This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015
Questions about Hillary
It’s 2015 and Democrats want us to elect a president who can’t drive her own car, work a TV remote or use a smartphone. She also can’t discern the difference between super secret data and yoga routines. She even flunked her own widely celebrated “Who do you want to answer the phone at 3 a.m.” campaign.
It is also interesting to me how Hillary Clinton got away without a permanent inspector general during her State Department gig. That is supposed to be illegal. Perhaps that explains how more than $6 billion went missing from her department’s budget.
Don’t hold your breath until the Justice Department (or the mainstream media) investigates that missing taxpayer money.
Hey, it could be worse, Democrats. As Hillary fades in the polls, Bernie Sanders, everyone’s favorite socialist, might derail Hillary’s coronation. Good luck with that, guys.
— John Brogden
Warner Robins
Seeking fair treatment
As a fellow Vietnam veteran I applaud C. Jack Ellis’ attempts to petition the Veterans Administration for fair treatment of Agent Orange exposed veterans (and all veterans). I served in Vietnam from 1966 through 1969 and had many instances of exposure.
The VA is broken beyond repair and cannot be fixed. Why? I had an Agent Orange registration consultation at the VA clinic in Milledgeville. As a result of that review and a VA physical I applied for a VA disability. (I was treated by my civilian doctor for a condition that may have been caused by Agent Orange). I included my DD214 to prove my Vietnam service. My claim was denied (that is a separate issue and not pertinent to this letter.)
What is pertinent is that when the VA sent the denial it stated I could not prove my Vietnam service and credited my time served as being in the Army when I was in the Air Force, which was fully documented on the DD214. This means to me the VA employees did not even look at my submitted documents and didn’t even care.
I have the proof of my allegations in my personal records. The VA employees are interested in collecting their government paychecks and benefits and nothing more. If you think I am a whiner, I am not.
When I use the VA for follow-up services and prescription meds, I am charged a co-pay and am not eligible for mileage reimbursement because I do not meet the low income guidelines and do not have a disability. I am not seeking something for nothing — just fair treatment.
— Louis R. Stennes
Warner Robins
One at a time
Every time I turn on the TV or pick up The Telegraph, I see reports about Donald Trump sending 12 million illegal immigrants back to Mexico and elsewhere — asking how in the world could he do it. It’s a no-brainer.
He could do it one immigrant at a time. Repeat: one at a time.
— Glenn S. Gibble
Bonaire
How much longer?
Heartbreaking images of a lifeless 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned while fleeing the war-torn country with his family indicates a growing international problem that cannot be ignored any longer. According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than four million Syrians have been forced to leave their homes due to a four-year long civil war and persecution from Islamic radicals.
Countries around the world, including Germany, the U.K. and the United States, have pledged to take in thousands of refugees, but this is only a temporary solution to a much greater issue. As the world’s most powerful nations passively spectate and bear the weight of a crisis brought on by a tyrant, thousands of innocent civilians pay the price in blood. How much longer will world leaders turn a blind eye to tyranny and allow millions to suffer for the desires of one?
While there are no easy answers to the multitude of questions raised when speculating about military involvement or geopolitical consequences, some form of action is better than none.
What happened to the time when those with a voice spoke for the voiceless? When did we lose our moral fortitude to hold others accountable for their actions? We, as a human race, cannot allow these injustices to continue unanswered as we are ethically obligated to be a driving force for good.
— Blake Southerland
Cochran
Platform item
If Donald Trump is elected president, he will probably try to fire Congress. The question is whether he could improve his chances by making it part of his campaign platform.
— Neal Snyder
Warner Robins
More flexibility needed
I am an extremely concerned citizen and parent of a student attending Hunt Elementary School in Fort Valley. The new administration has teachers using classroom learning centers every day in the place of the teachers teaching whole groups daily. My child struggles already and now receives one-on-one time only once a week and about 10 minutes of actual instruction in the classroom.
Centers and games are great to use but to require them ties the teacher’s hands and limits the flexibility needed in a diversified classroom. I am documenting my child’s scores and will report the differences to the board of education and the state superintendent. I have seen her grades drop already, and the year has just begun.
— Gerald Simmons
Fort Valley
Obama is right
I guess in some way President Obama is right about global warming. While he is concerned with melting glaciers and renaming mountains, the whole world is on fire.
— George Valentine
Jones County
Why now?
Here we go, a few Georgia representatives and senators come to Middle Georgia and brag about how Robins Air Force Base looks good to beat a BRAC if there is one and then it is announced RAFB is losing the Marine helicopter unit.
Then you have C. Jack on his soap box the same day the congressional delegation is in town calling for all vets to receive benefits from the Agent Orange settlement. Good idea about Agent Orange, but why have you not spoken out before?
