This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Difference of opinion

Sunday’s editorial, May 28, while factual, was misleading. It states that the new Congressional Budget Office report that the American Health Care Act “would leave 14 million more Americans uninsured next year (2018) than under the Affordable Care Act.” It should have been explained that the reason for this was that the young and healthy would no longer be forced to have mandatory insurance and would opt out. The CBO report went on to state that “in a decade, 23 million more Americans would be added to the list of the uninsured.” This is totally irrelevant and specious because if nothing is done to replace Obamacare it will not be around in 10 years as more and more health care providers leave the insurance pool. When that happens all Americans now having ACA insurance will be uninsured.

Guts or brains

After reading Michael Collins letter to the editor Sunday about Gregg Allman I had two thoughts. He knows nothing about real rock and roll, but he has more guts and/or less brains than Jessie James to write this on the weekend of the funeral. The road will go on forever.

Proud to know you

I am proud to know Trey Ammons of Warner Robins. I have known Trey for 10-plus years as he is my son-in-law’s best friend. In the years I have known Trey, he’s proven to be very soft spoken, selfless and kind to a fault. But, Trey has outdone himself this time as he is donating a kidney so that another person may live. Well done Trey, I am proud to know you.

Baseball historian

From 2001 to 2010, myself and the Museum of Colquitt County History in Moultrie, held a Class D Minor League Baseball Reunion. I began the reunions as a memorial to my late father, Bobbie H. Chafin. Dad played for Griffin in 1949. He also played semi-pro ball for the Glennville team that same year. I call myself a local area baseball historian.

During the reunions, I’ve met some interesting men who played the game of baseball because they loved it. Men like Jim Tyler, Edd Hartness, Onion Davis, Paul Eames and many many more. I am doing my best to collect any kind of baseball memorabilia from our old Class D teams and leagues.

I am not trying to collect items to make money as some do. . If you have any items that you would be willing to get rid of, please write to me. I want to preserve the history of baseball and your help would be appreciated. I never found a photo of my dad when he played for Griffin, but I will keep searching.

President’s budget

President Trump submitted his 2018 budget. It is $4.1 trillion. It will exceed tax revenues. Therefore, the government will have to borrow money. The debt ceiling will have to be raised. How much? The amount of tax revenue needed to pay the interest on the expanding debt will increase. How much? Trump promises the 2024 budget will be balanced. Will the debt ceiling be raised in 2020 to fund shortfalls?

President Trump predicts his plan to streamline the government, coupled with his proposed tax cuts, will drive an economic boom that will raise incomes and expand job opportunities. He contends his rollback of food stamps and Medicaid will prod people off of these programs and into the work force. This will result in additional tax revenue. His budget assumes that Obamacare has been repealed and replaced and his tax cuts have been enacted.

Some in Congress oppose the president’s budget. They claim it will adversely affect the social safety net for the poor and the disabled. It will reduce funding for highway improvements and medical research. They contend the repeal of the Obamacare taxes and the realignment of tax brackets and rates will be a boon to the wealthiest Americans.

Draining the swamp

Thank the Lord for Donald Trump pulling the cork to let the swamp drain. He’s getting rid of those crafty shut-ins who’ve been scamming us out of a free dinner by gutting Meals on Wheels. There’s a few million low income little brats who’ll finally get what they deserve when they lose their free ride on the CHIP train (Children’s Health Insurance Program). Let them put that health class education to work and set their own broken bones. Obama let the little buggers con us out of millions of dollars for their dental and eye care. Let them eat Jello and squint.

Don’t get me started on those old Medicaid moochers. They can wheel their chairs into the work force like the rest of us. Besides, how else can he afford to give the really needy a couple trillion dollars in tax brakes? Daddy needs a new Maserati — and have you seen the crazy rise in art prices? A good Picasso can run as much as $175 million. His new tax breaks will create jobs for hundreds of dead artists.

And no one needs more help than the Trumpster himself. Did you know that it costs a million dollars a day for his security? Well, for him and his family, and his Mar-a-Lago Club, and Trump Tower, not to mention the $100 million worth of security for his nine day European vacation. Obama’s security cost less than $100 million for his entire eight years. What a loser. I bet he even paid taxes.

Losing a treasure

I am affirming John Wayne Dobson’s letter in Monday May 29, concerning the closure of the Nash Farm Battlefield in Henry County. I only learned the site/museum had been closed in the Sunday May 28 edition. As an artist and history aficionado, I am greatly disturbed that our young students will no longer be able to encounter the meaningfulness of historical sites. I became attracted to painting a series of Civil War re enactments a few years ago, beginning with the Battle of Sunshine Church in Juliette, the Dunlap Farm (Ocmulgee Mounds), and the Nash Farm site. I am enthralled with the attention, commitment and dedication of the actors to detail, dress, encampment and cook. These are dedicated enthusiasts without pay.

I learned from them where I might find a cavalry enactment. I attended Nash Farm and was amazed at the coordination and magnitude of the event. It is a shame to lose such a valuable tool for children and adults in this internet age. I also feel this could be the way the Nazis began to brainwash their conquered people and countries by removing their cultural heritage.

This story was originally published June 5, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, June 6, 2017."