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PAGE 4A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008 Editor: Angela Gary Phone: 706-367-2490 E-mail: AngieEditor@aol.com Website: www.mainstreetnews.com Opinions “Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.” — Thomas Jefferson Attitude about spending needs to change I ’m not rich, but my house is nicer than my parents’ first home as newlyweds. They had a modest ranch-style house outside the suburbs of Houston, Texas. And my house is probably more spacious than my grandparents’ first home. They had an even smaller house that looked like something on a farm. Small, quaint and no frills. Sixty years later, my generation expects better things. We crave new houses with all of the “perks” — bonus rooms, hardwood floors, tiled bathrooms, spacious yards and large garages to store not only the cars, but the clutter as well. My parents didn’t get that much stuff in their first house. My grand parents think we live a mansion, compared to their first home. And it’s not just houses, it’s every material item that seems to be bigger, better and more expen sive than what previous generations expected. My parents didn’t have an entire aisle of toothpaste, cereal or toilet paper at the grocery story to choose from when they were my age. My grandparents had few choices — they were just happy if they could afford the necessities. My grandparents also grew up in the Depression — they know how to pinch every penny that comes their way. They know what are true “needs” and “wants” when it comes to spending money. And they know how to put those pennies in the bank. My generation (myself included) lives in an era of excessive spending. Too many of us know how to spend money. Saving money, however, is done when there’s money left over from spending. It’s that kind of attitude that may get a rude awaken ing soon. The economy is sliding downward, and there are fears of a long-lasting recession. Now is the time for consumers to watch their spending and save what they can, should things continue to get worse. Some people even believe this economic downturn signals the time for a fundamental change in how Americans spend money. For the nation as a whole, our spending habits and lack of saving money are spi raling out of control. We “consume” too many things that people a generation ago in this country didn’t buy. I recently heard of a new concept of “anti-consum erism.” The idea is that a family determines that for a set period of time (usually a few weeks) to buy only the “necessities.” That means no eating in restaurants, no shopping for new clothes, no new toys for the kids and no “impulse” shopping at the grocery store. In the mean time, families learn how to control their spending by not only shopping more wisely, but forgoing some purchases entirely. It sounds a bit “liberal” and even “anti-American” (our capitalist society depends on consumers spending their money), but those who have tried it say it works. And it’s not just their pocketbooks noticing the differ ence; those families say they are happier because their finances are in better shape. No doubt, we can’t keep spending more of the money we don’t have without suffering the conse quences. kerri testement Kerri Testement is the news editor of The Braselton News, a sister publication of The Banks County News. Her e-mail address is kerri@mainstreetnews.com. The Banks County News Founded 1968 The official legal organ of Banks County, Ga. Mike Buffington Co-Publisher (Editorial) Scott Buffington Co-Publisher (Advertising) Angela Gary Editor Chris Bridges Sports Editor Sharon Hogan Reporter Anelia Chambers Receptionist Suzanne Reed Church News Phones (all 706 area code): Angela Gary Phone 367-2490 Angela Gary Fax 367-9355 Homer Office Phone 677-3491 Homer Office Fax 677-3263 Sports Phone 367-2745 Sports Fax 367-9355 (SCED 547160) Published weekly by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc., Subscription i: Subscription i Subscription oui Military with APi $19.75 $38.85 $44.20 $42.20 Senior citizens get a $2 discount Periodicals postage paid at Homer, Ga. Postmaster, send address changes to: Subscriptions, The Banks County News, P.O. Box 920, Homer, Ga. 30547 GOP chiefs brush off big-business allies S ince last week’s crashing fin ish of the 2008 session of the General Assembly, the media has been full of various state leaders lamenting the lack of productivity and the egotistical rancor of various Gold Dome politicians. Prominent among those quoted have been the business leaders of metro Atlanta, decrying the lost opportunity to deal with press ing issues like traffic, health care and water. Before you feel too sorry for those corporate titans weeping while staring out the windows of their 50th-floor conference rooms, remember this — those same people gave us the state