Archive By Section - Opinion
Some basic budget math
In the news, we all hear about the gravity of the state budget situation, a brief review of the basic budget math illustrates why budget writers are so concerned.
Impacts of health care reform
As the focus of the health care reform debate in Washington has shifted from the United States House of Representatives to the U.S. Senate, the "public option" government-run insurance program continues to command the pundits' attention. While the public option warrants significant discussion, I believe the media's fixation on it obscures one of the most dangerous aspects of this legislation.
Methane, profane, inane
How dumb does the government really think we are? Do they take us for a bunch of morons or what? Do they really expect for the American public to just sit back and take whatever they dish out, because that's exactly what they act like.
Future of state’s water at stake
Today, the governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia are set to meet to discuss a water-sharing agreement on the use of Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River system.
Numbers must get better
November revenues for the state continued to follow the trend of the last 11 months although the year to date line appears to be continuing to flatten out.
Borscht Belt or Rust Belt?
I don't know much about sports, football especially. I don't know a fullback from a halfback to a quarterback, but I do know one thing.
Energy help for Georgians
Some $124.5 million dollars in federal stimulus funds are to be distributed to the elderly and to low-income Georgians this year for weatherization home repairs. The program began Nov. 1 and is administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).
One man’s trash ...
I honestly do not watch a lot of television, but I find that I am addicted to two shows: "Dexter" (on Showtime) and "Hoarders" (on A&E).
The challenges still await
On Nov. 22, Buddy Carter was sworn in as the State Senator for District 1 by the Honorable Judge Charles Mikell at Wesley Monumental Methodist Church in Savannah The following is the acceptance speech of Sen. Carter.
Gifts with touch of Georgia
There are some items available with a state government theme that might make thoughtful gifts this Christmas. Here's a few with instructions for ordering:
A stuffed granny goose
Since I was already groaning about Thanksgiving before Halloween even hit, I decided to just forego the traditional Thursday Thanksgiving and had the fete last Saturday.
What next for Eagle Nation?
It has been another stunning turn of events for what was once the envy of all I-AA football programs. The question now is, is the next turn for the worse?
State may seek federal jobs help
As if rising unemployment rates were not enough, Commissioner Michael Thurmond of the Georgia Department of Labor announced this week that the state would likely have to seek federal assistance to meet its unemployment insurance obligations as soon as next month. While those receiving unemployment checks may breathe a sigh of relief, this could mean higher payroll taxes for Georgia businesses.
Feeling very thankful
One never knows what can happen on a routine day. The day last September of 2008 when I got the news by telephone from the radiologist that my mammogram showed an early cancer led to a year that now seems surreal. In retrospect after finishing one year of treatments, the latter six months being an antibody infused every three weeks to inhibit the likelihood of reoccurrence, I hope that I have learned a few things for which I am most grateful.
A little snowy-white lie
I know that Obama hasn't done a whole lot to create jobs, and at this time of year I get really jealous when I think about the folks who know they're gonna have a job at Christmas almost without fail.
Articles by Section - Opinion
Voters send signal to state leaders: We don’t trust you
Georgia voters sent a very clear message in last week's primaries: they don't trust the state's political leadership.
Endorsement raises questions
What in the world was State School Superintendent John Barge thinking when he endorsed the reelection campaign of State Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock)? Chip Rogers, in case you are not aware, is not exactly public education's best friend.
Inside the equalization formula
In the 2012 legislative session, the House and Senate passed a revision of the Quality Basic Education Equalization (QBE) formula (HB 824), which assists low-wealth K-12 school systems in funding an adequate classroom education. While this goal was a good one, some issues with the formula had cropped up in recent years that made it difficult for the equalization funding to achieve its objective. These issues include the following:
Eating mor’ chik’in
Just have to laugh at the folks who are all goin' bananas over Dan Cathy's statement that he doesn't think gay marriage is the way to go.
Peanuts and progress
For a long time I have wanted to build a labyrinth at Sandhill, a spiraling path for intentional walking.
Financial hardships have busted up the Legislature
The crash of 2007-08 that torpedoed the American economy has given us many hard-luck stories to tell.
An alarming downward trend
Even though the headlines led with overall growth for state revenues of 4.8 percent for the 2012 fiscal year, serious issues are coming to light as we review not only June's year-end revenue drop-off but the steady decline of the revenue increase rate over the previous year since December.
Let the Games begin again
Hard to believe, but it has been 16 years since the Olympic Games were held in our state. As I watch the festivities in London, I remember the phone calls I had received over the past year from media members in Great Britain, asking me if I had any thoughts on what was going to happen when the Games began in London. Here is what I told them:
DOT scrap tire programs to reduce waste and save taxpayer dollars
Ten million vehicle tires are discarded in Georgia every year. That's more than 27,000 tires scrapped every single day of every single week. What to do with them; how to pay for it; and how to prevent more than a million of them from being illegally dumped are questions that have frustrated the tire industry, environmentalists, and state and local governments for years.
Arriving at a new station in life
It has been a long and hard journey to a place I always thought was for other folks, "not me." Over a lifetime, one must learn who we are and what we are supposed to be doing down here on this earth. We feel self-important and just know that we are but invincible.
Who really is his daddy?
I know that I laugh a good bit about conspiracy theorists, because some of them just seem to pull fluff out of thin air and come up with a great story to tell the grandkids.
The voters will speak — but will anyone listen?
Do you have strong feelings about gambling, abortions, or the influence of lobbyists?
Taking nothing for granted
I have just returned from a memorable trip to Valdosta. I went there to speak to the Rotary Club. The members laughed in all the right places, which not only was memorable, but downright remarkable. What made the trip even more special were two visits I made while there. I dropped by to see my beloved college professor, Dr. Raymond Cook on his 93rd birthday. My detractors will find little comfort in this but I ...
Another look at ruling
Last week we began an overview of the effects of the Supreme Court upholding much of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That decision upheld virtually all of the act except the mandatory expansion of Medicaid to cover more people (as a gauge, the income level set would cover families of four with up to $33,000 in income or 133 percent of the federal poverty rate.)
Time for city to put ugly episode in rear-view mirror
It appears the city of Springfield is getting its good name back.
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