Free Speech for June 30, 2004

The total plans for the new library expansion are going to end up as a disaster for the library patrons, as was predicted. Anyone who knows anything about estimating knows that the entire library can not be moved and then replaced back for fifty some thousand dollars as has been quoted. At least not be useable by the public, in a new temporary place, for a full year which is the amount of time predicted. Are we to believe that the entire contents of the current library is to be moved into another building and be set up for business right away? And then be moved back after new construction? What happens to all the piles of new books the library normally gets in a full year, not to mention the thousands needed for all the new space? I'm afraid we will learn of these "little problems" one at a time to try and avoid library users from getting upset with poor plans. About the same kind of plans we had for Iraq.

***

I think the television station investigating the Peachtree City building problems should look at the relationship between the Building Department and the builder and see how many gift certificates have been exchanged over the years!

***

The Senate majority leader, Dr. Frist, said today that Vice President Cheney who cursed most foul words at a protagonist (at least in the Senate or in public, they are foul) was due to the election emotions and that it didn't bother him. We have now reached the point where it depends upon who you are (party) as to whether or not anything is right or wrong. All respect for the whole bunch is withering fast. Getting the power and staying there is the cardinal rule.

***

Mr. Editor, what about the 6/23/04 "Free Speech" assertion that "... over 500 out-of-county students in our Fayette County schools...costs our school system over $2,750,000 every year. This should be an issue ..."? How about putting your best bloodhound reporter onto that one? I for one think the Board of Education appears to be getting too cocky, and too free-wheeling, given their high-flying test scores. They certainly have areas yet needing much improvement, as indicated some weeks ago in "Free Speech" by parents with children having special needs, such as those with developmental difficulties like Asperger Syndrome. No way can the Fayette County schools claim to "leave no child behind" in this arena, if they are being truthful about it! In fact, most teachers in the system are in the dark ages when it comes to dealing with special needs children, or any students other than the "All-American" Johnnies and Susies. Certainly our resources should be employed first in giving these special needs children individually what they need before we allow out-of county students to attend, even if they are great sports jocks or beauty queens! Many of the children with special needs have very high IQ scores, but are written-off as "behavior problems" or worse just because they don't fit the teachers' minds-eye "All-American" mold. It doesn't help the situation to keep floating bond issues and building huge "warehouse" schools like the new Whitewater High School monstrosity. Are we really educating all our children to be the best they can be, or are we just processing them through the "warehouse" with enough coaching to score high on the standardized tests?

***

To the giggling individual that informs us of cat habits (which everyone is aware of) that prowl the neighborhoods, let me inform them of the following: 1. A dog or cat owner is a lawbreaker if they let their pet run free; what does this say to the children about breaking laws? 2. Cats that some claim do not harm our environment, eat the birds that we attract to our bird feeders; to me that is harming my environment. 3. Many barking dogs are those that are barking at cats that are permitted to roam free. Dog owners that have dogs that bark excessively have been warned and fined, but I have never seen where a cat owner has been cited for breaking the law. 4. Most dog owners abide by the law by keeping their pets behind fences, which happens to coincide with the law, which is more than most cat owners do. 5. Are we allowed to only obey the laws that we agree with? Another writer concerning us complainers of roaming cats, says we should get off our butts and do something. My question is what are they suggesting? Should I place antifreeze in places around my house to poison anything that drinks it? Should I use my shotgun to eliminate the lawbreaking cat? Should I trap the animal and put it in another county? I do not think any of the above are appropriate actions to take and are against the law. The appropriate action would be for cat owners to obey the laws and keep their pets confined or on a leash as most dog owners do. This is not about whether you are a cat owner or a dog owner, but it is about breaking the law.

***

Now that Bill Bonner is running for a Senate seat, does the law require him to resign from his appointment by Governor Perdue to the Real Estate Commission?

***

Our bars and restaurants still insist on maintaining their rights to spread diseases by trapping tobacco smoke. It seems it is legal to kill people in our community, as long as you use secondhand smoke to do it.

***

When I owned a business in Fayette County I paid honest asset taxes (property) every year by taking an honest inventory of the cost of the assets. Now, I know that in Georgia such taxes are overlooked for certain enterprises (roadside stands, swapping knives, lying about the inventory, etc.) but after noticing the ads in the paper about the enormous assets claimed by the banks in Fayette County, not to mention the insurance and stock selling companies, I wonder why us peons have to pay any tax at all if these guys pay their share. Of course they don't; that is the current American way, isn't it? Greece, Rome, and other empires took thousands of years to become corrupt and become filthy, but we are not going to last three hundred years if we don't wake up.

***

I had to call the Fayette County EMS to take my wife to the hospital a couple of weeks ago and feel compelled to publicly thank the crew who helped us. Fayette County is privileged to have such a compassionate and professional group of paramedics. The thing that bothers me is the way they were treated by the nurse at the hospital. We have a good hospital here in Fayette, but I could not believe the way they treated the crew that had just taken such good care of my wife. The head nurse was rude and contemptuous to the paramedic in front of me and my wife while he was giving his report. She then proceeded to ask my wife for all of the information that the paramedic just gave her as if she did not believe him. We were treated very well by the hospital staff, but the paramedic says they have this trouble all the time. I, for one, am convinced that our paramedics here in Fayette are competent professionals who deserve more respect.

***

I am horrified about the prices of snacks at Tinsel Town. I wanted to buy a couple of drinks and a couple boxes of candy for me and my grandson, but I wound up being charged what you would pay for an entiire meal at some restaurant in town. The price for 2 little boxes of candy, a bottle of water and a small Coke was almost $15, more than what we paid to get in to see the movie. What’s up with that? I think I'll go back to sneaking in my treats or either stop going to the movies. Can someone not do anything about that?

***

One of our banks here in Peachtree City, a member of the fourth largest bank in America, just merged with another large bank. It made an offer about 40 percent higher than the smaller bank's stock was bringing before the news. Who do you think pays for that difference when those stockholders sell that 140 percent stock? Most of it is probably owned by a few people or corporations. Their own estimate says it will be 3-4 years before the payback of the cost, not to mention the inconvenience to the customers. I've changed all my account numbers and access codes so many times now I don't wonder that 40 percent of our population simply can't keep up with all these technicalities that simply make the rich richer. Banks no longer serve their purpose nor their charter. They are moneychangers only.

***

I see where the county budget passed without any questions. I guess it said 156 million expenses and 50 million capital costs. No one is going to such a meeting and be embarrassed by the officials prepared and ready to cut your throat if you ask questions. Wouldn't it be much better if the budget were published, in detail, all of it, so that the citizens could evaluate every dollar of it, and then go to the meeting. Wouldn't even hurt if a disinterested committee explained it for us beforehand. Also the coming expenses known for a couple of years down the road. These people who stay in the functionary offices forever do not represent us after a while.

***

I received a letter in the mail last week from "a neighbor" who decided to remain anonymous. The letter was in reference to our privacy fence that encloses our entire backyard. This fence was put up over eight years ago and a portion of it faces a main road where it endures the wind from passing cars, trucks, school buses, etc. The fence has begun to lean and we, "my family," are aware that it needs to be re-braced; however, we "I" have already contacted Fayette County and have both spoken with and had someone come to my home to look at the fence. They stated as long as there are no "gapping" holes in the fence, or the fence has not fallen down, there is nothing they will or can do. Whomever wrote this letter and spent your 37 cents for a stamp, let me save you a phone call to the county. I have always found that if you have a problem with someone, address it with them directly. Do not send them a letter in the mail without a signature. It will only make the matter worse. If I wrote a letter every I saw something in this subdivision that did not appeal to me, I would be writing letters all of the time, or putting a sign in my yard that reads "This is a private residence, not the county dump"! How about throwing your fast food bags, beer bottles, coke cans etc in your own yard. I guess being one of the first houses into a subdivision also has its disadvantages. Or, please keep your animals under control. Part of the reason our fence is leaning is due to other dogs running loose, jumping on our fence (making it lean) so they can see our dogs. So in closing, to the letter writer who wanted to remain anonymous, if you feel compelled to complain about my fence, feel free to either donate funds (I have a donate can on my porch) or your time to fixing our fence. It will be greatly appreciated. I only hope the person who wrote this letter to me reads The Fayette Citizen and reads this letter. If I knew who you were, I would talk to you in person.

