Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 3. 2009
Frankly
Speaking
frankgillispie671@msn.com
By Frank Gillispie
Time to eliminate
payroll taxes,
welfare services
We now know that all the data used to proclaim a
world-wide climate crisis was manipulated to yield the
result the advocates wanted. The millions of dollars
that have been spent and the billions that have been
budgeted or proposed are all based on a lie.
Why? It was designed to gain massive financial,
social and political gains for the proponents of climate
change at the expense of we the people who were
expected to sacrifice our own financial, social and
political freedoms to satisfy their ambitions.
So, how many of the other "emergencies” fall into
the same category? Has our nation’s health been mis
judged for the sole purpose of turning over a major
part of our economy to the politicians and bureaucrats
in Washington? Are all those appeals for donations to
one desperate cause or another real, or are they based
on false or non-existent data?
Would all these financial institutions that were "too
big to allow to fail” have done as much damage as the
massive spending deficits being mn up by our govern
ment? Would General Motors and Chrysler have sur
vived after a normal bankruptcy without the billions of
federal dollars they collected from our pockets?
I believe that in every case above, and many oth
ers, government intervention did far more damage
than good. If we could just get government out of
the way and allow the marketplace work as it should,
most of these so called crises would be resolved If
we remove the unnecessary government regulations
from the workplace the cost of American made goods
will be competitive with those from outside the U.S.
A dramatic cut or even elimination of payroll taxes
would boost employment to the point that even those
unneeded government workers would easily find truly
productive jobs.
Just imagine a nation where workers get to keep all
the money they earn and are allowed to spend it as they
wish. Imagine a nation where workers never have to
worry about filing income tax returns on April 15.
Imagine a nation where everyone who wants to work
can easily find jobs, and those who don’t want to work
will have to find a way to take care of themselves.
Imagine a nation were anyone who wants to start a
home-based business can do so without having to fill
out tons of tax forms and permit requests.
How do we achieve this? First, we should insist
that our governments strictly obey the limits set by
the Constitution as written, not as some judge thinks
it should have said. We should eliminate all payroll
taxes and apply a consumer tax at the wholesale level.
That would force imported goods to pay the same
taxes as the things we build here at home. We should
dramatically reduce or eliminate government welfare
programs, returning the responsibility for the care of
those who cannot care for themselves to family, church
and community where it belongs.
With these changes, U.S. made products will be
competitive with imports. People will be free to start
their own family business without interference from
government so that they can support and care for
themselves and their families. Unemployment would
virtually vanish from our economy. And government
can devote their time to preserving the safety, defense
and communication systems that cross state lines.
President Reagan was right when he said,
“Government is not the solution, government is the
problem.”
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County
Journal. Flis e-mail address is frank@frankgil-
lispie.com. Flis website can be accessed at http://
www.frat7kgillispie.com/gillispieotdine.
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.
There are an estimated 6.6 bil
lion people in the world right now.
And Tiger Woods may top the
list of most recognizable names.
Whatever he does is going to draw
camera clicks.
For instance, if Woods is photo
graphed out at 2 a.m. getting Taco
Bell, it is news — even though
it’s not really newsworthy. By the
way, can you imagine how excited
Taco Bell would be if a “run for
the border” was his reason for the
reckless ride at 2 a.m.?
While we dream of fame and
fortune, the far extreme on that
fame dial — for all its perks — is
a sort of a prison, too. If you
are super famous, and you value
privacy, then you face a type of
house arrest.
During all this hoopla this past
week, I learned that Woods’ mas
sive yacht is named “Privacy,” a
moniker that ironically draws con
siderable attention. Anyone sail
ing along on a dolphin tour who
sees a 155-foot boat pass by with
“Privacy” painted in big letters
on the side is surely going to give
up on porpoise watching, turning
their binoculars on the luxury boat
with the unusual name.
The ‘Privacy’ of Tiger Woods
In the
Meantime
zach@
mainstreet
news.com
By Zach Mitcham
Woods bought the boat from
a guy who signed a confidenti
ality agreement. That guy then
appeared at boat shows with
pictures of Woods in front of
“Privacy.” Woods sued him and
was awarded $1.6 million and a
public apology from the guy who
violated his privacy about his pur
chase of “Privacy.”
Woods really has no privacy. He
has faced numerous allegations
and rumors this week, ultimately
admitting to “transgressions” —
meaning infidelity. But is that real
ly a public matter? I like watching
the guy play golf. I don’t look to
him for anything other than hit
ting a six iron 210 yards out of a
sand trap to a tucked pin — those
superhuman golf feats.
