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PAGE 4A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JANUARY 22, 2009
Opinions
Frankly
Speaking
frankgillispie671@msn.com
By Frank Gillispie
Mixed feelings
about Obama
I have mixed feelings about the inauguration of
Barack Obama as our 44th President. I join in the
millions of Americans who are pleased that we
have overcome the racism of the past and finally
elected a black president. That is a great thing,
and finally makes true the old saying that any
American child can grow up to be president.
I am reasonably impressed by most of his cabi
net selections. Most of them are well qualified
and experienced. There are a few exceptions, of
course. But I will not go into names here, I will
note that far too many of them are former Clinton
people and do not fulfill his promise of “Change
We Can Believe In.” I fear that his administration
will be just more tax-and-spend politics. Both
major parties have loaded us with too many taxes
and too much government in recent decades,
and less government tax and spend would be a
welcome change.
Now let me tell you why I am concerned.
Obama’s inauguration is bringing with it a mas
sive wave of unjustified optimism. The idea
that we can talk the terrorists of the world into
stopping their attacks will quickly be proven to
be nothing more than pipe dreams. I am afraid
that we will do all the talking while they are
reorganizing and rearming for more and larger
attacks. I just hope the new administration will
realize that before serious damage is done to our
society.
Secondly, I am concerned about the misguided
efforts to boost our economy. The first step in
solving a problem is to define the problem. And
none of our government or business leaders have
been able to do that. Just as President Reagan
once said, “Government cannot solve the prob
lem. Government is the problem!”
You see, the purpose of money is to facilitate
the exchange of goods and services. People
earn money by creating goods and services to
exchange. When government starts dumping
money into the economy over and above the
value of goods and services being created, we get
the kind of financial crisis that now faces us.
The solution is not to toss more and more
money at the problem. The solution is to use
tax incentives to promote greater production of
goods and services for the marketplace. When
President Reagan inherited the economic disaster
following the Carter administration, that is exact
ly what he did. His tax program was designed
to boost small-and-moderate-sized business to
increase their production, which boosted the
amount of goods and services available, and cre
ated well-paying jobs so that workers would have
the money to buy those goods and services.
Now if we are lucky. President Obama’s team
will quickly see what is not working and modify
their programs early in his administration. If not,
our nation's economy and safety will be at even
greater risk.
I congratulate President Obama as he takes
office. I congratulate the voters of America for
proving that racism can be defeated. And I wish
Obama and the nation the best of luck. We will
both need it.
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison
County Journal. His e-mail address is frank-
gillispie671@msn.com. His website can be
accessed at http://frankgiUispie.tripod.com/
The Madison
County Journal
(Merged with The Danielsville Monitor
and The Comer News, January 2006)
P.O. Box 658
Hwy. 29 South
Danielsville, Georgia 30633
Phone: 706-795-2567
Fax: 706-795-2765
Email: zach@mainstreetnews.com
ZACH MITCHAM, Editor
MARGIE RICHARDS, Reporter/Office Manager
BEN MUNRO, Reporter/Sports Editor
MIKE BUFFINGTON, Co-publisher
SCOTT BUFFINGTON, Co-publisher
FRANK GILLISPIE, Founder of The Journal.
Jere Ayers (deceased) former owner
of The Danielsville Monitor and The Comer News
Periodical postage paid at Danielsville, Georgia 30633
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THE MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL
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A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
From the days of hope to the days of deed
The nation has spent the past two years
talking about who can repair our broken
vehicle. The presidency of George Bush
was overshadowed in 2007 and 2008
by the marathon campaigning and the
promise of someone taking the wrench
from Bush's hands.
Tuesday marked the end of the
nation’s lengthy anticipation of our next
president. Now we move from the days
of hope to the days of deed — what
will he do?
Of course, race is the natural focal
point of the moment. How could you
avoid it? The inauguration of Barack
Obama as our president is certainly
a major turning point in the nation’s
history. The promise that “all men are
created equal" rings more true with the
first minority president taking the coun
try's lead seat in the Oval Office. Such
a day was unthinkable for most of this
country's history. And the significance
of Tuesday's ceremony is apparent to
anyone who wants America to be a
place where you're judged on your
individual merits, not your skin color or
your family name.
So, there is good reason for national
self-congratulation on a racial milestone.
But the days of ceremonies, speeches
and plastic-mug merchandising of this
historic moment will soon pass.
Now, we turn to the monumental
tasks.
Bob Herbert, a New York Times col
umnist recently compared the Bemie
Madoff scandal to our nation's money-
for-nothing attitude of the past decade.
I thought this was an apt comparison.
Madoff stole an estimated $50 billion in
In the
Meantime
zach@
mainstreet
news.com
By Zach Mitcham
a ponzi scheme, saying he "paid inves
tors with money that wasn’t there."
Hasn’t our nation also embraced this
something-for-nothing way?
We entered a war against a country
that didn't really attack us, in search of
weapons that weren’t really there. We
paid with funds we didn’t have, backed
by a draft that never happened, watched
by a nation that didn’t really notice.
