Newspaper Page Text
1 - Wednesday, November 2,1994, Houston Times-Journal
Page 4A
Viewpoints
Houston Times -Journal
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Jim Kerce, Editor and General Manager
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News: Vetoßoley, Pauline Lewis. Sports: Phil Clark. Composition: Lori Simpson.
Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington. Bookkeeping: Judy Morrow.
Your view
Perry Police Department praised
Editor:
Perry should be proud of "our police department". Their
professionalism was on show during the Georgia National Fair. Manning
a booth during the fair, I received and overheard many compliments about
how well policed the fair was, not the usual purse snatching, drunks, etc.
associated with large crowds.
Chief Simon is doing a super job in the role of making the fair a clean,
safe event worth driving many miles to enjoy. Thanks Chief!
Sincerely,
Jerry Whitney
Yes vote would help city, county
Editor:
Our state is faced w ith a dynamic, changing economy-that has been
transformed by fast-paced global trends. An economy that offers more
competition than ever before and demands flexibility. Population shifts
and historical boundaries have made our response more difficult. As
Georgia prepares to meet the challenges of the future, local
governments must have the ability to work together. It is imperative
that cooperation be encouraged and the ability to share tax revenues and
expenses is critical to this success.
Constitutional Amendment l, which will appear on the November
General Election ballot, would amend Georgia's Constition to
encourage local governments to participate in joint projects.
Historically, cities and counties have been prevented from sharing tax
revenues and costs, and therefore, have been reluctant to join together to
sponsor multi-county development projects. Constitutional
Amendment 1, if passed, would remove this barrier
The new law would allow two or more contiguous units of local
government to enter into contracts for the development of such things
as industrial parks, airports, convention centers, recreational facilities,
and similar projects Approval of the amendment would not represent
an endorsement of a specific project but would allow the tax revenues
generated by these projects to be redistributed to the participating
governments without regard to the actual physical location of the
facility
A regional facility developed through multi-governmental contract
would quality for the highest dollar amount jobs tax credit of the
participating counties This extra incentive is also without regard to
the physical location ol the actual project, which can be either publicly
or privately initiated
A vote of "yes" on the ballot will encourage Georgia's local
governments to work together It will give us much needed flexibility
in our quest for statewide economic prosperity.
James E. Worrall, Mayor
Vote will impact on health care
Editor:
On Tuesday . Nov Bth, voters in Perry and throughout the state of
Georgia will elect officials w ho will shape health care politics that could
have a major impact on our local hospital mid die healthcare services in
our community It is essential that every citizen take the time to le?m
about the candidates and the issues, and most iinportiuitly. to vote.
Also on this November ballot is Amendment #3, an antitrust bill
which would provide Georgians broader options of healthcare plans. It
approved, it will allow healthcare provider networks, including doctors,
hospitals, dentists and other healthcare professionals, the opportunity to
compete with large insurance companies in the delivery of healthcare.
Additionally, Amendment #3 will help to lower healthcare costs by
allowing hospitals and other healthcare providers to jointly purchase
expensive medical equipment, preventing the unnecessary duplication of
serv ices and equipment which increases the costs of patient care.
Although health care reform is off the agenda for our national Congress
for the rest of this year, it continues to be of critical concern for those of
us in the hospital and health care field, lhe problems of the uninsured
still remain and will have to be addressed. Medicare will continue to be
threatened as Congress looks for ways to finance reform efforts and cut
entitlement programs.
Your vote is crucial in helping to determining the future of health care
for our community. 1 encourage you to vote "yes" on Amendment #3 to
help guarantee the people of our community and the state of Georgia
broader access to lower cost, high quality health care services.
Sincerely,
James G. Peak, Administrator Perry Hospital
Candidate impresses writer
Editor:
I attended the Citizens Education Assoc, meeting last Thursday, Oct. 27
at the Houston County School Auditorium. The program was an open
forum for the candidates who are running for our school board November
8. There were less th;ui 30 people present and frankly I was very surprised
at such a small attendance since I had the understanding the schools sent
home announcements as well as an announcement in the local paper.
With the quality of education a great concern of so many of our parents
today, I really felt there would be more interest in getting to meet and hear
the candidates.
Of the four candidates I heard, 1 would like to inform the parents and
citizens not in attendance of how impressed I was by Shirley Lowery, who
is seeking re-election for Post 6. She seemed knowledgeable of our school
system and the programs available. She showed genuine concern for the
issues the parents expressed, and seemed sincere in wanting to meet these
needs.
As a parent of a child in the school system I am proud to have a person
as deeply commited to the educational program in Houston County as
Shirley Lowery. Knowing the strength of our local education system
weighs heavily in the hands of the person we elect, I encourage citizens to
once again vote for Shirley Lowery.
Linda Meade,
Warner Robins, Ga.
Ragin called the best candidate
Editor:
I have known Wayne Ragin and his family all of his life and have seen
him grow lioin a child to an adult. I want you to know how proud I ;un
that he would oiler himself for the County Commission. He has always
been interested in people. As a young man in high school, instead of
How much should rich people pay in tax?
