Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
Letters to the Editor
Business owner offers take on Barrow math scores
If you we're expecting
something different out of
President Barack Obama
than the same talking points
and misguided economic
policies that have kept the
economy limping along these
past couple years, then you
are no doubt disappointed
with his latest proposal.
Despite the failure of the
stimulus bill passed in 2009,
Obama, whose poll numbers
have declined on the econo
my, is now demanding that
Congress pass a $447 billion
package of rehashed policies,
which he believes will some
how create jobs when they
didn't before.
Among the proposals
Obama laid out were an
extension of the payroll tax
cut, tax credits to employers
that hire new workers, aid to
state and local governments
and more spending on infra
structure. Some of that may
sound good, but temporary
tax cuts and tax credits are
gimmicks and will not do
much, if anything, to spur
hiring.
What's worse is that
Obama is, once again, pro
posing more than $460 bil
lion in tax hikes, which the
administration claims is nec
essary to pay for his latest
stimulus proposal. That's not
exactly what businesses want
to hear. Defenders of Obama
can point to the tax breaks
as much as they want, but as
noted; these are temporary.
The tax hikes, however, are
permanent and will hit them
hard and discourage hiring
and investment.
The 2009 stimulus bill con
tained billions in infrastruc
ture spending for so-called
“shovel ready" projects.
Democrats and Keynesian
economists
insisted this will
spur job cre
ation, but the
results simply
don't back up
those claims. Jim
Geraghty recent
ly noted at the
National Review
that the Obama
Administration
stated that this
spending would
create 400,000
jobs,buthefound
by looking through numbers
provided by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics that employ
ment in the construction sec
tor fell from 6.45 million jobs
in March 2009 and “declined
every following month until
February 2010, when it hit
5.53 million; the following
months saw a very modest
improvement to 5.55 million,
an increase of about 17,000
jobs. It has ranged between
5.56 million and 5.47 million
since then, bottoming out
in January 2011.” In other
words, it didn’t come close to
living up to expectations.
Of course, the Obama
Administration claimed that
the stimulus itself would keep
unemployment under 8%.
But unemployment reached
10.1% in October 2009 and
currently sits at 9.1%; and it's
not expected to get much bet
ter any time soon. Democrats
now say that recession would
have been worse without the
stimulus, but that is coun-
terfactual. Other Keynesian
enthusiasts say the stimu
lus wasn't large enough and
more should have been spent
to drive, a shuttering pros
pect giving our ever-growing
national debt.
Since the bill has a lot of
opposition already in
Congress, many observ
ers say that it serves
only one real purpose;
to pave the way for
another fight between
the White House and
Republicans over the
economy. That may
very well be the case,
but the numbers are
already against Obama
as a recent poll from
Bloomberg showed
that 51 % of Americans
doubt the proposal
will create jobs. Republicans
really need only point to
the failed 2009 stimulus bill
as evidence that Obama is
throwing a Hail Mary.
What Obama is now push
ing isn’t Keynesian econom
ics. In fact, Keynes would
probably knock Obama for
trying to raise taxes during
rough times (the famous
economist believed that a tax
rate of 25% was bad for an
economy). The 2009 stimu
lus plan was, indeed, a tra
ditional Keynesian stimulus,
but much of this latest pro
posal is economic suicide.
Not every aspect of the bill
is bad. The free trade agree
ments, for example, are long
overdue. But until Obama is
serious about measures that
will encourage businesses to
hire, such as lessening the tax
burden and reducing regula
tion, job creators’ confidence
in the economy will continue
to lag and America will con
tinue to lose ground in the
global economy.
You can read more ofPye’s
musings on politics, sports
and music at his personal
blog, JasonPye.com, or
e-mail him at jason@jason-
pye.com.
Dear Editor:
I just read a copy of the
Barrow Journal (Aug. 24 edi
tion) where you place blame
on Barrow county Schools
for poor Math scores.
