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Viewpoints
Too many Americans are
idealistic about democracy
Americans-as columnist Georgie Anne Guyer notes-are relatively
idealistic about democracy and individual freedom and rights. Although it
took a revolution in the 1700's and struggles thereafter for generations to
achieve today's society, we want other nations to opt for immediate
democracy.
Will that work, if attempted in China, with its billion people, who
have never known democracy (but who now enjoy order, little crime,
education for all, mass starvations having been ended)? Is it going to work
in the countries which were part of the Soviet Union? In Ukraine, forty
percent of the population already favors reuniting with Russia—because
they recall the order and better living.
Russia itself is beset with critical problems on the road to democracy.
Can the Russians complete their rather rapid transition without a counter
reaction from the right? The plight of most Russians today is far worse
than under communism—economically. They have suffered terribly. Can
we expect them to accept the change to democracy when they go hungry?
In South Africa, we expect over twenty million blacks to sustain
democracy-many still carrving spears. Is this realistic? It's not a auestion
ot right or wrong, white-only rule is undoubtedly wrong. The question is
whether the masses there are ready for, and can make work, instant
democracy. Should there have been a less idealistic, interim period of
transition?
Whether democracy can take hold in nations where it has been unknown
depends on the understanding and education of the majority, not just
idealistic desires. It took centuries to emerge successfully in England and
generations to be perfected in this country.
U.S. foreign policy must take into account reality as well as idealism,
in selling democratic systems of government throughout the world. One
of the serious worries at the moment is the growing danger that
democracy, instant democracy, will collapse in some countries formerly
part of the Soviet Union.
One wonders whether Ukraine, for example, should be so quick to send
all its nuclear missiles to Russia (which we encourage and finance) when
the rising level of unrest in each country hints of probable takeover
attempts by hardliners in the not-too-distant future.
That's realism applied to idealism.
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Editor
Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, GA, 31069
Houston Times-Journal
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Our Opinions
Residents find living in Houston cities too taxing
WHEN Warner Robins' Mayor
and council refused to pay their
share of the Houston County
Library system's new budget it
brought to the surface a long
festering problem...again.
This isn't the first time Warner
Robins officials have questioned the
longtime method of sharing the
cost of the library system between
the county's three cities-Perry,
Warner Robins and Centerville-and
the county government
When I was mayor of Warner
Robins we did our best to solve the
double taxation problem inherent in
the present sharing of costs about
16 years ago.
We tried to get the county
commissioners to accept the fact
that residents of the three cities
were paying twice for this service
while people living outside the
cities were paying only once.
To get the attention of the
commissioners we said we were not
going to pay our assessment until a
new formula was worked out.
As agreed between the four
governmental bodies many years
ago a per-person assessment was
established according to the library's
budgeted needs. Each city pays the
per resident assessment and the
county pays on the basis of the
number of people living in the
county outside the three cities.
* * *
THIS is where the rub comes in.
7 PCArnr
<s> amwa Vf-
Your Opinion
Seatbelts are the “cool”
choice that saves lives!
Dear Editor:
Last fall, a teenager was killed just a few miles from his home when he
flew through the window of an automobile that was involved in a one car
accident. This young man was not wearing a seatbelt, although it is
required by law for those under 18 years of age. The wreck was a
preventable collision. Other teens in the vehicle were slightly injured, but
survived due to the use of seatbelts.
We.don't like hearing stories like this, but unfortunately they do occur
and they occur far more often than we would like to admit.
These young people left one home enroute to another, just a routine
trip. Although I taught this young man classes in alcohol-drug awareness
and seatbelt use was also discussed, still, young people and older adults
don't realize that 3 out of 4 crashes occur within 25 miles of home and
over 40 percent of all fatal crashes occur at speeds of less than 45 mph.
They don't think it can happen to them or they have made plans and
nothing will dare to interfere with those.
In 1992, the lives of 5,226 front seat occupants over 4 years old were
saved by safety belts. Was it a habit, education or just plain common
sense that saved those lives? Whatever the reason, it worked.
But now there is another compelling reason to buckle up on every trip,
it’s the law in 46 states, DC, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. All
50 states have child safety seat laws, but the child seat must be used and
used correctly. The law enforcement officers are enforcing these laws and
if common sense doesn't motivate belt use, maybe tickets and fines will
persuade the hard core nonusers.
A choice has to be made. Those of us that have been saved by a
seatbelt or have witnessed the effectiveness of safety belts must persuade
those riding with us that safety belt use is the right choice...the "cool"
choice and that it can save a life.
SFC. Charles Parker
Houston Times-Jouma!
