I thought the previous bosses of PTC had served the citizens poorly; but the Nannies in charge now are even worse. They have stepped over the line in their so-called concern for our health when they banned smoking on privately owned commercial property. They have effectively said we aren’t smart enough to choose whether to eat or work where smoking is permitted. These socialist politicians are of the same mind set as the ones who passed the campaign financial law that lets foreigners donate to our political campaigns. We need to replace these misguided dunderheads as soon as possible.

It is sad that Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church has agreed to sell its prime piece of property in the center of town, without securing a suitable location for the new church. I believe that COS is now desperate to find land and will settle for almost anything, when in fact there are architectural drawings in existence for expanding the church on its present location. Haven’t they ever heard that location is everything?

I agree with Father David Epps that Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church has a right to benefit from the sale of their property, but I do not agree that they have a right to benefit from a rezoning, which belongs to the community.

As to the intersection at Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway, where the Lutheran Church sits, it is just a matter of time until this intersection is probably going to be worse than the 54/74 intersection for traffic. This intersection was foreseen 25 years ago as the main intersection in town. The fact that it isn’t four-laned yet and two churches sit on opposite corners means nothing to the progress of this corner. The near build-out of Peachtree City means that commercialism there can, and will, now run rampant. When you see a town government even considering changing this particular corner to commercial zoning (I understand a massage parlor is the unnamed other commercial venture there), you can bet protective zoning is all done in Peachtree City.

The only people who have defended the rezoning of the Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church site to allow a Walgreens drug store live in Tyrone and Coweta County. Although these nonresidents have a right to express their opinions, I hope the Peachtree City Council is more interested in what the residents of Peachtree City have to say: “Do not rezone.”

David Epps was incorrect when he stated in a recent editorial that Christ Our Shepherd would die if it couldn’t move from its present location at the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Peachtree Parkway. As a member of this congregation, I am aware that there are preliminary architectural plans to provide more building space at the present location and additional parking as well. We will still have to avail ourselves of some available parking across the street, but other churches (such as the Catholics and Methodists) do this routinely.

In a world of six billion people and all their problems, it is preposterous to think that our Creator has decided that a Lutheran Church in Peachtree City, Ga., is to be blessed with an offer from a drug store for their property. Personally, I think He stays as far as He can from any business dealings, much less one of this magnitude.

To the person that was upset with Fayette voters electing “good ol’ boy” uneducated Westmoreland to Congress: What an elitist attitude you have to dictate that only college graduates should represent a district in Congress. This makes me think about Harry S Truman. This president had to deal with ending WWII, rebuilding Europe, providing opportunities for our war veterans, forcing integration in the military and removing a popular general from Korea before he triggered WWIII with China. My, oh, my, just imagine what this uneducated “good ol’ boy” Harry Truman could have accomplished if only he had his college degree.

I could not believe I was hearing right when Lynn Westmoreland spoke on the night of the runoff. He was trying his best to convince us that he ran a clean campaign. He did his best to discredit Dylan Glenn on the last days of the campaign. I know for a fact that he actually went into some counties and asked voters if they knew Dylan Glenn was black. Is this the type of representation we want in Washington? His Democratic opponent looks better every day. And I don’t even know her name.

Jim Watson was framed and he has every right to voice his opinion. Keep up the fight, Jim, because there are a lot of supporters and you will win! By the way, I am not related to the Watsons.

I nominate Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy to be on the board of directors for Delta Airlines. Could you imagine an airline where all the employees said, “It’s my pleasure to serve you”?

My family had dinner Saturday night at [a Fayetteville restaurant]. Going into the restaurant was a little scary and it wasn’t even dark, but coming out of the restaurant after a fabulous meal was downright terrifying. I would have felt better if one of Fayetteville’s finest had been in the parking lot. In fact, it might be a good idea to step up the patrols in that neighborhood, especially after dark.

Has anyone besides me noticed that the version of the American National Anthem that is used in the medal ceremonies at the Olympics is a “kinder, gentler, more sensitive” version than renditions used in previous Olympic Games. I am sooooooo thrilled that we don’t want to offend anyone! Please pass the Pepto-Bismol.

I live off of South Jeff Davis, a two lane road with terrible traffic. So what does Fayette County decide to do? Let’s build not one but two very large sub-divisions and really make a traffic nightmare. Where will the children of these subdivisions go to school? How many accidents will occur from people trying to get onto Jeff Davis from the existing roads? Wake up Fayetteville and Fayette County. You said you didn’t want another Riverdale so someone better wake up and not only plan the community better but stop making it so difficult for decent restaurants and businesses to come in. Why can’t there be a Longhorn, Outback, Red Lobster in Fayetteville? Why isn’t there a decent park-playground in Fayetteville for the children?