Perhaps, I'm wrong.
Perhaps.
It was in a middle of a heated
discussion at the Rotary Club two
weeks ago. Congressman Sanford
Bishop, seeking re-election from
the Second District, is responding
to a question from Rotarian Gary
Bishop. In his response, Con
gressman Bishop tells Gary Bishop
that those in the upper 1.2 percent
of income can leave the United
States if they wanted to.
Me, I took that to be a sarcastic
remark in response to Gary
Bishop's concerns that the top 1.2
percent of taxpayers were beginning
to talk about leaving the nation be
cause of high taxes.
I know that Sanford Bishop, as a
Democrat, is not exactly cut from
the same political cloth as Frederick
Bastiat, Milton Friedman, Adam
Smith or Thomas Jefferson; but, I
also don’t think that he is com
pletely ignorant of the methods and
workings of a free market system.
And, to send the top few of the
market system overseas, with all
their money, would invite disaster.
I am sure that Sanford Bishop rec
ognizes that fact.
I think that what Sanford Bishop
was saying was that if they wanted
to leave, let them since they were
not going to leave anyway. The
rich threatening to leave the U.S.
because of high taxes is sort of like
a man who has lost heavy at a
poker game trying to bluff Where
would the rich go?
But, that does bring up an inter
esting question. What should the
tax rate he on the rich ’
Economists have told us that
taxing money at a 50 percent rate
causes people to look for ways to
shelter their income They would
rather lose money than pay it a
playing sports his junior and senior year he was part of a group of students
who taught kids, in an after school program, basic reading, writing and
math skills. From his dedication to his community, he received, the DAR
Good Citizenship award. He was Senior Class President and many would
agree, he accomplished this during a time when the schools were
integrating and it took a fair, honest and caring person to represent all of
his classmates. He will represent all of the people of Houston County
when elected
He has always had an interest in people, from the moment he went to
Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a B A.
in Political Science, his goal was to work for Senator Sam Nunn, so that
he could understand the process and help Georgia constituents who had
issues and concerns He will use the knowledge he gained from working
for Senator Nunn as well as when he worked for city and county
government in Memphis. Tn for the betterment of all the people in
Houston County.
His career in the Pharmaceutical Industry was one in which he received
m;uiy awards and recognition for his sides performance and I am sure he
will utilize those talents once elected to bring industry into this county and
b«x»st economic development.
Upon his return to Houston County, he wanted to come home so that
his kids and family could grow up in a caring community. Out of all the
places he could have chosen to work, he decided to come back home, be
around his parents and live in the place he loves so much. He did not just
come here and sit around, he immediately joined the Chamber of
Commerce and the Leadership Perry Class, PTO president at Momingsidc
Elementary where he headed up the Playground improvements. Recreation
coach for football and basketball and joined the American Cancer Society.
He did all of those things in his first year back. This is the type of
commitment and hard work he will bring to the County Commission
The mediation skills he uses as a Volunteer for the Houston County
juvenile Court, will allow him to be effective on the County
Commission. He will deal with people honestly, effectively, ethically and
caringly because that's the king of person he was brought up to be.
On Tuesday, Nov. Bih. I urge all Houston Countians to go out and vote
for Wayne Ragin, Houston County Commission.
Sincerely,
Thelma Ross,
Perry, Ga.
Change needed in government
Editors:
Early this year, representatives of our Houston County Board of Educa
tion, County Commission, and State Legislative Delegation very quietly
“shepherded” a unique piece of legislation through the Georgia House and
Senate. This legislation created the Houston County School Building Au
thority, and through a legal loophole, included the ability to incur long
term debt without the approval of Houston County Voters as is required by
our Georgia State Constitution.
I get very concerned when three separate groups of elected officials con
spire to take away even a small portion of our rights as citizens and voters.
While the Authority may or may not be legal, it clearly violates the intent
of our state constitution. To date, $12.2 million has been raised in this
manner.
The direct link between the BOE and County Commission also pro
vides Commission with the means to substantially influence the what,
where, when and how BOE capital expenditures are made. It is well be
yond die charter and responsibility of our Board of Education to be devel
oping infrastructure (roads, sewers, etc.) in unincorporated areas of the
county. Decisions related to new schools should be based upon the best
interests of the taxpayers and, more importantly, our children.
It is time for a change. I believe that Tom Whitten, candidate for Hous
ton County Board of Education, Post 6 is the proper choice on Nov. 8.
He is not only qualified, but will bring a parent’s perspective to our board
and will work hard to ensure that every tax dollar collected for education is
spent on education.
Mrs. Rhonda Dowd
Warner Robins, Ga.
Democratic Party time is past
Editor:
Each of us in life is responsible for what we do. We are held
accountable whether we itre in business, the professions, or whatever walk
of life we pursue.
So should it be with politicians.
So should it be with political parlies.
We should look beyond the negative advertising, political hypocrisy,
the charge and the counter charge of this "blixid sport" we call politics, and
fl
government, lax rates between 30
and 50 percent are high, causing
grumbling and resulting in some
trying to shelter their money. Tax
rates of between 20 and 30 percent
are generally paid.
