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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Inside the Numbers Iraq intransigence will ensure GOP defeat An InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion survey of 1044 reg istered voters nationwide shows public opinion evenly split over the opinion provided by General David Petraeus in his report this week to Congress on our progress in Iraq. That’s the good news for President Bush, given the many reports and commentaries that suggest the gen eral had a sketchy case. Now the bad news for Bush and proponents of a 30,000-troop reduc tion by next summer: By a 58 percent to 34 percent margin, Americans say the reduction is not enough. A major ity wants more troops than that home by then. Here’s the key: By a 43 percent to 36 percent margin, poll respondents said they’d be less likely to vote for the Republican nominee for presi dent if a substantial number of troops “have not been withdrawn from Iraq by Election Day.” (The other 21 per cent were undecided.) The plot gets even thicker when the poll is broken down by party affiliation. Nearly 20 percent of those identifying themselves as Republicans said they’d be less likely to vote for their own party’s nominee if big troop reductions don’t happen. Among those who consider them selves independent voters - the ones who put recent Republican presiden tial candidates over the top - 12 per cent said they’d be less likely to vote for the GOP ticket without drastic troop reductions. What does this all mean? First, it tells us that many Americans recog nize that there has been genuine prog ress in bringing some degree of calm to Iraq. Given the endless drumbeat of bad stories and commentary, that is amazing in and of itself. However, the fact that only 49 percent of all Americans agree with the administra tion’s assessment is hardly cause for celebration at the White House. The fact is, most Americans origi nally supported the war, later became skeptical and now want our troops back home. It doesn’t mean they don’t support the troops or the over EVANS From page 4A to me that in almost every country in the world, including backward and emerging countries, two or more lan guages are taught in the schools and spoken by almost everyone. We, in America, have been so self centered that we have been satisfied with one language and now find our selves at a disadvantage in a global economy. Now, it seems, is the time for our educational institutions to bring us into the 21st Century with require ments that all young people become proficient in at least one foreign lan TAX From page 4A The best investment a per son can make is in the acqui sition of land. The return on this investment is much high er than many other. A house and lot bought in 1969 for $20,000 and sold in 1978 for $35,000 brought a $15,000 profit or 75 percent increase in value. Of course this was minus taxes and mainte nance during the nine years. We do not need to do away with property tax! We need to review our his tory about land ownership. During the depression in the 30s, some farmers had to sell their farms and go into a share cropping arrangement with big landowners. The landowners required a large amount of the farmer’s profit; usually 1/3 to 1/2. On top of that the landowner often required the farmer to buy his seed and fertilizers from his store. However, the store often extended credit until har vest time. I cite this as an example of how landowners have abused the ownership of land. We do not need to abet large landowners and developers by doing away with property taxes. Richardson is quoted as saying the continuation of the 7 percent sales tax will pay all expenses. Don’t believe it. When the original 3 per cent sales tax was enacted in Georgia in the middle of the 1900 s, it was said that 3 percent would fund all educa tional expenses. Sales tax is an unfair tax "The fact is, most Americans originally supported the war, later became skeptical and now want our troops back home. It doesn't mean they don't support the troops or the overall cause. Rather, they have grown weary and can no longer distinguish a clear connection between 9/11 and a continued war in Iraq." all cause. Rather, they have grown weary and can no longer distinguish a clear connection between 9/11 and a continued war in Iraq. Clearly there are arguments to support that con nection, but if the public cannot make the mental leap needed to do so, then, from a public-opinion basis, the effort is of no value. And cute tricks, such as having General Petraeus testify one day before the anniversary of 9/11, have little impact on public perception. To many Americans, the election is about Iraq, stupid. Oddly, my polling tells me that by November of 2008 the issue will be the same that created disaster for the Democrats and Jimmy Carter in 1980 - the economy. Remember guage, preferably more. ■ Do bicyclists believe that they are immortal? Time after time I see a bicyclist ride through a red traf fic light for which automobiles have stopped. Traffic lights apply to every one. The thing that bothers me is that if one of these cyclists runs a red light and I hit him I probably will be blamed. At best, I will have a hard time getting over it. ■ Critics of President Bush con stantly criticize him because Osama bin Laden has not been captured. He is hiding in almost impenetrable mountainous country with the help of friendly sympathizers. I wonder how many of those who too. Why should shoppers from the counties surround ing Houston support our tax structure for services that are exclusively for Houston County citizens? For exam ple, people in Dooly County need all the tax money they can get to support their ser vices. Also, the poor pay a higher percentage of their income for sales tax than the affluent. Richardson wants to send all the tax money to Atlanta and have it re-distributed to where it is needed. Historically it has been observed that the “administrative” cost of collecting and re-distributing funds is very expensive. “Local Rule” has always been a way of life in Georgia. Counties and cities need to retain their right to determine local needs, tax themselves, and manage their own funds. Property taxes are the main source of revenue for the local governments. George Pope, Perry FAIRFIELD FINANCIAL Ghe U&veßy d. ike New Perry Hofei | LIVE MUSIC | 9/20 Larrv G. Hudson on guitar at 8 PM Happy Hour: 2-for-l beer & wine 5-8 FOOTBALL on the BIG SCREEN | 9/22 #2 LSU vs*l2South Carolina (HD) 3:30 #l6 Alabama vs #22 UGA (HD) 7:45 Monday to Saturday 800 Main Street mvspace.com/thetavery 478.987 . 