Gee, so the pretty girls on Fox News have your shorts in a knot and the only news outlet that doesn’t just repeat the Democrats’ blather-of-the-day can’t possibly be “fair and balanced”? I guess you’d rather watch Baba Wawa swooning over the likes of Fidel Castro. By the way, how were those flies you had for breakfast?

After reading about the Peachtree City fire chief’s dilemma about manning the fire stations, responding to calls, and potentially having to temporarily close a fire station due to a shortage of personnel, I have three very simple questions: (1) Did our chief have to temporarily close or operate any station below the specified standards during the 2003 or 2004 Public Safety Games because of the availability of personnel; (2) did employees of the city participate in sporting events outside the city, on city time, while being compensated; (3) did we have to temporarily close or operate any fire station below the specified standards when our public safety equipment and manpower was sent to the recent summit on the Georgia coast?

Looking forward to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners and county administrator putting out a local language guide for newcomers. There was a meeting about the “Fayette County Transportation Plan.” Most people consider transportation as the vessel for getting somewhere. Clarity would help! Then, there’s Peachtree City with its phony tourism association that has yet to produce a single tourism-related project, and instead narrowly focuses on specific entertainment and leisure facilities. Tourism includes the hospitality industry, lodging, dining, transportation, and those associated accommodations. Tourism is not a groundless slogan.

It is a shame that Fayette County teachers (particularly elementary ones) have to spend so much money out of their own pockets for supplies and copy-work. I have several friends who teach at Hood who tell me their copy-work allotment has actually been decreased this year (no less students though). If you ever go to Office Depot you will see what I am talking about. Teachers are lined up trying to get copy work done paying out of pocket. I know some teachers whose husbands have actually bought copy machines for them. Let’s provide our teachers with what they need.

As a frequent flier on Delta Airlines, I receive many updates and specials on air fares. These are VERY competitive, if not the lowest on the market today. It sure would be nice if the newspapers for Atlanta could rally around the airline and try to help, rather then continually beat it up. The problem goes deeper then the pilots’ pay. The integrity, ability and dedication that Delta Airlines employees have is unsurpassed. It sure would be a shame to see the organization sell out for lower quality, less experienced and less expensive employees just to stay afloat.

I have hesitated to comment upon the Epps column about child discipline because I kept thinking it was some kind of joke that I didn’t get. However, in reading some of his other columns I have concluded that he is serious. I also grew up seeing ignorant people destroying their youth by such comments as he wholeheartedly seems to support (knocking their head off, slapping their eyes into the back of their head, etc), but my family for the most part didn’t need to do that to teach tolerance, discipline, and love. It is mostly a matter of time spent with the child and enough money for food, it seems. Now I know, as he so desperately tries to explain, that Mr. Epps’ probably didn’t say such things to his own children, so I don’t know why he wishes me to do so. This sort of thing falls into the same category as the mother in Wal-Mart yelling continuously at her 3-year-old to “stop that,” over and over and over, until he hears nothing.

How do the auditors of the local bank, which has about a million dollars coming from the Tennis Center, carry the million on the books? How does the Tennis Center carry it on their books? Maybe they don’t have books; maybe that is the problem. Authorities, yuk!

Aug. 18, 2004

Now that Sallie has spoken, I suppose the free speech section will be either eliminated or have to put up with a bunch of new rules. All life is not “funny, ironic, or sweet,” as Sallie said, but real hard work to call idiots on their trespasses. One sure way to destroy free speech is to do anything to limit it other than yelling “fire” in a public building, when there is none. I suppose we have to put up with crotchety editors who refuse to print items they deem ignorant, bad politics, or ad revenue disruptional.

Way to go, Fayette. You just elected an uneducated “good ol’ boy” to Congress. When asked by The Citizen’s reporter to what he attributed his win he said, “Cal Beverly’s endorsement of Dylan Glenn.” At best, that’s a joke. At least, it’s a blatant disregard for the many constituents in Fayette County, who read his free essays in The Citizen’s political forum and the many letters for and against his candidacy, and decided to cast their vote for him. In a moment of glory, after winning a higher seat than a man with no college degree deserves, the ingrate does not thank his supporters. Westmoreland needs to learn some manners before he gets to Washington. Cal, do you still say he would make a “good representative?”

