So, you say you are a Republican — how’s that working out for you?

The reality of the American political system is that, today, a voter has the choice of voting either Republican or Democrat. It would, conceivably, be nice to have a number of valid choices from which to choose when voting. As much as Bob Barr might like it to be so, our next President will either be a Republican or a Democrat.

Here, in Fayette County, the choices have been even slimmer lately. The viability of the two-party system is lost here, as it is in many counties across this nation. The hope is that that situation is about to change.

One of the joys of being the “out” party is that you can point to the record of the “in” party and then stand for change. And it is about time that the voters of Fayette County begin to view change not as an enemy, but as a reality with which we must deal. And it is up to the Democratic Party to represent the voters who are ready to face that new reality.

The problem with partisan politics is that it is always easy to point at the name at the top of the ticket, and to brand all those who carry the same moniker as having the same core of beliefs. We all know that is not necessarily the case.

While people who voluntarily join a political party generally pay for that honor, they are then given the responsibility of supporting that party’s candidates, even if they might disagree with that candidate on some issues.

To bring this down to local elections and the local voters, there will be a time in the future (just how far in the future, no one knows for sure) when we, the citizens of Fayette County, will look around and say, what happened to our county? What happened to the pasture land? What happened to our schools? What happened to our traffic-free roads? At that point, it will probably be too late to do anything about the things we see as happening around us.

It is now time for the voters to take a long hard look at politics in Fayette County and just what those politics have given them and what those politics will bring them in the future. If one thinks that everything is “groovy” and will continue to be “groovy” as long as one does not rock the political vote, then we are destined to be saddled with the same sorts of government and leadership that we have lived through for the past umpteen years.

If, however, one thinks that, while things are fine now, they will not continue to be fine far into the conceivable future, then we have to figure out a way to face change, not as an enemy, but as an opportunity to advance and succeed. We can learn from the mistakes of others, but we cannot stand still while the rest of the world/metro area moves on. It is time for the voters of Fayette County to take a long hard look at how the two major parties envision facing those changes.

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Submitted by AllKnowing on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 11:41am.

Fayette County citizens HAVE taken a long hard look and we are Republicans. Get over it. All the blah, blah, blah you write is meaningless. The people here don't like what democrats stand for. PERIOD. Can't you see that?

sniffles5's picture
Submitted by sniffles5 on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 9:55am.

By golly, I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to vote Republican!

I'm voting Republican:The Video


LadyBug's picture
Submitted by LadyBug on Fri, 06/13/2008 - 11:05am.

If it's so meaningless to you then why post about it? Obviously not so meaningless if you read it and decided to comment. True statement? Just a thought for you to think about. Thank


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 6:01pm.

The Democrats are in The Citizen. Egad Cal do something please!!! Smiling

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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


yardman5508's picture
Submitted by yardman5508 on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 6:32am.

the point of the posting was, as I am sure you understand, that there MUST be a viable two party system in play here, if we are to address the problems we are facing head on. There HAS to be someone holding the majority party accountable for what they do, or we end up where we are heading. Yes, the Republican Party is currently in control. To say "We are Republicans here" is not inherently a bad thing. What is a bad thing is the tendency to shut off all other views. That denies the essence of democracy: compromise and consensus building. The tendency is to point to all the counties around us that are not Republican and to state categorically that Fayette will become like them if we don't watch out. No one, repeat, no one wants that to happen. But we cannot do that by "getting our backs up" and saying "That's the way we always done it". It will be much better to see how we can assimilate than to try to dictate solutions. Keep the faith.

Even a dead fish can go with the flow.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 5:56pm.

Old buddy, I was just having some fun!!!! Smiling
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


LadyBug's picture
Submitted by LadyBug on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 6:37pm.

when i read this article it made me really think about what could really end up happening in fayette county. yes i am his daughter...haha...but ive been thinking about this for a while. i dont think that any person living in fayette county with their children going to the schools here want to end up like clayton and henry counties in the aspect of having their kids go through metal detectors before going to class. i know thats only a small point of it but it is also the voters the need to speak up and say something about it and not sit back and think everything is "groovy" its not and if something doesnt change now it will get worse and i dont know how anyone cant/wont see that. thats it thanks


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 7:10pm.

