Wednesday, February 5, 2003

Roughly 160 years ago the South ceased to be independent from the North and was placed under the control of the United States military in the guise of the Reconstruction. Becoming Democratic in a reactionary response, it seemed that never again would the Republican Party influence Southern politics. Now, the South (with overwhelming heart and passion) placed in the office of governor a Republican, Sonny Perdue.

The man once so hailed as a breath of fresh air and a welcome change for our beloved state has revealed his other face. He has failed to fulfill his campaign promises (that Georgia would recover educationally and financially from the previous governorship) and now, putting more wood into the fire, has soundly cut education funding.

He seeks to keep our teachers from enjoying their just rewards, claiming they are unsatisfactory and are responsible for Georgia's poor academic standings. He would cut their pay in the hopes they will teach better. How can we stand this atrocity?

But more than our teachers, he has begun to hurt us, the students. The new graduating high school classes face a reduction in state funds (notably in a fund for Georgia scholars which aims at keeping students in the state). Those of us who strove so hard in high school to become the best and to bring such great pride to our schools are being denied our earnings. There is no money to keep us in Georgia schools, no incentive. We will suffer.

And why does he do all of this? Because he can and because he and his bureaucratic team can only see their own rewards and ways to save their own skin. They think that by reducing money for education they will be able to create a tax cut. There is, however, another way in which he can do it. A way in which we the people will benefit. All Sonny must do is cut his unwieldy and costly staff and the state's budget will be better for it.

The time has come for the people of Fayette County to speak out. These violations of our support must not be allowed to continue. Sonny is hurting the leaders of our community, the shapers of our future and our future. It is time for Fayette County to express her outrage, to rise up and take into our own hands the power of government.

Government is merely an extension of the wishes of the people. We are the people and we have to take a stand. Write to your friends, write to your mayor, you legislators, your representatives and more importantly to Mr. Governor himself. Tell them that these actions cannot, will not, be condoned. There is a difference to be made. It must be now!

Dixi Eska-Thedra

Fayetteville