Newspaper Page Text
4A
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2006
Moustcm iiatlg djmtrratl
OPINION
Daniel F. Evans
Editor and Publisher
Julie B. Evans
Vice President
Don Moncrief
Managing Editor
No tax on vehicles?
There is a possibility that, in the
future, the tax that Georgians pay
on their motor vehicles will be
eliminated.
A trial balloon is being floated on the
issue and a legislative committee is con
ducting public hearings on the subject.
Doing away with this tax would be
popular and the Republicans, who now
are in complete control of the legislative
process in Georgia, may be ready to do
something about it.
Newcomers to Georgia from many other
states are shocked when they purchase
tags for their automobiles to learn that
there is a whopping tax that goes along
with the price pf
the tag.
In Florida, for
example, motor
ists purchase tags
at a reasonable
price and that is
all there is to it.
No taxes, either.
Legislators pre
dict that if the tax
on vehicles were
eliminated com
pletely it would
cost the state
about SSOO million
a year in revenue.
Proponents of
elimination of the
tax say it would be
wise to lower the
tax in increments
over a few years to
reduce the impact
on state revenue.
We like the idea.
It would benefit
more than 90 percent of Georgians and
would not target any particular group.
Spite is big winner
Republicans in the United States
Congress offered a bill that would
increase the minimum wage for
workers and Democrats in the Senate
shot it down after it was passed by the
House.
Tied to the minimum wage increase
was some relief for the small number of
wealthy people whose estates are rav
aged by the onorous “death tax.”
Estates of up to $5 million would be
transferred to survivors tax free and
taxes would be paid on any estates above
that figure. It would be a way to permit
business owners, farmers and others
who, through their efforts have accu
mulated wealth, to pass a reasonable
amount to their families.
Democrats proved they were willing to
deny minimum wage workers an increase
so they could continue to punish success
ful individuals.
It seemed reasonable to us to increase
the minimum wage for workers at the
low end of the totem pole while giving
tax relief to people whose hard work has
made it possible for them to accumulate
some wealth.
Minimum wage workers are the real vic
tims of this demonstration by Democratic
senators that they have unwavering
determination to distribute individuals’
wealth through taxation.
Worth Repeating
“The process of election affords a moral certainty, that
the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man
who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requi
site qualifications. Talents for low intrigue, and the little
arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to
the first honors in a single State; but it will require other
talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him iq
the esteem and confidence of the whole Union.”
Alexander Hamilton
Foy S. Evans
Editor Emeritus
Legislators
predict that it the
tax on vehicles
were eliminated
completely it
would cost the
state about SSOO
million a year in
revenue.
Proponents of
elnnination of
the tax say it
would be wise to
lower the tax In
increments over
a few years to
reduce the impact
on state revenue.
Southerners
Iread that a movie star just bought
himself a $2.5 million home in Los
Angeles. He got a 2,000 square foot,
two-bedroom, two-bath house for his
money.
This highlights, in my view, the
importance, when we see comparisons
between what people earn in different
parts of the country, that it isn’t how
much you earn but what you can buy
with what is left after taxes.
Californians don’t seem to get much
for their money, compared with us here
in Houston County.
Consider what you will pay for a
2,000 square foot, two-bedroom, two
bath house here.
The cost would be less than $200,000
in a nice neighborhood.
Since I can remember, there have
been stories pointing fingers at the
South for the low average income as
compared with other parts of the coun
try. It is a misleading statistic, because
you never see anything comparing the
actual cost of living with income.
We get more for our dollars in the
South.
California incomes, for example, may
be higher than ours. But, after higher
taxes and runaway high prices, what
can be purchased is disproportionately
lower.
I have known numerous families
from California who have been amazed
(A
Sure-fire ways to avoid jury duty
Have you ever been convicted of
a felony?
I believe my answer to that
query got me relieved from jury duty.
“Convicted...,” I said slowly, pausing
for an eternity, swirling an imaginary
lozenge in my mouth with one eye
closed - the official trying-to-remem
ber-my-brushes-with-the-law facial
contortion. “Naw, never convicted.”