Let me be one of the first to say "it's working better than Clayton County and other Donkey lead gumaments.

i dont think that any person living in fayette county with their children going to the schools here want to end up like clayton and henry counties

Gee Yardman and Yardgirl. Will somebody please help me to understand why I should expect the Democrats to do a better job of governing Fayette County that the Repubs?

Say... Let's look at Fulton and Clayton Counties and ask our Democrat friends "How That's Working For Them"? Thanks, but I'll stick with what Fayette has had to offer. Tain't perfect but it ain't Clayton or Dekalb County.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY


LadyBug's picture
Submitted by LadyBug on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 9:48pm.

well i see your point in that but i think what we are getting at is that we dont want to end up in that situation. i unlike my father have more of a moderate view on things and think that it was a good article to let people know that if we dont get it handled now then we might end up like them. but to say the least, the northern part of fayette county might as well be there. not the whole of the northern part but for the most part it is. i just would rather not end up hearing about parents getting their kids pepper spray or tazers as a birthday gift then whatever else they might want. its just a good article for people to actually look at and wonder hey maybe we can change this now and therefore in the long run as well. its not supposed to be bashing republicans at all so please dont get that confused


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 10:12pm.

And some good points. I appreciate your independent thinking.

We do have a lot to be concerned about as to the direction we're heading in this county. If one considers the terrible governments that are surrounding us on three sides, it becomes inevitable that we are going to have to deal with some very negative influences from here on out. My hopes and prayers are that we do not allow these influences to dumb our county down education wise, socially, and economically. However, I feel a Riverdale / Forest Park culture is beginning to permeate our core. And with this is a culture of people who refuse to reinvest in keeping up our communities to a high expectation. Rather they will use up what has been established in a selfish manner without 'giving back'.

its not supposed to be bashing republicans at all so please dont get that confused

Oh come on. Eye-wink Bash away. Both parties are pretty inept these days. I appreciate your moderate stance, though I am a wee bit conservative.

I know your dad is proud of you and welcome aboard. But please capitalize, punctuate, and break up your posting. I know you're probably a pretty good texter, but it makes it difficult for all of us old folks to read. LOL!

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY


LadyBug's picture
Submitted by LadyBug on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 11:01pm.

Haha to the bashing comment. Please don't get me wrong I do a good bit of bashing every now and again but honestly, who doesn't? But seeing how this has never really been my thing(more like my brother's and Dad's) I'm just going to keep mouth a little cleaner and be a little more like my dad and be as open and make sure that I really read and listen to everyone's stand point. Oh and I'm trying to keep my grammar a bit better I'm sure my old teachers would be ashamed but I'm also used to spell check. Haha. Also do not get me wrong I said that I have more of a moderate view then he does but I am still on the Liberal side of things. I'm jut the more moderate of my family members. But I give you major props for actually agreeing with a Democrat and having an actual civilized conversation. Instead of making just one comment about it and not actually asking questions or maybe trying to get our stand point on things. And so for that I thank you.


Submitted by Jamie-Mac on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 2:38pm.

As I told Sage in a conversation with my Father he said that when BAM BAM gets in office that changes were going to happen the first day. I am looking forward to that first day. LOL

mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 7:27pm.

Changes? You mean like now the kids are in charge and they are like going to change like important things?

I am like so impressed with the like you know dialog than Bam Bam like puts out.


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 2:01pm.

Cutting grass one day, writing for the paper the next, God What a great country this is.

I yam what I yam....Popeye


JAFO 72's picture
Submitted by JAFO 72 on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 2:08pm.

Kinda like a freshman senator running for the Presidency. Or, I just finished college, now I should be the CEO.

We live in a small Republican town with a big donkey problem.

"The one constant in all of your failed relationships is you."


yardman5508's picture
Submitted by yardman5508 on Wed, 06/04/2008 - 2:58pm.

you really know how to cut to the chase, don't you? We live in a small Republican town Keep the faith.

Even a dead fish can go with the flow.


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