Newspaper Page Text
4A
♦ SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008
EDITORIAL
Where are the Dick Russells
and the Carl Vinsons?
The story is that when Dick
Russell chaired the Senate
Armed Services Committee
and Carl Vinson chaired the House
Armed Services Committee, these two
legislative giants met to decide how to
allocate the defense funds among the
country’s military bases. Being the
fine and fair men they were, and both
wanting to do “the right thing,” there
was no problem: They simply allocated
50 percent to the Georgia bases and 50
percent to the rest of the bases in the
country.
Carl Vinson, “father of the modern
Navy,” and Richard Russell, undoubt
edly the most powerful senator of his
time, gave the State of Georgia influ
ence unequaled in the country at that
time or in Georgia’s history. Georgia
had the clout in Washington.
And there was Sen. Walter George
and Sen. Herman Talmadge, and Carl
Vinson’s great nephew, Sen. Sam Nunn,
and Congressman Phil Landrum and
Congressman Ed Jenkins, and Speaker
Newt Gingrich. Herman took care of
the farmers and agri-business, Sam
took care of the military and Georgia
bases, and later Newt took care of
everything else. Georgia had clout in
Washington. Yes, Georgia had the “con
nection”. Georgia had the influence.
Fast forward to 2008. What’s hap
pened to Georgia’s influence? Where
are the Sam Nunns and the Herman
Talmadges? Does Georgia have the
clout it used to have? Is the caliber of
( GANDIBA.TB (
eft' o
E' ■ "IV#
"Sure, it takes courage for the candidates to run for office,
but sometimes it takes more for us to vote for them!"
'A little data'll do (do) ya'
Three true “hair”-raising sto
ries to start.
I think it was around about
Christmas 1991. My brother and sister
in-law gave me a hairbrush as a gift.
Only it wasn’t your typical hair
brush. It had no bristles, just a felt
pad. Written in black magic marker
- crafted by the finest of rednecks I
would venture to guess - were the
words: “Hair brush for bald people.”
Ha. Ha. Very funny.
The next year they gave me a cof
fee mug that read: “All I want for
Christmas is a good hair day.”
Oh what a wonderful Christmas tra
dition. (Note: I am not without blame.
My mother-in-law said she would never
have anything “cow” - figurines, et
cetera - in her kitchen. Since that
day, every Christmas, birthday ... pretty
much any excuse ... I buy her a cow.)
Anyway, fast-forward to the present.
The other day I was out in the back
yard scooping up doggie due (as in: I
have to do it “due” to the fact nobody
else will) when my 9-year-old daughter
came up and asked: “Dad would you
put elephant poop on your head?”
“What?! No!”
“Would you put elephant poop on
your head if you knew it would grow
hair?” ...
Why do people persist? Why do they
think it’s so all-fired important to me to
have a full head of hair? For as long as
I can remember people have used hair
as a weapon against me. They think it
gives them some sort of leverage.
A good Air Force friend I was sta
tioned with in the United Kingdom
used to like to refer to the front portion
of my hair as my “tuft” whenever he
wanted the edge (i.e. whenever women
Larry
Walker
Columnist
lwalker@whgb-law.com
our representation as good as it used to
be? Do we have capable and conscien
tious and effective people representing
our state?
Yes, we have some very strong mem
bers of the Georgia delegation - more
than most states have. But, no delega
tion dominates like Georgia did at one
time. Let me suggest possible reasons
why.
1. Seniority matters, and longevity
in office is not what it was at one time.
Capable people serve for a while and
move on (example, Newt Gingrich).
2. Georgia’s delegation is not politi
cally united as in the past. This is
reflective of the political base in the
state. Part of our delegation is influ
enced by the Christian Coalition and
part by labor unions. About half are
Republicans and half are Democrats.
The result is that apparently, the dele
gation seldom unites and works togeth
er for problenis common to Georgia.
3. Twenty-four-seven media cover
age, even on the floor of the House and
Senate, changes the political process
Don
Moncrief
Managing Editor
donm@evansnewspapers.com
were around). As in: “Don, your ‘tuft’
needs combing.” As if you can actually
comb a tuft. (And that was, oh back
around 1986. Now days my tuft is more
a “tough” luck.)
Those same aforementioned rela
tives - all of the relatives on my wife’s
side to be exact (oh yes, I’ve suspected
a plot for a long, long time) - would
have the same overly-dramatic reac
tion every single time we would come
home from overseas for the holidays
(we spent almost 10 years there and
came home every year).
“Oh Pam it’s so nice to see you
again.” Hugs.