government we have today. Over the last several years, the metro Atlanta business community has gone all in with the state GOP, funding them at such a massive level that Republican bank accounts have been insur ance against Georgia’s beleaguered Democrats ever regaining power. In 2001, our business friends knew they had a problem with Georgia’s state flag: It prominently featured the Confederate battle emblem, a 1956 design inspired by Dixiecrat resistance to the budding civil rights movement. That issue was causing worsening heartburn for business leaders afraid their companies would be subject to an economic boycott similar to what was happening in South Carolina at the time. That fear led the corporate board room boys, including then-banker and now Perdue administration chief operating Officer Jim Lientz, and then- Georgia Power executive and now Perdue chief of staff Ed Holcombe, down to the Gold Dome to convince Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes and his Democrats in charge of the General Assembly to change the flag. The busi ness crowd promised heavy support for Barnes and the legislative Democrats who walked the plank. Not surprising- ly, the promises were empty. The rage among white voters was worse than expected and Barnes and the General Assembly’s Democratic majority were gone. The business boys couldn’t have been happier. They got their flag change (something only the Democrats would have done), but the crowd they really wanted in charge took over. The Republicans promptly set about the business of pleasing their big business pals. They repealed Barnes’ law cracking down on predatory lending practices and restrict ed the right to sue. Perdue even did the boardrooms’ bidding when it came to his 2002 promise to let Georgians vote whether to put the Confederate emblem back on the state flag. He held the ref erendum, but he left out the chance to vote for the 1956 version featuring the relevant insignia. The honeymoon, however, was quickly over. While Georgia companies have been dutifully pouring corporate cash into GOP coffers and starving the Democrats, the Republican masters of the Gold Dome have not returned the favor. Take the crisis at Grady Hospital. The business community is rightly con cerned that a Grady collapse would put health care in jeopardy across the metro region. Not only does Grady have an indispensable trauma center and burn unit, but its closure would also flood hospitals across Georgia with the indigent patients Grady now handles. A shuttered Grady is an unmitigated disaster. The business community has essen tially taken over Grady through its new nonprofit board, wresting control from the governments of Fulton and DeKalb counties. The new board is stacked with Republican business loy alists, including Joe Rogers of Waffle House and Jim Stephenson of Yancey Brothers. The board chair is retired Georgia Pacific CEO Pete Correll. Even with a new board that is a who’s who of Georgia’s Republican business establishment, the General Assembly thumbed its nose at its obli gation to provide state support to keep Grady afloat. The debate degenerated into a game of “gotcha” over abortion, and the Grady bill died. On issue after issue, the business community came up short. Their plan to allow regional referendums on sales taxes to fund traffic relief projects was rejected. They failed to get trauma care funding to ensure an adequate statewide network of emergency rooms. Nothing that passed will seriously address the state’s water supply crisis. And the GOP majority again shorted the funding formula for our schools and universities, further damaging an edu cation system that once was Georgia’s greatest asset in attracting new employ ers. Sen. David Adelman, D-Decatur, was quoted a few months ago saying that the problem at the Capitol is that the state is “being governed through the prism of a Republican primary.” He’s right. Jockeying by ambitious pols to win Republican primary votes is the main event under the Gold Dome. That makes for ugly politics and worse policy. Here’s hoping that enough people are aware of this unworkable mess to start supporting two-party government again. You can reach award-winning politi cal columnist Bill Shipp at P. O. Box 2520, Kennesaw, GA 30156 or e-mail: shipp1@bellsouth.net. bill shipp Letters to the editor policy given The Banks County News has estab lished a policy on printing Letters to the editor. We must have an original copy of all letters that are submitted to us for publication. Members of our staff will not type out or hand-write letters for people who stop by the office and ask them to do so. Letters to the editor must also be signed with the address and phone number of the person who wrote them. The address and phone number will be for our verification purposes only and will not be printed unless the writer requests