This is Viewpoints for Sunday, May 29, 2016

Automation

I was outside this morning when the new “advanced” garbage truck came by. The “arms” came out, picked up my can and dumped it in the truck and replaced the can on the curb. The “arms” retracted and the truck moved on.

It failed to pick up the second (yard refuse) can. I watched the truck turn around in the intersection and come back down the street to pick up the cans on the other side of the street. Seems to me this is a big waste of taxpayer money. How many people were put out of work by this wonderful new system? I would much rather pay the salaries of hard workers than pay for this piece of you know what. Wake up Macon. Quit putting people out of work.

PS: They said they were sending a second truck to pick up the yard trash later.

Turn the page

A quick response to a couple of letters to the editor. Mike Smith refers to Hillary Clinton’s email use of an unsecured server as treason. If true, this would also make Condoleezza Rice and Gen. Colin Powell guilty of treason as well, since both used unsecured servers during their time as secretary of state. Where is the outrage over their use? Politics perhaps?

Bob and Carol Kimsey would like the editor to no longer publish Dr. Bill Cummings’ columns. I certainly hope the editor would not take their request seriously. I look forward to his columns each week and often agree with some of his comments and disagree with others. If a person’s faith is so insecure they feel the need to request censorship, I would suggest they just agree to disagree with him or skip his columns altogether.

Check them out

In a world where greed is sucking the financial life out of all of us, one must be extremely careful. You see or hear daily names of plumbers to electricians from barkers enticing you to call. Fact is, it is smarter, cheaper and safer to rely on your Better Business Bureau. Shop for prices and get a BBB report. I have been told folks have saved 15 percent to 30 percent.

Next you will be needing home health care, which I strongly recommend. Get a full report on them, too. Large corporations are charging around $4,000 a week for 44 hours. That is a $90.90 an hour rip off. The ones I have seen in action were being paid $12 to $20 per hour. Recently I was helping with a lady who had a new $4,200 hearing aid. After it arrived, it was stolen that evening. All folks are not dishonest, but get bonded people and check references very closely.

No compromise?

We have become accustomed to Congress’ inability to compromise, however I never expected the justices of the United States Supreme Court to ignore ruling on our laws and Constitution and instead compromise. It seems to me if a mandatory health law is passed by Congress that applies to one employer it should apply to all. Maybe I do not understand the meaning of “bias” or “discriminatory.” Or maybe I never expected being a Democrat or Republican had anything to do with the justices ruling on laws and the Constitution. Do you think they act like members of Congress and should be replaced? Too bad.

Vacation costs

Judicial Watch recently announced that the Obama family’s travel for the 2014 Martha’s Vineyard and Christmas Honolulu vacations cost the taxpayers a total of $5,316,522. I find this outrageous.

It’s obvious the president has no regard for the taxpayers, and his priorities are delusional.

‘Fexible’

Donald Trump has said, “I will be flexible on the issues.” During the primary he said he would never cut Social Security and Medicare. Now to appeal to Paul Ryan and his billionaire donors he is changing his tune. A top Trump policy adviser now says Trump is open to cutting Social Security and Medicare. Do you want a president who is “flexible” on Social Security and Medicare?

She can’t do it

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention. The Congress proposes an amendment in the form of a joint resolution. Since the president does not have a constitutional role in the amendment process, the joint resolution does not go to the White House for signature or approval.

The president of the United States cannot pass an amendment nor can he or she abolish one. Don’t listen to Republican lies that Hillary would abolish the Second Amendment. I wish Americans knew their Constitution.

Never happen?

Common sense is not as common as it once was. Thanks to the Obama administration, individuals who have a male appendage will soon be allowed to use the ladies bathroom in public schools. Only a foolish political correct advocate would assume that this non-issue, that only applies to a minuscule part of the population, requires a solution. They probably believe there will not be any problems with this policy.

Will transgender students have to registrer with the school? Will schools have to ensure a bathroom is empty before a transgender student enters it in order to ensure that other students are not embarrassed? What will a school do when a 12th-grade senior bets his buddies that he can sneak into the girls room and see what the cute ninth-grade girls are doing? If he claims he is transgender, the school cannot do anything. Will schools have to put feminine hygiene products in the boys bathroom? If a female uses the boys bathroom can she complain to the school’s administration if some boys were rude and made derogatory remarks?

I realize there are people who will claim this will never happen.

I believe it will. Do not forget that we now have heterosexual marriage and same-sex marriage.

This story was originally published May 28, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, May 29, 2016."