This is Viewpoints for Sunday, August 21, 2016

Downtown grocery?

Have you noticed that there is no longer a full-service grocery store in downtown Macon? With the many employees of the county, the Medical Center and other downtown businesses, a full-service grocery store downtown is a real need and opportunity. Since Macon already has several Kroger and Publix stores, how about introducing Whole Foods in our downtown?

Chunk of granite

I enjoy watching MeTV on Saturday nights to see just how Superman is going to defend, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” President Theodore Roosevelt once described that “American Way” as “... (T)he virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity and hardihood — the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are the prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get rich quick theory of life.”

After seeing the alleged justification for the recent riots and the burning of “their (stuff)” in Milwaukee because “(T)hey won’t give us none (sic) of it,” I realized that America no longer is a melting pot with the assimilation of new citizens wanting to become citizens and improve their personal lot in life, but rather a chunk of granite with many different factions all believing that they are entitled to what the other has.

Right foot braking lobby

Is there a right foot braking lobby and why should we care? Yes, there is and we should care because in the last 50 years it can be blamed for the deaths of 30,000 people, the life-changing injuries to millions and the financial cost of billions, and this is just in parking lots. Multiply a few times when you add in the roadways.

Who is in this lobby? Those in charge of driver legislation and training and most drivers of automatic transmission cars who have been indoctrinated to use only the right foot to operate both the gas pedal and the brake pedal, based on the scientific proof of, “my father and the driving instructor said it was the only way.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published data indicating that right foot pedal errors cause about 18,000 parking lot crashes each year. The lobby blames it on women and the old drivers. They refuse to even consider that right foot braking on automatic cars is too complicated for the average driver, regardless of age or gender, especially in a moment of panic.

Please for the sake of the pedestrians, cyclists and especially the children, ask those in charge to commit to a scientific study comparing right foot braking with the left foot braking method (www.leftfootbraking.org), or other safer methods of braking.

How do you know?

My Trump sign has disappeared from my front yard — and this is one of the reasons I oppose the Democratic Party. In their eyes, Democrats can do no wrong. They teach that their party is the only true party and that everything must be done to beat down the Republican Party. As a Republican, I would never consider removing a Hillary sign from someone’s yard. I watch the anti-Trump protesters at Republican events and wonder why the Democratic Party can condone such activities — I have never heard of them ever telling their people to cease and desist.

The Democratic Party has become a religion unto itself. Their slogan could easily be “There is no party but the Democratic Party — all others will not be allowed to exist. We know what is right for everyone so do what we say and do not question us.”

My question: Why can we not respect the opinions of each other, even though we do not agree?

Bibb BOE vote

The Bibb County Board of Education has approved a 2-mill tax increase for property owners. No one in their right mind expected another verdict. In my opinion they should have no say regarding our taxes. The board voted for the only solution they ever see by going back to the property owners for more money. Where in turn do these property owners go for more dollars to meet this demand? Does anyone care?

Among this group of property owners are a percentage of people who exist on fixed incomes, who have spent a lifetime paying school taxes and every other fee government could dream up. Certainly, this board, which is commanding an increase, will offer no suggestion where are such funds supposed to emerge. “District leaders say this allows the county to give teachers a 3 percent pay increase, hire additional teachers, and pay bus drivers more.” Again, I plead, where do I go for more?

The Bible states, “There is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Pharaoh, similarly, demanded more of the Hebrews: “Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished” (Exodus 5:11). He didn’t care what they had to endure, suffer or sacrifice. Apparently the board, too, has no concern for such besieged taxpayers. Exceptions are Jason Downey and Daryl Morton, who by their dissenting votes, suggested other means. I hope voters have a long memory. Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.

A parable

A man is involved in a horrible automobile accident. The ambulance arrives and the paramedics ask him if he prefers to go to the gun-free medical facility that is only a few minutes away or the facility which allows open carry of firearms located approximately 30 minutes away. The following week his obituary reads that he “died standing up for his Second Amendment rights.”

One good man?

Back in the 1930s, a visiting preacher, when he got to his main point, would look out at us and say, “Are you listening? Are you sure you are listening?” Could God be giving us this sermon now? Just look at the two candidates we have to chose from. I pray to God that he will give us an answer soon. Don’t we have one “good man” that will step forward? Please pray.

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Sunday, August 21, 2016."