Meanwhile, the nation purchased all
those cars and toys that we didn't really
make, with credit we didn't really have.
Millions lived in houses they couldn’t
really afford. They got mortgages from
companies that bundled them and sold
them at values they didn't really have.
When things turned desperate eco
nomically, we spent two year's looking
for a leader who wasn't there.
I’ve read Obama’s “Audacity of
Hope," looking for more about the new
president’s views than what television
provides in its melodramatic packag
ing. I find that I prefer Obama’s written
word to his famous platform speeches.
And I am encouraged that he values the
counter argument choosing to provide
respectful flip side perspective to his
own views. He seems to actively fight
today’s standard style of political dis
course — character assassination. For
too long, we've exchanged wild knife
swipes, preferring humiliation tactics to
hard-nosed political debate on issues. I
want to see political discussion elevated
beyond the gutter, where it's been for
some time. And I appreciate anyone
who makes that effort, whatever their
politics and whatever their lot in life.
I also have some confidence that
the new president will focus on the
struggles of blue collar and middle class
people to make ends meet. Over the
past eight years, we’ve seen an increas
ing strain on people who really want to
work hard and provide for their family
in a modest way. I count myself in that
group.
But I am realistic about what any man
can do right now. I don’t believe in polit
ical saviors. I think the troubles of today
are much more complicated than that.
And while I feel the new president will
bring contemplative decision making to
the office, something we direly need, I
think the over-the-top euphoria of the
moment is closely tied to our current
desperation and our deep need to feel
good about something, anything. I am
not holding out hope for any quick fix.
I understand the call for a stimulus plan,
but I feel a well-warranted skepticism
about its potential effectiveness.
Ultimately, we are confronted with
an awful question: which is scarier, the
skyrocketing national debt or the crum
bling job market? Right now, the free-
falling unemployment problem trumps
all else. Consider that even without
a stimulus plan, the government will
fall deeper into debt as unemployment
and other entitlements pile up as jobs
are lost. Conversely, if we throw a tril
lion dollars at the problem without real
guidance, without any real job produc
tion, then we’re in even deeper trouble,
aren’t we?
So, what do we do? Well, we have to
hope our leaders will choose the right
direction at this crucial point in our his
tory. Of course, we feel utterly power
less in the face of such tilings, but we
can make sound personal decisions. We
can save and plan and do the things in
our power to look toward tomorrow, not
just today. We can abandon the “put-it-
on-my-Visa” philosophy that fueled this
great bust. I hope this will be the long
term national triumph from these tough
times, a more responsible America.
Still, I can't help but acknowledge the
painful irony of our predicament, that
our government hopes to boirow our
way out of this borrowers" mess.
For all the gloom and doom, I think
we'll see brighter days ahead. But I
truly believe the real economic turn
around will happen when American
manufacturing returns home like the
long, lost prodigal son.
In the meantime, we’ve got a tough
road.
Let’s hope Obama will choose the
right tools while tinkering with this
stalled engine. Let's hope his presidency
is remembered more for his governance
than his electoral breakthrough.
Zach Mitcham is editor of The
Madison County Journal.
Helping out in hard times
Let's face it - for most of us
things are a little tough right now.
If someone in our household isn't
out of work, we may be wonder
ing if one of us will be in the near
future. That could mean not only
the loss of income, but the loss of
our health insurance (if we're for
tunate enough to have it in the first
place) and maybe even our homes.
Everything is subdued these
days, it seems, even when you’re
in a crowd. It’s as if we're waiting
for the other shoe to drop.
And for those on fixed incomes,
the aspect of purchasing groceries,
gas and heat has become more
daunting than usual.
Even as we move forward into
this year with a new president as
well as some new faces in our local
government, it seems hard to be
hopeful when all we keep hearing
is that things are going to get worse
before they get better.
No one is more aware of the
economic situation than the people
who work daily to provide services
By Margie Richards
for those in need.
And as those needs mount, so
does the pressure on those facilities
to help, since no one wants to turn
anyone away empty-handed.
For example, for the local food
bank, it means a dramatic rise in
the number of families and indi
viduals needing assistance of some
kind — many food bank director
Bobbie Rooker said she’s never
seen before — many who never
thought they'd be in such a posi
tion.
Churches in the area are work
ing hard to provide food, clothing
and a helping hand, not only to
their members, but to anyone in
the community that they can reach
out to.
And over at the animal shelter,
things there are also pretty bleak.
Donations are down and intake is
up, as more folks feel they can no
longer care for their furry family
members.
What can we do?
Well, I’m a firm believer that
what goes around comes around.
No matter how bad things are,
there is always some way to help
out, even if we’re in a bad way
ourselves.
If there’s no money, maybe just
one extra can of food from the pan
try can go to the food bank. Most
of us have closets full of clothing
with many items that we don't
wear - right now is an especially
good time to go through the coat
closet. Even if it isn't fashionable,
someone who is cold would sure
appreciate the warmth a no longer
wanted coat can bring.
