This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, December 5, 2017

‘Spiking the ball’

Shame on The Telegraph for blatantly moving the “Sports Department’ bias for UGA to the Sunday front page with the headline, “Sweet Revenge.” You have often touted The Telegraph as Middle Georgia’s regional newspaper, only to make it look like a college paper.

I will continue to read The Telegraph, but save the unread sports sections for a son who has a caged parrot in Atlanta. Your uncalled for “spiking the ball” bias has detracted from the UGA victory that they earned. Yes, I am a proud graduate of “The North Avenue Trade School,” with family graduates from 15-plus universities /colleges, and more coming, including two from UGA.

Russian SEC intervention?

I demand a replay, and failing that, the appointment of a special prosecutor by the SEC to investigate the obvious Russian intervention in Saturday’s SEC football championship game. It’s quite apparent that Kirby Smart colluded with Vladimir Putin to effect Auburn’s loss, possibly by stealing Auburn’s playbook or somehow rendering Kerryon Johnson’s rehab therapy ineffective. Any right-thinking American will agree that this travesty should be mediated as soon and possible and Coach Smart impeached at the earliest opportunity. I hope Maxine Waters is an Auburn fan.

Turn lane misuse

With the near completion of the Forest Hill Road project, I have observed drivers misusing the center lane. As stated in the Georgia DOT Code: O.C.G.A. 40-6-126 (2010) 40-6-126. Central lane for turning:

“Whenever a highway or roadway has a central lane in which traffic may enter from either direction for the purposes of making a left turn, no vehicle shall be driven into such central lane except for the purpose of making a left turn, and no vehicle shall enter into such central lane at a location which is more than 300 feet from the location where the vehicle will turn left across one or more lanes of oncoming traffic.”

Since the roads completion, I have observed a growing number of drivers using the center lane for passing. According to the above code, this is not a legal use of the lane. It is also a safety issue. I hope our local law enforcement will act quickly to nip this illegal and unsafe practice in the bud.

Relax

Tell all those libs out there and others that they are going to be OK under President Trump’s tax plan. Instead of spewing the liberal lies maybe they should take a look at the facts. You won’t pay more in Georgia unless you have an enormous house or property that gives a very large interest deduction or one that requires them to pay a very large property tax bill. Divide the property tax by your marginal tax rate less the $12,000 increase in your standard deduction. You won’t have to worry unless you make over $240,000 a year and pay Georgia taxes on the entire amount.

Take $12,000, the increase in the standard deduction and divide that by the maximum Georgia income tax rate of 6 percent. Some may not receive the entire $12,000 increase if they are not married. I suggest everyone invest in the stock market because President Trump is making America great again.

Honey bee depletion

The article of the bee die-off is of interest to me as sharecropper’s son, because back in the 1940s my daddy, while planting would add some seeds that would attract insects that preyed on unwanted insects. Biotic framing requires little to no pesticide which would apply to all farm crops including bee and “honey production.”

Why do I say that? Old farmers were not college farmer, they simple understood nature and farmed accordingly. Man is the only creature on earth that has no natural predator and look at us now, over populated and transplanting organs from continent to continent off-setting the natural selection, and by doing so, things will die. The only correction is to identify and remove harmful microorganism and monitor all imports into the country, including humans, and try to understand all things have a saturation point.

Stealing property?

Why is the city of Centerville using imminent domain to steal a widow woman’s property? The widow lady, has had several offers from prospective buyers, but the city denies any permit to build, develop or sell the property. These approximately seven acres were her father’s and now the Nazi-like City Council of Centerville is taking her property by force. This isn’t communist Russia, this is America. The City Council of Centerville should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

If the city wants the land so badly then pay the price this widow had it sold for instead of just stealing and intimidating her.

No. 1 health issue

Americans are fooling themselves. Drugs are not the No. 1 cause of death. We all better look into a mirror and understand we are failing ourselves and our families. Obesity is the No. 1 killer today. Our hearts, kidneys and livers are under attack.

Our youth are on the wrong path too. Certainly some are striving to deal with the grim reaper. Exercise is not the only issue. But sitting is the number one problem. To much TV, reading and eating leads to obesity. Take a serious look at those around (no pun intended) Even at health cubs, you see those who are there but are only fooling themselves by burning far to few calories considering the limited time they spend exercising. All too many dream of weight loss by using the sauna. That is a colossal error. It is great to clean out impurities and relax.

A great number are forking themselves into an early grave. If it is fried, white or sweet, say no. Diabetes has turned into a nightmare for all ages.

This story was originally published December 4, 2017 at 11:57 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, December 5, 2017."