Newspaper Page Text
Page 16 AUGUST 7, 2011
Commentary
Will you put a little in my jail account?
C. ED
WILSON
Thoughts
While Shaving
As you are twice as likely to be prose
cuted for a federal crime now as you were
in 1980, do you feel safer?
While the total U.S. population grew
about 36% over the past 30 years, the
number of people sentenced to federal
prison has risen nearly three times. Due to
longer terms, we now have a federal
prison population of over 200,000 - an
increase of more than eight fold and twice
the growth rate of the state prison popula
tion, which is now more than 2 million.
Does this mean that we are a more law
breaking society? Or perhaps does this
mean that we have an excess of federal
laws and an excess of federal prosecutors
and a political need by some in the federal
government to generate more federal pub
lic employees to feed
at the public trough
and “vote for the hand
that feeds them”?
Here are a few exam
ples of “federal
crimes” that has
ensnared some of
your fellow citizens.
Eddie Leroy
Anderson of
Craigmont, Idaho, a former science
teacher, is now a federal criminal because
he loaned his son some tools to dig for
arrowheads at a favorite campsite.
Unfortunately, they were on federal land.
While he had no criminal intent, The
Archaeological Resources Protection Act
of 1979 makes it a felony punishable by
up to two years in prison to attempt to take
artifacts off federal land without a permit.
He and his son did not find any arrow
heads that day, but
they pleaded guilty to
a misdemeanor and
got a year probation
and a $1500 penalty
each.
Last September, 77
year old retired race
car champion Bobby
Unser told a congres
sional hearing about
his 1996 misdemeanor conviction for acci
dentally driving his snowmobile onto pro
tected federal land during a snowstorm,
thus violating the Wilderness Act. He got a
$75 fine and a criminal record.
Since 1970, The Environmental
Protection Agency has generated some
25,000 pages of federal regulations having
the force of law. Krister Evertson, an
inventor working on hydrogen fuel cell
technology and running short of money,
shipped some metallic sodium (a poten
tially flammable material) to his workshop
in Salmon, Idaho before returning to his
hometown of Wasilla, Alaska to raise
some money for his project. He was
charged with violating the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
(RCRA), which regulates the handling of
toxic waste. As Mr. Evertson was not in
Idaho to pick up his shipment, the govern
ment deemed the chemicals “abandoned”
and they became “waste” subject to the
RCRA. He spent 15 months in federal
prison.
If you are a smoker, you probably vio
lated federal law when you opened your
last pack of cigarettes and failed to appro-
See WILSON page 18
While the total U.S.
population grew about 36%
over the past 30 years, the
number of people sentenced
to federal prison has risen
nearly three times.
Rusty, keep an opening for me on your barber schedule
®p§f
KL Jj
Anthony
pifev 1
f
! A 1
WILKINS
The other day I was in need of a haircut
and a good dose of reality. So, I visited
Rusty, my barber and favorite guru, at the
Little Gem Barber Shop. He, like me, has
encountered people from different genera
tions since the time we first were able to
communicate and interact with these other
people. Therefore, sometimes when I need
to talk to someone who has a
few similar experiences in that respect, I
know where to go. Plus, the cost for a hair
cut there is likely cheaper than the co-pay
I’d owe at the local psychologist’s office
and the conversation is much better. I
always leave the barber shop in a better
frame of mind than before my arrival.
During my last visit, Rusty and I
reflected on our experiences with a group
of people who were from the Greatest
Generation (bom 1901-1924) and the
Silent Generation (bom 1925-1945). If
you haven’t already done it, take the time
to research the names and time frames
designated for generations of Americans
since about 1900. If s very interesting
information and enlightening to leam their
identities and why their generations
received the name designations. We’re
seeing first hand some of the social, eco
nomic, and political repercussions affect
ing the Baby Boomers (bom 1946-1964).
Heck, we’re all, if affected, as tight as a
drum over Social Security and Medicare. I
will not detail the descriptors for
Generations X, Y, or Z and even the Lost
Generation.That would be way too much
information (TMI)! Check it out for your
self. You’ll be proud you did!
I, as I’ve said many times, can almost
see and hear that group of fine Americans
sitting around the old pot belly stove at
Mr. Frank Sewell’s store in Hulett. They
sat there sharing opinions about issues
ranging from community topics to local,
state, and national politics, while chewing
Bull of the Woods or maybe even
Black Maria. That Beechnut was
for wimps! I told Rusty that the amazing
thing, after reflecting on it, is how smart
they were. They cut to the chase quickly,
too. You didn’t have to have, as apparently
is needed today, someone to interpret what
they said. Those good ole boys shot
straight from the hip. If you liked it, that
was fine. If not, that was fine too, maybe
even finer.