***

Fayette Voters: Go to the polls in July and vote out school board members who can't show up to vote on issues. We need members who will make it a priority to be at school board meetings and have a vote that counts. We need someone in office who is not afraid to make decisions.

***

Re public phones at the local hospital: I live here but do volunteer work at a Griffin hospital. Coin telephones have been removed but in their place are free phones for anyone wishing to make calls other than long distance.

***

Is there a U.S. citizen alive who doesn't think that we treat all prisoners, military or civilian, according to the rules of the Geneva Convention, or at least thought so before the Iraq war? It is one of the things that make us different from almost all of the world. There has to be a limit as to how far we as a nation will go in our treatment of fellow humans; otherwise we certainly are no better than they, and deserve what we get for condoning it. I suggest we don't condone it, even though it happened, and simply fire everyone who planned it or knew about it and said nothing. Otherwise, the only alternative is to subject the Pentagon people, military and civilian, to torture to find out who let it leak and then cut their heads off. How would our generals and high-ranking civilians there stand up to dogs and boardings? 9/11 cannot be used as an excuse to do the same thing to Iraq; Saudi Arabia, maybe, but not Iraq.

***

Well done to the Mayor for taking on the Fedor case against their builder on Channel 5 news. If he could look further into the Building Dept. he might uncover some wasteful bureaucracy and may find the answer to the Fedors’ dilemma. Why does it take Peachtree City 3 weeks or more to issue a building permit when 1 to 3 days is the normal? Why do we have 5 code enforcement officers and only 2 building inspectors? Why were the foundations of their house passed on inspection when the house was built on fill dirt? How was a certificate of occupancy issued when this house had so many problems? Obviously there are some serious problems that need investigating here. Is issuing a citation for an illegally parked boat more important that protecting the public from shoddy builder practices? I look forward to Mayor Brown’s in-depth investigation.

***

Some politicians now proclaim themselves tax cut leaders, but not once have we ever heard them speak out against increasing our sales tax through LOST, SPLOST or other gimmicks. Our very Republican county commissioners renewed the LOST in December 2002 and now want a SPLOST this fall, so let's end the myth that Republicans don't raise taxes. They do, and they lie about it.

***

Iraq, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda ... those are wars we are winning. Would someone ask Mayor Brown what our exit strategy is on the “War on Kudzu”? I think Peachtree City is bogged down in a quagmire. We should not have embarked on this war unilaterally. If I were mayor, I would have brought in Tyrone, Senoia, Thomas Crossroads and other communities to assist us. We have been a sister city to Fayetteville since our founding. Can we ill afford to alienate our county seat in this War on Kudzu? I think we have been terribly misled.

***

I really hope the seventh grade student at Whitewater Middle School gets caught with the yearbook he/she took from my child. I can't believe his/her parents havent bothered to ask where the yearbook they DID NOT purchase came from! Be ashamed!

***

I hope that Channel 5 does not find out that Peachtree City is like all the other metro counties with their tacky building department scandals. It is beyond belief that a person builds a million-dollar home with a Peachtree City builder and finds themselves with a house of the verge of being condemned. How can the PTC building department inspectors miss all of these problems? How can a builder think that someone with an investment this size is just going to accept their bad workmanship? How can a person take money for a structural warranty and not buy the warranty. Well it’s happening in this town and you could be sitting next to them at church on Sunday!

***

In reading through the Free Speech items it is evident that there are few people here who think that whatever they want to do or have shouldn't bother anyone else. Cats should be able to bother people by wandering the neighborhood when it is illegal (most of this kind of people pretend to be law-abiding citizens), some pretend that cigarette smoke isn't dangerous in bars but just in clothing and food stores, that it is OK to preach a particular religion in public schools where there are now numerous religions represented (I know some think everyone is going to Hades who doesn't believe as they do) and they do resent the majority offending their children, some think we have the right to invade and occupy and nation build any country we want to, in order to compensate for just any group who blows up one of our buildings and some planes; however, just those who blew something up and their funders are the guilty ones. Anyway, we will soon lose as many in dead and wounded again as happened on 9/11 (yes, I know few if any of these kids dying are members of families of those prosecuting the war), and lastly, those people making $200,000 per year and paying $15-20,000 per year in federal income taxes are the most vocal about tax decreases being needed, even if we have to cut veteran's benefits, Medicare, school funds to do it. I've never seen any jobs created by those people taking home 180-185,000 dollars per year.

***

I am a senior citizen. During the Clinton administration I had an extremely good and well-paying job. I took numerous vacations and had several vacation homes. Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life change for the worse. I lost my job. I lost my two sons in that terrible Iraqi war. I lost my homes. I lost my health insurance. As a matter of fact I lost virtually everything and became homeless. Adding insult to injury, when the authorities found me living like an animal, instead of helping me, they arrested me. I will do anything that Senator Kerry wants to insure that a Democrat is back in the White House come next year. Bush has to go. I just thought you and your readership would like to know how one senior citizen views the Bush administration. Thank you for taking time to read my letter. Sincerely, Saddam Hussein

***

Can we now make a note for history that one country cannot prevent atrocities by bombing? The Germans tried it, and now we have tried it at least three times, with no appreciable results. We should have gone after the terrorists the same way we went after Hitler and Tojo in WWII, follow the bombing with invasion forces sufficient to find, imprison, and occupy rapidly. We made a drastic mistake but it is still not too late to finish the job. Start the draft, get the men, and go after them. If this causes Bush to lose, so be it. Just pulling out and leaving a few there to help a useless police force and army will only leave everything as it was, except for maybe a thousand casualties and ten thousand wounded.

Free Speech for June 23, 2004

The new format for your Web site is terrific! Much easier to use than old site!

***

I was late to the movie last weekend. Since Sheriff Randall Johnson said he would give a high speed escort to anyone like he did for Lynn Westmoreland, I thought I would give him a call. Oh, never mind.

***

Why do we pay for illegal out-of-county students? It costs the taxpayers of Fayette County $5,500 per student per year. We have over 500 out-of-county students in our Fayette County schools. That costs our school system over $2,750,000 every year. This should be an issue in the Board of Education, County Commission and solicitor races. If the school board would bring the issue to the County Commission, the County Commission could enlist the support of the solicitor who could direct the county marshals to arrest any parent who has students illegally in the Fayette County school. The education of our children is at risk.

***

I try to watch Bill O’Reilly once in a while, since he is the least offensive conservative, just to see what the other side is doing. He justified Rush Limbaugh, and other conservatives in trouble, last night by saying something like this: It is all right for Limbaugh and others to commit atrocities occasionally (take illegal dope, buy it illegally, and desert three wives) providing he says that one shouldn’t do these things. Limbaugh is failing only occasionally and in the overall is a grand man because he says he is. Do as I say, not as I do.

***

The Fayette Community Hospital is one of the best facilities in the metro area and has been most responsive to the needs of the community, so I hate to find fault with anything connected to the hospital. However, the folks at the hospital need to provide public phones for those visiting the facility who do not have cell phones. On two occasions I let someone use my cell phone as they needed to make a call and could not locate a phone in the hospital. I mentioned this problem to one of the volunteers and they said others had also complained about the problem. I realize that Bell South got out of the pay phone business, but there other providers available, and other hospitals have a mix of pay phones and courtsey phones. Seems like this something FCH could easily correct.

***

Being a middle aged man with encephalitis (seizure disorder), I find myself unable to drive. I have lost my driver’s license due to that disorder and find myself walking a lot.