1000 I HOME LOANS Best Rates Available Purchase or Refinance • HOME EQUITY LOANS AVAILABLE • CONSOLIDATE BILLS - PAY OFF CREDIT CARD DEBT • SLOW CREDIT OK Call Wallace Martin 953-7400 OPINION James Carville’s stinging slogan for Bill Clinton: “It’s the economy, stu pid.” James was right, and he used the issue to create a wedge that - once Ross Perot’s third-party candidacy was tossed in - worked to elect Clinton. The combination of Iraq and a threat and the economy should be of great concern to those Republicans vying for their party’s nomination. I believe this election is much like the 4980 battle between Carter and Reagan. A bad economy combined with a seemingly unsolvable inter national crisis - the Iranian hostage crisis for Carter - created huge dis content among the public. The difference this time is that none of the GOP candidates for presi dent are White House incumbents, as Carter was then for the Democrats. So there’s no pressing need for the Republicans to resolve the interna tional crisis prior to Election Day, as Carter needed to do. Put another way, Bush and his gen eral can make their small reductions in troops in Iraq and hurt only one person - the coming GOP nominee. Few remember that Jimmy Carter and his staff came close to negotiating freedom for the hostages just before the election. When the effort failed, Carter’s pollster, Pat Caddell, had to inform Carter that the election would likely go to Reagan. To his credit, Carter tried to resolve the Iranian issue. If Bush and the GOP presidential field remain stead fast in this “stay until we win” mind set, they will likely sentence the GOP to the same fate Carter faced. Defeat. Matt Towery served as the chairman of former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s political organization from 1992 until Gingrich left Congress. He is a for mer Georgia state representative, the author of several books and currently heads the polling and political infor mation firm Insider Advantage. To find out more about Matthew Towery and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. say he should have been captured a long time ago have considered that searchers have been unable to find Steve Fossett in a relatively small mountainous area in Nevada with unlimited resources at their disposal. ■ The earth is getting warmer. For how long, nobody knows. Some scien tists are predicting that ice caps will melt and make the oceans rise, cov ering coastal areas with water. New Orleans is already below sea level. It is protected by levies. What will happen to New Orleans if the ocean waters continue to rise? Why spend billions of dollars rebuild ing a city that, if global warming sup porters are correct, can someday wind up beneath the sea? HICKS From page 4A In this case, neither person in the relationship may have the wherewithal to raise con cerns about how fast things are moving. At least not until it’s too late to do so without causing problems and pain. Let me be quick to point out that there is nothing wrong with those early and intense feelings. They can be a natural part of a newborn relationship. The danger is in an early expression of love and devotion that pushes the relationship into uncharted territory - where the stakes are higher and it’s more dif ficult to go back. For example, what hap pens when things are on the fast track and someone expresses doubt about the relationship? One word - cri sis! All of a sudden fear and uncertainty set in and feel ings get hurt, but there is little beyond those feeling to draw from to resolve the problem because the couple don’t really know each other yet. There is a natural pro gression that should occur in a dating relationship that involves mutual discovery and an increasing familiarity with the other person’s needs, desires, habits and hangups. A relationship grows from shared experiences, working through problems together and seeking what is best for the other person - the exact opposite of the scenarios I mentioned earlier. There is also value in getting to know the other person’s family and friends. There’s a lot can be learned from them. But this too takes some time. The result may be compat ibility, or it may not. Either way, it’s much easier to decide when commitments haven’t been made too hast ily- A book we at Georgia Family Council often use DAY From page 4A our government claims to be a foreigner can be imprisoned indefinitely without charge. Our phone conversations can be tapped - without court order - if the govern ment “thinks” the call goes overseas. We are fighting an unconstitutional, undeclared war. Fortunately, one Congressman consistently fights to keep the govern ment inside its bounds. 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Understanding such things as the other person’s upbringing and family back ground, relationship skills, the maturity of their con science and more will offer key insights into whether this is really the right per son. So that’s the dating side of it, but I’m sure some of you married readers are wonder ing where you fit into this discussion. Well, it’s not unusual for a married individual to feel a connection with someone other than their spouse - that same “buzz” of newness reminiscent of the dating years. Much like the new car experience, the enthusiasm about that spouse we just couldn’t wait to have before marriage can wane over time. The difference here of course is that a permanent commitment has already been made. The emotional affects of extramarital rela tionships can be similar, but if allowed to play out can be much more damaging. It is essential for us who are married to maintain our relationship, so that no one else competes for our affec tions. Even though the dating years are past, the effort to discover our spouse’s needs and desires, is an ongoing pro cess. Marriage relationships, more than any other, ben efit from shared experiences, working through problems together and seeking what is best for the other person. Jumping from new gadget to newer gadget for the new ness “buzz” may be okay - but not with people. Paul refuses to vote for any bill that violates the constitu tion. During his 20 years in congress, Paul has put the Constitution first, no mater the popularity of a bill. Paul is running for President to fight for our Constitution. If you are as proud of and as concerned for the Constitution as I, please consider voting for Paul in the Republican Presidential primary Feb. 5, 2008. For more information log onto www.RonPaul2ooß. com, or call 703-248-9115. 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