This is Viewpoints for Saturday, July 23, 2016
Know Nothing Party
In 1856 the American, or Know Nothing Party, nominated former President Millard Fillmore. The Know Nothing Party had strong anti-immigration and anti-Catholic views. The 2016 Republican Party have nominated a “know nothing” candidate in Donald Trump. Trump knows nothing about foreign nor domestic policy and doesn’t seem to care. Trump also has strong anti-immigration views with his promise to build a Mexican wall and ban Muslim immigrants. The GOP should hope that a polarizing figure like Trump doesn’t drag the Republican Party into the ashheap of history along with the Know Nothing Party.
William D. Carter, Bonaire
Big risk
It is time for Americans to wake up and realize that Donald Trump is a danger to America’s safety. Trump supporters will dismiss this but consider the following. Trump wants to station troops in America instead of around the world because it’s cheaper. Any general will tell you how silly that is. We need bases like in Turkey to take the air war to ISIS. Trump has said he would have to consider defending NATO counties if Russia invades a NATO member country. This is the most reckless statement I have ever heard a presidential candidate make.
If Russia knows an invasion of a NATO country means war with the U.S. they cannot even consider an evasion. If they are not sure, they can invade and the U.S. then has to decided on protection of Europe or World War III. Military bases in Europe and a definite position of protection for Europe and insures peace. Anything else is pure madness or stupidity that risks America’s safety
Clarence Berry, Warner Robins
Third party
Most of you have forgotten all about the Electoral College. The popular vote does not count. The votes for President Obama for his second term will most likely make Hillary our next president. California has 55 votes, while Texas has 38. By just carrying six states, game over. This is just one of many problems facing a Trump win. A lot of the voters wish a very strong third party person would emerge.
Effie Hubbard, Macon
Partners in crime?
A few weeks ago I saw an article in The Telegraph about a couple who was given the “Yard of the Year” award by the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission and The Federated Garden Clubs of Macon. The man is a professional landscaper with his own business. Several times this man was guilty of placing illegal signs on the right of way at the entrance to the North Haven subdivision on Bass Road. The illegal signs were removed by the Public Works Department.
This man won an award even though he should have been cited by the Sheriff’s Office for illegally placing his advertising signs on the right-of-way. Not too long ago two DeSigning Macon members were arrested for removing illegally placed signs on the rights-of-way. When they couldn’t stop us for removing the signs, they trumped up bogus charges against us which were eventually dropped. What is truly ironic is the fact this man won an award for breaking the law while we were arrested for upholding the ordinance against illegal signs on the rights-of-way.
Sheriff Davis sent me an email stating that they had to know who placed the sign before they could be cited. In this case we have proof of the culprit. Go to www.facebook.com/groups/designingmacon for the story at North Haven.
It’s a hopeless battle to stop this illegal activity while politicians, religious groups, etc continue to trash the rights-of-way with their dangerous eyesores.
Cherry Horton, Bonaire
This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Saturday, July 23, 2016."