My Mama was afraid that I wasted my
day at the store during those discussions.
Looking back, I relish the time I spent lis
tening to real experts and treasure all I
learned from them while sitting on a sack
of feed with my mouth wide open. I likely
had a bottle of Pepsi with salted peanuts in
it, a delicacy most don’t even know about
today. I knew too that if I spilled it, I’d be
deader than J.B. Woodruffs old mule. You
remember J.B., don’t you? He was the one
of the most renowned hog killers (hog har
vesters - thank you, Alvin Chambers) in
Carroll County.
I’m sure Rusty saw some similar
things during his “internship” as a rookie
barber in our fair city. The local barber
shop has always been a center for open
discussions on various subjects. He had to
leam from his personal experience, and
that of Jesse and Kenneth - straight shoot
ers as well - to adjust to the straightfor
wardness of his early patrons. I can tell
you that isn’t easy either. One develops a
rather thick skin quickly if he is to survive
in that environment. Actually, the
patrons meant no harm, but they spoke
exactly what was on their minds. I know
that’s how it was at Mr. Frank’s store. I
appreciate them more each day that goes
by
Today’s politicians would have not sur
vived a panel interview with them. No
siree Bob. I’d like to see a group with
their capabilities testify in the U.S. Senate
or House today. Our dear representatives
would have a day to remember! C-SPAN
would blow up! Like Swiper of Dora the
Explorer says, “Oh, man!” (I can give
credit to my grandsons, Carter
See WILKINS page 18
Local economic benefits of having consignment businesses
Jamie a.
HOWARD
There is a new store gracing
Carrollton’s Adamson Square. Aptly
named Encore on the Square is owned by
my mother and myself and specializes in
furniture consignment. You may be think
ing, why furniture consignment, but in this
current climate of fiscal caution, the desire
to keep one’s cash in the local economy,
and the concept behind recycling to mini
mize waste is the common sense mindset
that gave way to the business decision
behind my family’s new adventure. And
we are not the only new consignment store
in West Georgia, there are several others,
so perhaps our conclusions are the same as
other new business owners during these
ecnomic trying times.
Though far from a Pollyanna, I do try to
look on the bright side of all equations and
believe the illuminated side of the recent
setbacks in the U.S. economy could be that
the situation urges consumers to reevaluate
spending habits and be more astute and
creative when it comes to making a
purchase.
With a split of sixty percent of the final
sale going to the customer consigning their
furniture, Encore is designed so that
people can have a venue to earn extra
money if they are downsizing or wish to
get rid of a piece that no longer works for
them, as well as an outlet for those in the
market for furniture who want to update
their living space without blowing their
budget. The business model of a
consignment shop works well both ways
for the economy - you could say whether
coming or going!
For the consignor it is beneficial
because their privacy and safety are not
compromised by listing the items to be
sold in the paper or online nor do they
have to worry about haggling with buyers
since we do the leg work. Also since
moving and transporting large pieces of
furniture is not an option for many, Encore
offers provides in house pick-up and
delivery service for a very reasonable fee.
Encouraging consumers to frequent
their downtown area and away from the
big box shopping centers is a goal of all
Mainstreet groups across America - and of
the small business owners, too.
Carrollton’s downtown has a strong
variety of restuarants but also a unique
variety of other shopping options.
At Encore on the Square we try to do
our part to make the downtown visit an
“uptown” experience. We only accepting
items that are clean and in good condition
and we showcase furnishings and
accessories much like that of a regular
furniture store rather than that of a
warehouse or booth format. In this way
the customer is able to visualize how
varying pieces combine together in a way
that is functional and aesthetically
pleasing, so in a way we provide
decorating options taking a lot of the guess
work out of the equation.
From contemporary to traditional,
shabby chic to mid century/Hollywood
regency, artisan, early American, and
primitive, we also have a great many
American and European antiques and
accessories ranging from drapes to
bedding, flatware to lighting. And our
walls showcase a vast array of wall art
many of which were done by local artist
who we want to make an effort to support.
A benefit to the local economy you will
not find in a “big box” store.
With all being said, Carrollton has many
great shops of which we are proud to join
the ranks. I am very proud of our
community and see this is a way that we
can all benefit; being creative consumers
finding bargains while shopping locally
and a chance for those needing to get rid
of an item of furniture in a way they can
profit as well as recycle.
Rarely is there such a thing as a win-win
situation, but this may just come close.
