The Citizen's blog

Recession offers Ga. chance for tax reform

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:52:46 -0500

Georgia lawmakers are mulling tax increases and gimmicks to plug a projected budget gap of more than $2 billion, but a new Tax Foundation report cautions against such tactics and urges tax reform that will stabilize revenue.

The miracle of the supermarket

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:43:10 -0500

By Jacob G. Hornberger

In preparation for two recent back-to-back blizzards, residents in the Washington, D.C., area emptied the shelves of neighborhood grocery stores. Notwithstanding the pre-blizzard panic buying, what’s interesting is that no one was freaking out about whether the stores would be adequately stocked after the blizzards.

Gov. Perdue: Transform schools by paying teachers for actual results

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:28:30 -0500

By Gov. Sonny Perdue

Last month I proposed a new plan that will transform the way we compensate K-12 teachers and leaders in our state. It will put them on the same playing field as our state’s top coaches who are rewarded for consistently winning games.

General Assembly going for smoke and mirrors to fix budget woes

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:09:25 -0500

By E. Frank Stephenson

The General Assembly convened this year facing the daunting challenge of closing a billion-dollar budget hole, partly caused by the slumping economy and the consequent decrease in tax revenues.

President Obama needs to learn about ‘the real world’

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:36:10 -0500

BY Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

President Obama could learn a lesson or two from the lyrics of my favorite country music singer, Coweta County native Alan Jackson.

Democrats’ goal: Redistributing wealth

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:19:49 -0500

By Ronald E. Bachman

It turns out that “Joe the Plumber” gave us the real insight to the ultimate goals of the Obama presidency and the current Congress: redistribution of wealth.

Merry Christmas, 2009, ‘to all people’

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:07:13 -0500

Americans have celebrated 232 Christmases since we declared our independence from Great Britain, 219 since our federal government was implemented under the new Constitution.

Don’t force us to buy insurance

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:31:02 -0500

By Sheldon Richman

If Congress manages to pass a health-insurance bill in the next few weeks, it will undoubtedly require every person to have medical coverage or pay a fine. If someone’s employer doesn’t offer a policy, he will be obligated to buy one for himself no matter how expensive. (Subsidies will be available to lower- and middle-income people.)

Ask Father Paul 120209

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:15:59 -0500

Answers to your questions about life, religion and the Bible

Pastors get some of the most interesting questions from people they meet and people in their congregations. Here are some that I’ve gotten over the years and for this column.

It all started with coffee for veterans at CSU

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:19:30 -0500

By Shiraz Karaa

As the nation welcomes the return of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who will take advantage of the expanded GI Bill education benefits, Clayton State University, among other post-secondary education institutions, will see and has seen an increasing number of soldiers who are pursuing higher education opportunities.

Columnist Morris turns to conspiracy theories about AARP

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:30:07 -0400

By Ken Mitchell

One of the hallmarks of the current healthcare reform debate has been the continuous stream of misinformation and misunderstandings about the various proposals – and organizations – in the discussion.

Nashville Writers Group to perform

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:13:25 -0400

North Fayette United Methodist Church will host The Nashville Writers Group in concert Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

OPINION — A modest healthcare proposal

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:25:03 -0400

By SHELDON RICHMAN

Enough dithering! President Obama says it’s time to act on healthcare. I agree.

But act how? Are we really going to be happy with the pussy-footing proposals floating around Congress? All the so-called reformers want to do is tinker with insurance regulations. But how effective would that be, considering that the insurance companies themselves support the changes?

We have taken our eyes off the ball, people. Let’s get back to first principles. Obama’s premise is that we have a right to healthcare. A right.

Rationing: Healthcare facts are not distortion

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:29:50 -0400

By Robert M. Goldberg

When it comes to evaluating the claims of Democrats about rationing and how to deal with grandma, I am guided by that great philosopher, Marx. That’s Groucho, not Karl, who famously said, “Who do you believe, me or your eyes?”

Cowardly Donkeys need to find cowardly lion’s courage

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:54:56 -0400

By Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D.

I am dismayed that recent town halls across the country have been curtailed or canceled as spineless legislators refuse to face their constituents to hear average American citizens voice their fears and worries about what may be happening to their healthcare under the current “reform” proposals from Washington.