“Screaming like mashed Comanches.” This sounds like something from Dante’s Inferno. That is what Father David Epps of the Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Coweta County labels any opponent to Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church’s proposed Peachtree City rezoning for a Walgreens in his column, “Church move is the right thing.” However a commercial rezoning simply is not. Move if you like, just please do not rezone to move. This mashed Comanche, whatever that is, respects both churches, so please stay away from the bully pulpit. That is, unless a mashed Comanche is a good thing.

I have tried to read up on the Lutherans’ wish to sell out to another drug store for big bucks and I am still undecided as to what is right. For the life of me I couldn’t decipher what [Citizen columnist Sallie] Satterthwaite said, for or against. For, I guess, but with an apology, and I guess the paper’s editor is for selling only to a smaller church. Everyone knows such lands are practically free initially to churches and schools in order to promote real estate and housing sales. However, they sign nothing that says they can’t sell the property when the price is right. I have another suggestion: In most towns when a church gets full and can’t be expanded up or sideways, the “Second Lutheran Church of (fill in the blank) is created somewhere else. That way all the memories are right there in First Church, forever. I know it is tempting to take five mil and run, but that is not what it is about, is it?

It is time for Ms. Watson to give up her witch hunt for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. The citizens of Fayette are not going to abide by all her petty demands on how the sheriff’s department should be run and who should be in charge. It seems to me that the majority of the county is very satisfied with how our sheriff runs his department. I believe that his 28-year history as sheriff speaks for itself.

As I passed the stopped vehicle, the driver had that familiar stone-faced expression that one assumes when pulled over by the police, something like a deer caught in headlights. But it was the officer who caught my attention. This man was standing squared off before the miserable motorist, with his elbows bent slightly back and his palms at his sides, as though he thought it was high noon in Dodge and he was about to clean up the town. Around his waist he wore a belt that presumably carried every possible accouterment of law enforcement, including Bat Rope. His meaty head sat squarely upon his shoulders, unmediated by any semblance of a neck, and was adorned with the sort of military cut that one might expect to see atop an elite Army Ranger. You know the kind: Baby-butt-bald on all sides, leaving only a patch of hair at the top. This is the sort of cut that ought to be fodder for lawsuits (e.g., Johnston vs. Cost Cutters), as it makes its wearer vaguely resemble a catbird. My guess is that it is calculated to intimidate, which it most certainly does. And it seems that more and more local law enforcement personnel are coming to look like the cast from “Blackhawk Down.” I hope someone is keeping these guys on a short leash. They scare the bejeebers out of me.

FYI, chastised is not spelled c-h-a-s-t-i-z-e-d. Chastise is defined as (1) to punish, esp. by beating, (2) to scold or condemn sharply, (3) [Archaic] to chasten. Politely pointing out an error is not chastising someone!

I actually believed what I read in the newspaper on Aug. 11 and called the mayor of Peachtree City to complain about the annexation issue only to find out that in three years he has never annexed any property into the city. When I got an explanation of what was proposed for the westside site and the road connection, I agreed with the mayor. Cal Beverly is getting all steamed up over a plan that he has never seen. He needs to give the plan an opportunity to be seen before casting judgment.

Just for the record, the Chamber of Commerce never polled its members about the SPLOST. I did not receive anything asking for a vote. In fact, I was told that the Chamber was just approving of the “SPLOST method and not the actual SPLOST plan that the county proposes.” Our businesses in Peachtree City are going to get ripped off by generating the SPLOST tax revenue and not receiving a decent share of the funds. Ever since Bob Lenox got on the Chamber board they have always opposed Peachtree City just so he could get even.

Let me get this straight: Fayetteville has two Wendys, three McDonalds, two Chick-Fil-As, numerous Mexican and pizza restaurants, three Waffle Houses, three or four barbecue places, two Krogers, two Publixes, two Walgreens, three Eckerds, and soon two Zaxbys. I probably missed some. Why can’t we have a Steak and Shake, Chili’s, Mellow Mushroom, Popeye’s, Longhorn, something different, Mayor Steele? Stop annexing land for more homes that will be on the already malfunctioning sewer system, and will put more children in our crowded schools. Put some good restaurants on the sewer system instead, and properly maintain the sewer system that we have.

An old adage once said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Now it has been changed to, “When the going gets tough, I’ll scream racism!”

To the person who was upset over the neighbor’s cat disturbing your birds: Tell your birds to quit eating my worms!

