This is Viewpoints for Friday, Dec. 11, 2015
Who has the legal authority?
Kudos to the governors who refused to have Syrian refugees enter their respective states. These refugees cannot be properly vetted and could be a source of terrorism and harm. Suddenly, the national liberal press/media and progressive movement found the word/phrase "unconstitutional" "no legal standing" which serves their ideology and leftist agenda. In my opinion, the governors have constitutional legal authority to block Syrian refugees to protect the lives and property of their residing citizens.
According to our Constitution, only Congress has the power to deal with entry of foreigners to our nation. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution advises this. The uniform Rule of Naturalization, an enumerated Congressional power, applies to people who are becoming citizens and to foreign persons who are legally allowed to reside in the U.S.
This president, his administration, the liberal press/media, progressive movement and citizens need to be educated regarding who has the sole authority to determine law as to who is and who is not allowed to enter and reside in the U.S.
The governors also have the lawful, legal standing to nullify actions of the federal government that are not in sync with the Constitution. It is unfortunate that the national leftist press/media lack the moral fortitude in citing truth versus Obama's political spin.
More unfortunate is having a president who is more concerned with climate change and avoidance of "Islamic terrorism" than with his Constitutional duty of national security of the U.S. Americans should wake up to the fact that our liberties and freedoms have been less secure with this administration and an unvetted president. Need we have more unvetted Syrian refugees to add to the destruction and dangers to our republic?
— Agnes Tillerson
Perry
Anonymity until guilty
Sir Malcolm Jack (letters Dec. 7) insists that members of Parliament charged with expenses fraud should remain anonymous until found guilty. MPs should therefore change the law to allow those (often wrongly) accused of sex offenses to have the same privilege.
— Steven Barrow
Loughborough, UK
'Wonkless'
Early in a candidate's campaign preparation, he (or she) will usually hire a group of policy "wonks" whose job is to help formulate the candidate's positions on such critical issues as national security, international relations, the economy, immigration and others. Apparently by the time Donald Trump entered the Republican primary, all the wonks were otherwise engaged. Unfortunately for all of us, Donald is wonkless.
— Neal Snyder
Warner Robins
'Wouldn't be fair'
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has lifted all gender-based requirements on all military service starting in January. Hey dads, just remember in the not too distant future when your precious little girls will have to register for Selective Service just like your sons that the president said, "elections have consequences." You know that it's coming. You voted for fundamental changes, and you got them. Don't think that just because your 18-year-old daughter is already a mommy that it will exclude her from registration for the draft. That wouldn't be "fair."
— Dan Topolewski
Kathleen
Who's holding who back?
Just look at what they do to poor, helpless black men. We are discriminated against, can't find jobs, gunned down for nothing by police, labeled as criminals, sent to prison en masse, more than half of our children are raised by mothers, first fired on jobs for the few who have jobs and young black males fair no better, doomed to the same fate as many older black males.
On the other hand who's stopping black males from attending whatever school in America they want to if they're qualified? What business can't black males start if they have the knowledge and capital? Who's forcing all of the black male athletes to attend mostly white institutions and make millions for those schools while historically black colleges and universities close? Who's forcing black males to kill each other? Who's forcing black males to make babies and not support them? Who's stopping black males from working with at-risk youth in communities?
So as long as the establishment keeps dominating and doing all of this to poor, black males and preventing us from coming together in love, brotherhood and working together regardless of our condition, why would things change?
— Charles McGhee
Warner Robins
Congratulations, maybe
I read with interest your article on the front page, above the fold, of Sunday's paper about the plan to develop the old Capricorn building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. What a great plan and the developers should be congratulated for their investment in reviving downtown. As I read further, I realized that these are the same two companies that are trying to destroy two subdivisions on Zebulon Road. I guess I will rethink my congratulations until after Planning & Zoning meets Dec. 14.
— Richard Bennett
Macon
Gov. Deal doesn't care
So now Gov. Nathan Deal is listening to his police spokesmen who went to Colorado to see how medical marijuana is grown that is necessary to help sick children to feel better and survive. They have convinced him that it cannot be grown here in a secure manner.
But if they can do it in Colorado, they can do it here. Besides, medical marijuana is only suitable for those with illness and it has no effect for those who want to get high. Criminals are not going to break into a factory making only weak maijuana for sick kids and adults.
Gov. Deal doesn't really care about these sick kids or if their parents get arrested bringing it back from Colorado. It's a ridiculous bunch of hogwash. He should talk to the parents of these sick children and apologize to them for not helping these sick kids and adults who suffer greatly.
— Frank W. Gadbois
Warner Robins
No time for facts
I don't know what's more repulsive — the fact that Donald Trump wants a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. or the fact that, despite his despicable rhetoric, he's still ahead in the polls. Not only is his idea hateful and nauseating, it's impractical: ISIS wants us to disenfranchise Muslims. When we push Muslims away, they have nowhere to go but to ISIS. You'd think that would be obvious, even to a walking abscess like Trump, but I guess being a deranged bigot doesn't leave much time for things like facts.
— Ross Hardy
Macon
Shanks and his soapbox
Ref: Letter by Charlie Adams, Dec. 8. I also am sick to death of the completely biased opinion of Bill Shanks. The man is totally out of line in his biased account of the UGA football program. He never has a positive thought about the Georgia athletic program. However, Shanks' complete disrespect for the football program and coach Mark Richt is the ranting of a wannabe football player who couldn't cut it and uses his column as a soapbox.
Those of us who are true red-and-black supporters know that the dismissal of Coach Richt was politically motivated by the "string pullers" behind the scenes, but that is old news and the cost of that act is going to hurt the program more than the money people pulling the strings of the athletic director. Then, enters Shanks, with his vendetta against UGA spreading his doom and gloom opinion. Go Dawgs until the detractors eat their words, Shanks included.
— Sam Ryan
Warner Robins
This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 10:11 PM.