This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016
Last straw
This consolidated Macon-Bibb County government has not lived up to its promise on cost control. Since day one, cost has increased in the form of fees: 4 percent on utilities, fines for grass height and the latest garbage tax of 57 percent with more to come. Runoff "rain-water," a power plant closure tax lurking on the horizon while our magnificent nine plus one, sit on their hands behind closed doors wringing their hands to vote yes, stick-it-to-them.
I noticed that something was up because for the month of January no garbage pickup and my calls were not answered. My commissioner, after several emails, finally advised of a 33 percent increase in my garbage fee. The reason? For closure of dump in the future. I guess because of green energy or does anyone have clue about what is going on. My question for dump closure is which dump, the Eisenhower Parkway or landfill? Also who does their math because an increase from $38.25 to $60 is 57 percent not 33 percent or could this explain why the taxpayer is losing their behind?
-- Daniel E. Lee
Macon
Nothing but the truth
Terry Thompson's letter (1-27) admonishing Dr. Bill Cummings' column regarding Hillary Clinton and the Benghazi incident is unbelievable. Hillary's comment at the Benghazi hearings, "We had four dead American's, was it because of a protest or was it guys out for a walk who decided to kill some American's? What difference does it make? It's our job to figure out what happened and to do everything to prevent it from happening again."
Maybe Thompson should ask the grieving families "What difference does it make?" Clinton knew from the onset it was a terrorist attack on an American Embassy, yet when she met with the families upon the return of their loved ones remains to American soil, she lied to them and said protesters killed them as the result of an Internet film they did not like. The families knew terrorists killed them.
Clinton failed in her duties as secretary of state to provide adequate security to the Benghazi embassy, even though, Ambassador Chris Stevens had requested more security. She and other government officials are directly responsible for the deaths of four American men.
It is time for elected or appointed officials to stop lying to citizens and take responsibility for their decisions and actions, good or bad. Unfortunately, not telling the truth, the whole truth, has become a common practice in this country.
-- Marv Murdock
Bonaire
Investigation wanted
I contacted U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., and Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., and requested they convene congressional hearings to investigate the confrontation between Oregon ranchers and the FBI that ended tragically last week with the murder of an American citizen. The FBI pulled over the vehicles occupied by rancher Ammon Bundy and LaVoy Finicum. As Finicum exited his vehicle, the FBI officers saw him put his hand in his jacket pocket. However, the FBI officers didn't actually see a pistol or what Finicum may have reached for in his jacket pocket, but assumed Finicum was reaching for a pistol. The FBI officers then opened fire killing Finicum while following protocol: Shoot first, ask questions later. It is an important distinction between what actually happened and the official FBI statement.
In my opinion, the FBI's murder of Finicum is a civil liberties tragedy that warrants criminal prosecution of those FBI, state and local law enforcement officers who murdered Finicum. I'm certain the federal government's investigation report will justify the FBI's actions, but this tragedy should send a chilling message to all American citizens that the government will respond with deadly force to peaceful assembly and protests, a right guaranteed by the Constitution. As our Founding Fathers and authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights asserted, our only defense against government tyranny and abuse of power is defending our right to bear arms and our willingness to defend this great republic, our family, property and civil liberties.
-- Lt. Col. (ret.) Alan L. Gardner
Warner Robins
According the video of the event taken by an FBI plane, Finicum was not pulled over by authorities but he did swerve around a police barricade before being stopped by a snow bank. He was killed by Oregon State police, not the FBI.
-- Editors
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 ."