But if sponsors are uncomfort
able with his personal issues, then
that’s their business. And Woods
will have to answer to them or
perhaps face monetary losses. If
people don’t want to pull for a guy
over fidelity issues, then that’s up
to them. But it’s not his responsi
bility to bare everything to them
just because they’re curious. He
had a legal right to remain silent
about his accident and the story
behind it. Whether he speaks to
those closest to him is an entirely
different matter.
All that said, Woods cannot slap
a suit on the world like he did
with the boat maker who violated
his privacy. He cannot shut people
up. The fact is, the car incident
was bizarre and people can’t help
but speculate when presented a
compelling mystery. But there is
a momentum to modern-day scan
dal that is troubling. And this goes
beyond Woods’ fidelity issue. At
a certain point, our over-the-top
joyous voyeurism says less about
the subject in question and more
about our society — our vora
cious appetite for celebrity news
and the fierce efforts by celeb
rity media to elbow each other for
sniffs of celebrity dirt. There is a
whole culture — including those
who gather tabloid-style dirt and
those who consume it — that des
perately salivates at the heels of
the famous, waiting for any juicy
scrap. I guess that’s always been
true, but I feel it’s getting worse.
We dream of being famous.
Many are driven to work hard to
achieve fame; others will sell out
in any way to get 15 minutes.
They show no shame. And our
society seems to reward that “I'll-
do-anything-for-attention” behav
ior more and more. I find that very
troubling.
But fame is not a possession.
You can’t give it away once you
have it, nor can you hold it for
good. It possesses you in a way.
And there is a darkness therein
that most of us will never under
stand.
Woods is the source of envy for
many men — and every golfer
— in the world.
But I’d bet he envies every
one else at times, the ability to
have some real privacy, not the
“Privacy” plastered on a yacht.
Zach Mitcham is editor of The
Madison County Journal
I have a challenge for you and
for me.
We all see the headlines that
tell us how bad things are, both
here at home and all over the
world. Our own checkbooks are
likely to tell us the same story.
Some have or are in the pro
cess of losing their jobs, homes,
health insurance, and all the
other trappings of a stable life.
But you know, I say so what if
we don’t have so much to spend
on Christmas this year - that
certainly doesn’t mean we can’t
give gifts to each other.
And that brings me to my
challenge. Every day, from
the time you read this until
Christmas Eve, let’s all make it
our mission to do at least one
conscious kind thing for some
one else every day — friend or
stranger.
You know, I think the reces
sion has been good for my feel
ings about Christmas. When
things were good a few years
ago (or we lived in that illusion
anyway), I felt pressure to buy a
gift for the kids, family, friends
and sometimes even acquain
tances. I felt the need to make
sure gifts for my kids were piled
high under the tree, and I often
spent much more than was wise
for our budget.
A Christmas challenge
Close
to
Home
By Margie Richards
Last year, I felt a little differ
ently. Worried if my husband or
I would have a job into 2009, we
cut back pretty dramatically on
our spending. This year, we are
grateful to still have jobs, our
home and most of all our loved
ones, but we are cutting back on
our spending even more.
And you know what, I’m
beginning to like it. I find myself
thinking more about things I
can do for those who are less
fortunate in the way of time
and caring, even if it can’t be
money, than what I can buy to
pile under the Christmas tree.
I’m also thinking more about
those sappy Christmas movies
that I love to watch over and
over again, year after year. And
most of all, I’m thinking of
enjoying the company of those
I love and cherish.
Sitting around the
Thanksgiving table last week, I
noted how things could change
so from year to year. We usually
spend Thanksgiving at a cous
in’s house out of town, but this
year, Charles and I opted to stay
home for the first time in years.
Our daughter, Miranda, spent the
holiday with her fiance’s family,
making it our first Thanksgiving
without her since her birth. Our
son, Zack, now living on his
own for the first time, made
the short trip from his house to
ours and for the first time since
she was a little girl, our niece
Deserree,’ along with her three
beautiful children, Lindsey,
Brody and Nolan, came to have
dinner with us. And we began a
new tradition - having everyone
tell what they are thankful for.
It was nice and it I think it gave
us all a new memory to cher
ish. And as Deserree and her
kids left, I’ll never forget little
Nolan, 7, turning to me and say
ing in the pure eloquence of a
child, “Meemaw (he calls me
that instead of Aunt), you are so
kind.” It made tears well up in
my eyes.
