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The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Page 11A A Government Big Enough to Give You What You Want is Big Enough to Take it Away Special to the Ledger By Kate Scarmalis Looney’s outside, trotting down the fence line, telling me that someone is out and about outside. Unlike a lot of dogs, Looney never really loses his head. He just makes certain that the world understands what’s his and what’s not. So, Looney’s touring the fence line, marking his turf, and, sure enough, there are Felix and Doo- Wayne going at it in their driveway. As usual, my good old boy neighbors were raising a ruckus. Hands awhirling around DooWayne’s head normally meant that Felix was working him over. DooWayne originally came from Tennessee, The Land of the All-Seeing and All- Knowing. Felix loved noth ing better than to argue DooWayne into a corner. So I decided to pluck at a few non-existent weeds on the side of the house and listen in. I marvel at the fact that people haven’t noticed the meticulous grooming in my land scaping at that side of the house. I couldn’t tell what the argument entailed at first. Felix sat back in his ratty lawn chair, a smug look on his sly face. He was saying, “Let’s pretend that the Chiken Shak had an ad in the paper. It says on Friday night everyone would be getting free chicken.’’ DooWayne kicked in. “How they gonna do that?’’ Felix, patient in setting up his friend for the kill, “Go with me on this. Ev eryone who shows up be tween 5:00 and 11:00 gets a free chicken dinner. “ “Yeah, so?’’ “Would you get chick en?’’ “Well, yeah, I guess. You mean it’s just for anyone?” “Sure, anyone that shows up. Would you get chick en?” “Of course. You’re dumb enough to get hit by a parked car, you know that?” Like a spider carefully weaving its trap, Felix con tinued. The weaving was the better part of the fun for him. Looking intently into DooWayne’s eyes, his challenge was a simple one. “Really? You’d get chicken.” His continued stare told DooWayne that it was a part statement, part question. DooWayne, beginning to sense a trap, answers, “You mean anyone? I’d get chicken even if I was a minorority?” Felix: “Yep. All people, all ages, all colors, all religions, no matter where they come from or how they live their lives - they get chicken. Would you get chicken?” DooWayne was thor oughly confused. “What are you getting at? If they said I’d get chicken, I’d get chicken!” The argument went on for quite awhile. Finally Felix delivered the point of the exercise. It wouldn’t matter whether or not free chicken had been offered. Most people would never get close enough to the window to ask for chicken. The Chiken Shak would run out of chicken. And then promptly go out of business. Or ask for a government bailout. Felix’s wisdom ran beyond his education. In fact I don’t believe that he ever graduated from high school. It didn’t matter. There was a depth to the man that couldn’t be de nied. Felix was slowly and sagely drawing DooWayne into a debate about health care reform. In Felix’ view there is nothing so simple that the government couldn’t mess up. DooWayne himself had a native-born suspicion of government, except if he could get something for himself. Free health care had a nice ring to it in his mind, especially the free part. I tried using the same approach with my “ed-chu- ma-ca-ted” friends in New York City. I so carefully laid out the same trap as Felix used with my friend, Gilbert. Back and forth we went on the phone until I delivered the final point. “You see, Gilbert, the point is that there is no free anything in this world. Just like in the chicken analogy, health care as we know it would grind to a halt.” “Kate, Kate, Kate! What about the man today who refuses to go for medical tests because he just can’t afford them? Don’t you see the tragedy?” “Yes, we certainly need to look into what is making medical costs rise to the point where people cannot afford to pay for life-saving treatments.” “But can we, as human beings, allow that poor man to die?” “Gilbert, I agree. It’s criminal to wait for some one’s Visa to clear before doctors will treat him.” I tried to seal my point. “Socialized medicine hasn’t worked out so well in Europe. In England govern ment provides free health care. I read a story about a woman who found a lump in her breast. When she asked for an appointment to see a doctor, she was told that she would have to wait for six months, more than enough time for cancer to take over.” Hope against hope that Gilbert would concede the point, I waited through his silence. His only words on the subject were, “Well, no system is perfect.” Of the few things left that I miss from New York City, the breezy way that the progressive intelligentsia will go about dismissing an argument they can’t win is simply not one of them. When reason fails them, they reframe the issue with a trivial comment that is supposed to slam the