“Don ... OH MY GOD! WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR!”
Laughs ... no hugs.
Every single time.
I got/get it from coworkers - more
so after today I’ll bet. I get it from
so-called friends and on an on and on,
time and time again.
When will they learn? It doesn’t
bother me. Not one bit...
Aw who am I kidding? They know.
Everybody knows. It’s as clear as
Rogaine (which didn’t work for me by
the way). I WANT HAIR! REAL HAIR!
Not just a few strands still thinking it’s
the Alamo.
I want to be like Bo Derek in the
seemingly ancient movie 10. I want to
■Hi ' ■: Mra
I tar
and tends to make elected officials into
media animals.
4. In previous times, there was an
unwritten but firm rule that a member
of Congress from Georgia would not
join in a campaign to defeat one of their
colleagues from Georgia. This sounds
rather archaic and quaint, doesn’t it?
But, it worked and inured to the ben
efit of Georgia citizens.
5. Single issues dominate rather
than overall performance. This dilutes
Georgia's power base and splinters it
among special interest groups.
6. Issues are more complex (i.e.
healthcare, immigration, abortion,
the war in Iraq, the economy, etc.).
Members of Congress cannot master
all subjects (like Mr. Vinson did with
military matters). They are of neces
sity too busy with meeting with the
media, fund-raising, or meeting with
interest groups.
No, we don’t have two congressmen
who can divide the military dollars to
Georgia’s favor like we did at one time.
But, no state does. And, we do have
excellent people who are increasing
in stature and influence. Give Johnny
and Jack some time, and work with
Saxby and John and Lynn and Nathan
and Sanford, and perhaps they can ‘cut
the pie’ like our Georgia giants used
to do.
This column will appear in the next
edition of James magazine. It is print
ed here with permission of the editor of
the magazine.
run in slow motion across the field of
McConnell-Talbert stadium to inter
view Conrad Nix as my locks swing
from side to side (Can you see it?) and
thousands of fans gawk (at me and my
bikini I would suppose).
I want to interview Gov. Sonny
Perdue and know all the while he can’t
keep his mind on the issues because of
my beautiful long strands. (I’ll prob
ably flick it back over my shoulder a
time or two just to make it worse.)
I don’t want Prince-Albert-in-the-can
hair as I’ve noted on some of today’s
high school students - long but combed
in a way that makes it sort of look like
they have “mushroom” hair - but I’d
take David Porter hair any day.
David Porter was my Northside High
School buddy. He had hair like an
angel, long blonde, flowing halfway
down his back. His favorite thing to do
was hang out in front of stores - gro
cery, convenience, any in the genre
would do - just because he knew young
women couldn’t resist. No kidding.
Women, typically in their 30s from a
“teen’s” memory (which means they
could have been in their 60s or worse
as the hormones were raging wild by
then), would stop on a dime just so
they could comment.
And speaking of my growing up, my
dad insisted I have short hair. Had I
only known it would all-too-soon be
gone, I would have pitched a fit when
he took me to the barber.
And, oh by the way, I’ve finally
figured out something about that. I
remember every time we - funny how
dear old dad insisted on taking me
although it was only 100 yards from
our house - went, the barber would
See MONCRIEF, page 7A
"One voice can make a difference"
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dawg Jawg success thanks to many
Our annual Dawg Jawg was fun and successful! We
had a wonderful day at Rozar Park and the weather
was perfect. Melissa Heeter entertained ifs with a “disc
dog” demonstration. Kate and John Schell set up an obsta
cle and an agility course. Dr. Jim Smith organized the dog
jog and walk, as he has for many years. The lure course
was fun for both the dogs and spectators.
Best of all, thanks to our generous sponsors, more than
$3,000 was raised for the shelter. With the $l,lOO raised
at our Dogwood Yard Sale, it was a good two weekends in
working for a future facility.
Thanks to all the volunteers, especially Wendy Leonard,
Tish Chase, Lynn Gibbs, Marty McCloud, Debbie Selby,
Casey Spinks, Diane Cosey and Chris Bertinelli. Without
you, it could never have happened.
The park was in great shape and we thank the City of
Perry and Rick Kilgore for their continued support of our
shelter activities. They are true partners in all we have
accomplished. We are so fortunate to have a caring Animal
Control Officer in Hanna Barrett and advocates in Chief
Potter, Mayor Worrall and City Council.
We appreciate the coverage the HHJ gave us in the
article by Charlotte Perkins, and Gary Harmon’s action
photos of the participants.
