This is Viewpoints for Monday, April 11, 2016
What we deserve
There is really no presidential candidate I earnestly want to vote for in 2016 and few I would bother to vote against. Sure, some who have foreign policy skills, they can delegate, communicate, administrate, inspire — qualities that commonly attract rational voters. Occasionally, they all mention religious faith, but everyone sees through that.
Who can be trusted to lead the U.S.A. through these perilous times? Who is honest — that matters so much to me? When the mudslinging is complete, the mind of the voter views "good as evil and evil as good."
Moral standards and fidelity used to count for something. In 1987 Gary Hart dropped out the race but he never seemed to comprehend that his own immorality was his undoing. Why should he think any differently with examples like LBJ and JFK. Many thought John Kennedy was a great man but when they learned of his affair with Marilyn Monroe, he was elevated to American hero status. Bill Clinton was re-elected despite admitted infidelity, yet, Herman Cain was forced out by mere allegations.
I would like to see a candidate (any race, man or woman), a citizen, as required by law, who is a decent, honorable person. They don't have to be of my faith as long as Almighty God directs their paths.
We get substandard candidates because voters look after selfish interests, not what the county needs.
Maybe we get just what we deserve because we just don't deserve any better.
— John Wayne Dobson
Macon
Do the math
I don't understand why folks can't see that paying $15 minimum wage would put many small businesses operating in Middle Georgia out of business.
One of the most severe, unintended consequences associated with the proposed increase is that shift leaders making $10 bucks per hour now will certainly demand an hourly wage higher than those they supervise. This predictably will put lots of mom and pop operations out of business.
Presently, a person with two kids, working full time making $10 per hour already makes $13.35 per hour after the federal wage subsidy (Earned Income Credit) of $6,976 kicks in. If the proposed increase takes effect, that same person would receive an hourly wage estimated at $17.00 per hour.
Should the businesses affected by the mandated wage increase be forced to close their doors or should the government intervene with appropriate subsidies to allow them to remain open? Better yet, Sanders and others in support of such increase should go back to the table and crunch the numbers. The math is not adding up or making sense.
— John Haugabrook
Warner Robins
Is bigger better?
As I watched a commercial for riding mowers that promoted the idea that your neighbor should want your bigger mower like the one shown, I wondered how long humanity will survive if even a few more of us fall into this trap that we have to keep up with the Joneses, not only to have the biggest mower available, but also yearn for the bigger house and so on.
Many nonprofit entities also promote bigger is better with grander prizes for larger donations. One example today is the St. Jude's Dream House giveaway. Offer a larger than average home and ask for a larger donation. Of course, the average family does not need anything like this, but if a few just happen to dig up an extra $100 and luck out and win, where will the money for the gift and property taxes come from?
There is no doubt the promotion is targeting people who can already afford a home like this one. St. Jude is doing what many nonprofits have done recently. That is, take larger donations from the upper 10 percent and smaller amounts from the rest of us. So, now who controls the voice of the nonprofit? If St. Jude really cares for the poor and rich customers, why not promote giving, sharing and sustainable values, not just a big dream, much like the Georgia lottery where many of the losers never had a chance either way?
— Fred Gunter
Macon
Anybody qualified?
So Bernie says Hillary is not qualified to be president. Well I say Bernie is not qualified either. He appeals to kids because he offer everything for free. The kids don't know any better because they have never really had to pay up yet. It is to his benefit that they are actually ignorant on that subject.
However, it's not his fault they are ignorant voters. It is the fault of the education system. If differences between democracy, socialism and communism were actually taught, along with the outcome of governmental dependency as opposed to self-dependency, the kids would have a little better understanding.
I would say that the vast majority of supposedly well-educated kids today have no real idea of what capitalism is. Additionally, if the kids were required to live just a little while in socialist-style countries, they would all drop Bernie quicker than a hot rock.
Of course, Hillary is not qualified either. She is guilty of crimes against this country, and she thinks she is above the law.
Cruz has learned the art of lying and John Kasich has likely been told by the establishment to just hang on until the convention. Trump has been painted as an American outlaw.
— Gary McCall
Warner Robins
This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 5:24 AM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, April 11, 2016 ."