This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015
Abuse of power
I want to focus on our local leadership for a moment. This community is very nonchalant as it relates to our local leadership. I am not making reference to all of the leadership but leadership which uses its position as an opportunity to inflict harm on some segments of the community and to push its own agenda.
We have a problem in this community. We have people who are constantly getting a free pass when they abuse their power. We all know of leaders in this community who are protected by other leaders even when they are wrong. Just think back in the last five or so years. Who are the leaders who got a free pass with a simple apology or letter to the editor about needing help and rehabilitation.
An army can best be described by its general. Local law enforcement officers are in constant trouble. What's the root of the problem: leadership. Leaders are not in office to protect their friends. They are not in office to push the agenda of certain segments of the community but to act in the best interest of the community.
Citizens must strongly discourage the abuse of power with local leadership. We must encourage those in leadership to not cater to only certain segments of the community when it comes to protecting all of its citizens. When we allow leaders to abuse power, we take away our own power to better our community by electing leaders who will take the job seriously.
-- Frederick Martin Miller
Macon
Leadership we can depend on
Recently Macon was ranked as one of the worst cities to live in. If it is true, I cannot say one way or the other. However, leadership is the key to a community's growth. As citizens, we can decide what type of leadership we have in Macon. Do we have leadership that cares about all segments of the community? Do we have leadership with egos and will only assist the segment which best rubs its egos? Do we have leadership working for all of Macon? Do we have leadership which comes into the community prior to election time? Do we have leadership which builds people up or tears them down?
The type of leadership determines if young educated folks will return to Macon to build careers. The type of leadership determines if successful companies want to relocate in a progressive town. Do we have leadership which can check itself when it has made mistakes or will it cover it up? The type of transparent leadership will determine if the community can rely upon it to look out for its best interest.
As election season nears, we must determine the type of leadership we will tolerate. Our leadership should help the whole community thrive.
-- Harriet Parks Williams
Macon
Politics and religion
Like most Telegraph readers, I enjoy the daily Viewpoints. Even the "Socialist Six" letters are amusing. However, the Viewpoints have become more and more about the subject of religion. People have argued this subject for centuries. This argument will continue for centuries to come. The Telegraph has a great weekend religious section. May I suggest some of these letters be held to the weekend and put in this section.
This would open up letters for the upcoming presidential election. Anyone with IQ greater than their belt sizes knows this upcoming election is the most important in many decades. Wake up people, we are at that point. Quit hoping for change and vote for real change.
-- Mike Wolff
Macon
Lost keys
Several days ago I lost a set of keys and did not realize it until I needed them later in the day. I backed tracked my errands, checked car, purse, pockets and even looked in cabinets and drawers. I called Walgreens on Vineville several times but no luck. I finally decided I would have to take the spare keys to a locksmith. I made another trip to Walgreens on Oct. 22. Guess what? The cashier had them. A very honest caring person found them. This person could have thrown the keys away; could have kept the key ring with Isaiah 40:31 engraved on it -- but didn't.
Thank you whoever you are. You have a gold star by your name in heaven. God bless you.
-- Mrs. J.M. Turner
Macon
Fun puzzles
I love the new puzzle page. The Universal Crossword is much more challenging than the old one and the added new puzzles are fun. Of course it takes time to get used to the new page but it's worth it.
-- Margaret Walker
Macon
Definition
Question: does the guy who advised readers "to grow and expand their vocabularies" not know the difference between the words "digress" and "regress"?
-- Len Gregor
Kathleen
Mother's advice
It is my understand that Jeb Bush was a better than average governor for the state of Florida. He might be a good president. However, it appears he should have taken his mother's advice. Remember, "Mothers know best.
-- Gil Switzer
Warner Robins
This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 5:30 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 ."