***

Several times I have walked from Gingercake Road to the Banks Station shopping center, which is where I work. I have tried to call a cab for early-morning trips and found out that you can’t get a cab in Fayetteville at that hour unless you make an appointment for that cab several days in advance because all of the cabs are stationed at the Atlanta airport. Cab companies will take you from your home to the airport, though. I guess it wouldn’t make business sense to have a cab available for such a short fare. I understand that reasoning but I don’t understand why the city of Fayetteville has so few crosswalks at major intersections with ‘walk’-‘don’t walk’ signals? Why is it that on some streets you can use an east-west crosswalk but there is no north-south crosswalk at the same intersection? Why is it that within the city there might be sidewalks on only a very small portion of the road and a pedestrian has to walk in the road where there isn’t a sidewalk? Also, why is it a myth that “pedestrians have the right of way” in Fayetteville?

***

I regularly read the Citizen and the opinion columns. Normally I am bemused by the distinctly Southern flavor of many of the opinions, but as of the June 9 edition I am just plain offended. The vicious attacks on liberals (especially in the form of the barrage against Ms. Eska-Thedra) and the sheer racism (targeted towards Muslims) is just too much to handle. I understand that this state tends to be staunchly patriotic, but this witch hunt against all those who express ‘against the current’ (i.e. more liberal) is frightening.

***

Since it is budget time again, the articles, released by the county management, I suppose, are again showing up indicating that our taxes are NOT going up again, or if they are, very little. The Neighbor carried one last Thursday, under a byline but no doubt released, saying just that. If one read the whole article it did indicate near the bottom that the county would be collecting nine percent more money next year than last year due to the index going up. Does the index also include the continuing raising of home values which also raises the dollar amount of taxes paid? Anyway, the headline should have been: “You will pay more taxes again next year in spite of the fact that the rate doesn’t change.” Just because someone says my house is worth more money doesn’t pay my tax bill. I can tolerate this kind of parsing of words from Washington and Atlanta, but not here in Fayette County.

***

I couldn’t help but giggle about the article on cats ‘prowling’ in Peachtree City. When cats dig holes, it’s because they need to go to the bathroom, but they cover them up! Would you rather let these cats do what dogs do and let their poop sit on top of the ground waiting for people to step on it? I think the only creatures you need to blame for digging holes and messing in your flowerpots are the creatures that are actually doing the digging! These would be squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. As for cats killing and disturbing these creatures that dig holes in the ground, if I’m not mistaken, I always thought it was a cat’s nature to do this. Just like it’s a dogs nature to bark at cats. If you don’t like dogs barking, then ask the dog owners to keep their dogs inside the home, not just the cats. It’s selfish that dog owners let their dogs continuously bark throughout the night. Dogs bark at anything and everything! Asking people to keep their cats inside their homes will not solve this problem, I guarantee you that. In conclusion, don’t direct your complaints to cats. They hardly do anything to hurt our precious environment.

***

After reading many months of complaining and whining in Free Speech, I’d like to say something to all of you. You are in control of your own life! Not me, not the local, state or federal governments. If you don’t like something, become an advocate and do something about it. For example, to the person disgusted about the cats roaming Peachtree City: get off your butt and do something about it. To the person who wants recycling in Peachtree City: don’t complain about it, do something! To the person that’s angry over reckless golf cart drivers: divert your anger to a more positive approach and do something! People love to complain but don’t want to get involved. I guess it’s the American way.

***

It really sad the people who tried to use their church membership to futher their political careers, expecially when they do not even know the name of the church that holds their membership. I have lived in Peachtree City and have attended Peachtree City United Methodist Church for over 15 years, yet have never heard of First United Methodist Church of Peachtree City. Of course when that persons entire business career is based on the fact the their father owns the place, what can you expect. Do we really want or need a county commissioner like that?

***

My homework assignment was to reivew a political speech that contains an arguement and point to the use of emotive terminology and errors such as vagueness and ambiguity. I “Googled” Mayor Steve Brown and had many to choose from. Thanks for an easy “A”, Stevie B.!

***

I’ve always been an advocate for private enterprise rather than having the government deliver non-essential services. I guess that means I’m looking forward to playing tennis at the new Peachtree National Bank Tennis Center, once the foreclosure is complete.

***

It is necessary once in a while to say what is happening that is good in our city. Of course, if we didn’t point out the crooks and connivers most of the time they would run the show, however some good things do happen. This is not about lawyers, developers, bars, smoking, HMOs, health costs, over paid fakers, nor politicians: it is about working people. Thank you, to all of you who fall into that category of median income and below. Wish more of you could live in Peachtree City limits. I’m not talking about those on pensions and welfare and subsidized housing. The thank you goes to working people who bend their backs every day to wait on the rest of us. You are the real salt of Peachtree City.

***

Democrats are being kept out of the Senate race in Georgia by using the “stalking horse” Isakson. Horse Issackson, a perpetual “runner,” will hold onto those voters, who can’t stand the “trucker” Collins, until no democrat can gather any support, then relent to Collins. Johnny will be taken care of for his efforts. Sad situation, and shameful.

***

Smoking in public places, I thought, had been ruled as dangerous for everyone who has to breathe the smoke. I don’t think that just because a business is a bar that the smoke is suddenly harmless. Are those places that have bars but are also restaurants (many) going to be exempt from a no smoking ordinance? Any exceptions to public, enclosed, smoking will lead to ignoring compliance with any law very quickly everywhere. No one can stop smoking, drinking, gambling, and lack of morals, but we don’t need to allow it in the streets and in a crowd.

***

It is clear now how the Pentagon and the administration plan to solve the infamous prison problem of maltreatment of prisoners. The pictures made it harder. First, court-martial a few low-ranking people. Then when the pressure builds, fire one low ranking female general, later (coming up) fire a lt. colonel and maybe a colonel. Then a report saying that enlisted men, and senior officers up to general have been fired; not punished, fired, with pension of course. Folks, the pressure was there from the White House and the Pentagon, and it will eventually be testified to. We have ruined, absolutely ruined, our reputation in the world for winning correctly. We should have gone in with 500,000, occupied the place, and not hired thugs to try the easy way.

Free Speech for June 16, 2004

To the person who was complaining about the fast-food resturants in last week’s Free Speech: As a 15-year resident of Peachtree City, I have to tell you that I’ve always received the best service at Roly Poly (it’s on Aberdeen Parkway by the Gold’s Gym). I was hesitant when they first opened, but they are great. Everytime I go in they always make me feel more like a guest than just a customer, as they really take the time to talk to each and every person they serve. I’ve never had an order take over 10 minutes, either. I suppose this is more of a “way to go” for the staff, but I’ve been a loyal customer for about 4 years and it’s about time I started to help spread the word about the store. I genuinely think it is one of Peachtree City’s “best-kept secrets!”

***

Regarding the article Friday about Lt. Col. Bruce Jordan asking for and being denied funds for a person to supervise the resource officers in the schools: If Bruce Jordan and the Sheriff’s Department already have enough money to pay a supervisor themselves, why are they going to the County Commission and the taxpayers asking for money in the first place? Maybe it's a good thing that the commissioners are asking questions about what they do with their money.

***

Now that the big MOOSE has been approved for Fayetteville and the Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Target monstrosities have been approved inside Peachtree City, and Georgia 74 north from Peachtree City will soon have more stop lights than Riverdale, it is time for used car lots, car washes, strip clubs, payday loan stores, Hispanic night clubs, hip-hop joints, and red neck beer joints within the city limits. Not to mention some hotel skyscrapers on the little land left in Peachtree City. We must be sure and make all those guys much more wealthy who bought up this land with insider knowledge. I believe they are called “developers” and city fathers sometimes, and friends.

***

One of the things America (United States) has always been proud of, due to the hard work done by civic-minded people, is our clean water systems for home and restaurant and business consumption. We are in danger of losing this wonderful and healthy convenience in most of our country. Have you noticed how water tastes anymore; I don’t care what the tests show as to its purity. Why is bottled water so popular?