However, I don't care if the rich
pays a dime in taxes. You see, ev
ery dollar that is taxed from some
one in the very elite is a dollar that
does not go into investment.
Despite what socialist democrats
like Clinton would like us to be
lieve, the government is die worst
investor in the economic world.
The proof lies in the shambled
economies of Eastern Europe and
Russia which may never recover.
At my income, 1 could never in
vest enough for jobs to be created.
But, there are people who can.
Now, this is not to say that we
let the rich off scot free, letting
them do whatever they want to do
with their money. We need the
money invested, not laying around
where it grows for being merely
money.
So, what is investment. First, it
is not government securities and
bonds unless those bonds are for
improvements in the infrastructure:
roads, bridges, railroads and other
tangible objects. Bonds to back a
government's inability to stop writ
ing checks beyond its ability to
raise revenues are not investments.
Secondly, it is not investing in
old shares of stock. While the tradi-
4a—Houston Times-Journal
tional stock market might provide a
way to get rich quick, it creates no
jobs. However, the purchase of
stock from new companies, or the
purchase of stock that backs expan
sion of manufacturing or production
from existing companies is the type
of investment that I am talking
about.
Neither is buying old companies
the investment that is needed. Un
less new companies are established,
or old companies are expanded, all
you are talking about is circulating
money.
Now, what we are talking about
is putting money into areas where
jobs are created, where people are
put to work and taken off the wel
fare rolls and put on the tax rolls,
where the multiple effect creates ad
ditional jobs.
So, then, that being said, what
should we tax the rich? How about
60 percent, with tax credits for key
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try to determine who is responsible-who is accountable for this nation's
political morass.
For the greater part of the past 60 years, the Democratic party has
controlled the Congress of the l failed States.
For 40 consecutive years, the same p;irty has had a working majority in
the House of Representatives.
The presiding officer, the speaker, is a Democrat
The presiding officer and chairman at every committee is a Democrat
The Democrats have a majority and control every committee.
The party controls the legislative agenda.
The party allocates funds to the Congress itself.
And every single penny appropriated originates in the House of
Representatives. No matter the inclination of a prolifigate President, the
House has virtual control of federal spending.
The Democratic party deserves credit for its past achievements, but
where are we now?
The litany of fiscal debacles are too numerous to be mentioned. Nor is
there any end in sight The estimated 200 billion dollar federal deficit is
50 billion dollars higher than die last years of the Reagan administration,
and, had the Democratic party leadership had their way, it would have been
70 billion dollars more
Forty years in political power is corrupting. Jim Wright and Tony
Coehlo were forced to leave the House in disgrace. Rostenkowski,
Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee has been indicted, and
Speaker Foley not only was involved in highly questionable stock market
transactions, but desperately tried to cover up the recent major scandals in
the House.
The policital landscape is littered with the shattered monuments of their
mismanagement. The savings and loan scandal, the welfare system, even
social security faces a precarious f uture.
The self-serving privileges voted by die party-the high salary, pensions,
and exemption tif the congress from the very laws they passed for us have
been well documented and bear repetition.
This is not, hwoever, a matter of petty corruption. It is a profound,
pervasive and pernicious failure of government on the part of the
Democratic party leadership
It is really very sad.
The Democratic party was once the party of ihe future. It is n. w a
party of the past-the distant past.
Once the party of open-mindedness, it is now the party of political
correctness.
Once the party of the ordinary man, it is now the party of the left wing
fringe.
Once the proud champion of human rights, it is now the party of quotas
and leads the militant assault against the most basic of human rights, of
the unborn child.
Even the language has been corrupted. To be considered "liberal” in the
past was considered a compliment.
I suspect when we wake up after election day, we will find little has
changed. Republican hopes of gaining control of the House and Senate are
overly optimistic. Historically those incumbents who choose to run, have
been re-elected over 90 percent of the time. If elected, would the
Republicans do better? I believe that they would-and I believe they should
be given the opportunity. They, too, should be held accountable.
The Democratic party has proven itself to be incapable of
responsibility, undeserving of trust and unworthy of leadership.
After all is said and done, we deserve the kind of government we have.
Our children do not.
It is past time to say "For goodness sakes, go! You have sat in this
House too long."
James C. Dudley, Jr., M.D.,
Perry, Ga.
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investments that could knock them
down to a 10 percent tax bracket.
For every dollar that they invested
in real, job creating investments,
they could take a dollar off their
taxes, with the minimum tax being
10 percent of their income.
Remember, the rich will shelter
their income rather than pay it in
taxes to a government. In this case,
we want them to shelter their in
come, and we want them to shelter
it in ways that benefit everybody.
And, I think the rich would even
like this approach. Instead the gov
ernment using their money to pro
mote things and ideas that they
don't agree with, the rich get to
choose how they will spend their
money, and they get to make more
money from their investments.
And, we get jobs, jobs that pay
well. We get jobs because there is
an incentive to invest in new indus
tries and new ventures.