I would like to address
the problem from a business
perspective. I have been in
the workforce for over 35
years and have seen a gen
eral deterioration of educa
tion over the entire 35 years
but especially the last 12-14
years mainly due to the way
we hold our schools account
able for something they have
no means to correct.
No child left behind is a
disaster for the schools. I am
all for taking every child’s
needs into consideration
but due to this law teachers
spend more time with spe
cial students than educating
the children that will run the
business’s of the future.
Some of these children do
not belong in the same class
room due to their special
needs. I think this causes
disruption as well as dum
mies down the programs our
teachers would like to be
doing. I come from a family
of dedicated educators who
work harder than you or I
do to see that students get
what they need however no
one and I mean no one can
teach someone who is nei
ther interested in learning or
Does Rick
Dear Editor;
The giant tent was packed
with the “Who's Who” of the
evangelicalism in America.
James Dobson, Tony Perkins,
Richard Land, and the like.
Why?
To see if Rick Perry,
the popular Governor of
Texas, had the right stuff to
be President of the United
States. The gathering was not
designed to be a “pro-Perry”
event, but an opportunity for
Christian leaders to intensely
delve into his “core.”
Perry survived question
after question, and by the end
of the weekend, he seemed to
have the blessing of this pow
erful wing of the Republican
Party.
Gov. Rick Perry certain
ly had questions he needed
to answer too. From his
Executive Order requiring
teen girls to get the HPV
vaccine, to his questionable
appearance at the Bilderberg
Group meeting in Turkey;
Perry seemed to win the
crowd over with his candid
honesty and willingness to
admit mistakes. Clearly not
the public speaker that Barak
Obama is, Perry made up for
it with his passion for the
core issues of the “Religious
Right:" Life, Marriage,
Liberty, Free Enterprise, and
A firestorm of comments
came into the Barrow Journal
following our story on the
Winder mom who dressed her
3-year-daughter as a hooker
in a beauty pageant.
The costume represented
The Braselton-Hoschton
Relay for Life will hold
its annual Bark for Life on
Saturday, Sept. 24, from 2-4
p.m. at the Hoschton City
Square.
The event is part of the
Hoschton Fall Festival,
which is set that weekend.
Bark for Life is a canine
event to fight cancer that will
include a pet parade and a
costume contest.
Registration will be held
from 2-2:30 p.m., a welcome
will be given from 2:30-2:45
p.m., a pet parade/walk will
be held from 2:45-3 p.m. at
the Hoschton City Square,
and the contest and activities
Limited Government.
But it was the promises he
made that sealed the deal.
First, he said he would
repeal Obamacare, even using
an Executive Order if neces
sary.
Second, he promised to
choose a younger, pro-life
Vice-President. Third, he said
he would make sure that only
strict Constitutionalists were
appointed to the Supreme
Court, lower courts, and
heads of various depart
ments and agencies. Finally,
he brought the crowd to a
frenzy by promising to sup
port Israel every day of his
Administration.
But, we haven't even had
the first primary yet. Can Rick
Perry and his wife handle the
rigors of a strenuous Iowa,
New Hampshire and South
Carolina Primary schedule?
Anita, his wife of 29 years,
certainly said they were up
for the challenge. Perry is no
political novice either. He is
on his third term as Governor
— the longest in Texas his
tory. He was previously Lt.
Governor and prior to that
Agricultural Commissioner
— span of 26 years in elected
office.
The Texas success story is
also in his favor.
Without the incredible job
the Julia Roberts character in
the movie “Pretty Woman.”
An on-line poll conducted
by barrowjournal.com showed
more than 50 percent of peo
ple thought the costume was
“all in fun and OK."
start at 3 p.m.
Awards will be given to
dogs in the following catego
ries: Best costume, best sing
er, best smile, best trick, best
dancer, longest/shortest tail,
longest tongue, dog/human
look-alike, most pampered,
most spirited dog, biggest/
smallest dog. Also, the dog
that raises the most money
prior to the event will be
presented with a trophy on
stage.