***

I’m certainly not going to get into specific reasons for this here, but let me tell you, I have visited and stayed in many parts of the world, including the Orient, and most of those places, not all, are such that you cannot use the water in the tap. Boiling kills the germs, but not the heavy metals. I'll just bet you Peachtree City and county industry, what little we have, pollutes our streams with heavy metals and gasses. The bad thing is that even if someone took it seriously right now it would take 20 years to persuade anyone to correct it. It took 40 years to get fluoride in our water and practically solve dental decay. Most people alive today don't realize how bad a problem dental decay was before fluoride in the drinking water. Are our water samplers and auditors audited, or do they take samples until they get a good one?

***

An article today indicated that Florida again has a problem with counting votes. They have some new machines however if a recount were to be necessary again, the computers on the voting machines would deny a recount. I guess sending Ms. Harris off to Washington didn't solve that problem yet for Florida; just gave Washington another one. Also, concerning Florida, hardly a week goes by but what an atrocity occurs in their DFCS program. Governor Bush has indicated he has solved the problem at least twice (Mission Accomplished) but apparently very little has been done. In Florida again, the school system continues to be the very worst in the nation. If you don't send your kid to private school (like Bush went to) in Florida, your education is simply going to be inferior. Again the mission for education was accomplished when they put in the lottery, but all Florida did was stop paying school taxes (the retirees had no kids) when the lottery money started rolling in and that has turned out not to be nearly enough. Also 9/11 hurt the hotel/motel tax in Florida. There are many other things wrong with Florida (worse than Atlanta) but Jeb will surely be reelected by the Cubans, sorry governor or not. Results doesn't mean much any more except for lowering taxes.

***

Now, I don't have anything against divorce since it is best under certain circumstances, nor do I have anything against dope addicts, but for someone like Rush Limbaugh, who espouses high morals, toughness on drugs, and no sympathy for those in need; one who says one thing all the time and does another, I find disgusting. His coming third divorce doesn't surprise me as I can't imagine who would want to live with him. I do hope he can stay out of jail as that would make him a martyr. I recognize that many famous and powerful people, even here in PTC, who pray in public, espouse fine beatitudes, are in private life scoundrels (a certain former Speaker of the House); it doesn't make it right.

***

The best newspaper in Fayette County, The Citizen News, completely ruins its being by the radical right columnists who are printed in the Friday edition. There is no balance and just what an 80 percent Republican County wants to hear is printed.

***

Not only is it unbalanced but these columnists selected are all weird. Some are vicious women, some are black columnists just making a living like Rush Limbaugh, some are simply selfish enough to just want everyone to have the same chance they had to make a lot of money, knowing that is impossible for all but the devious, with the small exception of the lucky ones (and the more intelligent).

***

I'm surprised that you would write such unfounded nonsense. No reputable psychological organization endorses or supports so-called "reparation" therapy. They do not support the notion that homosexuality, whether in a strictly gay or in a bisexual sense, is an disease or mental illness that needs to be suppressed or corrected. Most, if not all, of these "ex-gay" organizations are based in religion, hardly a source of unbiased science or technique. They encourage "change through Christ" in means that the aformentioned psychological organizations have deemed dangerous. These "ex-gay" organizations have never posted long-term success rates, use completely false arguments against homosexuality in the first place, and use forms of suppression to "cure" a gay or bisexual. Suppressing one's desire does not equal change. It is little more than lying to yourself.

***

Has anyone noticed the free advertising being provided by the county on their Web site? The firm in charge of "maintaining" the county's web site has their name and www address on various Web pages in the county's Web site. Does this mean that other businesses will be allowed to put their Web address on the county's Web site as well? It's hard to believe that the county would allow a private business to put their name and Web address on the official Web site for the county. Either all businesses should be allowed to put their name and Web address on the county's Web site or none.

***

To those who don't like school activities being held at churches: God wants to be a part of our lives. We were created by him. Regardless of what we want or think, HE IS IN CONTROL! Everything that is or was, was created by him. One day, every knee will bow to God & proclaim he is LORD!

***

Schools are where your children are sent to learn. Schools are not your taxpayer paid day care facilities. When you have children, up to the time the child is school age, you as the parent have been responsible for the where the children will be during your work day, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise to you as to what to do with them during school breaks. What did you do with your children before they entered school? You should not be upset with the area school systems for attempting to reschedule the school year, based upon a better learning environment for your children. Their job is to teach you children, not to work around your schedule and what is convenient for you. The schools are already expected to teach what parents are failing to teach their children: responsibility, morals, values, build self esteem, character during “home” time and provide daycare. What else can you expect from our schools?

***

I just read the article on the new technology going into Whitewater High School and was extremely annoyed. While Whitewater is getting all this new fancy-schmancy tech, the other schools in the county are being severely left behind. The elementary schools are seemingly falling down around their students ears, the classes are crammed with unnecessary amounts of students and teachers are spending hundreds to thousands of dollars out of their own pockets to make ends (in what is an extraordinarily thankless job) meet. The middle and high schools are not much better. Instead of spending so much money on one new school, why not portion it out among all the schools in the county and improve the educational and learning environment?

***

Peachtree City has become a haven for cats running wild, especially at night. They mess in flower pots, they dig holes everywhere, they scratch your car hoods and trunks, and they kill and disturb birds, squirrels, and rabbits trying to feed.

***

Most people not only have one cat they have several. All these cats prowling around disturb the fenced in dogs until they bark all night sometimes. It is impossible to have a cat on a leash and once it leaves your property it is not under so called voice control. If you want cats in town, de-claw them and keep them in the house. We have had several cats in our family using that method, and have not disturbed anyone. It is a selfish thing to continue such goings on. Lastly, why doesn't the dog warden people ever do anything about a cat roaming? Don't they work at night?

***

Did Trey read the same column that Dr. Moffatt wrote? I think not. Your editors should be more discriminating as to what you allow to show up in print!

***

As someone who has lived in Peachtree City for 5 years, I too have seen a change. I agree with the previous letters from my fellow free-speechers. Slow but it's coming. I am from Long Island, which is a prime example of overdevelopment "gone real bad." You get the congestion and filth, the crime, the lower property values, and the dreams you have worked hard for go down the drain. I hope all the powers-that-be wake up before it's too late, and that as citizens, we are morally responsible to cast our votes accordingly. Otherwise, we will have no one but ourselves to blame because of our apathy and ignorance. I also commend the Fayette Citizen for offering this venue for us to be heard!

***

Just counting the days until our so-called mayor is retired by the next election.

***

I recently moved to Peachtree City. This is the best place I have ever lived. But, there is one thing I don't understand and concerns me greatly. Why doesn't this city have a recyling center for plastic bottles? The area I live in does not have curbside service available and there is no place to take the bottles. I propose that a facility be designated by the city for plastic bottle recycling. We all need to be recycling everything we can to preserve our ecology.

***

Here's a question for some of our political candidates: Did you cast a vote against increasing our sales tax (SPLOST) in 1998 and 1999? If you did, have you ever spoken out publicly against jacking up our sales tax?

***

I wish to thank the Swanbrook Apartments for having a great looking entrance. It always looks good and on special days is great. It always makes me smile or think of how important the day is. Thank you.

***

Do you know me? You should. I'm the guy walking on the golf cart path in PTC that you blow by all the time and almost run over. One of these days your carelessness is going to come back and bite you when you actually hit me with your cart because I can't get out of the way in time. Guess what happens then? That's right, you get to make me very, very, wealthy when I take you to court and sue you for all you're worth. It doesn't have to be this way. Why do you drive so fast on paths filled with children and older folks? Why can't you take a relaxing ride instead of driving the way you do on Hwy. 74? And if one of your dopey kids is actually driving and hits me, and they happen to be underage? That's right, you've hit the trifecta and I get it all (your money, your house, and your future insurability). Please slow down and think about somebody other than yourself for a change ... or I'll see you in court and it will be too late to have this "conversation" then.