Five times out of 10, which is almost
50 percent, the above dialogue will
exempt you from jury duty.
Almost one percent of Americans will
be called for jury duty this year alone.
Ironically, that’s the same percentage
of Americans that vote.
Contrary to its name, jury duty is not
a duty, but rather a privilege.
That’s what I’ve been told. I guess
having the ability to send a neighbor
to jail is a privilege in some cases.
But “jury privilege” just doesn’t sound
right. And “duty” is a much funnier
word. I’ll stick with jury duty.
I don’t in any way condone using
ploys, trickery or deception to absolve
yourself from the privilege of serving
on a jury, but fellow inmates have told
me the following are sure-fire methods
OPINION
get mope fop their money
Foy
Evans
Columnist
foyevansl9@cox.net
how much more home they can buy for
the money here than they had back in
the Golden State.
A few days ago I was talking with
a man who recently moved here from
Florida. He told me that he sold his
home near Clearwater and purchased
a comparalJle home in Houston County
and had “a lot of change left over.” He
also said he felt like he was released
from prison with the wide open spaces
here and less traffic congestion ...
really.
It isn’t how much a person earns.
It is how much he can buy with his
money.
We get more for the dollar here than
almost any other part of the country.
Yet we are prone to complain, I fear. We
say taxes are high, but compare them
with major cities or other prosperous
parts of the country and it is evident
that we are lucky.
The South has been a whipping boy
for much of the rest of the nation since
I can remember. Much of the criti-
Len f
Robbins |^jLj
Columnist /
airpub@planttel.net .
to spare yourself from being a juror:
• When they ask you if you know the
defendant, reply: “No, but he looks just
like the maggot that stole my post-hole
digger.”
• Enter the courtroom. Sit down.
Then jump up and scream “I object!”
Sit back down.
Repeat every two minutes until you
are apprehended.
• Early in the proceedings, stand up
and ask how much they pay you for
jury duty.
When they respond “$35,” scream
“Whippee! We’re going to party
tonight!!”
• When an attorney asks if there
is anything that would prejudice you
against a defendant (or an attorney),
answer “Yes!” very loudly.
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
cism has come from people who do not
understand that per capita income, for
example, does not necessarily reflect
the standard of living. As a matter of
fact, because money buys more, often
people considered near the national
poverty level live quite well here.
Like so many things, it is a matter of
perception.
It will change through the years.
More people are finding out about
the Sunbelt and this is a growth area.
Consequently, prices will go up as
congestion increases and the unusual
values we get for our money today
gradually will give way to less for the
money.
I have traveled over much of the
country and have endured northerners
turning up their noses when referring
to the South.
I never would tell them how good it
is because I didn’t want them to come
down, overcrowd the area and ruin it
for us.
No place is perfect. But I came to the
conclusion more than half a centuiy
ago, after testing and experiencing
what the rest of the country had to
offer, that the best place for me was
right back in Georgia, where I was
born.
As time passes and my time is run
ning out I have no reason to believe
that I did not make the right decision.
When they ask you what would prej
udice you, say: “I don’t know. He just
looks like a crook.”
• If you are still seated as a potential
juror, raise your hand. When acknowl
edged, ask: “Is this a death penalty
case?”
If they answer yes, yell “Yippee!”
immediately and attempt to give a fel
low juror a high five. If they answer
no or “I don’t know,” or something
other than yes, react with disgust and
bellow, “Darn! Man, I wanted to fry
someone!”
• If still seated as a potential juror,
go to the front row. Then raise your
hand and ask: “May I go to the bath
room?”
When someone replies affirmatively,
stare straight ahead with a determined
glare for about a minute, as if you’re
straining. Squint your eyes and furrow
your brow. Then let out a loud sigh,
look at whoever gave you permission
to use the bathroom, and say, “Thank
you.”
• When asked what your occupation
is, respond, “I work for a newspap...”
“You’re excused.”
I wonder why that always works.