This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Great time

For those who did not attend Monty Cole’s Jazz Ensemble concert Sunday night in the courtyard in front of the Douglass Theatre, I hope you can make the next one. The music, cool breeze, appreciative audience whose feet and hands kept the beat to the fantastic music — all made for a wonderful evening. Thanks go to the ensemble and all those who made this lovely evening possible.

Fascism/communism one in the same?

Listening to what many people say nowadays, it sounds like most of us mistakenly believe that fascism was the same thing as communism. This misunderstanding of history has spread, I believe, largely because the media has indulged right-wing rhetoric and spin since the days of President Reagan. They’ve pandered for too long to the notion that right-wing policies are always good. So today, many of us mistakenly assume that fascism and communism must’ve been same thing simply because we know that both were bad.

Another problem with the media pandering is that it enables shifts further and further to the right. If the media would summon the courage to criticize right-wing political spin when it is obviously incorrect, maybe they would have enabled a shift to the center instead. (The Telegraph appears to me a notable exception. You’re still trying to practice journalism in the classic tradition.) Yet another problem is that too many of us have apparently abandoned the age-old wisdom that moderation works better than extremism especially for large diverse countries like ours today.

Most approve

Tuesday’s lengthy letter of Richard Jones on immigration failed to state that most Americans actually approve of immigration, 1.2 million new citizens in a recent year. Most learn English and know more of our nation’s history than the average Donald Trump supporter.

‘Bombs bursting in air.’

Thanks to the Georgia Legislature, we the people have now given up any legal right to enjoy peace and quiet throughout the year. The new fireworks laws lets a few of my neighbors toss bombs in the air every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on July 3 and 4, up to midnight. To the Georgia legislators who voted for this stupidity, my cats thank you (they’re hiding under the bed), the dogs across the street (howling of course) thank you, and the rest of my neighbors, who are forced to wear earplugs or go deaf under the constant bombardment, thank you. I’m sure the vets in the neighborhood suffering from PTSD are also quite delighted for this wonderful benefit you have given the people of Georgia. Better yet, let me give you and my bomb-throwing neighbors the middle finger salute that all of you richly deserve.

Words of FDR

I recently ran across a quotation from Franklin Roosevelt that was part of his Jan. 4, 1935, address to Congress. It was published in the March 2012 issue of The American Legion magazine. FDR said: “To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of sound policy. It is in violation he traditions of America. Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers. The federal government must and shall quit this business of relief.”

Wow, such insightful comments from a founding father of the welfare state. What would FDR think about his party of 2016 with Hilary, Bernie and Elizabeth Warren all trying to out “free stuff” each other. The party growth strategy seems to be open up the prisons, open up the nation’s borders, sign up as many as possible and keep their votes with promises of endless “free stuff.” Fiscal responsibility? Never heard of it!

Temporary fix?

Drove up Forest Hill Road yesterday from Newport to Northside Drive. What a nice surprise. A newly paved road from curb to curb properly marked with a center stripe and edges, but it seemed something was missing.

What happened to the turn lane? We now have a new two lane road with plenty of room on either side for a bike lane or even a walking lane (sidewalks seem to be missing too). Told the wife that I think this is temporary until all of Forest Hill is widened.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, July 6, 2016."