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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.