***

Since the town of Peachtree City is again paying for things for the old Development Authority, doesn't that make them very likely responsible for the million dollars the Authority owes from the past? I think the legal advisor for the city needs to be more on the ball and shouldn't have recommended those payments recently nor allow the tax money to go to this outfit. They failed, messed up, and should be dissolved.

***

In response to yet another one of Mr. Hoffman's letters to the editor concerning Dr Moffatt's column, get a life! I read Dr. Moffatt's monthly columns and find them to be informative and helpful to parents of infants to teens. Find something better to do with your time and lose the vendetta against Dr. Moffatt. By the way, they offer several classes at the recreation center: Painting? Ballroom dancing?

***

Have you stopped to ask who is paying the lawyers involved in the fight between the county commission and the sheriff's office? That's right; every Fayette County resident. Just like the fight between the county and the cities. Believe me, as a lawyer myself, I can tell you the fight is not cheap. First, untold amounts of money where spent fighting the cities in court. If you live in one of the cities, you where extended the privilege to pay for the lawyers on both sides of the case. Now, it is the sheriff's office that is the target of the Dunn legal fund. How much money will be spent to try to deny the sheriff his shed? How much will be spent trying to force the sheriff to place the money seized from drug bust into the county commissioners' hands? I bet the commissioners could higher a whole busload of lawyers with that money. Can you imagine the women's department of Belk's suing the men's department? Who wins? The lawyers. When government bodies fight, we all, every taxpayer, lose. We cannot win. Every bill, for every minute spent, is paid by us.

Free Speech for June 9, 2004

James Baker’s dismay over the Fayetteville City Zoning and Planning Board’s bowing and scraping to one of their Mad Paver’s latest shenanigans is surprising only insofar as it appears to characterize the late awakening of most of the city’s residents as to what’s been going down for years now. It appears they only rise to the level of strong indignation when their own neighborhood is being threatened. Fayetteville’s city fathers have been prostituting the city sewage system on behalf of their Mad Pavers for years now. The good citizens had a golden opportunity to give at least two of the Mad Pavers’ pet city fathers the boot in 2003 elections, but did not do so. One can only conclude that either apathy reigns supreme, or the good people of Fayetteville actually want to be the next Riverdale. I just pray that all the county commissioners continue to stand tall against these big-money developers until enough citizens wake up to what’s happening. Just look at Clayton County’s downhill plunge once developers owned the county commissioners’ majority: Hello, high-density housing and overwhelming “diversity,” goodbye fine school system and anyone who can afford five acres in Pike, Lamar, Monroe, etc. counties. Next, goodbye anything historic as everything gets renamed for all of the current politicians, just like Atlanta. Actually, we need only to look at Peachtree City’s recent but late struggle to free itself from the yoke of “The Developer” to see what a mess citizen apathy permits; and, the final chapter hasn’t been written there either, I’m afraid. Greed in its rawest form isn’t pretty. Citizens’ apathy about the long-term effects of unbridled development is even uglier!

***

I see where the local political action committee is now advertising in the paper for new members. Why on earth is this necessary here in Peachtree City for a few constitutional jobs that are part-time and don’t pay much? Those jobs simply aren’t very important since we have well-paid professionals who run the day-to-day business of the town. Is it just a jumping-off point for ambitious politicians who want to use the position to become known?

***

In response to the person complaining about the so-called “problem of religion in schools” who said the following in the last sentence of the article in the June 2 issue: “The pressure the kids are dealing with now, imagine what it would be like if there was religion in school.” Indeed, you obviously do not realize the incredible irony of your statement. Introducing/increasing religion in public schools would probably straighten them out. But you won’t have to wait for that to happen because there is a strong and growing backlash to secular/humanistic trends in public schools and many churches have caught on to the problem and are busy “putting education into the church” (day care, kindergarten, etc) thereby showing that, one way or the other, they are determined (and rightfully so) to keep religion and education united for the benefit and future survival of the human race!

***

The government took religion out of the public schools and the public schools have largely failed. Churches are adding school to their benefits and are (largely) succeeding in producing high quality humans. Which would you like to send YOUR kids to? Moral of the story: If you can’t put religion in the schools, then put the schools into the church. Then remember this lesson when the government (man-made law) gets involved with other institutions you would like to remain successful.

***

As an alumni of FCHS, I can say it’s not just some parents that feel uncomfortable about religion being pushed in county schools. While a student, I always found that educators in this county pushed Christianity. As many of you have suggested to “just leave,” that is not an option for students. Anyone heard of separation of church and state? If you want your child to have a religious schooling, then enroll them in private school. I commend the parent for speaking out on this.

***

Other than a school day or two off for a few holidays, school should start the second day after Labor Day and end in late May. If a few Saturdays are necessary, no problem. All students should be allowed one week off, other than the holidays, of their choosing for vacation. Kids should either be in school or out of school. Parents work most of the time in general, and have a hard enough time arranging for the summer off for their kids. It is a real hassle to arrange for kids numerous weeks during the year. Some can make no arrangements, which is bad. Why do I get the feeling that all this malarkey is for the benefit of the Board of Education and its employees instead of the customer, the parents and kids? It seems that the customer is never right these days.

***

My PTC neighbors and I join together to ask the following burning question: Is there a fast-food restaurant in PTC that can get the drive-through window order correct on the first, second or third try? (We know of a limited few who can get it right on the fourth or fifth try.)

***

Response to Trey Hoffman’s letter: Is this guy for real? Seems to me like he has some kind of vendetta against Dr. Moffatt. He twisted everything Dr. Moffatt said, and the comment he made about smoking being “natural” was downright ridiculous and laughable. Everyone I’ve ever watched try to smoke for the first time almost choked to death. Until he has an intelligent comment, he should keep his comments to himself!

***

I know that I’m not the only Peachtree City resident to notice drastic changes in our city. As times change, so do cities. We grow and expand, but we aren’t supposed to be doing that in a good way? Peachtree City is rapidly becoming what Fayetteville once was and Fayetteville is rapidly becoming what Riverdale once was. Wake up, city planners. People moved to this area to get away from congestion and riffraff. Instead, they plan to four- and six-lane Ga. Highway 74 where it just needs turning lanes and not to mention the mess headed towards Wal-Mart on Ga. Highway 54. If we wanted all that we would have moved to the north side. I avoid Unbearable Parkway (Barrett Parkway) and Riverdale for that very reason. We don’t need another station in Peachtree City and our city has more than enough harmony in its village. Let’s preserve the safe, clean city we have. I am glad that we have the police officers that we do. They provide a great service to the city. I do, however, have a problem with the “safety awareness” ticket festivals they frequently celebrate. Let’s call it for what it is: Meet your quota quickie.

***

Thank God everyone does not dress to everyone else’s expectations or moral beliefs! I do not consider myself a to-the-times dresser! I do wear appropriate clothes when the time is right; however, I feel that God gives us common sense on what to wear and when to wear it. If attending church relies on what a person wears, then there should be a dress code indicated at that church, but if not then the persons who are having such devastating problems related to what others are wearing and cannot concentrate on what they go to church for in the first place need to create their own church and limit the members with whom they choose to attend. You see, God does not choose his members. It is man who makes these silly judgments against each other. The persons who sit in church on Sunday mornings and compares the article of clothing someone has on to his own or to others is obviously not in church for the right reason. Dare I say: Hypocrite?

***

News flash: God doesn’t care what you wear as long as you are there. Sometimes people can’t afford fancy clothes, but rest assured hell will be full of sharply dressed folks. Now the beer shirts maybe are bad but if someone shows up for church service in one I wouldn’t turn them away and I don’t think Jesus would either.