Our 2008 Dawg Jawg T-shirts are available for a sls
donation at Goin’ Postal on Ball Street. Our theme this year
is “Helping Animals One Step at the Time".
Someone who is always working on improvements
at the shelter is Sgt. Mike Hamsley of the Perry Police
Department. Mike is also responsible for an aluminum can
recycling drive. Cans collected in the trailer across from the
fire department benefit the day to day activities caring for
the animals.
With the support of our community and the work of volun
teers, our dream of a new shelter will surely be realized.
- Davis Cosey and Friends of Perry Animal
Shelter
There’s a better way than impact fees
There has been much talk lately of impact fees, not
only within the City of Perry, but also in Houston
County. Proponents argue that impact fees will cause
developers and new residents to “pay their fair share”.
Some have even likened impact fees to an initiation fee
at a country club. Supporters of the fee, none of which
had to pay an “initiation fee” when they moved to the area
for their impact, have either chosen to ignore the various
drawbacks to impact fees or are unaware of the unintended
consequences of this tax.
Yes, impact fees are a tax. Any revenue taken in by a
government is a tax. Whether the revenue is earmarked for
particular projects or whether it is deposited into the gen
eral fund, when a bill is paid to the government, it is taxa
tion. No matter what it is originally called, the consequence
is less money in the citizen’s pocket. It is just the same as
a killing has the same result for the victim, whether it was
done in self-defense or whether it was murder.
Developers will not be paying the tax. There is no tax
levied on a business that is not passed along to the con
sumer. Developers and builders operate with a razor thin
profit margin on their products, and an even thinner one
when government compliance and insurance requirements
are facto ed in. In order to stay in business, developers will
have to pass any additional charge incurred because of an
impact fee, including compliance and accounting, on to the
consumer, as they have done in every other community
See LETTER, page jA
Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra a treat
Last Saturday night the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra
gave its spring concert, wrapping up its first season.
For those of us who heard the orchestra for the first time,
it was a wonderful experience. We are so fortunate to
have so professional an orchestra so close to home. I
greatly encourage any classical music lovers to enjoy the
Ocmulgee Symphony next season.
- Dave Buchholz, Perry
Houston pLmtt Htfimtal
Reader Information
1210 Washington St
P.O. Box 1910
Perry, QA 31069
478-987-1823
See us online at
www.hhjnews.com
m Foy S. Evans 1919-2008
■ President - editor and publisher: Daniel F. Evans
■ Vice President: Julie Evans
■ General manager: Nicole Crofutt, 987-1823
■ Managing editor: Don Moncrief, 987-1823, Ext. 231;
donm@evansnewspapers.com
H Staff writer (Also - Lifestyle and Food): Charlotte Perkins,
987-1823, Ext. 234; cperkins@evansnewspapers.com
■ Photographer: Gary Harmon, 987-1823, Ext. 229;
gharmon@evansnewspapers.com
■ Sports writer: Matthew Brown, 987-1823, Ext. 237;
mbrown@evansnewspapers.com
■ Religion editor: Brtttni White, bwhite@evansnewspapers.com
■ HHJ general e-mail: hhj@evansnewspapers.com
■ Classified Advertising: Call 478-987-1823 between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can fax
an ad 24 hours a day to 478-988-9194.
■ Delivery by mail: Delivery by mail is available for in and out
of county. Call 987-1823 for rates.
■ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: 1210
Washington St. Perry, GA 31069
■ The Houston Home Journal , is a periodical, mailed (ISSN
1526-7393) at Perry and is published Wednesday and
Saturday for S4O per year by Evans Newspapers Inc., 1210
Washington St., Perry, GA 31069; 478-987-1823 Fax 478-988-
1181. Not published Thanksgiving and Christmas.
■ Main office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
■ NEWS TIPS: Call 478-987-1823 Ext. 231 or 234; Newsroom
Fax: 478-988-1181
■ Corrections: The HHJ strives for fairness and accuracy, and
will print a correction or clarification when one is in order.
■ Advertising errors and omissions: The advertiser agrees
that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising from
errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space
actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement. There
shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement
beyond the amount paid for such advertisement.
■ Letters to the editor: There are three ways to submit: E
mail it to hhj@evansnewspapers.com, mail it to Houston Home
Journal at 1210 Washington St., Perry, GA 31069, or drop it off
at the same location between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Letters should not exceed 400 words and must include
the writer's name, address and telephone number (the last two
not printed). The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject
letters for reasons of grammar, punctuation, taste and brevity.
HOUSTON HOMS JOURNAL