Developers who denude the area of its trees and replace them with poorly built homes often choose prestigious sounding names for their new neighborhoods. Oxford Estates, Cambridge Square, Fox Glen, that sort of thing. The names rarely if ever reflect reality. My own subdivision has the word “Stream” in its name, though, to my knowledge, there is not such a rivulet anywhere nearby. One new subdivision along Oakley Industrial Boulevard, just south of Ga. Highway 138, is in close proximity to a sewer treatment facility, with predictable consequences. A realistic name here would be Poogas Place. But perhaps the one realistic subdivision name in the area is along New Hope Road: Argonne Forest. Remember when New Hope Road was a winding country road, wooded on both sides for much of the drive, where it was relatively safe to walk or ride a bike, and where you would often see deer and other wildlife along the route? These days, thanks to local developers who are snapping up every square inch of sod, the forests Argonne, the deer Argonne, and days of quiet serenity, too, Argonne.

Our local news anchors are way behind the times it seems. England TV has begun to broadcast (to Europe only) with women stripping gradually all the way to the nude. The only thing close to that we have is FOX news and their women who pose with their skirts about 2/3 of the way up, with about a 20-degree low camera angle. O’Reilly hasn’t joined in yet. If FOX is balanced and fair, then I am a toad.

The economy is definitely strange when I make more money on my credit card’s cash-back bonus award than I do on a similar amount held in my bank’s savings account. My heart goes out to all of our fixed-income senior citizens.

As planned, oil will soon reach $60 a barrel. At that point our oil companies will start pumping from the low pressure wells in this country, but it won’t ever reduce the price again at the pump or for clothes or plastics or anything else made from oil. Why? We are at war forever. You figure out what the old seven sisters are up to.

Come on, Ms. Ashley Watson. Signing and sending your convicted murdering father’s thoughts and letters from prison is getting to be a little in the face of the citizens of Fayette County. Enough is enough! You will always have the right to disagree with the conviction and no will ever begrudge you that right. What you don’t have is the right to keep dredging up you father’s hatred that he has for the honest, hardworking law enforcement officers that are dedicated to protecting and serving the whole of Fayette County while you are pretending that these are your thoughts. It’s time to get out from under your father’s manipulative stronghold, and maybe it’s time for the paper to move on from your hidden agenda.

The Lone Ranger, hero of old, used to call his loyal sidekick, Tonto. This is Spanish for idiot, of course. Don’t ask what kemo sabe (what Tonto called The Lone Ranger) means. The point is, unless you joke about hip-hop or MTV now, no one under 35 understands a darn thing you try to have a sense of humor about during a conversation. It’s pretty sad, I think.

Why would anyone want to exhume our liberal war dead? In the last quarter of a century, conservative administrations have treated the military more effectively than their liberal counterparts. Thank God, the current conservative leadership has assumed responsibility for the liberals’ neglect of our nation’s defense. Do we want Mr. Kerry, who promises to conduct a “sensitive” war on terrorism, or Mr. Bush, who has taken the battle away from the streets of New York, and placed it in the terrorists’ backyard? Personally, I sleep better at night knowing a conservative administration is patrolling our nation’s interests. When it comes to defense, I’m for keeping the liberals buried.

Free Speech for Aug. 11, 2004

Most of us have realized for some time Deputy Sheriff Bruce Jordan enjoys the media spotlight. But now he’s crossed the line by giving what the Atlanta Journal described as “disturbing detail” in the recent double murder case. Revealing to media such graphic details, to include allegations that the two juveniles were romantically involved and details of how the murders were committed, is just plain stupid. No doubt, defense attorneys will have a field day with this when it comes time to seat a jury. How could a judge not grant a change of venue when this irresponsible law enforcement officer has provided such detail apparently for the sake of seeing his name in print. Sheriff Johnson needs to reel his deputy in and advise him such publicity is unnecessary since the next election is four years away. And if what Jordan did was shameless, The Citizen needs to take a long look at itself as well. Was it necessary to print the photos of two 15-year old juveniles in bullet-proof vests and shackles? Sure, they are accused of murder, and if allegations prove true, they committed a heinous crime. But they are still juveniles and still innocent until proven guilty.

Is there not one liberal out there who could be a “contributing writer” and spare us some of the blather we are constantly subjected to in The Citizen? And why are they “contributing writers”? Could they not get a job as a paid writer? What are their journalistic credentials? And one last thing, Dr. Herndon, pro-choice does not translate to pro-abortion. It means exactly what it says: Choice.

On Walgreens.com, the company and stores are consistently referred to as “Walgreens.” All of the store signs say “Walgreens.” Please stop referring to the proposed store at Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway as a “Walgreen.”

