This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016
Listen carefully
As the presidential primary season approaches, I hope people will take just one quiet minute to think about what it would mean to make America great again. We usually think in terms of strength of arms or respect, but the USA is already by far the strongest nation on Earth, spending more on its military than the next five countries combined — and realize those five include Russia, China and European nations. And if you watch Russia Insider from Russia, EuroNews, France 24, CCTV from China, even the U.S. version of Al Jazeera cable news, you'll hear we've gained a huge amount of respect during the past several years, even if the president catches it coming and going over here.
Where we aren't great: No. 27 in education; No. 13 in health care; No. 7 in ability to achieve upward social mobility; barely in the top 10 in "satisfaction with my life" reported in polls. So as you think about what needs to be made great again and listen to candidates talk about what they intend to focus on, see if it's really what our nation needs.
— Fred Brown
Macon
Friedman for dinner
I'd be delighted to have Thomas Friedman at our dinner table. I think I even know a few people who would be willing to join us and not feel the evening ruined. I'd be glad to hear him expound on his knowledge and thoughts about our national and international concerns. I suspect he's a good listener at the dinner table as well. He gives me many issues on which to ponder. Thanks for keeping his column in regularly.
— Becky Yeatman
Warner Robins
President a coward
The U.S. should keep the $1.7 billion and tell Iran that is only part of what they have cost us the past 10 years. And anyone who travels to North Korea must be as crazy as that country's dear leader. Also, did Iran tell the U.S. they were sorry for shooting missiles at our ships in international waters? This man we call president is a coward.
— Jimmy A. Faircloth
Macon
Prove the rhetoric
I'm willing to ignore, for the moment, Bill Copley's implication that all terrorists and mass shooters are, in his words, "left-wing nut jobs" (I suppose we aren't including Robert Dear, Eric Rudolph or Timothy McVeigh, a man who was so far to the right he made Donald Trump look like Franklin Roosevelt).
Instead, I want to say this: I am a gun owner (and regular recreational shooter). I normally vote Republican (although with the current field, that is likely to change). And if anyone can convince me why background checks — which are already standard — will make it harder for "law-abiding citizens" to own guns, I will donate $25 to the charity of Copley's choice.
— Ross C. Hardy
Macon
Grocery prices
Gasoline prices have dropped well below $2 a gallon. (Yeah, blame it on Obama. It's all his fault.) When gasoline was hovering between $3 and $4 a gallon, grocery stores raised the price on groceries. They claimed it was necessary to offset higher cost, primarily fuel cost. But the price of groceries continues at the higher price. In fact, grocery prices continue to rise. If they raised the price on groceries to offset higher fuel cost, why have grocery prices not dropped with the drop in fuel prices?
Food is a necessity and higher food cost can have a very adverse impact, especially for senior citizens on fixed incomes. For seniors, increased prices could mean the difference between purchasing food or buying needed medicine or paying the heating bill. Thankfully, some grocery stores have one day a week when seniors receive a 10 percent discount. But 10 percent is not all that much.
I would like to invite grocery store managers to respond and explain why grocery prices continue to rise while gasoline declines.
— Ronald L. Cain
Elko
Bloc voting
In relation to Michael Myers chance voting, I cannot believe any serious concerned voter would vote for a woman just because men haven't scored well. We need to examine and cross-examine all candidates regardless of party based on the results of examination, not gender or race. Voting for any other reason would be failing all Americans. In fact, voting on a person's gender, race or their origins just to get their bloc votes, could be some of the problem.
— Faye W. Tanner
Macon
Choices in recycling
In response to the letter from Joseph R. (Robby) Jr. of Macon regarding the new recycling program in Macon. He has a problem with not being able to recycle glass along with the other recyclables. If he ever had to take his recyclables to the recycle center at Schnitzer's for example, he would find several bins for the items. One bin for No. 1 and 2 plastic, one for cardboard, one for newspapers and one for magazines, one for clear glass and one for colored glass and one for aluminum. Now this company recycles and I'm pretty sure the reason they have separate bins for glass and such is because it will contaminate the recycling process. If you don't like the new policy, you can take your recyclables to a place like Schnitzer's.
I have recycled for years and have taken the time to separate, bag up and transport to the recycling center. I look forward to getting my new bin so I can have it picked up at my home. I will gladly take my glass to a fire station. We only have one planet and with a little effort we can make our new recycling program a success.
— Cathy Conklin
Macon
This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 9:32 PM.