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November 9, 2016
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^Reporter
Opinion
Declare among the nations,
and publish, and set up a standard;
publish, and conceal not;
Jeremiah 50:2
On the Porch
Our 19th nervous
breakdown, USA
BY WILL DAVIS
publisiwr@myrncr.net
A s we go to press, the nation is anxiously
awaiting the results of the 2016 presiden
tial election. We chose not to hold the paper
for those results because there are zero
local races contested. And I doubt we could
scoop Fox News and the Drudge Report on a 50-state
race.
Local races are all decided in the GOP primary now.
Well, there is the Culloden mayor’s race this week. We
have an early exit poll from there that predicts a 23-20
victory. Details to come.
Seriously though, the nationwide freakout today
about the election — emotions seem to run from sad to
anxious to resignation — is indicative of two things:
1) The federal government has way too much power.
Presidential elections should not matter this much.
Our Founders envisioned a very limited national gov
ernment with only a few powers
specifically given to it in the con
stitution. Having escaped tyranny
in England, they never envisioned
the giant blob we have in D.C. that
governs puddles on our private
property, confiscates large chunk
of our income and our estate when
we die, and even dictates what
products we must buy (health
insurance).
Our country was made up
of sovereign states. Georgia
existed long before the U.S. government. Our states
only bound themselves together to form a national
government for security reasons: To unite and fight
the British, the Spanish and whomever else deigned to
take on rough-and-tumble Americans.
But over time, that government has metastasized
into the kind of tyrannical beast the founders were try
ing to escape. It has consumed every sector of society.
So now when we elect a president, that person has so
much power over the federal bureaucracy that it mat
ters tremendously. Witness how President Obama has
turned the Department of Justice, the IRS, the EPA
and the Department of Education into arms of the
Democrat Party, weaponized against enemies of the
state (i.e. power plants and conservatives).
Do you want a less stressful election season? Reduce
the size and scope of the federal government, and
remind all Americans that the course of their lives
depends on them and their decisions and their God,
not those of this far-off monstrosity.
There’s only one problem: Very few politicians have
any interest in reducing the size of the federal govern
ment, because that’s where they get their power. It’s
fun to give people money for roads, bridges, social secu
rity, band uniforms, meals, cell phones, etc. Giving up
that giant cookie jar limits their opportunities for graft:.
And as a result, the beast continues to grow.
2) Today’s national nervous breakdown is also indica
tive of the fact that we have two very poor candidates
for office. Plenty has been said about that. Some have
blamed party primaries or procedures. Too many can
didates, some have said. But I’m partial to a popular
explanation going around: It’s God’s judgment against
us. I don’t claim to know why God does what He does
in governing the world.
But it seems America is at an all-time low morally
and spiritually. What does God think when the White
House, the symbol of the leader of our country, is lit
up with colors celebrating homosexuality after the
Supreme Court: commanded gay “marriage” around
the nation? Look up Romans 1 and see if you can
determine what God thinks about that.
Yes, we are being brought low. The purpose is not
punishment. Our loving Father uses pain to get our
attention. C.S. Lewis famously wrote: “God whispers
to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but
shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf
world.”
Maybe Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are anoth
er way is God is shouting His loving warning to us:
‘You’re going the wrong way.”
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
What’s for teens in Forsyth?
To the editor:
am writing to you about the fact that teen
agers in Forsyth have nowhere to hang out.
Often times they find themselves hanging out
at parks, the Hardee’s parking lot, or apart
ment complexes. I can recall numerous times
where my friends and I wanted to hang out in town,
but ended up in an apartment complex parking lot
because there wasn’t anywhere to go.
In the past few years, Forsyth has welcomed
numerous restaurants, some of which have since
closed down, and a number of hotels around the
city. Instead of more of the countless number of
these places, the city of Forsyth can come up with a
place just for teens to hang out at.
For example, the city can build a bowling alley. It
would not only entertain teens but also adults and
families. Individuals from the ages of five and up
are able to enjoy this activity. Another suggestion
would be to build a skating rink. As listed before,
children and adults, as well as teenagers will be
able to have fun with this activity. Also on the
weekends, the skating rink could be turned into a
teen club. It would be something just for teenagers
and it may even keep them out of trouble.
The solution that I propose is building a skating
rink in Forsyth. The rink will be open to all individ
uals. The idea of turning it into a club on weekends
for teenagers will make them feel as though they
have an environment to be themselves and chill at.
An added bonus would be that parents will know
where their children are and will not have to worry
about their kids wandering around another city.
Besides the fact that the skating rink will bring joy
to the city, it will also bring money. Not only will
Forsythians come out to enjoy the rink, but also
individuals from surrounding cities.