***

Sunday clothes have gone away as The Church is finally realizing that they need to be doing the things Jesus did and not worrying about impressing your neighbor. Did Jesus wear a suit to church? He didn’t even go to church! It isn’t a matter of disgrace to wear jeans and shorts to church. It is the convictions of that person’s heart. Where did Jesus go? He went to where all the “dirty” people were, the ones who needed Him. He went among the sinners to win them and die for them. No, I ask you: Is your Sunday church clothes going to get you into Heaven? Absolutely not. Follow your convictions and allow for others to have theirs. Take your Sunday dresses and Sunday suits, go to the inner cities, give food and clothing to those who have nothing and see how well you are accepted. What, don’t want to get your Sunday clothes dirty?

***

In response to the irate individual complaining about the Georgia public schools infamous truancy policies: I sympathize and agree. It’s yet another appalling example of our public servants attempting to fix the “symptom” while ignoring the “cause.” Might want to consider asking your church to open a school, then take some time some Sunday (when you are not working) to take your kids there, then watch the results.

***

Officer Reeves, you did an excellent job as the school resource officer at McIntosh High School. I hope that you will continue to have a positive impact in the community as you did in the school. Police officers like you make an impact that will be remembered for a long, long time!

***

To the embarrassed individual who feels reluctant to return to Handley Park baseball fields due to no restrooms: I have to ask, What on Earth did you do for the last two years? Maybe I don’t want to know!

***

I keep reading all these stories about the helicopter hangar that the sheriff built on the new courthouse property. It seems to me that when you get right down to the bottom of everything, he just decided to do something that would land most of us in court or maybe even jail. I’d be real sore if someone stuck a big shiny metal building in back of my home without asking. You can be sure that if they did ask I would say no. I bet if anyone else came home and found a building on their property they could get it torn down and the sheriff’s office would be the one to make sure it got done and whoever put it up was punished. I have to drive by that ugly thing pretty often. We were told when they built the new courthouse and jail that the whole area would look nice. It did until that aluminum thing went up. Now we have a huge monstrosity and a noisy helicopter flying in and out at all hours right in our backyard. I don’t blame the commissioners for what the sheriff did and I’m glad they are trying to keep their promises by having him take it down. They are braver than me in being willing to take on the sheriff.

***

To the person intimidated by the presence of PTC police when they leave the local bars and restaurants: First, I am sure glad to hear they are out there watching you and I am also glad to hear you are intimidated by it. My son was recently hit by a drunk driver who unfortunately escaped their notice. Did you know that after 10 p.m. at night (every night), one of every 10 cars you see is being operated by an intoxicated driver? If you are not breaking the law, you have nothing to fear, so what makes you so uncomfortable? Second, please let me know what other police departments you referred to that do not allow such practices so I can contact them right away and beg them to start. Third, what kind of “sale to get the next account” could you be referring to? This is totally puzzling. Did you write this while you were in the bar? And lastly, you say, “I am getting to the point that I don’t even want to be a patron of any bar and restaurant in PTC for fear of the police.” To which I respond, “Wonderful. Please stay away. They have accomplished their mission!”

***

To the writer who was searching for any type of positive comment to come out of a Democrat, try this one. George W. Bush is not totally stupid. He does have a pulse.

***

Twenty years ago when my family moved to Peachtree City, we were glad of the cart path and the opportunities that it presented for recreation and exercise. As a prior Free Speech contributor mentioned, they had a run-in with a dog loose in the area. I have had the same experiences and feel that the law that requires that pets be kept on a leash be enforced and heavy fines given for those that do not abide by this law. Interpretations of the law states that pets be under voice control. Yeah, tell me about that after suffering several incidents where dogs come at you and their owner says, “They won’t bite.” Not knowing their pet as well as they think they do, I do not take it kindly when a dog charges toward me. This past Tuesday in our neighborhood a small girl riding her bicycle was injured and required treatment at the emergency room of the Fayette Community Hospital due to a dog that a couple was to have under voice control which charged her causing her to fall and injure herself. Another fact is that cat owners allow their pets to roam without control. When you see a home that has the garage door up about six inches, you know they are violating the leash law by permitting their pet to run free to stalk neighbor bird feeders for live food. I would appreciate it if the law was either repealed, so I could let my pet roam, or enforced so violators would get message to keep their pets on a leash and not just under voice control.

***

To the gentleman complaining about another unleashed dog attacking his dog on the golf course and the owners of the unleashed dogs: Rule number one, no dogs allowed on the golf course. Moral of the story: Follow the rules or suffer the consequences.

***

I’d like an apology to my 12-year-old daughter for the abrupt way an older couple yelled out “too young” as she was driving the golf cart. What kind of leadership skills are you trying to instill in this generation if all you can do is yell out negative and condescending messages? You should be ashamed of yourselves. I was in the front seat of our golf cart while she was driving, and doing a great job, by the way, when your cart came around the corner and you yelled at her. She did nothing wrong. My advice to you is to take time getting to know the future leaders of tomorrow. They want to be loved and accepted, not judged and ridiculed.

***

Citizens of Peachtree City: I know we are way past the days of gay marriage issues, but I would like to take this moment to point out that this is not an issue that exists solely outside of our town. Maybe you really haven’t noticed, but there are many lesbians and gays around here. Including myself! So stop talking about homosexuals, especially lesbians, as though they’re some fabled creatures that you can only speculate about, never given the “now” moment except in anti-gay marriage speeches.

***

Someone wanted to know last week if Democrats ever said anything positive. Well, here are some things positive: Let’s all attend Sunday School next week at the Riverdale Mosque and then after lunch go to the Jewish afternoon services. Be sure and take the kids. The following Sunday we can do the Hindu Shrine and the Confucius Memorial gathering. Of course no atheists or agnostics may come. We will positively be entrapped in Afghanistan and Iraq for years and when we leave, it won’t have changed one iota. That is a positive statement. It is positively very likely that the Fayette 100 bed hospital will increase its employees from 800 to 1500 employees within five years, unless they add a third floor, then it will be 2000 employees. Room rates will go to $2500 per day, plus everything else. It is positive and sure that our dollar’s worth of taxes that we pay here in Fayette County will increase as much as double within five years. Also, 200 more millionaires will be made here, and any number of civil employees will be retired at grand wages in time to double or triple dip. There are a lot of other positive things but time runs out for me.

***

What exactly makes a kid bad? Is there a checklist I am missing from my college days? There are children in this great land of ours who are bad in many ways. However, are we as adults free of this description? As a high school teacher, I experience your daily dose of crazy and outlandish antics. The difference is that I accept the challenge of dealing with these behaviors. These behaviors, mind you, should not designate these children as bad, but as children with bad behaviors we must strive to help change. Everyday I hear teachers state they do not want certain students in their classes because they are bad. Why? If we do not help them, who will? In opposite discourse of these individuals are the ones who reach within their blessed souls and strive to touch these children in any way possible. As the school year ends, I find it crucial to point out the love and compassion certain individuals show towards their more difficult students. Thank you to the resource officer who creates a drive within a child, against the odds of poverty and abuse. Thank you to the young coach who respects the work of teachers who pray for a connection with the difficult children in any way possible. Thank you to the quiet special education teacher who works arduously to gain insight into the children others deem bad. Finally, thank you to the principal who supports his teachers and embraces their eccentric approaches to reach the children. Although we may not always be able to dig deep within ourselves to give children every benefit of the doubt, we should go down fighting. All teachers should model themselves after compassionate leaders like Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King. Would they have denied a child the God-given right to learn their methods of love and compassion because someone decided he or she was bad?

***

The only positive comment I have heard come out of the mouth of a Democrat was: “I really like the way Republicans are continuing to reward the wealthy and ignore the poor.”

