This is Viewpoints for Saturday, July 9, 2016

Stained FBI

As FBI director James Comey offered a preview of his investigation of candidate Hillary Clinton it became evident to any first year law school student ample evidence had been discovered to justify an indictment of the former First Lady. Comey for some reason then executed a left movement as smartly as if he had been ordered to do so by a drill sergeant, and announced that his findings could justify indictment for some of us, but it did not for Clinton.

Many of us have long viewed the FBI as a sterling agency above reproach. For whatever reasons, Comey has put a stain on that legacy that will not fade anytime soon.

Teen pregnancy

I am pleased that Macon-Bibb County is looking into ways to reduce teen pregnancy (7/6). Amazingly, Macon’s rate is 50 percent higher than the state! And, Georgia has always had a teen pregnancy rate which is higher than the national average. When I wrote the State Health Plan for Georgia back in the 1970s, it was true and is not getting any better due to lack of action and funding.

The reason for this is partly socio-demographic and part cultural. However, as your story pointed out, it is dooming young women to a life of poverty. Georgians as a whole, and the Legislature specifically, need to bury their misconceptions about contraception and family planning. The first line is education at home. The second front is aggressive action within our schools, free of the overly moralistic insistence on abstinence that has been proven not to be effective per national studies.

King of debt

Donald Trump has said, “I’m the king of debt. I’m great with debt.” He should be, because he filed for corporate bankruptcy four times. He got out each time by manipulating bankruptcy laws, refusing to pay workmen for their contracted efforts and bullying lenders to renegotiate his company’s debts. He has been sued 350 times. With this kind of business record, do we want Donald Trump leading our country’s economic policies?

Disgrace to party

I am very conservative in my political views. In the last general election I voted for David Perdue for Senate and Austin Scott for the House of Representatives. As a senior drawing Social Security and a retired veteran I wrongly believed they would do right by us. In 2016 they did not provide any increase in Social Security or military retirees but, did increase prescription co-pays. For 2017 they are offering a $2.50 month increase for Social Security while increasing Medicare premiums by $27 per month. I have called the offices of both congressmen about Social Security and military retirees pay increase. The people I talked to could not answer my questions and told me to leave my name, address and phone number and they would get back with me. That was over two weeks ago and I have heard nothing from them.

I might add that they have funded other programs from Obamacare to welfare to food stamps and illegal immigrants. Yet, they insult seniors and military retirees. They have been very lax in taking care of seniors who have invested so much with so little return. They have become insiders and part of the establishment. A disgrace to their party and office.

Book suggestion

Based on what I read in the Opinion pages of The Telegraph submitted by staff and contributors, I would like to recommend a book. The book addresses many of the concerns of today’s readers, even though it was published in 1973, with most of the chapters being written in the 50s and 60s. The book is about death, dying, denial, evil, good, race, religion, redemption, integration, segregation, immigration, seduction, social class, humankind, God and other subjects discussed or reported about daily in the media. There are 32 chapters in the book. They are arranged in chronological order by date published. The first and last chapter are the same subjects (could be more than one definition of subject or subjects). The book won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1973.

The setting for several of the stories is a farm in Milledgeville. The title of the book is “The Complete Stories” by Flannery O’Connor. One of the great writers of American fiction in the 20th century. She was a self described “devout Catholic and Catholic writer.” In the opinion of many, she was a genius. Hint: In regard to the upcoming presidential election, you may wish to ship over to the chapter titled, “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” When the shock wears off from that story, you can read the rest of the book beginning at Chapter 1.

‘Dependence Day’

Having just celebrated the anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from the British government, and reflecting on the current state of the republic formed after that, I feel it is time to establish a new national holiday: “Dependence Day.”

We need a formal celebration of the success of liberal progressives amongst us who have gradually transformed our government into the “nanny state,” reinterpreting the Bill of Rights as established over 200 years ago, eliminating or modifying some and establishing new “rights” via legislative action rather than the constitutionally prescribed route of formal amendments. Of course, some of these new “rights” for some must be paid for by others, even though it seems questionable that a “right” should encumber someone to provide it for someone else. Who’s “right” is it, and is it really a “right” if someone else has to pay for it?

Picking a date might appear to be difficult, since this process has taken many years. However, since a “Dependence Day” seems entirely opposite from the current celebration, we might as well keep the same date but change the definition to suit the current situation. The old definition no longer applies. And, instead of fireworks, we all gather together somewhere and sing Kumbaya.

Last letter

First I want to thank the editor’s at The Telegraph for publishing a number of letters I have written over the years. This will be my last. I have neither the educational background, experience in the geopolitical realm in which America is now engaged nor the non-American activities which are becoming the vogue in this nation. Homosexuals in the Boy Scouts of America; free and open acceptance of all who cross our borders without regard to race, color, creed or national origin including their intent toward America upon entry. Our military to cater to whatever gender as physically modified, irrespective of that modification. Sanctuary cities where whatever criminal element, regardless the number of times they have been deported, are allowed to reside at U.S. government expense to commit crimes of whatever nature they desire. Need I go on?

I am 85 years old this month and have lived in, was educated in, served in this nation’s uniform, and respected the national government and all governments, state and local, wherein I resided. That is over! Betsy Ross who fashioned our first national flag said, “Shoot if you must this old Grey head, but spare your countries flag.” It is one thing to be defeated in battle and lose your country; it is another to lose it to a Marxist-socialist Islamic Muslim dictator by ignorant, unAmerican citizens.

Rename

It is timely and entirely appropriate that our elected officials rename Forest Hill Road, simply, "Hill Road."

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, July 9, 2016."