The only major problem with this solution is
where the money will come from to build the rink.
Maybe a business owner in the city will like the
idea and be willing to invest in something for the
teens. Another issue may be violence on the teen
club nights. The rink could hire security for those
nights.
Breanna Harvey
Forsyth
Lost camera at Train Festival
To the editor:
M y name is Sonny
McDonald
and this past
Saturday I was
at the Train
Festival in Forsyth enjoying
the sights and sounds and some
real good food. The ribs at the
Wise Family Tent were great.
Being 66 and overweight, I had
to rely on a 4-wheel walker to
get around. The advantage this
walker gave me is it has a seat,
so I can sit down when my legs
give out and a basket to carry
my add-ons. On this day it was
a Casio camera. It’s about 4” by
3” in a magnetic case. At some
point Saturday after getting a lot
of pictures of Norfolk Southern’s
911 Locomotive, I either dropped
it or it fell out of my basket in
the area around the old caboose
and the parking lot. If someone
has found it I would like to have
it back or that someone will use
it for their memories. It could be
turned in at the local Post Office
in Forsyth.
Sonny McDonald
Forsyth
A
jr .M
*
If '1
Keith
and
Celeste
Edge,
she with
her train
con-
ducter
outfit,
and their
grand
son at
the Train
Festival
Satur
day.
City shows southern hospitality
To the editor:
y daughter and
son-in-law (and
their pets) recently
stayed at the Days
Inn in your city
while their home in Savannah
was under an evacuation order.
They found the consideration of
the motel owners, the welcome of
Mayor Wilson, and the hospitality
of your city’s residents to be truly
comforting during a difficult time.
They regularly talk about their
stay in your city, look forward to
visiting as tourists rather than
refugees, and have even talked
about retiring to your area. You
made quite an impression, and
I thought I should share it with
you. It’s nice to be able to send
good news.
Thank you, City of Forsyth, for
reminding folks what southern
hospitality is all about.
Patrick Howard
San Antonio, Texas
Chief: Watch speed on N. Lee St.
To the editor:
arning!
It has
come to
our atten
tion as
we patrol the city streets
of Forsyth that there is
an excessive amount of
speeding during school
hours in the South Lee
Street area. Speeding
through areas can put
citizens in fear for their
safety. We are ask
ing that motorists slow
down. Slowing down and
being alert will make
the roads safer for every
one. The Forsyth Police
Department will be vis
ible in this area, as well
as others. Our goal is and
always will be to enforce
the laws. Please slow
down!
Eddie Harris
Forsyth
Eddie Harris is the
Forsyth Police Chief.
Eddie Harris
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OUR STA
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Publication No. USPS 997-840)
Will you help mayor’s motorcade?
To the editor:
he City of Forsyth will
be participating in the
Mayors’ Christmas
Motorcade and we
would like to encour
age your support to help make
the holiday season special for
residents of Georgia’s hospitals
that are serving persons with
developmental disabilities and
behavioral health needs.
The Georgia Municipal
Association (GMA), at the request
of Betty Vandiver, wife of then-
Governor Ernest Vandiver, began
the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade
in 1959, as a way to provide
holiday gifts for the patients of
Georgia’s mental health hospi
tals. The program was originally
established to provide gifts to cli
ents at Central State Hospital in
Milledgeville and was expanded
in the 1980’s to support state
regional hospitals.
Many of the clients would not
receive a gift for the holidays
without the Mayors’ Christmas
Motorcade. The gifts collected by
cities in Georgia help to bring the
Christmas spirit throughout the
entire year. Any gifts not handed
out during Christmas are used
for client birthdays or given to
newly-arrived clients who may
need basic items. In this way, cit
ies help the hospitals celebrate
special occasions year-round and
help the hospitals meet the needs
of their clients.
Forsyth’s Main Street will be
providing further information
regarding the specifics of the
“Wish List” and this informa
tion can be obtained by visiting
their website at http://mainstreet.
cityofforsyth.net/ These donated
items from the Wish List can be
dropped off at the Forsyth Fire
Department, 200 South Kimbell
Street, during the dates of Nov.
1-Nov. 30.
It is my desire that our citizens,
businesses and civic organiza
tions come together at this time
of year to become involved in the
Motorcade. Your support and
generosity to this important need
is greatly appreciated!
Eric S. Wilson
Forsyth
Eric Wilson is the mayor of
Forsyth.
GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST
The Reporter welcomes your opinions.
Submit a letter to the editor via email
to publisher@mymcr.net, fax to 994-
2359, or mail to P.O. Box 795, Forsyth,
GA 31029. Keep it under 500 words.
Include your real name and hometown.
Include a phone number. Deadline is 5
p.m. Friday. Join the free and open ex
change of ideas!