This is Viewpoints for Friday, Feb. 19, 2016
Changeling
Donald Trump has flip-flopped his political allegiances, not once or twice but several times. Records show he was a registered Democrat in the late '80s. Since then he has been a member of the Republican Party, then the Reform Party, then the Democratic Party again, then the Republican Party again, then an independent and has been a Republican Party member since 2012.
If he was a mole for the Democratic Party, he could not be doing a better job. Some of his rhetoric is given serious consideration. How, for example, will he actually "round up" the illegal residents and send them back home, humanely? Then they would be happy (he says) because they could come back legally. A roundup of Mexicans was attempted in 1954, known as Operation Wetback and was followed by many problems. Both in this country and in Mexican/U.S. relationships.
He has gone on record as changing his position on various issues. Specifically, taxing the wealthy, abortion rights and health care. The Democratic Party leadership must be laughing when they hear him talk. When Republicans stop taking him seriously as a candidate, he will have split the party. This will be good news for the Democrats, but bad news for the Republicans. They will be trying to unite behind a candidate for this presidential election.
I am a political independent and am quite prepared to vote for a Republican whose policies I agree with. Who knows if Trump will change his political position or policies yet again?
— Barry McLeod-Hughes
Byron
Circle the wagons
Eric Holder's participation in Fast and Furious and its cover up led to his being held in contempt of Congress. Lois Lerner and government bureaucrats used the power of the IRS to demoralize and frustrate conservative groups and then destroyed government equipment and records to cover it up. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was responsible for Benghazi and all it represents.
The reason these people and others were rewarded instead of being held accountable is the reason Obama will again circle the wagons around Clinton. Making the FBI's investigation into her emails and the Clinton Foundation moot.
— Travis L. Middeton
Peach County
Useless rule
The institution of this latest federal government rule is yet another mindless, meaningless and resource wasting bureaucratic action of the type that drives U.S. citizens crazy. The requirement that stores accepting food stamps must stock "healthier" food but not require SNAP recipients to purchase them only serves to close local stores in indigent areas and worsen transportation issues for those using food stamps.
It in no way encourages healthier eating. To do that, it probably would make more sense to have food stamps purchase items on a sliding scale so that larger quantities of healthy food could be obtained (e.g., get twice the amount of broccoli for the advertised price but only get half the amount of potato chips for the advertised price).
This is a banana republic maneuver that does nothing for the public except create needless government jobs. This is not a financially sound way to create jobs and will divert the agency's funds from actually paying for food for the SNAP recipients.
— Stella Tsai
Macon
Observations
1. The Supreme Court does not make law. Congress makes law.
2. Discrimination definition is basically to set aside or point out a difference. The United States is guilty of influencing discrimination with the constant accepted use of hyphenated Americans. When we all become Americans, legal citizen discrimination will cease.
3. The word fetus is used to make abortion appear less offensive. In short terms, the word fetus is defined as an unborn human baby. Therefore the word abortion and the word murder are the same. Abort a fetus just sounds better than murder a child.
4. Social Security is experiencing major problems. Social Security was fine until Congress started interfering and using the money.
5. When Americans begin to decide what they will and will not work for, minimum wage becomes moot. Employers will then pay a fair wage or become un-employers. Then, will the government start to hand out un-business checks rather than unemployment checks?
6. Presently convicted criminals get a place to do time on our dime with full medical, lodging and food. They should have to work and learn a trade and pay for all cost associated for the crime. When the criminal pays for food and housing, along with guards and pays the victim a dollar amount, then paying a debt to society is more realistic.
7. If food and consumer goods cost rose because of fuel price, where is the cost reductions with the fall of the fuel price?
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
Irony
Bernie Sanders' supporters are complaining that the Democrats' super delegates are supporting Hillary Clinton. How ironic is it that Democratic Socialists don't like it when someone else gets something they didn't earn?
— Dan Topolewski
Kathleen
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 9:46 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 ."