If you’ve passed Christ Our Shepherd on a Sunday or worse on a Wednesday night when there isn’t a policeman directing traffic, you’ve seen a lot of near misses with cars and, worse, pedestrians. I doubt if a drug store is going to have that many people entering and exiting at one time onto the Parkway or 54. I say let the folks go; they deserve a new place to grow. The folks have blessed the community for years; maybe it’s time the community blessed them and not made it harder for them.

Normally no one would give a flip if a church, such as the Lutherans, wanted to move their church. Let them move it. However, to put more commerce (24/7 type) in that area is another nail (like 54/74) in the Peachtree City coffin. If you want to see how much they want to obey God’s blessing, just refuse to change the zoning to commercial and see what happens. I really get ticked off when I see God’s name used in such a sleazy manner. What they want is a humongous new building to whet their pride.

It was so interesting to see an attempt at resolution of the mess that is going on at Delta in the Free Speech last week. Too bad there has not been more public questions about the death of Delta. If ”Joe Average Citizen” knew more of the details of the pilot-management fiasco they would want your paper to provide more details. Fayette County is the home to many pilots, but there are more non-pilot employees and retirees who will have to bear the losses if this small number of money-handlers don’t get together. Five thousand pilots wanting more than they need; 120,000 employees and retirees wanting just enough.

Monday [was] the first day of school for Fayette County schools. I feel very sorry for the little kids who have to stand up in front of their class and say, “My dad is a Delta pilot”.

The gnarling and gnashing of teeth caused by Newt Gingrich endorsing a not-so-favorite son for Congress in this district should come as no surprise. Gingrich undoubtedly has destroyed the old Republican party in this country with his ill-conceived campaign while he was in Congress to gain control of Congress. The party the Republicans have now is one who votes for anyone who espouses, but may not use in his own family; no woman’s right to control her body; must continually preach from the stump, whether sincere or not; would like all poor devil homosexuals severely hidden from view; and lowers taxes for our most well-off taxpayers who mostly don’t pay any higher percentage than our middle-incomers. Such polarization is totally unhealthy in the long haul. Occasionally, there must be something good that a Democrat does, but to witness our current Republican party vote, you would think they would be drawn and quartered if they even thought maybe health care was a right, or we should take the dignity away from old people who didn’t get wealthy while serving their time.

To the couple stopped by the PTC police, it’s no secret to the demographically recorded 6-percent minorities in the area that there does exist a condition of Driving While Black or Walking While Black. It is certainly curious that the force does such a great job of keeping the area safe enough that an individual can walk to one’s destination at night, but when innocently minding your own business, obediently walking on the path, a police car will zoom up and block your path, or a passing police car will not only shine a spotlight in your face, but then turn on the blue flashing lights when you have not [committed] any crime or behaved in any untoward way, which the officer HAD to have observed as they approached you from behind. Peachtree City is now home to late night and 24-hour establishments. Why is the city kept safe enough for one to walk, then they are interrupted, without cause, when they do? When my behavior is not suspicious, why is it anyone’s business where I’m headed? People that work the same hours as the night-time patrolmen are victimized. When people that work dayside shop, eat, and generally enjoy the area, they garner no undue attention. Does it occur to the night-time officers that there are people in other industries working their same shift?

Last week, I read how a citizen had been stopped some “10 times” by the Peachtree City Police Department. I find that figure to be a little exaggerated. First off, I know for a fact that the Peachtree police have video recording systems and microphones rolling during all traffic stops. Plus, they are required to complete a vehicle information form to ensure that they are not profiling people of age, sex or race. So, to the person who said, “It seems very strange to me that we have never been stopped in our new Ford Focus which we bought new in 2000.” Hey, buddy, that sounds pretty good. I can do the math. 2004-2000 = 4 years without being pulled over. That’s sound good to me. If you really have a complaint about being pulled over, test the police records. They are there for a reason and I am glad that this city has a proactive police department. It keeps the crime rate low and the nice houses around here stay nice. Keep on cruising in your Ford Focus, dude! By the way, that is the key here: you drive a smaller, compact car and you do not speed as much!

Probably the best-run meetings of any kind that I have ever witnessed were the two non-smoking ordinance workshops and the last City Council meeting. Mayor Brown did an outstanding job of taking on a difficult issue and managing a crowd that was 50-percent pro and 50-percent against while bringing the matter to a mutual consensus. The three meetings lasted for hours and much to the mayor’s credit he let everyone have an equal opportunity to express their opinions. In my 15-plus years as a corporate management trainer, I have seen big-name managers shrink in fear at the thought of taking on such a fiery audience that was so soundly divided. Congratulations to the mayor for making the task look easy.

