This is Viewpoints for Monday, May 16, 2016

Protect your home and self

Unfortunately two Macon women recently lost their lives in a fire. It appears at this time that the home may not have been equipped with smoke detectors. Each year, for a number of years, the Mid-Georgia Multiple Listing Service, and the Middle Georgia Association of Realtors Community Service Committee conduct activities to raise funds for smoke detector purchases by the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department. Our most recent presentation to the Fire Department will allow them to purchase well more than 400 smoke detectors.

Please, if you’re in need of a smoke detector, contact the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department at 478-751-9180. They will be happy to not only give you a detector, but will also properly install it for you. Those of us involved in the real estate business care about you, your home, and your safety.

National Police Week

Fifty-four years ago, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 designating May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. The law was amended by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Public Law 103-322, signed by President Bill Clinton, directing that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff on all government buildings on May 15 each year. While the actual dates change from year to year, National Police Week is always the calendar week, beginning on Sunday, which includes May 15. This is an opportunity for our community to honor our fallen officers, the retired and those who continue to guard our streets.

Health ratings

I wonder why the MCCG ‘s health grade of D was not in the newspaper. Staph and MRSA were at the top of the list. I contracted MRSA at the MCCG three years ago when I broke my arm. All hardware had to be removed from my arm. The broken bone could not be connected and my arm dangles. It was my right arm and it has completely altered my life. Our community should know about this and every effort should be made to correct and make changes to our hospital. Life is never the same after MRSA .

The hospital’s ratings were published in this newspaper online April 25 and printed April 26.

Vital voice

On May 24, Republicans in the 8^th Congressional District will have the opportunity to choose a candidate to represent the party in the November General Election. Given the political affiliation of those voting in the 8^th District, the Republican candidate will likely be the winner in November and go on to represent our district in the next Congress. Two of the primary areas of interest within our district remain agriculture and defense. Although not well-versed on agriculture, I do understand the defense issues that impact our district. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, so does Austin Scott.

For the past nearly six years, U.S. Rep. Scott remains a vocal critic of any effort to close military bases without the Defense Department first fully justifying the need. He fought hard to protect the Air Force Reserve Command when political forces tried to gut the headquarters at Robins Air Force Base

Bottom line: as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Austin Scott has a proven track record of fighting for those defense issues most important to those of us in the 8^th District. This, at a time when his role on the House Armed Services Committee is even more vital because Georgia currently does not have a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Given the challenges facing our national defense, our military, and our local installations, I strongly encourage you to vote for Austin Scott in the upcoming Republican primary.

Have to vote Republican

All politics are local. For years, Republicans in South Georgia counties have voted in the Democratic primaries because local races were often only in the Democratic primary. In Crisp County this year it is different. There are no contested races in the Democratic primary.

All county wide incumbent candidates qualified as Republicans this year. Two county-wide races — probate judge and tax commissioner — and one County Commission race have multiple candidates. This means that if citizens of Crisp County want to have their say in selecting their local elected leaders, they will have to choose a Republican ballot.

For some this could be a first. Those who choose a Democratic ballot will see that they have only one name for each local office. There are no choices. The only race where there is a choice is the U.S. Senate Democratic primary to see who will face Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson or one of his challengers for the nomination in November.

There are important choices to make May 24. If you live in Crisp County, the Watermelon Capital of the World, and want to have a say in making those choices, you will have to choose a Republican ballot

‘Wacko bird’

Like millions of other voters, I’m extremely disappointed with the slate of 2016 presidential candidates. As a longtime conservative, I could never support Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, but the options aren’t much better on the Republican side. Nevertheless, I was amused to see a recent letter labeling Ted Cruz a “wacko bird” for wanting to abolish the IRS, institute a fair tax system and shrink the government. I have no particular affection for Sen. Cruz, but if these are crazy ideas, I belong in a straitjacket.

‘Vast wasteland’

On May 9, 1961, in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters, the Federal Communications Commissions Chairman Newton Norman Minow, decried the majority of television programming as a “vast wasteland.” That was with only three networks. I believe he would be horrified by programming today — hundreds of channels and almost nothing worth watching.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, May 16, 2016."