This is Viewpoints for Monday, July 4, 2016

What’s in a name?

A long time ago I was taught to call things by their true name. Thus, the SPLOST, called the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, needs to be referred to as the Perpetual Local Option Sales Tax, or PLOST, because it was hardly ever voted down when given the option to vote in the summer. Now that it is supposed to gather a vote on Election Day, more than a few contractors and others who benefited from a positive vote will have a say in the vote.

Missing out

For several years our Republican-led Legislature has vigorously supported Gov. Deal’s refusal to sign up for expanded Medicaid. The reason Georgia did not accept this program is clear: The expansion was part of Obamacare, and these Republicans didn’t want to appear to support any Obama plan. The consequence for us citizens is that we continued to pay for other states’ expanded Medicaid through our federal taxes, while we lost out on billions from the federal government for our own poor. Recently, the same leaders in the Georgia Legislature who blocked our signing have decided that the time is right to sign up. Nothing has changed except political minds. I hope we do gain the federal dollars to pay for our more than 600,000 poor who have no health insurance, but it is dishonest to pretend that this change is based on new-found wisdom. If Georgia had signed up years ago, we would not have missed out on billions.

Introspection

This life, which is you, encompasses many, many things, both good and bad, both pleasurable and difficult. On this Earth, you were born and will die owning only one thing: your immortal soul, bestowed to you by the love of God.

How will it appear before Almighty God when this short time span we call life is ended? Will it be scarred, dirty and black as coal or pure, clean and white as snow and pleasing to Him who loves it, made in His image?

Now, not later, is the time to take a close look inside yourself. What will you see?

Because God sees what no man can, do not deceive yourself into thinking, ”I am good.” No one is good but God. We all are in need of restoration in one form or another. Begin, it’s never too late.

Sharia law

Kudos to the editors of The Telegraph for their measured and detailed response to Joe Hubbard's ravings about Carolyn Walker's swearing in as a judge in Boston (June 28). Once again the specter of sharia law is raised in an attempt to frighten the public. I often wonder about how many of those who are so quick to mention the sharia law issue have actually studied Sharia Law or are gathering their information from the echo chamber.

Where’s the help?

I refer to your excellent “hot truck” article (July 2, 2016). I concluded from all the circumstances described, that Mr. Howard, who made a very stupid mistake by leaving his child and a kitten in a hot truck, needed, along with all his family, a little sympathy (as most of us have probably done something equally stupid in our lives that fortunately also did not have a bad outcome) and some serious professional help, as the family unit was clearly falling apart. It seemed to me that Judge Simms sentence of 10 years probation, 2-4 months in a probation detention center, attendance (with his estranged wife) at parenting classes, a $500 fine and $500 toward a court appointed attorney was excessive and lacked not only compassion but the very thing that was really needed: some professional help in keeping the family together (parenting classes will not achieve that) and a degree of financial support to help them get back on their feet.

I note that this is the same judge who was investigated for DUI after a stop at a roadblock (The Telegraph, Sept. 25, 2012), under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol for the second time in a little more than two years, but faced no charges as Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena later told The Telegraph that charges against Simms would likely not hold up in court because deputies did not follow proper procedure in collecting evidence. Judge Simms said at the time, “Drinking and driving is a serious issue and it is not acceptable conduct for anyone, much less a Superior Court judge,” he said. “Alcohol addiction is something that I have struggled with for many years and have tried to deal with on my own, but I have come to the realization that I need professional help.”

Attention worthy

Rabbi Larry Schlesinger's contribution to your From The Pulpit today (7/3/16) is worthy of the attention of all of us, especially on this patriotic celebrating weekend. The full text of the address to President George Washington from Jewish leader Moses Seixas in August 1790 expressing gratefulness from his Rhode Island congregation contain ideas pertinent to all of us today. I hope it is available online as well as in today's print edition.

This story was originally published July 3, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, July 4, 2016."