The cost is $25 for each
dog. Multiple dogs with the
same owner will be charged
$20 each. All participating
dog owners are asked to
bring puppy or kitten dry
growth in Texas, the United
States would have been in
the negative numbers. Texas'
economy is booming amidst a
serious national recession. As
a result, nearly 1500 people a
day move to the state to find
jobs and security for their
families, according to the
Governor.
Further, Texas Attorney
Kelly Shackelford of the
Liberty Institute took the
podium to inform the group
that Rick Perry was the most
successful pro-life Governor
in America based on actual
legislation passed. In fact,
Perry and company defunded
Planned Parenthood by taking
away $34 million from the
Texas chapter.
Having gone to the meeting
without much knowledge of
Perry’s values and achieve
ments, I came away deeply
impressed. No doubt his core
beliefs and effectiveness as a
Governor has set him apart
as an attractive candidate for
value voters.
Whether he can endure the
storm of a presidential cam
paign, only time will tell. But
I think he has the right stuff,
and so do a lot of others.
Sincerely,
Jody Hice
2010 candidate
US Congress, 7th Disrict
Approximately 47 per
cent said it “was a bad idea"
while 2.5 percent said “I don't
know."
A new poll question is list
ed each week.
food, canned dog or cat food,
cat litter or pet beds. Those
donations will be given to
the Jackson County Humane
Society.
The humane society will
also offer onsite pet adop
tions at the event. Organizers
are also seeking sponsors,
who may place promotional
items in the goody bags to be
given to participants.
For more information, or to
register, call Victoria Patrick
at the American Cancer
Society at 706-549-4893 or
e-mail victoria.patrick@ can
cer. org. For additional infor
mation, visit www.hoschton-
fallfestival.com.
The longest hall
Sometimes it seems like at least 150 years
since my high school graduation. When the 178
of us graduated in June of 1972, we were the
largest graduating class up to that time.
Of course, when one factors in a few years
of chicken wings, barbecue pork, cornbread,
and chocolate cake, we may — liter
ally — be the largest senior class bar
none. But that’s a topic we'd just as
soon not cover at all, much less right
now. So we’ll just leave it there, shall
we?
During our junior year, Glenwood
and Winder-Barrow High Schools
were consolidated. The sad part of
the move was that nobody was happy
about it: neither group of students
wanted to give up their identity. For
the kids over at Glenwood, they lost
their building, their mascot, their alma
mater — everything. It was a difficult
transition for everyone involved. But
the Supreme Court didn't give us any choice in
the matter.
Over 200 kids were suspended or expelled
during the first three weeks of the 1970-71
school year. Student-on-student fights seemed
to be the order of the day. The “powers that be”
figured if we couldn't get along at school, we
probably couldn’t get along at a social event
either. So they outlawed any school-related
social events. That helped matters a lot.
To add insult to injury, now you had the hot
heads blaming each other for why we couldn't
have dances after football games, club parties
or a Junior-Senior Prom. There are probably
still some folks who haven't quite gotten over
being gypped out of the only formal dance kids
around here had every year.
Fast forward a year. The Class of ‘72 reigned
supreme on the old WBHS campus that stretched
between Bellview and Church Streets. We were
excited about the big things and bright lights
that awaited us away from Winder and we were
determined to have fun our last year in high
school.
The ruling powers thought differently, though,
and told us as much during our first class
assembly that fall. There we sat in the old D.F.
Osborne Auditorium: Principal Guy Sullivan
facing 178 high school seniors with raging hor
mones who were just told they couldn’t have
any school parties. Again. Several of us asked to
be given the opportunity to try having football
dances and see how things went. We were met
with a resounding “no”.
A few days later the editor of The Newsette.
the school newspaper, wrote an editorial about
the inequity of it all. The staff interviewed some
of the senior class members regarding their
opinions about the whole matter. We believed
our class was being persecuted for events that
had taken place the preceding year. We had
ended the year much better than it had begun.