Senior citizens living in Fayette County are wondering what is happening with senior services in our county. We understand an excess of $1 million and some donated land on which to build a new center is available and sitting on hold. However, information concerning the money, land and plans to start on a center is very difficult to obtain. I would like to see someone of authority address this subject in a public forum such as your paper. It seems the other counties around us, i.e., Clayton, Coweta, Carroll and Henry, have very nice senior centers, so you would think with the money and land available, someone could get the ball rolling and let the citizens know what’s going on.

To all who see fit to constantly complain about our president and those who are in office or running for office. Do you vote? Probably not! Do you support a cause? Probably not! Have you ever run for any position in office? Probably not! Do you do anything besides complain? Probably not! Why not try praying for the men and women who represent our country, instead of complaining about them. Or run for president yourself! I do vote!

If you are a nonsmoker, still willing to be damaged or die from inhaling trapped indoor second-hand smoke, why aren’t you a smoker?

Sheriff Johnson and his team are doing a fine job of protecting the citizens of this county. For that they should be applauded. However, why is it that they refuse to follow the same rules as all other county departments and agencies? Why do they refuse to account for the drug money that they receive? The federal government has said that they will not change the process of giving in drug money to the sheriff because there is no federal prohibition against doing so. They did not sanction the sheriff’s non-compliance with county ordinance. That crucial point seems to be lost in all the noise being generated by the Sheriff to mask his unwillingness to follow the rules like everybody else. The money is the sheriff’s to spend regardless, the county commission (despite the misconceptions or misrepresentations put forth by some here and elsewhere in this paper) does not want, nor could they “take” the money. They only want to be able to know how the money is spent, how much and by whom, as required by county ordinance. The only monies spent in this county that are not part of public record, available for all citizens to see, are spent by the sheriff. What is he hiding? Double dipping on expenses? Unnecessary expenditures? Expenditures that do not comply with county, state or federal law? If any other government entity or elected official were to blatantly disregard the law in this way they would be booted out immediately and justifiably so. Allowing this kind of lawbreaking to continue under the guise of “Public Safety” is just wrong.

Where are the ones who once demanded that the taxpayers pay the bank the million bucks for the million bucks taken home in salaries from the tennis center (check it out, they made that much over several years)? What is the new executive just hired by the tourism group making in salary? What’s his job? Dead silence. What will the new executive at the amphitheater make in salary? Dead silence. Since the police department takes in as much in fines as they cost in salary, what is the problem with hiring more? Shouldn’t those $600 ambulance rides pay for something? Hospital now up to 900 employees for 100 beds and emergency room and several questionable treatment clinics? Dead silence. We are creating a false economy on the backs of the jobless and destitute. Selfish.

I believe we should go over all war records of vets who died for their country and deny valor records and medals to anyone of them showing liberal leanings. We should also dig up all service men in Arlington Cemetery that show liberal leanings. This is what vets of America want. They are telling Americans that liberals cannot defend this country without being reprimanded for their service. It is wonderful that vets have chosen a man who never did jack for his country and they call him the real hero. God bless America!

I’m convinced that you would not print such a story about Bush or Gingrich or Cheney as you printed from a contributing editor last week about Kerry. It is time you dropped the so-called “Free Speech” section, since it isn’t.

So, you say, Bush is horrible and Kerry is wonderful. Let’s look at Kerry and his buddy Edwards. Kerry returned from a 16-week tour in Vietnam and immediately set about denouncing the military as a bunch of violent thugs, thus turning the country against men who sacrificed themselves for our country. He now constantly cites his military service as his key qualification for office. He became quite the media darling in his anti-war days and rode the momentum to get elected. He married an heiress, but after several years and a couple of kids, divorced her to marry Teresa Heinz, another heiress with more money than the first (bonus!). Now, he has 30 years of government service, but for some reason seems to totally ignore his record. Why? Because of his inconsistency and his bizarre mixture of positions that offend both parties. For example, he’s supposed to be a great champion of labor, but he voted for NAFTA and for normalized trade with China. He voted against the first Gulf War, but voted for the current one. Now, he goes around saying that Bush “misled” us into war, but Kerry himself agreed with the intelligence two years ago and affirmed that Iraq had WMD. And let’s not forget Edwards. While he’s going around talking about making things more affordable, he made his money by driving medical costs through the roof with specious lawsuits against obstetricians. He also complains about “two Americas,” yet is himself an example of how hard work can elevate you from a poor “mill worker’s son” to a multi-millionaire, with none of the government assistance he constantly clamors for now. All politicians fudge the facts a bit. They are not saints, after all. But these two men are so fundamentally hypocritical and contradictory in their beliefs (again, Kerry believes that life begins at conception, yet favors unrestricted abortion rights for all women, including minors) that one must seriously question their judgment and ability to lead.

