Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5A
Other Views
An education on
our electoral process
T his year is turn
ing out to be a
major landmark
in American politics.
There is no obvious
choice for President.
The two major parties
are becoming more and
more fractured, with ele
ments of both drifting off
into the fringe of politics.
The Internet is making
it more and more practi
cal for average people
like you and me to make our opinions
known.
In my conversations with friends,
acquaintances and potential voters, I
find that many of them simply do not
understand the procedures for select
ing the next president. Therefore, I
plan to use this space to explain some
of the quirks of our political system.
For example, at no point in the
process do we vote directly for a
president. The President is selected
by a group of delegates called “The
Electoral College” that is apportioned
among the states according to their
representation in the U.S. Legislature.
Georgia, for example, has 15 votes in
the electoral college. One for each of
our 13 congressmen, and one each for
our two senators. When we go to the
polls and vote for a president, we are,
in fact, taking part in the process for
selecting these delegates.
Another question I get often is about
the difference between a primary and
a caucus. Others ask about the nomi
nating conventions held by the various
political parties. I plan to give the best
answers I can to these questions.
There is a debate underway about
the Electoral College. Some people
want a constitutional amendment
abolishing this institution,
and going to a direct vote
for president. Others argue
that it is an essential part
of the rights of the states as
opposed to federal power. I
will try to explain this dis
pute.
The pundits are predicting
a brokered convention for
the Republicans. Someone
wanted to know what that
means. I will explain in a
later column. What about
the minor parties? Former Georgia
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
is thinking of running on the Green
Party ticket. Who are they? What is
the Libertarian Party and what do they
believe? How about the Constitution
Party or one of the other little known
groups? If you vote for a minor party
that cannot possibly win, are you
wasting your vote?
I know that many of my readers will
already know these things. But there
are enough of them who are confused
about the whole thing that a series of
articles explaining it will be helpful. I
invite you to suggest topics to be dis
cussed in this series. I welcome your
ideas for sources of information. This
series will not be used to promote one
candidate or party over another. My
goal will be to help voters understand
the process so that they can make
an informed decision. So watch this
space for the next few weeks. I hope
you enjoy it and that it will be helpful.
Frank Gillispie is a contributing
columnist for The Banks County
News. His e-mail address is frankgil-
lispie671@msn.com. His website can
be accessed at http:/frankgillispie.
tripod.com/
frank
gillispie
Let us know your story ideas
Have an interesting story to share? Do you have a unique hobby?
If so, we would like to know.
Contact Angie Gary, editor of The Banks County News, at 706-367-2490
or e-mail information to her at AngieEditor@aol.com.
Visit
mainstreetnews.com
BANKS COUNTY’S
LOCAL WEB SITE
Snow bound
O ne day last week I
stopped by the grocery
store to pick up a few
items that we were out of. As I
came around the corner of the bread
aisle, I couldn’t help but notice that
it had been completely stripped. As
I approached the dairy section I was
surprised to find that there wasn’t
even one gallon of milk left in the
large refrigerator.
After searching for and finding
an employee, I asked if she could
check to see if there was any more
milk in the back of the store. She
said that they had sold out earlier in
the day, due to the fact that it was
“supposed to snow.”
It has always puzzled
me as to why people run
out and stock up on milk
and bread if there is even
a hint of snow mentioned
in the forecast. Why not
water and toilet paper?
If the power goes out,
the milk will ruin any
way. And what are the
chances that we will be
trapped in our homes for
more than a day or so?
My sister-in-law
and her family recently moved to
Chicago. They were born and raised
in the South. The day that people
here were raiding grocery store
shelves over the possibil
ity of a little white stuff, it
was minus eight degrees
there. The wind chill fac
tor was minus 24. Although
they have had treacherous
weather for the past couple
of months, life still goes on.
I asked her what items she
had stocked up on during
the cold winter months. She
replied “Only Dukes may
onnaise!” which she had
shipped to her in bulk since
it is not available in any grocery
stores up there.
This past weekend, we were faced
with yet another threat of ice and
snow. I had to make my weekly
visit to the grocery store to pick up
the usual items. This time I was for
tunate enough to purchase a gallon
of milk and some bread-items that
just happened to be on my list.
While shopping, I did grab some
popcorn, hot chocolate, graham
crackers, marshmallows, chocolate
bars, extra toilet paper and a case of
bottled water — just in case there
was a chance that we might become
snowbound, of course.
Sherri Stephens is a contributing
columnist for The Banks County
News. She may be contacted at
charmbug5@hotmail.com.
sherri
Stephens
Why did chairman go back on animal control promise?
Dear Editor:
We read the article in the Jan. 2
issue of The Banks County News
in regard to Mr. Gene Hart’s intent
to seek re-election as county chair
man. However, we have questions
about his past performance. We see
no positive results and even question
why he should even hold the office.
