise?

Obama tells Atlanta crowd country ‘needs your help’ …

120 Garden — Give me some of the Obama Bucks.

Anonymous — Look at the stock market and unemployment numbers. The economy is improving. Try again.

MAY-ETTA SURVIVOR — He’s typical of his ilk; forever blaming others for lack of success.

Nobamamama — The headline says it all, yes our country DOES need our help. Obama has destroyed it and will continue to do so if we don’t vote him outta there!

Givemeliberty — What we do not need is this guy for four more years! Roy (Barnes), you are hitching your wagon to the wrong buggy. What’s up with that?

From Texas — Didn’t he say George (Bush) drove the car into the ditch, but he gutted the car sold the transmission engine and burned the rest there isn’t any economy? No business is going to invest in this country until Obama is out of office. If he gets reelected then welcome to the Peoples Republic of United States or Nations!! Hope the voters aren’t stupid enough to commit suicide at the polls this November!!

Anonymous — Look at the stock market in 1/2009. Look at it today. Are you still sure that no one is willing to invest in America?

Southernbychoice — @anonymous: If you were knowledgeable about the stock market you would know that the only thing keeping it up is the federal government putting in millions and billions every day. Regular investors can’t invest because the profits from their SEPs, 401Ks and IRAs, have gone down the tubes. What people (and most governments) are investing in now is gold and silver. Do a little research before you show your ignorance.