This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016

Leave charter alone

I'm usually all for home rule; those closest to a situation have the best handle on how to deal with it. But in the case of the Macon-Bibb Commission asking the state legislative delegation to change the charter so as to give the commission the right to overturn a mayoral firing, I hope legislators will respectfully decline. Commissioners claim to fear that capable people will not want to work for local government unless they have recourse to the commission should they fail to meet the mayor's standards and lose their jobs. But from where I sit it looks more like they want an opportunity to meddle in the administration's business.

Clearly defining who does what is crucial for efficiency and accountability, and the charter as it currently stands, does that. Commissioners are the legislative branch of local government; they establish the policies under which it operates; the administration is charged with its operation. The commissioners are part-time leaders; administrators who are on the job full time are in the best position to evaluate how managers are leading their departments. As was noted in The Telegraph's editorial, those who believe they have been treated unfairly have other, nonpolitical means of addressing their concerns. We have a number of very competent department heads who accepted their positions under the present arrangement.

Being able to appeal the mayor's decisions to another body would simply give them the opportunity to play one side off against the other.

— Nancy Anderson

Macon

Gullibility

It seems that W.T. Butcher doesn't much like Donald Trump or his supporters. That's his right, of course, but he forgot to expand on the gullibility he professes we have. Case in point, look who was elected twice and is currently serving. Then look back a few years and see who was elected twice and whose wife is top runner. Gullibility extends both ways.

Maybe a closer case in point is the Centerville City Council and mayor who have been elected. Now there is gullibility on the citizens' part.

- Michael Collins

Centerville

Centerville audit

What great news, now maybe the Centerville City Council will back off of trying to welch on the contract made with the over-70 group. They have plenty of money to throw around without doing that. Not me saying that, the auditors said it.

— Jim Huber

Centerville

I am not a Democrat, how do I know?

I do not want an unqualified voter to negate your vote.

I do not want to redefine God's definition of marriage.

I do not want to kill unborn babies.

I do not want children dumbed down to the lowest common denominator in public schools.

I do not want to fund the harvesting of unborn baby parts.

I do not want the V.A. to be let off scot-free for their deplorable treatment of our veterans.

I do not want public unions to continue to enrich themselves while the private sector suffers.

I do not want to treat every Hispanic as if they are legal.

I do not want to treat every Muslim as if they aren't a terrorist.

I do not want Obamacare to continue to rob Medicare to pay for more freebies.

I do not want to use the redistribution of wealth by Obamacare to incentivize Americans to avoid the responsibility to work, if able.

I do not want to take so much from one working family to give to another non-working family that they both end up on food stamps.

And last but not least, I do not believe tolerance is a one-way street.

— Gregory Payne

Byron

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 9:33 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 ."