We met with him in his office in
August 2007. At this meeting, he
told us he was working on animal
control and it would be in the budget
by July 2008. We recently found out
that he doesn’t even want animal
control. Did he just lie to us in order
to get re-elected?
We have animal problems all over
the county and it doesn’t seem to
concern him. His answer to animal
control is to “shoot them.” Besides
the fact that we have children in our
neighborhood and this doesn’t seem
the safest course of action, we prefer
a more humane approach.
We just expect him to keep his
word. Mr. Hart, why do you not
want animal control?
Sincerely,
Gwen England
Jane Boys
Alto
Area organizations in need of volunteers
To be listed in the volunteer column,
send information to AngieEditor@
aol.com or mail it to: Angela Gary,
The Banks County News, P.O. Box
920, Homer, Ga. 30547.
The following are volunteer oppor
tunities in Banks County and the
surrounding area:
•Piedmont CASA volunteers
speak for children who are in foster
care. For more information, call the
CASA office at 706-387-6375.
•The Banks County Adult Literacy
Center is seeking volunteer teachers.
They especially need math tutors,
including the areas of introductory
algebra, geometry and Algebra I.
Tutors are needed on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. For more
information, call 706-677-4302.
•BJC Medical Center Auxiliary is
seeking volunteers. For more infor
mation, call 706-335-1199.
•Civil Air Patrol: cadets, ages sixth
grade through 18 years old, par
ticipate in search and rescue mis
sions and learn how to fly airplanes.
Senior members teach cadets and
students at middle and high schools
and can also work with emergency
services. Contact Luther McCoy,
706-677-1490.
•Adult learning center at Lanier
Technical College satellite campus
706-335-1931.
•Hope Resource Center: cri
sis pregnancy support center,
706-367-5304.
•Action: help package and distrib
ute food to low-income families and
the elderly, 706-367-9599.
•Christian Outreach Food Bank:
work in warehouse, 335-6084.
•Girl Scouts: needs troop leaders,
assistant leaders, trainers and recruit
ers. Call Terri Bear, 706-548-7297.
•Boy Scouts of America, Northeast
Georgia Council: volunteers need
to be troop leaders and assistants,
706-548-1435.
•AIDS Coalition of Northeast
Georgia: help with information line,
office support, the buddy program
and helping hands, 706-542-2437.
•American Red Cross, East
Georgia Chapter: needs help with
disaster relief and blood drives and
needs first aid and CPR instructors,
706-353-1645.
•American Cancer Society:
assistance with special events,
706-549-4893.
•American Heart Association:
assistance with special events,
706-549-0939.
•BJC Nursing Facility: needs
teen and adult volunteers to help
with various activities and to visit
with the residents. Tracy Jones,
706-335-1305.
•Children’s Advocacy Center:
assist with clerical work in office,
provide child care during various
group meetings and solicit donations
of snacks, drinks, paper products
and various children’s items. Tina
Grubbs, director, 770-868-1900.
•Peace Place: various oppor
tunities at the shelter for battered
women and their children, Marilyn,
770-307-3633.
•Maysville Elementary School:
read to children, Jane Scales,
706-652-2241.
•Our Daily Bread: Athens
urban ministry soup kitchen,
706-353-6647.
•Sandy Creek Park: several volun
teer opportunities, including month
ly hikes and canoeing trips to pick
up trash. The park also needs volun
teers to supervise children during the
monthly special programs and events
the park offers. Sandy Creek Park
has volunteer opportunities available
for anyone willing to do office work
or help with publications. Contact
the park at 706-613-3615.
•Athens Area Humane Society:
help with special events and hands-
on work in the shelter, Lisa Klein,
706-353-CATS (2287).
•Community Connection of
Northeast Georgia: work on infor
mation research and database and
directory updating, 706-353-1313.
•Special Olympics: needs assis
tance for athletic events, Kathy
Smith, 706-548-3550.
•State Botanical Gardens of
Georgia: needs tour guides, people
to greet guests and work in the
gift shop, greenhouse and at special
events, 706-542-6195.
•Athens Regional Medical Center:
help at information desk, in admis
sions, at the gift shop, mailroom and
at special events, 706-354-3510.
•St. Mary’s Hospital: help at
information desk, in admissions, at
the gift shop and at the mailroom,
706-354-3169.
•Athens Area Homeless Shelter:
assist with preparing and serving
meals, childcare, and the shelter is
also in need of drivers with a truck,
706-354-0423.
•Salvation Army: assist with pre
paring and serving meals, help in
thrift shop and at special events held
in December, 706-543-5350.
•St. Mary’s Hospice: needs vol
unteers to provide additional sup
port and assistance to terminally ill
patients and their families, Geneva
Burton, 706-355-7711.
•Georgia Museum of Arts: needs
tour guides, museum shop assistance
and assistance with the summer art
outreach program, 706-542-0450.
Your patronage helps provide for those in need.
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FISH DAY
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706-335-7676
Cell: 706-340-3695
Alt. # 706-335-6548
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