door on the discussion. That is why I get so much enjoyment about the never- ending debates between Felix and DooWayne. Not every word is a gem, but they refuse to live in silence in face of policies that sim ply don’t make sense. We’d all do well to fol low their example. Don’t let anyone stomp you into paralysis with a single con temptuous word or tone. Make silence the enemy. Kate Scarmalis teach ers English to Speakers of Other Languages in the Lee County School System. She has a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in Forensic Psychology Submitted Photo Butch Watts recently donated the book Billy and the Boys written by L.H. Duke of Shellman, Georgia, to Lee County Middle School media center. This is the story of the Shellman Wildcats’ run to the 1956 Georgia Class C High School Baseball Championship. Because many of the names and places in the book are familiar, LCMS students and staff should enjoy reading this local author’s story about determination and the desire to win as a team. Pictured from left: Audrey Taylor (7th grader), Butch Watts and Sala Ellington (media specialist). Short Insurance Group Chad Little Get Ready to Logon for Leaf Color Account Executive Business, Home, Auto, Farm All major companies, excellent coverage, great rates Specicd to the Ledger Cooler temperatures and scattered bursts of autumn color have outdoor enthu siasts anticipating “leaf peeping” season across north Georgia. Again this year, the Georgia Forestry Commission is partnering with the state Department of Natural Resources to provide updates on leaf color changes and the best locations to enjoy them. Beginning October 1, the information can be found at GeorgiaStateParks.org/ Leafwatch and GaTrees. org. “Now is the time to plug those addresses into your smart phone and com puter favorites,” said Ken Masten, Coosa District Manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “On October first, those links will be activated, and Georgians will have instant access to the week’s best locations for vibrant fall color.” According to Masten, leaf color changes are triggered by cooler night temperatures and sunny days, which are beginning to occur. Masten said the long, hot, dry summer has already prompted some poplars to drop their leaves. However, normal changes are starting to occur, with sourwoods starting to exhibit some of their bright reds and bur gundies; dogwoods show ing yellows and reds; and red maples beginning to hint at their many shades of scarlet. With more than two- thirds of the state now experiencing “severe to ex treme drought,” according to the state climatologist, Masten says the trees are likely experiencing some degree of stress. At this point, however, they are not showing any outward signs that might indicate a less than showy fall, Masten said. Whatever the weather, autumn is the most popular time to visit the north Georgia mountains. On the Georgia Forestry Commission and Depart ment of Natural Resources websites, visitors will find the latest information about that week’s tree species’ color changes, optimal vistas and suggested travel routes for enjoying fall color. In addition, the DNR site offers information and reservation links to state parks and camping facili ties. For more details on forestry in Georgia and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org. 229-395-4900 Email: clittle@shortinsurancegroup.com K1IS AM ItMKftMl Learn, Excel, Lead Through Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Summer Internship Program Special to the Ledger College students major ing in Business, Finance, Accounting or Market ing may now apply for Southwest Georgia Farm Credit’s Summer Intern ship Program, designed to challenge students, develop skills, engage in meaningful experiences and learn what being part of a team is all about. The Summer Internship Program offers hands-on training in business and finance, with a com prehensive overview of four key modules: Credit Analysis, Sales, Ac counting/Operations, and Executive Leadership. The goal is to provide students with experience in a fast-paced financial environment. “Our objective is to give students a true-to- life business experience,” said Allison Godwin, Assistant Controller and Internship Program Coordinator. “That means our interns will not only develop their analytic skills, they’ll develop their leadership potential, as well.” These internship op portunities are paid positions, and will be offered through South west Georgia Farm Credit’s Bainbridge of fice. Students should visit S WGAFarmCredit .com for program details and to apply. Deadline to submit your resume/application is November 30, 2011. For more information, contact Liz Nogowski at 229.493.0149 or lnogows- ki@swgafarmcredit.com. Carpet Cleaning Special About our Tile & Grout Cleaning Specials Today! arpet Cleaning 439-0481 pholstery Cleaning Cell 881-7640 ile Cleaning J °ey Morgan, Owner Offering Quality Service Since 1987