I didn’t vote for Bush four years ago, not because of his party, but because I didn’t feel he had the credentials or the capability to run our country. I’ve always felt he made it onto the ballot because of his father. Well, four years have gone by and he proved me right! He has not been good for our country. He’s made major mistakes that have affected all of us. When you vote in November, don’t vote for a party. Vote for what’s best for our country. We gave Bush four years and he failed. Now let’s give Kerry a chance to see what he can do for us and our country.

Maybe Delta’s board of directors should simply propose to the stockholders that the pilots union be allowed to take over and run Delta? That way the union could pay themselves anything they liked from whatever is left each year, if anything is left. After all, this is what the executives have done for years, and they have done pretty well. Of course the company can be allowed to go the way of Eastern, which is where they are headed, but if the senior pilots can just sock away enough to retire, as the execs have, until complete disintegration of the company occurs, then that is all that is important. It is pretty evident that they can never pay what they owe now, much less the $35 billion they will lose over the next few years of going broke. Government guaranteed ticket prices, like $1,500 to fly to the West coast, one way, are gone forever. All deregulation by the feds is not bad, it seems. Only where life and limb are concerned, such as chemical factories, stockbrokers, insurance companies, and banks.

Congratulations to The Citizen editor for standing up for the First Amendment! That benefits all of us. At the same time, perhaps he’ll appreciate judges who are a bit more activist in preserving our freedoms.

I work at a popular (small) food joint in Fayetteville and I must say that the experience I have had there in the past two months has convinced me never to work in the food industry again. The people in this town can be exceptionally rude, particularly those people at drive-throughs during the lunch rush. Case(s) in point: the soccer moms in their SUVs or heinously large vans who order three or four sandwiches and drinks and then get mad when it takes more than two minutes to get the food out to them. Where did the respect for others go in this day and age? Yes, we are there to serve you, but we are only human. If you want really fast food, go to some large conglomerate. If you want quality, keep with the smaller joints and be prepared to wait; the results will be much more satisfying. Also, don’t change your order suddenly and especially don’t change it after you have paid. Be prepared when you step up to order. Know what you want, please. Finally, speak up. We workers really do want to give you what you want and we want you to have the best meal you could ever have. A lot of us working there are good students who are trying to earn enough money to get by in college so we won’t have to be burdens on our parents. Just have some patience and respect. And know that it will take some time and it will be worth it!

I would like to commend Ashley Watson for her continuing efforts to free her dad from the injustice dealt to him. Ashley lived with her mom and dad for nearly 13 years; therefore, I believe her when she said that her dad never abused her mom. Ashley, keep up the fight and one day your hard work will pay off for you and your brother. Might I also add, please continue with your opinions as they are quite educational and eye-opening.

If the excuse for raising our dollars paid in personal property and school taxes every year is that more people have moved into Fayette County, then why aren’t those people paying their share to balance the budget? The dollars paid for total taxes (local) is approximately a three times increase over the inflation rate for the last few years. Paying more for value received is OK, but why lie about it? Tell us what the value received is.

“In a somewhat unexpected move, the Fayette County Board of Education Tuesday night reluctantly decided to increase the operations millage rate for the school system.” I reluctantly feel I have to comment. Somehow I am not surprised at all. This kind of decision by our school board has come to be expected as normal by me. I for one will be watching who votes in which way on this serious issue. The real question is how did we get to this point and how to avoid solving such problems in the future without increasing taxes.

If you are concerned with pedestrian and biking issues in Fayette County, please feel free to join me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FayetteBiPeds.

We need someone who can represent the 8th district, not work for the President. Fayette County wasn’t a glint in Mr. Glenn’s eye until he went district shopping. You didn’t mention that this is his third run for office and that nearly 70 percent of his campaign contributions came from outside the state, not from those he is hoping to represent. People don’t want Washington insiders who think highly of themselves (have you seen the movie he made about his run for office and is trying to distribute?). The people of the 8th District want someone who at least has lived here, served the people of the district, and don’t claim themselves as a known commodity in Washington. At least the other candidates have local ties and actually live in the district.