***

I don’t think that the new government drug cards are hard to understand. All one needs is a powerful computer hooked to the Internet, with a special program to sort the 80 companies who offer them and what they offer. Old folks will also need to be computer literate and able to see well since the government 800 numbers are locked up for weeks. First, you sort for a druggist locally who will honor which ones of the cards. Then, you sort the cards according to the medicine you need. None of them will have all the medicine you need. Then, you sort them for prices since some give big discounts, but off of bigger costs than others. Then, bottom line costs must be compared to see which is the best bargain. Then, one must see when the last increase in each medicine occurred, which so far has been more than the original 10-20 percent discount the government negotiated. Many cards do not offer generic prescriptions which leaves the cost about twice what the generic you are now taking costs you. Then, you need to compare Canada’s mail costs to your final selection. But the problem here is that Canada doesn’t work on the software. The medicine shouldn’t cost over twice what it did when the law was passed, once the variables are sorted. Of course if you have some kind of drug insurance, as we do, the software doesn’t take that into consideration in comparing what your insurance costs you, plus what you pay for the medicine, less the government discount. There are several other situations involved, but most people give up about now.

***

Now that the future of the volunteer military force is probably dead, particularly due to our Guard and Reserves spending time, now going on two years, in a place with no barracks, no family, no amenities, poor food, and disease, it appears that a military draft is going to be necessary within two years, or less. Looking around Fayette County at our 18- to 30-year-old men and women who would become subject to the draft, that doesn’t look too promising either for a variety of reasons. This time, no exceptions can be made as to who gets drafted since we have shown our Guard and Reserves no mercy during the current fiasco. Not even physical defects can provide a deferment, and certainly not college students, dependent families, religious zealots, attorneys, doctors, and business executives, as was provided in great numbers during the last draft. We will have destroyed the effectiveness of our man and woman power in the armed forces before the current hostilities are over. What do we do then without a draft?

***

Another little Iraqi problem unforeseen: In order for capitalism and democracy to work in Iraq, all of the land has to belong to someone and not to the government. In Iraq currently some of the land, in fact much of it, has up to three legal deeds: One from an old king of long ago; one from the revolution; and one from Saddam’s government. Usually more than one person or company holds deeds to the same land. Many rightful owners are dead and no one knows the relatives. Will anyone there ever be happy with any solution? How can banks, if they are ever formed, loan a person or company money on the property in order for the country to expand, when it has three deeds maybe to three people or companies? Worse yet, none of the information from any of the deed issuers is computerized. What exists is on scraps of paper, some unsigned, and none recorded. This is just one of hundreds of problems to solve. It took the U.S. about 100 years to straighten out the French and Spanish grants here. I think what they need is a dictator to just edict all of these problems away.

***

Free Speech for June 2, 2004

In response to the writer complaining about Whitewater’s chorus concert: Thank goodness these children are praising the Lord. God is everywhere, and that includes the schools.

***

In response to a free speech article recently, I too have been disturbed about school concerts and such being held at churches. This also happened with my daughter’s elementary school. Religion should not be any part of school. My family and I are not strong religious people, but we do believe in God, and we pray, but I find in Fayetteville some Christians are very negative and judgmental to those who are not as committed to God or to those who do not attend church. Isn’t it a sin to judge people, no matter what? Aren’t the Christians taught that we are all God’s children? We do not have to go to church to believe in God, or to pray. My 14-year-old daughter has a lot of conversations with children at school, regarding a lot of religions, not just Christian. When she comes to me and is confused as to why some are shocked that she does not attend church, I explain to her that people believe in what they want to believe. She should not be ashamed of who she is or what she believes in and they are no better than she is because they are more faithful to God. My step-father-in-law is Jewish. I am never negative; actually I encourage my children to learn about other religions. The pressure the kids are dealing with now, imagine what it would be like if there was religion in school.

***

To the person complaining about the church location, prayer and choices of songs sung by Whitewater Middle School: Get a life! You got to be kidding me! Your complaint was a waste of time just to read much less that you wrote it! If you felt so uncomfortable there in a church then you should have gotten up and left. And if you were uncomfortable there then imagine how uncomfortable you are going to feel after you have lived out the time the good Lord has given you here on this earth. You might want to consider spending a little more time in a church, you might actually learn something that will save your life for eternity. John 3:16-21.

***

The recent editorial about the school music concert got my goat! Please advise the writer to think about taking a music class to enlighten his thought process. I appreciate his notion that kids “use” religion too much as an excuse for their bad behavior and adults should take note and appropriate action. However music teaches even the most basic listener (myself included) that this is one subject that should never have any boundaries or restrictions artistically. That should include any themes chosen or the proper location for delivery to an audience. Please respect the right of our music teachers to challenge our children with songs that they feel touch the hearts and minds of everyone involved.

***

Simple solution about going to Whitewater school chorus concert and being offended about it: Stay home. I think it’s time we put Christianity back into our schools, whether it be in songs or pledges or whatever. The problem these days doesn’t seem to be our children getting upset about singing songs from “O, Brother, Where Art Thou.” The problem is with the adults, not the children. You don’t see children writing in and complaining. If we don’t bring more Christianity back into our lives and our schools, and yes, our government, we may as well start living and acting like the people in Iraq.

***

Hey! A lot of us LIKE Michael Boylan. He says it like it is. What did Ann Landers used to say? “Wake up and smell the coffee.” Well, that’s what Michael Boylan does.

***

In response to the person whose daughter and friend were attacked by the dog on Kimzey Court, the pepper spray is a great idea for attacking dogs, and call Animal Control. The owners will have to pay to get their dog out of the pound. Maybe that will send a message, maybe not. My dog was recently attacked on our golf cart by dogs whose careless owners had their dogs off leashes when they clearly should have been on. They came out of nowhere, viciously biting at my dog on the golf cart and one of them ending up clamping its jaws down on my dog’s face so that it took some time for the owner to remove the dog. They were not under voice control whatsoever. After removing my dog from the situation, I returned to tell these people a thing or two about having their aggressive dogs restrained. No apologies, just excuses. There is no excuse for owners who do not take responsibility for their animals. I should be able to go for a walk, run or ride on the cart path without having to worry about being attacked by an aggressive dog. To all dog owners, electric fences don’t always work. If you know your dog escapes the electric fence, get a physical fence. If you know your dogs are aggressive around other animals and people, keep them on leashes when out and get ones that will properly restrain them in those situations. Buy a collar or a muzzle.

***

What is entrapment as defined by the PTC police department? They seem to get away with it on a daily basis by employing certain practices not allowed in other cities’ police departments. I am one of the many citizens who is hounded by PTC for no reason, other than an opportunity for them to make another sale. Basically, they are sales people trying to get the next account by any means necessary. For example, if I meet with friends for dinner and drinks after work and walk out in the parking lot to find a cop parked [nearby], I’m a bit uncomfortable. It infringes upon my right to eat a meal without being paranoid, and it infringes upon the business owner’s rights to do business. If the police continue to stalk his parking lot, he is going to lose business. PTC seems to go on the theory of I’ll make you guilty. As soon as you leave the parking lot, I’ll pull you over for “crossing the white line” or “no use of blinker” or “too wide of a turn” or something generic just to get the unethical sale. I am getting to the point that I don’t even want be a patron of any restaurant or bar in PTC for fear of the police.

***

Do you think there is a reason the Peachtree City Police Department may have a “high” turnover rate? Could it be that almost all PTC officers have a college degree, some in education, forensic science, Christian science, etc. which makes them qualified for more than police work? This might also be the reason that very picky federal agencies, like the DEA and FBI, recruit officers out of PTC. If our officers are good enough to work in a federal capacity, I wonder why they are not good enough for some of the citizens of PTC? Our officers work just as hard protecting and serving PTC as the ones in other cities, like New York or Washington D.C., but for some reason they are not treated with the same respect. Why are the officers in New York considered heroes, but the ones that work in our own backyard not? The answer is simple. The bad experiences that some have, or the mistakes that may be made by our human officers, are the only stories we hear about. We don’t hear about the good things that are done daily, because that is considered their job. I would rather have officers that are good enough for federal agencies working in PTC, than those who can’t leave because nobody else will hire them, wouldn’t you? Without Chief Murray and the department’s high standards, that is who we might have protecting us. Then we would have something the complain about!