And that started me thinking
even more about kindness.
It never hurts to be kind, and
I’ve found it always benefits
the one bestowing the kindness
more than the one receiving
the kindness. There’s no feeling
quite like it - to do something,
“just because,” with no reward,
and no recognition expected or
needed - just the joy of know
ing that you made a difference
to someone, even if they don’t
know your name.
What do you remember when
you think of your favorite
Christmas or Christmases? For
me, the memories of favorite
Christmases don’t center on
something I got, but instead on
a feeling of contentment, peace,
of being loved and cared about.
I think Christmas is what you
make it - so from now until
Dec. 25, I challenge us all to
make it one of the best ever.
(And I’d love to hear some of
your stories.) Who knows we
might discover a better way to
live, even after the holidays.
And, I wouldn’t be me if I
didn’t say this kindness doesn’t
have to stop at humans - be
kind to the creatures, particular
ly the pets, that share this world
with us. I believe God will bless
us for it.
Margie Richards is a report
er and office manager for The
Madison County Journal.
Are lawmakers ready to gamble?
Horse racing? Casino gam
bling? Until recently, those were
two topics you didn’t discuss at
the state capitol.
Bills would occasionally be
introduced by liberal lawmak
ers from Atlanta to legalize pari
mutuel wagering or allow casi
nos to operate at Underground
Atlanta, but the measures typi
cally would be assigned to com
mittees that wouldn’t bother to
give them a hearing.
The explanation has always
been that these types of things are
not politically feasible in a state
as conservative as Georgia where
influential religious organizations
are adamantly opposed to gam
bling and related activities.
Given that background, it was a
little strange to see what was hap
pening at a recent legislative com
mittee meeting. The panel was
chaired by Rep. Harry Geisinger,
a Republican from Roswell,
and included two conservative
Republicans, Jon Bums and Tom
McCall, from rural districts.
Geisinger is proposing, and
his GOP colleagues on the com
mittee were seriously discuss
ing, a constitutional amendment
The Capitol
Report
tcrawford@
capitol
impact.net.
By Tom Crawford
that would allow horse racing
and pari-mutuel wagering in
Georgia.
That’s correct: lawmakers from
the party that previously showed
no interest in the legalization of
gambling are drafting legislation
that would do just that. A crip
pling recession that cuts state tax
collections by $3 billion or $4
billion a year, coupled with an
unemployment rate above the 10
percent level, will do that to you.
Geisinger contends that the
economic development generated
by horse racing and the resulting
tax revenues are an idea worth
considering.
“This industry creates many,
many, many jobs,” Geisinger
said. “Any time you have all
those people working, they pay
taxes. It’s good for everybody.
So this is why we went ahead
and said, well, let’s see what the
equine industry can do and what
pari-mutuel gaming would mean
to Georgia.”
A significant hurdle for any leg
islator, Democrat or Republican,
who wants to sponsor a gambling
bill is Gov. Sonny Perdue. Perdue
strongly supports the position
of religious organizations that
oppose gambling and has already
used his clout to kill legislation
related to a social issue - last
year’s attempt to legalize Sunday
package sales of alcoholic bever
ages.
Geisinger is well aware of
Perdue’s political stance and
made a point of telling report
ers that his horse racing pro
posal will be introduced as a
constitutional amendment. An
amendment requires a two-thirds
vote in the House and the Senate
but it also cannot be vetoed by
the governor once it has passed,
Geisinger noted.
If Geisinger moves ahead with
his proposal, it will be a challenge
to get it through the General
Assembly because of the opposi
tion argument that the gambling
industry should not be given the
opportunity to establish itself in
Georgia.
That argument falls apart for
the simple reason that we have
had legalized gambling for near
ly two decades in the form of
the Georgia Lottery. Millions of
people have paid billions of dol
lars for the chance to win one
of the elusive lottery jackpots.
Without those gambling dollars
financing HOPE scholarships,
our University System would
be in much worse shape than it
already is.
Legalized gambling has been a
fact of life since the Zell Miller
administration. I’m not saying
that’s a good thing or a bad thing,
but it is the reality of the situa
tion.
As distasteful as they are to
many people, “sin taxes” from
such sources as drinking and
gambling may be about the only
realistic options left for raising
revenues to keep our state gov
ernment in operation.
— See ‘Crawford” on 5A