Lynn Westmoreland has spent a considerable amount of money mailing out all kinds of information on his fine record as a key state legislator. However, there are at least two areas he has failed to include. First, he played a key role in the de-regulation of the natural gas industry in Georgia. This turned out to be one of the biggest giveaways of our money in state history. Every time you pay your natural gas bill, you should send a note to Lynn and his buddies in the legislature and let them know just how much you appreciate this worthless piece of legislation, and this will go on as long as you live. Second, more than once Lynn tried to get the legislature to enact a law to let builders self-inspect. According to him, this would speed-up the building process and save the taxpayers money by not having to hire inspectors. This effort was even too much for our ethically challenged legislators to swallow and the effort died somewhere in the process. So my question to Lynn is, who will you represent if you are elected to Congress? Will it be the average taxpayer or will you limit your practice to big business and special interest groups?

Why has Lynn Westmoreland stooped to the level he has? The agreement saying the “big players” would stay on the sidelines was broken in the last hour of the last day before the election. Why didn’t he have his “buddy” call voters more in advance? President Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment was shattered, as was his “buddy’s” credibility. Old and tired ideas should be retired along with their mouthpieces. It is way past time for younger, more educated leadership.

Eighth District Congressional candidate Lynn Westmoreland, why are you telling lies about Mr. Glenn? I thought you were a Christian man. Have you ever made a decision based on true facts? I am assuming all your decisions are made on untruths, innuendoes. Don’t need you representing me!

What happened to Mac Collins? Will it be possible now to put clean diesel engines on big trucks? He must have done something else weird, though. What was it?

I’m glad to see that “Meet the Press” this Sunday morning dedicated the first 15 minutes of their show to expose Sen. Zell Miller for the flip-flopping-fraud that he is. Just three short years ago he was endorsing John Kerry like there was no tomorrow, now he preaches the exact opposite. Sen. Miller says he represents the majority of the Democrats of Georgia which I find laughable an outright and absolute lie. History will soon prove Sen. Miller is old school politics and is out of touch with both parties. Miller is a shame and a disgrace to Democrats everywhere as he continually and purposely misrepresents the party and its vision and values. I’m glad to see that most now see him as an elderly man in certain need of retirement.

How soon after approval of the new school bonds approval and the library bond and the new sales tax increase will we be asked to do a water and sewer one? We bought a piece of crap a few years ago for excess costs and now it needs more to fix it than it cost. Why are we never allowed to see three to five year projections of such things? You know why.

When a kid is 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17, where does he or she go in Peachtree City, or in Fayette County for that matter, for social occasions? At 18 they can either go to college, work in construction, or join the army. Most kids that age simply are not interested in the Tennis Center or the amphitheater. Some do go to the swim center. If the amount we have invested in the land and improvements for the adult items listed above were invested into a youth center, not a shack like Glenloch, but something on the order of a combined gym, game area, snack area, dance area, etc. Then I think our kids would be much happier and better rounded.

To the person who defended the Free Speech area of the paper: I didn’t even find the section last week! It appears to be a section that is the first to be left out for whatever reason.

Liquor by the drink, Hooters, the Pavilion, Greg Dunn. I officially hate Fayette County. It used to be family paradise until all the progressive morons moved in to create more of a New York atmosphere. Can’t move anywhere else because there’s nowhere to go! Heck, let’s just go full tilt and let the tattoo parlors, liquor stores, strip clubs, and pawn shops in Fayette. We can be all upscale and sophisticated! Then, someday, when the county is totally trashed, we can sit and reminisce about how nice Fayette County used to be. What a joke.

The Atlanta Journal article on the building dispute between Regency Homes and the Fedors was eye-opening. The builder stated that these problems were the result of “poor construction decisions made by the Fedors.” Does anyone else think that is about the most ludicrous statement ever made? Also Tom McCarty’s statement that the building department “doesn’t examine the fill put in a ditch” somehow exonerates them for any blame in this mess is also equally ludicrous. Hello; it’s called responsibility. Somebody step up to the plate!

I notice where the third church within Peachtree City is selling a prime piece of real estate to commercial interests. These lands are usually obtained early in the development of communities, as are school lands, court house lands, etc., at bargain prices. I’m afraid that churches getting rich off such land sales, even after building a new Taj Mahal (buildings don’t matter, you know). This doesn’t portend to build member character very well. There are more people now who believe in a Creator that do not belong to these type of “churches.” Little social cliques that make one feel better every week aren’t