— Tommy Arnold
Warner Robins
Gadbois issues
While I did not see Rinda Wilson’s piece on abortions, I believe Frank W. Gadbois’ response was over the top. As a man, I do not condone, nor condemn, a woman’s right to responsibly choose whether to abort. Part of that responsibility is to embrace the personal physical, spiritual and financial consequences of that decision. I have no issue with Frank’s right to contribute to Planned Parenthood, but I do have disdain for his writing a “rather large check (for abortions only)” and his comment, “One million (abortions) annually and still going strong.” Not your decision, Frank.
— Mike Leppert
Macon
About time
Congratulations to those who utilize Log Cabin Drive and those who will visit Filmore Thomas Recreation Area for the reported movement toward “observable” start of long-promised improvements in this area. Infrequent trips on Log Cabin Drive with my wife have elicited identical comments about the appalling condition of the road near the proposed recreation area agreeing that this road should have been upgraded long ago, taking precedence over the upgrade of Forest Hills Road.
Now these long patient citizens, after the euphoria of government movement, will be dealing with the construction process of both projects and the inherent logistical challenges of replacing this much traveled road with limited space.
Having waited this long, we hope the planning and design mitigates the disruption of a potential extended construction time line.
Promises are oftentimes too easily made. Less than superior planning and execution can make one wonder why try to improve.
— Arthur D. Brook
Macon
Funny page
I haven’t read the comics in years, finding the letters to the editor and comments to be the funniest of the funny pages. We are fortunate to have so many, bringing such subtlety and wit, to our community. The faux folksiness (fauxiness?) of begging for a pinch of space in order to elaborate at length is a brilliant poke at the charming Southern preference for “humility.” Race rants, combined with a complaint about others playing a race card? Brilliant irony. And providing a reference to Breitbart while decrying low information voters? Yes! You are all my heroes. I just wish we could get rid of all the cheap sarcasm (along with the illegals).
— Richard L. Elliott
Macon
Flag etiquette
An open letter to all football game administers, coaches and game announcers. Having just attended two football games since the season started, I believe the general public needs to be educated regarding proper flag etiquette. And who is better suited to teach this than professional educators.
To the point, when the Junior ROTC Color Guard brings the flag onto the field, it is the same as when the flag passes during a parade. According to 4 U.S. Code 9 Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag, those in attendance should, “Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.”
— Don Netzinger
Warner Robins
Priority list
It has been nice and quiet with Congress on another of their vacations. Unfortunately, Labor Day is over and they are back in session. I read their priority list for this session but it should include the following:
1. Repeal Obamacare.
2. Invite Bibi for another anti-Iran speech.
3. Government shutdown.
4. Try to repeal Obamacare again.
5. Hold a prayer vigil for Kim Davis in Kentucky.
6. Rename Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley.
7. Chase their tails on Clinton’s emails.
8. Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi.
Then, recess for the holidays.
— Carl Pirkle
Byron
Losing money?
I rather enjoyed the interview with Cameron Andrews backpedaling and still pushing to deprive the senior citizens of a benefit they were contracted for. It showed him to be totally out of touch. Not only that, he insulted many of us.
Younger people were not apathetic when his pet project — doing away with the senior exemption — went down in flames. We were concerned about our parents, our grandparents and eventually ourselves. Andrews owes us a public apology. My parents live in Eagle Springs and despite his protestations, the area is not loaded up with senior citizens. His insults need addressing.
He also owes all of us an explanation of how the city is losing so much money yet they can blow off $310,000 on a vacant lot almost adjacent to his property. I also remember them spending more than $90,000 to tear down the old police station. Yet we are losing so much money?
He then brings up the apparent incompetence of the city staff by not finding and doing something about those who are not paying taxes, even if they should be paying. Sounds like a housecleaning is in order. Probably starting in council chambers.
It was stated by a citizen that the city would do what it could to get the money. Looks like it is happening.
— Michael Collins
Centerville
‘Perpetual “mad on”’
It is not often that one reads a contemptuous commentary as corrupt as the recent grunt of Frank Gadbois (Sept. 4). I had to scan the contents five times to believe that he was so blunt, brash and brutish. Anyone so inclined to mentally, financially and journalistically attack an indefensible, innocent fetus (on a wholesale basis) with annihilation as the goal infers hits the upper limits of incivility.
For some reason, he must have a perpetual “mad on,” for humanity. Let all be assured that God’s extended liberties to America did not reach this dimension. I often wonder why God’s promises do not work better than what we see until I consider the vanities of men and then I marvel that it works at all.
— The Rev. Daniel Gatlyn USN ret.
Macon
This story was originally published September 9, 2015 at 10:35 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 ."