Monetary donations are always
needed - even just a dollar or two
is better than giving nothing at all.
I believe if someone gives you $5,
you should give back at least $1 -
pay it forward as it were.
Then there’s always the gift of
time. Both the food bank and the
animal shelter, for example, can
use an extra set of hands and feet
- to stock shelves, make deliveries,
walk dogs and spend some time
with some homeless pets. Foster
homes are needed for both children
and animals.
There is always a way to help
and helping can often lessen our
own burdens in remarkable ways.
Not only does it take our minds off
of our own troubles, but it can give
us a sense of purpose and peace
in a world where there sometimes
seems to be neither.
Margie Richards is a reporter and
office manager for The Madison
County Journal.
Governor: higher taxes, more
debt, reductions in services
Alter six straight years of liberal
spending policies that have resulted
in a 46.2 percent expansion of gov
ernment since 2002, the state of
Georgia is facing some harsh eco
nomic realities as the first week of
the new legislative session is now
complete.
The current recession has hit
Georgia hard, with unemployment
numbers reaching a 25-year high.
Reduced tax revenues along with
massive spending have resulted in a
budget deficit of up to $2.5 billion.
On the third day of the session, the
governor laid out his budget propos
als that indicate Georgians are in for
tough times in tire months ahead.
The governor’s plan calls for a
10-percent cut in state spending
between now and June 30, followed
by a "slimmed-down," $20.2 billion
annual budget for fiscal year 2010.
The proposals feature significant
reductions in state services, $1.2 bil
lion in new state borrowing, the use
of more than one third of tire state's
reserve fund and higher taxes for
nearly every Georgian, especially
property owners.
Under the governor’s plan, teach
ers and other state employees would
not receive a pay increase and would
pay more for their health insurance.
Also, funding for school nurses and
supplements to teachers who receive
national board certification would be
eliminated. Cuts to Public Safety are
also proposed, closing some G.B.I.
House
News
By Alan Powell
crime labs, reducing Investigators
and State Patrol officers, closing
Corrections Department prisons,
arson investigators, state conserva
tion rangers and Child Protection
Service Division case workers.
Basic state funding, Q.B.E., for
public schools would be cut by
$185.8 million this year and $197
million in FY 2010, shifting Arose
costs to local property taxpayers
and bringing the eight-year total
of education tax shifts under fifis
administration to more than $2 bil
lion. Property owners would suffer
a further tax increase if legislators
approve the governor's plan to elimi
nate $428 million in tax relief grants
to local governments.
The governor is also proposing a
new 1.6 percent provider tax on hos
pitals and HMOs to fund Medicaid
reimbursements — a tax that would
inevitably be paid by patients and
consumers. This tax would have a
negative impact on mral hospitals
already on shaky financial ground.
The proposed bonded debt pack
age - fully 20 percent higher than
the $1 billion in annual added debt
in recent years - is mostly for con
struction of new schools, college
buildings and other facilities. The
governor also wants to spend $50
million this year and $408 million
next year from Are state’s reserve
fund, which currently amounts to
$1.2 billion.
In addition to Are governor’s pro
posal to raise taxes on property own
ers and hospital patients, a wide range
of legislative measures have been
introduced or announced that would
increase oArer state taxes: allowing
Sunday alcohol sales, eliminating the
sales tax exemption for food, legal
izing video and/or casino gambling,
a tax increase on tobacco products,
raising the state sales tax by a penny
for transportation projects.
Some of these ideas seem far
fetched and will likely never get
out of committee, but in dire cir
cumstances like Arese, everything
appears to be on the table. As I have
argued for years, Georgia does not
have a revenue problem; we have a
spending problem. Now the chickens
have come home to roost.
Over the next several weeks, the
job of legislative budget writers will
be to determine Are right priorities
for the people of Georgia and the
right path to balancing the budget
while still providing the core services
demanded of state government.
The first week of the new ses
sion was devoted largely to organi
zational matters. House Democrats
showed a bipartisan spirit, joining
Republican members in re-electing
Speaker Glenn Richardson without
opposition.
The session’s first legislative pro
posals were introduced and assigned
to various committees for consid
eration before Arey are debated by
Are full House of Representatives.
This year, I am serving on the House
AppropriaAons, Government Affairs,
Motor Vehicles and Regulated
Industries committees.
I look forward to representing
you for another temi in the House
of Representatives. Throughout Are
session, I will keep you posted on
Are progress of legislation involving
Arese and other issues. Also, to most
effectively serve as your voice at Are
Capitol, I need to hear from you.
Please contact nre with your views,
and whenever I can be of service.
Rep. Alan Powell (D-Hartwell)
represents the 29"' District (Franklin.
Hart and Madison counties) in the
Georgia House of Representatives.
Contact him at 507 Coverdell Office
Building, Atlanta, GA 30334: by
phone at 404-656-0202 or by e-mail
at aIanpoweII23@hotniail.com. For
more information, visit www.alan-
powell.net.