This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016

Nail on the head

I recently read Jim Costello’s letter to the editor (10/16). He has hit the nail on the head!! His list of what the voters want says it all. The vast majority of voters are dissatisfied with the status quo and that is the message we have been trying to send this election season.

Thanks Jim for stating this so simply. There are a lot of us right behind you even if the media wants everyone to believe otherwise.

Amendment 3

If you aren’t listening to GPB’’s “Political Rewind,” you’re missing out on dynamic and focused insights into Georgia politics. Wednesday’s broadcast, which happened to feature The Telegraph’s own Charles Richardson, included a discussion on Amendment 3 (which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot), is a proposal to dissolve and reform the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Amendment 3 hasn’t gotten as much attention as Amendment 1 (the Opportunity School District), but it is just as important; if passed, it would allow the Georgia Legislature to have complete control over the makeup of what is currently an independent oversight committee.

Obviously, I urge everyone to do their own research into this, but I think passing this amendment would set a dangerous precedent and reduce accountability for Georgia’s judges. Oh, and, as always, vote for Gary Johnson.

Downtown parking

In regards to downtown parking, some suggestions from a consumer:

1. Employees of downtown establishments should be given parking garage discount. If caught parking on street a $50 fine and tow.

2. Parking charge would be per 15 minutes, up to two hours.

3. Electronic meters (credit card accepted) with variable charge, depending on time of day and volume of use. Excessive time limit, fines added to credit card. Normal parking fees plus $25 for each 15 minutes over two hour limit, tow at two and a half hours. Tow plus storage charge added and collected when auto is retrieved. Meter would notify enforcement of infractions requiring attention.

4. Parking free on non business days.

Has he no shame?

As a former GOP local office holder, I must say that I am disappointed with our national ticket. But, I am just as disappointed in the Trump apologists. Locally, I have heard some women try to explain away Trump’s faults by saying he doesn’t really feel or act that way. He is just blowing off steam. Really? With what he has said repeatedly over several decades, how would they know that to be true? Do you believe that all of Bill Cosby’s accusers are lying? What makes Trump’s accusers any different?

On the national level, Trump’s apologists are even more out of touch. Nowhere is this more evident than in the recent Megyn Kelly Newt Gingrich interview. Regardless of what one thinks of Fox News, Kelly has shown herself to be a fine journalist, seeking out the truth in the one GOP debate which she moderated.

Gingrich has been a scoundrel from day one. He deserted his first wife when she developed cancer. When he was Speaker of the House, he ran around on his second wife while leading the fight against Bill Clinton who was accused by Newt of having an affair and covering it up.

Now, Newt is telling Kelly she is obsessed with sex for having the audacity to ask about the allegations of sexual misconduct by Trump. Has he no shame?

Helpless

The article regarding Stephanie Moss’ frustration over the derelict property on Elkan Avenue, in South Macon, resonated with my neighbors and me. We live in a north Macon townhome community, outside of which are several, occupied residences which have self-inflicted blight. For the better half of 10 years, I reported a couple of the properties for code violations. One was eventually sold, however, the worst offender is still here and has been reported to Ms. Mercer in Customer Service at City Hall and, later to the “See, Click, Fix” program, via e-mail, with an attached photograph of the property.

I received a response stating, “multiple violations — case closed.” Since that report to “See, Click, Fix,” I have received messages from that site apprising me of trash bin replacements, removal of a dead animal, but not of any aggressive moves to eliminate the offenders, which, in the same neighborhood, are numerous. The population of our neighborhood is racially diverse, but predominantly white. Therefore, I cannot blame the neglect by code enforcement on racial prejudice. The yards strewn with discarded mattresses, old appliances, automobiles and other detritus are negatively impacting the property values of the entire neighborhood.

Several years ago, I appeared in environmental court before Judge Faulkner to testify about the worst offender, who left when he saw me there. The offending property owner was found in contempt, but the condition of his property remains the same. Like Ms. Moss, our neighborhood feels helpless in solving this problem.

Run down

My family moved to Perry in June from Southern California, based on the education and friendliness of the people, it was a great move. I have few comments on the election.

