This is Viewpoints for Friday, June 18, 2017

Students of faith

I agree with the editor’s comments pertaining to Bobby Adams’ letter. Even though most students in public schools are Christians, schools do not have the authority to tell students how to pray or to whom.

The court banned public prayer and Bible reading in school because it made non-Christians students of faith feel their religious beliefs were inferior. Some Christian students felt their particular beliefs were being marginalized. Parents felt it was wrong for their children to have to participate in religious practices that were not their own.

Telling students they could sit and not participate made students of faith feel their fellow students would think they were not believers or ungodly. Most student’s moral code and religious beliefs are learned at home and at their place of worship.

The KJV Bible is used by many Christian denominations. Some Christian denominations use other versions of the Bible. Some Christian denominations use other texts and the Bible as part of their belief.

America’s work force dilemma

President Trump and many others on Capitol Hill appear to lack an understanding of the effect and consequences of competing in a global market; the president nor Congress influence the behavior of such market “supply and demand” are its boss. So when you hear anyone promising to bring jobs back to America, consider such a promise “pipe dreaming.” What drove those millions of firms offshore in the first place, remains a constant, unchanging factor today. Any artificial mandate to force companies back to the shores of America is beyond the scope of the president’s pay grade.

Of course should the aggregate workforce in America agree to accepting hourly wages less than $3 per hour, perhaps then, there may be hope. For those of you who think new inventions will stimulate the workforce you grossly underestimate the underlying elements that drives profitable production.

The economy continues to expand, as evidenced by the stock market. The rich continue to get richer while the so-called middle class shrinks and the poor are literally decimated. The sad part is, there’s nothing anyone can do about it. America would be unwise to precipitate corporate suicide, which would be inevitable, if we tried to force them to return to the shores of the U.S.A. The consequences would be horrible, creating turmoil in the stock market, while the middle class would join the poor while the so-called “rich” would suffer as well, so be careful what you ask or wish for.

Back in the horse and buggy era, we were the only viable game in town and no one, but no one, could compete against America. That day is no more, countries are now building new infrastructures to attract our companies and its working. Whatever America invents or builds, can be mass produced outside of the U.S.A. To make matters worse and more egregious, corporate America is claiming Americans lack the requisite skill set to handle its processes and is let off the hook, unchallenged, to bring in workers from overseas. I like to challenge that, but the unacceptable reality remains, America’s school curriculum has not kept pace with technology; consequently, we no longer lead in this very crucial area.

Don’t be a bad example

Nowadays, children have easy access to adult matters they don’t have the maturity to comprehend. That is why we should be vigilant and not allow hateful events and actions they cannot assimilate to imprint their young minds and hearts. So, the next time you cuss at President Trump on TV in front of the kids, shut up.

When you see hysterical politicians yelling baseless claims against one another, turn it off. When deranged news stories come on TV and the children are in the room, change the channel. As adults in America we are entitled to speak freely about any topic we wish. But, please remember our responsibility to the younger ones in our family circles and don’t be jerks. That’s my two-cents.

Last laugh?

I continue to read with interest the never ending problems with the reign of Romain Dallemand. As you may recall, your very own Charles Richardson was a huge supporter of Dallemand. Possibly I missed Richardson’s public apology for being so taken in. Maybe I also missed the public apology from school board members Tommy Barnes, Susan Middleton and the other board members who now cringe every time something new comes to light. I personally told Middleton what Dallemand was doing and she told me I was mistaken and that it was impossible for Dallemand to spend over $500,000 without board approval. After being accused of being racist and a fool by the Macon Black Pastors’ Association and a current Bibb commissioner, I wonder who are the fools now? Thank goodness we have an honest superintendent now who is trying his best to correct the mistakes the former board made. Oh well, what’s a few million dollars of tax money among friends?

Free markets?

There are many economic “free markets” that we are led to believe just happen and that are controlled by “batural market forces and that require no government influence. That’s nonsense. Governments, by necessity, create markets and set up rules and procedures for the use of these markets. Without this, markets would be out of control and choas would reign.

The key problem is not how governments interfere with markets, but how the affected corporations and special interests interfere with the markets. Corporations and special interests flood the government agencies with lobbyists whose sole job is to press these agencies to change rules and procedures to make them more advantageous to their ckients. Very few of the lobbyists represent what’s best for the people and well-being of the country.

The Center for Responsive Politics reports thst the key pharmaceutical industry had 1,378 lobbyists and spent over $245 million in 2016 on efforts to alter rules and procedures established for the industry. The effort can take various forms, including implied or explicit offers of employment for regulators once they leave government service.

The pure power of lobbying will make it near impossible to challenge this form of legal bribery unless the public is made aware of and becomes motivated to stop this sort of lobbying. It is up to us to reclaim our nation. If we simply turn aside we will lose what is left of our democracy.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, June 18, 2017."