Would we have to revolt?
A few hours after the newspaper began cir
culating through the school, Barbara Miller’s
voice came over the PA. Mr. Sullivan wanted to
see four of the seniors — including the Editor
in his office — right then.
Some years before, Mr. Osborne,
the former Superintendent, was
asked over the school PA what he
thought about the addition to the
school. The central portion of what
is Russell Middle School today con
nected the Winder Elementary School
on Church Street with the Winder
High School building on Bellview.
(Of course, the elementary school
was tom down a few years back, but
we won’t go there right now. The
auditorium and Bellview building
burned in December, 1972. Only the
ell is still standing.) The new addition
contained elementary and vocational
classrooms, a cafeteria, band room, and music
rooms. It was something of a hike to go from
the auditorium to John Peterman’s office in
the elementary school at the opposite end.
Basically, one was walking the entire block.
Now, Mr. Osborne had a most distinctive way
of speaking. His chuckling reply was, “Ll-ahwn-
gest hawl ah evah bin dohwn, Weavuh. Heh.
Heh. Heh.” (Hartwell Weaver was the high
school principal at that time. )
Fourteen years later as I walked down that
hall toward Mr. Sullivan's office, I had to agree
with Mr. Osborne. That was the longest hall I’d
ever been down, as well. Every step was bring
ing me closer to having to tell Haase Arnold that
his only daughter had just been expelled from
school for exercising freedom of the press.
An hour later, Mr. Sullivan had agreed to
allow the Class of ‘72 to be keepers of the social
calendar that year. He was depending on us to
set the example for the rest of the school. No
pressure, but we managed to get through the
year unscathed.
And here we are, four decades later, getting
ready to kick-start our class social calendar
after a 15 year hiatus. The last time many of us
had met, folks were drowning in kids and jobs
to the point that trying to fit a class reunion into
the schedule just didn’t seem to make the cut.
It'll be interesting to see what everybody’s
been up to the past 40 years. As for myself, I
still haven't written the sequel to Gone with
the Wind. We passed it around Mrs. Franklin’s
classes for several years. Will the critique group
all make it to Winder next June 16 th ?
Frankly, we aren’t sure we'll recognize each
other once we get together, but it’ll be fun figur
ing it out.
Helen Person is a Winder resident and colum
nist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach her
at helenperson@windstream.net.
More gimmicks as economy struggles
Voice Your Opinion:
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those who do not have what
it takes to learn math or sci
ence. Is it fair to lump them
together, I think not.
Every child no matter their
condition or status is counted
against that school. Should
someone have a special
child today the school sys
tem will carry that child and
their scores/potential with
them until that child is out
of school.
I also know for a fact that
demographics play a huge
role in the education system.
If a school is built where the
population is mostly affluent
then the schools prosper and
the students score well. If a
school is built closer to lower
income areas then the school
suffers and so do their test
scores.
This is mainly due to the
education level of the par
ents. I think you will find
if you dig deep enough that
lower income equals less
education which in most
cases leads to children who
emulate the parent. I see it in
business all of the time. If a
parent comes to work every
day and is focused on their
work, their children also are
focused on their schoolwork
and do better. If the parent
is not interested in doing
well their children 9 out of
10 times follow this same
pattern.
I think it high time we
grade the schools on things
they can accomplish without
having their hands tied behind
their backs. It is bureaucrats
in Washington and our own
state government that have
no clue about what is going
on but are quick to criti
cize instead of helping these
teachers educate the children
who will lead our nation. It
is time for all of us to dig a
little deeper if we are going
to turn this around.
Placing blame where it
really belongs on the parents
and the system, this is what
is broken.
Sincerely,
Russell W. Mims Jr.
Watkinsville
Perry have the right stuff?
Poll favors pageant mom
Bark for Life set Sept. 24 in Hoschton