***

Has anyone ever heard a positive comment come out of the mouth of a Democrat? Please print if you ever hear of one.

***

I’m a little disappointed in Fayette County’s resources for single mothers. I went to high school in Fayette County, and thought I’d return once I finished college. Recently, I did graduate from UGA and moved to Fayetteville for employment. I am entry-level, and have two small children that I raise alone. Being entry-level, I am able to pay most of my bills, but not all of them. I am draining my savings account to pay for daycare, which will cost me almost $200 per week this summer. I considered asking for a small pay cut so I would be eligible for child care assistance with DFCS. Upon contacting them, I learned that they had quite a lengthy waiting list, and the person on the top of the list had been there for over two years. Now I’m considering a second job, but then I’ll have to find childcare at night. I feel like Fayette County’s inability to help a recent college grad with kids is a subtle way of making sure people like me don’t live in this community. I am a hard-working, law-abiding citizen who only needs a little help. Now, as my student loans are due to be repaid, I’m beginning to think that I would have been better off dropping out of school, living in the housing authority, and receiving welfare.

***

My child has played for the past two years at Handley Park baseball fields in Tyrone and there are still no acceptable restroom facilities or concession stand. I think it is very poor planning to have all those fields built and not plan to have basic needs. I am embarrassed to have teams come from other parks to play in Tyrone because of the poor facilities. Why wasn’t this addressed BEFORE the fields were built? We won’t be back to play in Tyrone next year unless someone in the city management can get it together and take care of the basics first, not last.

***

At last, the sorry Georgia public school system now has to get very harsh (with help from their buddies on the Hill) by fining and locking up parents for unexcused absence days of five or more. The school system is so sorry, and the dropout rate is so high, that now these unfair, drastic measures (scare tactics), and misuse of political power will be enforced onto the parents and or legal guardians. I can just imagine the future headlines in the newspapers now: “Fayette County building third new jail to hold hundreds of parents incarcerated for violating new state truancy laws.” “Hundreds of unsupervised teens running wild on the streets of Fayette , Spalding, and Coweta counties, due to parents jailed for violation of truancy laws.” “The state of Georgia has become the latest target of talk shows pointing fun at the most ridiculous truancy law passed in the whole country.”

***

Everyone vote in the July election for the contested school board post. We need to put someone new in office who will listen to the taxpayers and vote accordingly.

***

To the 17-year-old who asked the question, “What do we get for going to school?” and remarkably answered, “Nothing.” Oh, my! How about an education, how about a better chance at success, how about something that many other children around the world would thank God for having? I hate to say this, but this is another example of why our children need some discipline, some life lessons in responsibility and better yet, some parental involvement.

***

Sheriff Johnson sure has opened a big can of worms with the “Sheriff: ‘Don’t tear down my shed’” article. Isn’t it amazing that the county can build structures without a permit? God forbid if a citizen were to do so; the structure would be torn down without any second thoughts. It appears we the citizens are dealing with double standards.

***

Maybe if the county commissioners had gone out and put their lives in danger to collect the drug money, that might give them the right to say where it goes and how it is spent. Until they do, they need to leave the sheriff’s department alone.

***

Why does the airport, the Tennis Center, and the amphitheater need to have money from taxes collected from hotels and motels here in Peachtree City? Couldn’t we use that money better to reduce our property tax or to improve our schools? I’m afraid we use these authorities to pay people to run them far in excess of what we would pay city employees to run them. An even better way would be to lease these facilities to private enterprise. Those people wanting to play tennis, see has-been entertainers, and fly little planes, wouldn’t mind paying a fair amount for the privilege. Don’t mix up taxes, no matter where they come from, with high-paying pie jobs.

***

Can anyone explain why I, a Fayette County taxpayer and Peachtree City resident, had to pay $10 to get into the Peachtree City baseball fields to watch my grandson play baseball this past weekend? Mayor and city council of Peachtree City, please stand up to this abuse of recreational property that my tax money helped build.

***

We need to give some consideration to the amount of excessive hype being used in our great country these days. A football player gives up a large salary to serve his country and the occasion is so rare that great hype is portrayed by politicians and others to make this man a hero. The player apparently gets killed by our side shooting each other and some idiot embarrasses what the player has accomplished by awarding him a great battle medal after he was killed. When the truth emerges, all become quiet and want everyone else to forget the stupidity, by the army wanting heroes so bad, that they lie to get him the medal. Hundred of sports heroes and others served in WWII with the two- to four-year service ruining many of their careers. We are not going to get away with this stuff much longer where the people in charge who, having never served when they could have, are sending volunteers to die and get wounded who come from our working class primarily. They certainly don’t deserve to die any more than others’ sons. This same sort of hype is being used by corporations and our financial institutions and others to prop up our false economy, built on shuffling paperwork, and going into horrific debt. It must stop.

***

Weapons of mass destruction. Hijacked airplanes flying into Twin Towers, Pentagon, field in Pennsylvania. Destruction, loss of 3,000 innocent lives, buildings, airplanes, memories of murdered loved ones, continuing health problems. Destruction of a life time. Need I say more?

***

Maybe I complicate things too much but I find the administration’s plan for Iraq a little hard to believe and that it is possible to accomplish what they plan. Turning over the government to appointees in about four weeks, even though we will be there, makes no sense. Electing a semi-permanent government in six months sounds fishy. Are women going to be allowed to vote? Eighteen-year-olds? Can they write or push buttons? Who can count the ballots? Will the Shiites vote for Kurds and Sunnis? Are they all going to be on the ballot? Won’t the Shiites elect all of their people since they are the majority by far? How will that fly? Where are all of the jobs going to come from in the next year for all of these people, most of whom are not working now? Will we just pay them anyway out of our taxes. There are scores of other problems with similar details to resolve in this nation building situation. Personally I think we are just trying to get by the next American election and nothing much will change in Iraq for years.

***

If we have a housing bubble burst soon, as some are predicting, will Fayette County then reduce our home values in order to reduce our taxes? I don’t think they can raise the mill rate much more after they get through spending this year. Doesn’t the state have a limit on the mill rate? Maybe it is time to spend the tax money on citizens’ needs rather than for high-paying jobs. It would be interesting to know what the projected capital expenditures, in total, are for 2005-2006, the depreciated costs per year, not the expenditures. Who knows that?

***

I see where the local conservatives are proposing a new tax for regional transportation, a big one, whatever that is. Also, a new tax or bond (same thing) for schools. Now that the new library tax has been approved, in addition to the motel/hotel tax already in effect, and our housing tax going up 8 to 10 percent (dollars, not millage rate) every year, it is time that those old free-spending Democrats be reelected to tone down our spending a little. My goodness, I don’t know just how bad it would be if the Democrats actually had a candidate and were to win by some accident, maybe by the Supreme Court intervening.

***

Anything less than 10 dead in the same day in Iraq or Afghanistan doesn’t even make the first 10 minutes of news anymore, nor the front page of the newspaper. We apparently are putting our compete trust in our leaders and hope that it won’t affect us personally. I don’t suppose anyone from Peachtree City has been lost there anyway.

***

Polarization between the two major political parties has begun to destroy our nation. It makes no sense that the majority of both parties always see things the same way on identical subjects. Woman’s choice: Nearly all Democrats are for it, nearly all Republicans are against it. Taxes: Raise taxes if they are needed, or, no tax would be better. Judges should be liberally minded, judges should be conservative. Laborers should be paid a living wage, corporations and business should make as much profit as possible. Religion should be totally separated from government, whoever is in charge should push their religion as often as possible. Deficits are no problem, deficits are no problem. The last area is the only known thing in which both parties agree. There are hundreds of other items where polarization is the same. We are one day going to end up with a third party and it will be large and it will be called the Independent Party, due to this nonsense. There must be some things where the two parties can agree.

***