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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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Madison & surrounding counties $19.75/year State of Georgia $38.85/year Out-of-state $44.50/ year Military personnel with APO address $42.50/year Senior rate $2 off all above rates College student discount rate $2 off all above rates POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL P.O. Box 658, Danielsville, GA 30633 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.