This is Viewpoints for Friday, Oct. 30, 2015
The power of a penny
A penny doesn't sound like much and I can't think of anything I can buy with just one. But a penny of sales tax to a schoolchild in the Macon-Bibb public schools could mean the difference between success and failure. This is why I have voted for the 2015 education special purpose local option sales tax and encourage you to go to the polls on November 3 and vote for it, too.
Why is the E-SPLOST so important? That one penny in sales tax will raise more than $150 million to provide funding for new schools, modern technology and much-needed repairs. Without these we cannot provide the things needed where teachers can teach and our children can learn and grow.
How do we know the money will be spent wisely? We have a new superintendent and a new school board who are committed to transparency and good business practices. The Macon-Bibb school board is in the process of forming and appointing a citizens advisory board to provide oversight and assurance that E-SPLOST money will be spent in the best interest of the citizens of Macon-Bibb.
Macon-Bibb County is a good community. It can be a great community if we all work to improve our public schools. Good jobs and opportunity will not happen here if we don't put in the work to educate our children to the best of their abilities. Please join me and vote YES for the E-SPLOST on Nov. 3.
— J. Blake Sullivan
Macon
Corporate States of America
In his letter Tuesday, Dan Topolewski said that according to the Supreme Court, Americans are entitled to health insurance. What the court actually said was that health insurance companies are entitled to our money. Welcome to the Corporate States of America, my friend. Now that the precedent has been set, we only have to wonder which other industries are planning on following the example of big insurance and asking Congress to force us to buy their products.
— Mike Ganas
Macon
Looking for a livable world
In The Telegraph's Oct. 24 article entitled "Whiplash: Shift in federal coal policies stokes fear in rural areas," the Clean Power Plan, Obama's centerpiece climate change policy, challenges community-owned and large, profitable utility companies. The Democratic response to human-caused global warming seems to be regulation.
Do we need a plan? Yes — 97 percent of climate scientists, based on the evidence, are convinced human-caused global warming is happening. And it makes sense. Excessive greenhouse emissions are forming thick blankets around the Earth raising its temperature resulting in the likelihood of more extreme weather: heavy rains (South Carolina) and excessive droughts (California) affecting economic stability. We need to stop using fossil fuels and stop adding layers to the blanket.
Change is hard, but is there a better energy plan with less regulation? Yes. The Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy. It will reduce emissions faster and add new jobs. It is a bipartisan proposal. As a responsible adult, I want to do something to make a difference for our future. I hope you do, too. Please help us build the political will for a livable world. Join us at citizenscli matelobby.org.
— Robert L. James
Atlanta
Who cares?
The blight issue is focused on abandoned dwellings. Money has been assigned to each commission district to address this issue. As I understand, out of the total there are monies left over for "community involvement." Instead of bulldozing a dwelling for the landfill, why not "deconstruct" the building for salvage. Habitat For Humanity has a program in place for this but needs funding. Infuse some of this money into that program. Many of the dwellings have a wealth of salvageable materials that can be resold. Place some of the money with Habitat so it can create a salvage center for profit to use to revitalize risk areas.
The litter issue goes hand in hand with blight. I do appreciate the effort of Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful with its billboards and a program of reporting litterbugs' tag numbers and fining the offenders. However, I think The Telegraph's Editorial Board's letter about litter is on the mark: education. Again money can be used to set up programs in schools and community centers to engage children.
Cleaning up litter is a matter of pride in our neighborhoods. I challenge our commissioners to take a drive down Pio Nono Avenue and take a left on Anthony Road and a right on Mason Street and see what the residents of that street have to look at behind Dani's Food Mart. Maybe they don't care because they think nobody cares. As a commissioner, they should visit each residence and ask if they care.
— Brad Holloway
Macon
Where's the outcry?
Another sad day in Oklahoma at Stillwater. More lives lost for no reason at all. But now before y'all get down on me just think about this. Where is all of the "we need more control on drivers and we need more background checks on people who apply for a driver's permit. Let's sue the carmakers because cars kill. Let's have more laws on how much horsepower a car can have"? Hey, President Obama, how about an executive order on cars. Limit the number of cars people can have. All you people who want to change the Second Amendment should raise some hell now. Right here in Warner Robins there is a lot of people who got their driver's permit at K-Mart before they closed.
