Special to the Citizen

Gov. Nathan Deal and Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced that the state will restore $125,000 to Kemp’s budget to keep the Georgia State Archives open to Georgians for the remainder of the budget year.
“Georgia’s Archives are a showcase of our state’s rich history and a source of great pride,” said Deal. “I worked quickly with my budget office and Secretary Kemp to ensure that Georgians can continue to come to Morrow to study and view the important artifacts kept there.”
The extra funding provides for Georgia State Archives to be open to the public through June 30 of next year. On July 1,  the Georgia Archives will be transferred to University System of Georgia, pending approval of the move by the General Assembly. This transfer will include appropriations required for operation and assets of the Georgia Archives. Additional staff will be provided by USG at that time. Deal and Kemp intend to find efficiencies by consolidating the Archives under the University System of Georgia.
Deal’s budgetary commitment allows State Archives to maintain its current access hours.

Printed in the November 1 2012 edition.

To the Editor:

    Why would our Board of Education (BOE) leaders entrust Bank of Madison with millions of funds when, as of June 2012, the bank had the highest "troubled asset ratio" (TAR) of other area banks? (source: http://banktracker.investigativereportingworkshop.org/banks/georgia/madi...)
    According to Bank Tracker, TAR is a percentage or ratio which is a strong indicator of "...severe stress inside a bank because it shows the bank’s ability to withstand loan losses.”  Apparently, the higher the ratio, the higher the risk of the bank's failure.  As of June 2012, Bank Tracker reported Bank of Madison as having a TAR of 37.80 percent as compared to SunTrust (16.90 percent), Regions (20.90 percent) and United (24.30 percent).  Bank Tracker reported the National Median TAR at 12.00 percent.
    Taxpayers may view the BOE's decision as a risk but it may have just been one of simple convenience, given a BOE member's connection to the bank. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the BOE's questionable decision to select the
Bank of Madison and adherence to Georgia Code 20-2-63 must have been out of scope of the recent audit performed by the state Department of Audits.  

Thomas Ray
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the October 25, 2012 edition

To the Editor:
 
The theft of campaign yard signs is illegal and considered a misdemeanor theft by law enforcement.
The Democratic Party began selling and distributing Obama-Biden campaign yard signs two weeks ago. One of our faithful purchased two for her private property – one for the front of her home on South Main Street in Madison, and one for the back on Old Post Road. In one week, one sign was stolen, and a few days ago, the other was stolen.
Was it kids? Was it adults? Their election season “rite of passage” will be taken seriously by the police and sheriff, and will cost the perpetrator:
•  jail time up to 12 months,
•  a fine up to $1,000,
• and embarrassment, humiliation and a criminal record.
Every theft of a Democratic campaign sign will be reported officially to the authorities, and I, personally, want to make it profitable for others to turn the criminals in.
I am offering a financial reward to anyone who gives information to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department (706) 342-1507 or the Madison City Police (706) 342-1275 which leads to the capture and conviction of those who steal Democratic campaign yard signs.
 
Patsy Harris
Chairwoman,
10th Congressional District,
Democratic Party of Georgia
Buckhead
Via e-mail

Printed in the October 18, 2012 edition

To The Editor:

I have enjoyed the debate on the value (intrinsic or otherwise) of teachers – that over-praised, overpaid, but not overworked group with major political clout.
The taxpayers of Georgia are in the same position as the Wisconsin taxpayers before they elected a governor who actually fought for the taxpayers of his state rather than go along with the self-perpetuating vicious circle of politicians receiving campaign funds from teachers' unions and then setting the salaries and benefits of those very teachers. If the marketplace had anything to do with teachers’ salaries, they would have all been reduced because there is a glut of teachers on the market right now.
But not here in Morgan County, where the teacher is the new saint and property taxes must be raised so that the teachers can get their ‘contract’ raises. No matter that unemployment, foreclosures and every other economic indicator continues upward; the teachers’ bloated salaries and benefits are sacrosanct. I am willing to bet big money that if the teachers were made to contribute to their benefits and participate in cost-cutting in the same manner as the private sector, they would be out in the street here just like they were in Chicago and Wisconsin.
If you are interested in more info/opinion, including the United Nations-promoted International Baccalaureate program to turn out good little European socialists that is already in the high school and slated for the other grades, check out http://ruoutragedyet.wordpress.com/
Sincerely,

Eloise Grubaugh
Buckhead
Via e-mail

Printed in the October 18, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

A recent article accused Paul Broun of “denying basic science.” The writer (not without bias herself as a member of the Democratic Committee) accused Paul of being “unscientific” and therefore unfit to represent us in public office. I must take issue with her conclusion. The writer has confused “science” with “political correctness.”  Paul Broun is guilty, but not of being unscientific.
Scientific conclusions on such matters as the age of the earth are arrived at by interpreting data. It has long been demonstrated that the present entrenched presuppositions used to interpret such data are based upon the Lyellian theory of Uniformitarianism, a theory that is hopelessly flawed – thus the wild fluctuation of supposed dates when examining the same samples. Even some of the most avid evolutionists have decried the evident flaws in the theory that guides such studies. The more progressive of the scientific community have begun to rethink and reinterpret the data and many have found them well within the scope of a Biblical chronology.
Paul Broun can be faulted, not for being “unscientific,” but for rejecting a current political correctness that, when applied to social and moral issues has turned all we ever accepted as moral, right and good on its head. Real history will vindicate Paul Broun, but in the meantime, while we grope through the fog of the present confusion, Paul Broun is guilty of rejecting the theories that produced the fog in the first place.   

Bill Shade
General Director, Source of Light Ministries
Madison
Via e-mail

Printed in the October 18, 2012 edition

To the Editor:

Tax the rich more. They’re not paying their fair share. Sounds reasonable. The public opinion polls verify that a majority of Americans agree. The problem (as is often the case) is the unintended consequence.
Are the rich going to meekly absorb this increase and do with less? Most assuredly NOT! What will happen is that the prices on the goods and services provided and produced by these rich people will see a proportional increase in price. Another possible approach by the providers/producers is to reduce their costs of doing business. In most cases this translates to JOB CUTS and/or poorer quality.
So, who ends up REALLY paying the tax? Answer: The consumers of these goods and services. That’s you and me. Don’t doubt it!
The politicians know this. Despite public opinion they (or their staffers) are smarter than they look/act. So I suggest you think about why they aren’t telling you the full story. People it is time to hold our politicians accountable for what they say as well as for what they don’t (intentionally) say. Further I’m insulted that they think I’m that dumb! I hope you are as well.
This isn’t a left-vs.-right or Republican-vs.-Democrat issue. This is just plain common sense. Folks make our politicians develop real solutions not just throw out campaign rhetoric that tests well in focus groups.
Will Big Lie No. 2 be coming soon? I’m working on it.

David Moore
Buckhead
Hand-delivered

Printed in the October 11, 2012