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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