it. Mail to, The Banks County News, P.O. Box 920, Homer, Ga. 30547. E-mailed letters will be accepted, but we must have a contact phone number and address. Letters that are libelous will not be printed. Letters may also be edited to meet space requirements. Anyone with questions on the policy is asked to contact editor Angela Gary at AngieEditor@aol.com or by calling 706-367-2490. News department contact numbers Anyone with general story ideas, complaints or comments about the news department is asked to call edi tor Angela Gary at 706-367-2490. She can also be reached by e-mail at AngieEditor@aol.com. Anyone with comments, questions or suggestions relating to the coun ty board of commissioners, county government, county board of educa tion and crime and courts is asked to contact staff reporter Chris Bridges at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at chris@mainstreetnews.com. Bridges also is sports edi tor of the paper and covers local high school, middle school and recreation sports. Anyone with comments, ques tions or suggestions relating to Alto, Lula, Baldwin and Gillsville, should contact Sharon Hogan at 706-367-5233 or by e-mail at sharon@mainstreetnews.com. Calls for information about the church page should go to Suzanne Reed at 706-677-3491. Church news may also be e-mailed to churchnews@mainstreetnews.com. The Banks County News website is updated each Thursday and can be accessed on the Internet at www.mainstreetnews.com. Sunset causes one to pause, give thanks I t came about as a result of the rain we had Friday into Saturday. As the sun began to fade late Saturday, I noticed the remaining rays of light shining brightly, even through the closed blinds at my house. I walked over, opened the blind and was greeted with a scene which would have made a great photograph or even a stunning painting. Being not much of a photographer or no part of an artist, I simply admired the scene for a few moments. The sky was a bright, clear shade of blue which was caused by the rain clearing the pollution — if only for a little while. Above the blue skyline were sever al layers of clouds which had a bright, orange tint caused by the fading sun light. It was one of the moments where you could just look upward and be in awe of nature and all its wonders. It was one of those “thank ful” times I like to remember when life becomes too hectic and fast paced. Later, it helped me remember other things I am thankful for including: •the first rays of sunlight as they break through the window in the morning let ting you know you have reached another day. •the enjoyment of a Saturday after noon drive after a long work week. •spring football practice. •a day at the local high school base ball field when the weather is just right and the home team records a victory. •the quiet of Sunday evenings as we mentally prepare for a new week. •people who still enjoy reading a newspaper by holding it in their hands rather than looking at it on a computer screen. •sports writing legend and king Furman Bisher who is entering his 90th year. Long may he reign. •old homes and buildings which have actually been kept up through the years. Nothing is quite as sad as seeing an old home deteriorate from lack of people residing in it or an old building collapse from years of neglect. •the memory of Lewis Grizzard. Has it really been 14 years since he left us? Spring in the South isn’t the same with out him here to write about it. •the reader who sends a note saying they enjoyed something in the paper rather than complaining about some thing. •good friends and what they mean on a daily basis. •the way a new book feels when you first open the pages. •the crispness of a new magazine. •the sound of the press in opera tion on Wednesdays here at Mainstreet Newspaper headquarters. •the song you hear that makes you tap your foot. •the pride I feel when I hear “Georgia On My Mind,” be it sung by Ray Charles or Willie Nelson. •the elected official who actually accomplishes something when he or she is in office. •those who fight to prevent animal cruelty. •for co-workers like Sharon Hogan who take on any task without hesita tion, complaint or excuse. You’ll never hear Sharon say, “That’s not my job” or “That’s not something I’m supposed to do.” It’s people like her who are the glue that hold our company together. •Atlanta Braves games on the radio with Skip Carey offering his musings. •the mornings when I can overcome my laziness and get out of bed on time. •photographs which can instantly transport you back to the time when they were taken. •people who remember to say “thank you.” •and finally, for those of you who are still reading this column at this point. All three of you. chris bridges Chris Bridges is a reporter for The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or e-mail comments to chris@mainstreetnews.com.