— Tommy Arnold
Warner Robins
Daisy Park vandals
Why are playgrounds built without barriers and barb wire as safeguards? Why are fountains built without glass protecting the water? Or why is every house not required to have alarm systems? This is because of the expectation of human decency. The high hopes for Daisy Park restoration has greatly plummeted and crashed, leaving a spectacle.
Just beside the women's health section of the hospital, Jay's Hope and the Ronald McDonald house lays the wreckage. The voice of the vandals can be seen, it can be heard loud and clear, "We are here, we are active. What will you do about it?"
The rubble of an attempt at local restoration can be seen sprawled out along the court. Two whole sides of the court have been mangled and wrenched so severely that they have been ripped from the ground. Metal poles have been uprooted, crumbled cement and dirt attached to what used to be their foundation. Some people have taken the time to completely remove one fence due to the danger of the broken metal lying on the ground.
All efforts to beautify the Macon community will be vain if vandalism isn't seriously prohibited. No parent or person of this town wants the splash-pad that's being built adjacent to the court to be protected by barbed wire or broken fences, but by respectable persons of authority.
— Mercy Kilpatrick
Macon
It could happen here
Let me congratulate Franklin Hogue on his choice of a word. "Myopia" is an ailment that allows a person to see things that are close much clearer. I'm sure many others, as well as myself, can see the rapidly approaching attack on Christians in the United States. Additionally, I believe Hogue is an educated man. Since he knows that our founders gave us a republic, I would assume, unless in denial, that he understands exactly what principles our country's foundation was built on. However, I felt his response may contain a hidden agenda amounting to an attack on GOP presidential candidates.
In the countries he mentioned, a war on Christianity is not ongoing. Christianity is banned and Christians must exercise their faith in secret or face execution or imprisonment just as he mentioned. Liberals (for lack of a better word) attack anything having reference to Christianity. Example: A football coach having his job threatened because he participates in a post-game prayer with his team. The Holy Bible specifically addresses homosexuality yet our government embraces the act and has even given the green light to same-sex marriage. Attempts are being made to force pastors to perform same-sex marriage and even words said in the pulpit are under scrutiny. It's possible we will be discussing the potential ban on Christianity right here in the U.S.A. someday.
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
War on poverty
There are many ways I could respond to Ronald L. Cain's recent letter bemoaning the number of poor in Georgia. But a reply could also be derived from the popular Kermit The Frog meme. "People complain about the number of poor in America when the government's spent trillions of dollars in a 'War On Poverty.' But that's none of my business."
— Dave Whitaker
Danville
One-sided coverage?
I am a retired teacher of French, humanities and social studies. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have experienced many years of success in teaching. Much of this success can attributed to many wonderful parents and motivated students. It has become increasingly evident that these ingredients certainly allow for greater learning to occur.
Please take time to note the that the efforts of many teachers, parents, founders, staff and volunteers are a part of a committed attempt to provide a quality learning environment for all students. In many instances, when one starts anew, numerous problems may occur.
I have been going to Macon Charter Academy once a week teaching French to second and third graders. They have been most receptive and eager to learn. In addition, an eighth-grade group whose scores rank them as top testers proved to be just as eager to speak French and learn about the language and culture. If all students were as these, what an ideal situation.
Let me just note that The Telegraph and one of the local TV stations both gave special coverage of the Chinese dancers performing at Stratford. This same group also performed at Macon Charter. I sat watching the performers at Macon Charter and thinking this would have been wonderful and positive coverage for Macon Charter. Sadly, we are only shown disturbing and negative coverage.
— James Caldwell
Retired educator, 2008 Governor's Award in Humanities
Macon
Great event
Just a quick note of thanks and appreciation to the volunteers and workers at Liberty United Methodist Church in South Bibb County next to the new Heard Elementary School for their awesome fall festival that took place Saturday, Oct. 24. The games, inflatable slides, bouncy houses, awesome food, horse rides and hayrides made for a great event for my two boys and I to attend. Did I mention the awesome food? Thank you again volunteers and staff at LUMC for making this a great annual event in south Bibb County.
— Jacob Cox
Macon
This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 10:24 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 ."