An election to define our country: It is obvious the results will define America for many years to come. Hillary Clinton has said she plans to essentially continue President Obama’s programs while Donald Trump will drastically make changes. Let’s look at some major issues:

Economy: Hillary, a socialist like Obama, wants to continue and increase Obama’s programs (which have resulted in extremely low growth), Trump is an experienced capitalist who should know how to increase employment and grow the economy.

Immigration: Hillary will continue open boarders, Trump will build a wall and restrict and deport immigrants who pose a threat to the country.

Taxes: Hillary wants to leave the tax code as is and raise taxes, Trump wants to greatly simplify the code, reduce to three brackets and reduce taxes to encourage investment and keeps more money available to buy goods and services which increases employment and economic growth.

Supreme Court: Hillary will appoint left leaning socialist judges, Trump’s, judges will rule based on the Constitution.

Ethics and truthfulness: Hillary has many problems here, Trump has his own problems, nothing like Clinton, though. Hillary has spent eight times as much as Trump but is still essentially tied.

Divided country: Hillary will continue the division like under Obama, with Trump our country will be like we had under Kennedy and Reagan.

Idiots?

Why does America so distrust and despise the press? A good example is the Washington Post article carried by The Telegraph entitled “In the Year of Trump, the South is black vs. white.” The Post tells us how white voters in the Deep South in 2012 favored the Republican candidate by 77 percent to 22 percent, and that in 2008 it was “even more lopsided” by 78 percent to 20 percent. A small swing from 77 percent to 78 percent for a candidate could be more accurately be described as “essentially unchanged” not “more lopsided.” The author could also note that the trend is toward the Democrat from ‘08 to ‘12.

Then the author has the audacity to inform us that Trump is ahead in polls among white voters 71 percent to 22 percent, a 6 point decline for the Republican candidate since the last election. Yet, we are to believe Trump makes this exceptionally black versus white, an obvious attempt to stir the racial pot. Articles like these make it plain that much of the media takes the American reading public for idiots.

Give Libertarians a chance

The government is dominated by two political parties. The problems of today will not be diminished by electing more of them. Let’s hire a third party team, Libertarians Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, to solve problems using the principles of liberty. Every four years candidates promise us change, but we get more of the same.

Our last time of peace and prosperity was the late 1950s. Since then national debt has gone from $286 billion in 1960, to over $19 trillion. For 60-plus years we’ve been continuously at war, even today we’re bombing other countries. The economy is down the drain yet we keep sending the same corrupt two-party monopoly back to Washington, D.C.

Smart people know that you don’t solve problems by applying more of the same things that caused the problems in the first place. The only way to free ourselves from the stranglehold of the monopoly is to bring in a new perspective. Governors Johnson and Weld are competent, decent and honest statesmen. Please consider giving them a chance to tackle the problems of the nation. If we don’t like their work, we can always replace them in four years with a Republican or Democrat.

Disgraceful

Many California National Guardsman now face financial hardship for honorable service at their country’s request during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After answering the call to re-enlist, they have returned home to face calls for the return of bonuses they received as a condition of service. They honored their commitments. Our government should do the same. As a military retiree I find it disgraceful that politicians from the top down don’t better emulate the character of those who answered the call to service.

Scared

I have no fear of all the goblins, the witches, or even the evil clowns lurking on Halloween. What really scares me are the latest reports about the meat industry. Like news of pig farms dumping millions of gallons of pig feces into North Carolina’s water supplies during Hurricane Matthew. Or of saturating their neighborhoods with wind borne fecal waste spray. Or of animal farming accounting for more greenhouse gases than transportation.

Like recurring media stories of horrific atrocities against animals on factory farms. Or of subjecting slaughterhouse workers to crippling workplace injuries at slave wages. Or of exploiting farmers by controlling prices. Like repeated reports of studies linking consumption of animal products with elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other killer diseases. Or reports of the meat industry bullying health authorities to remove warnings from dietary guidelines. Now, that’s really scary.

I fought back by dropping animal products from my menu, and my local supermarket has rewarded me with a colorful display of fresh fruits and veggies, as well as a rich selection of plant-based meats, milks, cheeses and ice creams. I am no longer scared, though I still fear for my friends and neighbors.

This story was originally published October 28, 2016 at 9:05 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016."