City officials contend that people
living in the cities are victims of
double taxation.
They point out that all city
residents also are residents of the
county and they all pay county
taxes. Therefore, when the county
pays for county residents outside
the cities with county taxes they
should pay for those county
residents living inside the cities,
too.
We did our best 16 years ago to
resolve the issue. The
commissioners stonewalled us
then...as they probably will do this
time. There was no way those of
us in the Warner Robins city
government were going to let the
libraries reduce services or close
down some branches. So, after
holding out as long as we could for
equity, we came through with the
money that year with an appeal to
the commissioners to work with us
to resolve the double taxation issue.
• Since the same issue has surfaced
again this year it is obvious
nothing has been done.
* * *
SOME supporters of the library
fear that library employees will be
laid off and the library will suffer
because the Warner Robins officials
are withholding their assessment.
When the chips are down the
Warner Robins officials will come
through with the money,
reluctantly, as we did long ago.
Wednesday, May 18,1994 "Houston Times-Journal
Page 2A
And the issue of double taxation
will continue year after year after
year.
* * •
WE HEAR a lot of talk about
consolidation of city and county
services.
It is good for talk. Some services
can be consolidated. The library is
one of them. So is recreation.
They already are. But there is
inequity in how they are being paid
for and give us insight into why
consolidation of many services
cannot...and will not...be
accomplished. The school system
is the perfect example of services
being provided to all Houston
Countians, regardless of where thev
live, and paid for by a tax applied to
all equally.
In my opinion, the recreation
department and the library should be
funded and operated under county
control. When recreation was
tackled it was done backwards. The
mayor of Warner Robins at the
time insisted on the three cities
taking over recreation with the
county providing money for a few
years...leaving the cities with three
city-operated recreation programs,
paid for by city taxpayers in later
years, but obligated to provide
services for non-residents.
It should have gone the other
way...as this newspaper suggested
more than once while it was being
discussed. There should be one
My, how time flies when
you’re having fun ...
It doesn't seem like it, but it's al
ready been a whole year since my
daughter was bom.
Lauren will celebrate her first
birthday this weekend and besides
preparing for her party, I've been
thinking a lot about the past year
since she’s been in my life.
I never knew before how much a
child actually means to a parent.
(Being a mother has made me real
ize why my mother seemed so pro
tective at times.) But now that she
is in my life each day is filled with
a special joy it lacked before.
Many things have happened to me
over the past year with my career,
with my family and with friends,
but none stand out as much as hav
ing Lauren.
Even through the ups and downs
of the first year of motherhood-the
doctor visits, feedings, colds,
teething; the first smile, rolling
over, the first word, the first tooth,
learning to crawl and eventually
walk-seemed to come gradually, I
now look back and realize just how
fast it has all gone by.
At first it all made me feel melan
choly, but, as my husband pointed
out, there's still so much more to
go.
Having a child is like receiving a
new gift each day whether it be
through a look, laugh, smile, hug
or that sweet sleepy sigh when they
rest their head on your shoulder
each evening.
She's brought me closer to my
1 I
(H FoyS. |
Evans I
recreation program tor all Houston
Countians operated by the county
government. It would prevent the
kind of controversy that erupted in
Warner Robins recently when more
than 200 children, many of them
residents of the city, were told they
could not participate.
* * *
WHAT HAS happened in
financing the library system and
recreation is a big reason you hear
so much talk on the part of city
officials to the effect they are
amenable to consolidation of
services...yet find they are reluctant
to go forward until the matter of
who pays is settled.
All over the county subdivisions
are popping up and the people in
them are reluctant to annex into one
of our cities because they are
receiving most city services
without paying city taxes for them.
You can't blame them. This trend
will continue...with the cities
suffering from declining revenue
and soaring costs...until we have
the same situations that prevail in
such counties as Dekalb and Cobb
and in suburban Atlanta.
■ Ji® Brigette L
P Loudermilk I
P W Editor |j
husband, mother, sister and other
family members.
She's the topic of 98 percent of
the conversations I share with
others.
So—l'll pick up the cake Friday
evening and we’ll blow out the can
dles in front of our family and
friends Saturday.
Lauren will rip the paper off the
gifts and play with the bows (while
totally ignoring the gifts). All the
parents will discuss the joys and
pitfalls of parenting and brag on the
progress tneir child has made. The
children will be smearing ice cream
and cake all over their faces and
each other and grabbing toys out of
each other’s hands.
And although Sunday will be the
end of the first year of my daugh
ter's life, we'll begin the second the
same day.
I'm sure that by this time next
year I'll again be surprised at how
quickly the time has past since she
turned two.