This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015
Senate District 20
On Dec. 1, the voters of Senate District 20 will get the opportunity to select our next state senator. There are several candidates to choose from for which all of us should be grateful.
To all of those who have entered the race, I salute you. Thank you for being willing to serve. The pay is minimal, and the scrutiny at times severe, especially in today's political environment where we attack the individual (and often times their family) rather than their ideas.
The individual we select will take office when our district, our state and our nation all face a multitude of challenges and opportunities. For that reason, we need an individual who is known to the district, schooled on the issues our district faces and has a proven record of service to our community. In short, someone who can hit the ground running. I believe that candidate is Larry Walker.
Larry was born and raised in Middle Georgia and grew up in a family that has a celebrated record of serving our state. A distinguished graduate of the University of Georgia business school, he has a successful record of running small businesses. In addition, he has championed economic growth through his work with the Perry Downtown Development Authority and the Houston County Development Authority. He understands and reflects the values of those of us who live in District 20, conservatives who want limited government, a strong educational system and low taxes.
Equally as important to me, he clearly understands the importance of Robins Air Force Base as the economic engine of our community. I saw that understanding and passion for the base firsthand as a former commander at Robins and as the president of the 21st Century Partnership.
On Dec. 1, most importantly, please vote. When you get to the ballot box, I'd recommend Larry Walker as the best choice to represent Senate District 20.
— Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bob McMahon
Kathleen
Turning of the tide
To the men and women of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and AFGE Local 987 at Robins Air Force Base: Congratulations on a job well done. Your stellar efforts this past fiscal year are nothing short of miraculous.
You were given the herculean challenge of both reducing the significant backlog of past production hang-ups while simultaneously producing at the required minimum production rate. You all proved that you were up to the task, with a net delivery of 217 aircraft back to the war fighter.
Not only did you successfully accomplish the mission, you did it in a very efficient manner, with 1,000 fewer teammates aiding in the effort. In this fiscally constrained environment, the Air Force is continuously looking for ways to steer dollars toward higher-priority requirements at the expense of other programs. Your tremendous efforts in efficiency and cost reduction have likely turned their eye away from our base as an immediate source for reductions.
It is a proud time in Middle Georgia as this good news emerges to stifle the past negative reports of poor production and labor and management conflicts. It is a welcome turn of the tide for Robins Air Force Base and Middle Georgia.
It is important to remember that a rising tide lifts all boats, so please keep doing your best to secure Robins' place as a strong and robust national defense asset. Our community depends on you. Congratulations again and thank you for your service to the United States Air Force and to our nation.
— Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Stenner, Jr.
President and CEO, 21st Century Partnership
Looking down
The Macon Hospital was an everyday news beat stop for me at WNEX and a short while later at WMAZ radio and television when Damon King served his first months on the job in the late '60s. All news reports concerning his death have rightly reported the expansions and great medical strides Macon Hospital and later The Medical Center of Central Georgia made during his 30 year tenure as CAO. My initial amazement centered around the condition of the hospital floors. All of a sudden the rather dull looking flooring was gleaming with a glass like surface from the entryway to deep into the facility.
Damon was always available through the hospitals public relations department chief Pam Chapman. I asked him about the bright new look of the old dingy hospital floors.
He says it was a new method he had applied on other jobs and had his janitorial staff trained to carry out the process here. King added that a lot of his planned future growth would involve purchasing of costly sophisticated medical equipment, new buildings and other large scale improvements, but if the floors are not perceived as clean, most folks will base much of their assessment of the hospital's condition down there and not up where all that expensive expansion and technology is located.
Now all these years later when walking into the med center I will look down and respectfully remember Mr. Damon King.
— Ron Wildman
Macon
Georgia fighting a cleaner world
Recently, Georgia has made the decision to become one of the 24 states to attempt to block the EPA's Clean Power Plan. A decision that, I believe, is a big mistake. By challenging the Clean Power Plan, we are challenging our right to have clean energy for all. We are challenging our right to be able to access energy without worrying about the welfare of current and future generations.
Rather than be motivated by superficial things like wealth or power like that pouring in from the fossil fuel industry and utilities, Georgia should take a stand for a secure future. Other parts of the world, such as the UK and China, have already started their transitions to renewable energy. Why are we not joining them? The Clean Power Plan is not demanding that we stop using oil and natural gas completely. It is simply calling for a very reasonable shift toward a cleaner world.
Georgia gets enough sun to power the state 40 times over, yet, we only get 1 percent of our energy from solar. The time to act is now. If not, we are no better than impulsive procrastinators who refuse to see the problem until it is too late. I appeal to fellow Georgians to speak up at the EPA public hearings on the Clean Power Plan on Nov. 19-20. It is time we take matters into our own hands and create a secure future for ourselves and for those who will come after us.
Rather than sue the EPA over the plan, Georgia should be focusing its efforts on becoming the solar leader of the Southeast.
— Amy Kim
Atlanta
Special award
Every morning, I awake thankful that America is safe from all the evil goings on in the rest of the world. I am thankful for President Barack Obama who stands guard over America with his great swords of pen, telephone and mouth, as he talks courageously and aggressively flinging words to keep our terrorist Islamic enemies at bay. I am sure they are terrorized now that our courageous president is hot on their trail. His great accomplishments should be recognized. The Dither-Dodger Award would be appropriate, as well as the Nutty-Narcissist Award.
Now, we must not forget the other two heroes doing verbal battle in our president's quest and behalf; Krazy Boy Kerry and Hollow Head Hillary. We should at least erect a memorial to the three of them.
A large pile of bull manure with three white flags stuck in the top would be descriptive of the efforts they have made to keep our country safe.
— Walter Huckeba
Perry
Wise up
Our politicians keep talking about how we need ground troops to fight ISIS. They won't fill those boots on the ground and they make sure that their children won't fill them, either. Does any one of them remember how we defeated the Japanese in World War II? We did it without one soldier in Japan.
It's called bombs. Two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan and we haven't heard a word or threat from Japan in 72 years.
We can bomb Syria until there is not a building left standing. ISIS can't hide in the sand. Our politicians are salivating at the thought of sending our men and women to be killed in combat. Wise up and use the most powerful weapons we have.
— Louis Kitchens
Gray
This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 8:37 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 ."