-- — The poverty cycle of Peter and Paul

Poverty in America is increasing and the next generation is predicted to be poorer than the past; reversing a two-century trend.

Why will poverty increase? People don’t understand that more government and more taxes result in more poverty. People are paying record levels of their income to the government and government is spending and borrowing record levels of money on government programs and giveaways. Governments produce nothing and what they spend reduces the money in businesses and personal wealth. Governments are like lotteries or a poker game, they only redistribute wealth but no wealth is created — so people get poorer in the process.

When governments “rob Peter to pay Paul” (redistribute wealth), Paul always votes for more handouts and Peter gets poorer. Why? Paul got money he did not earn and Peter doesn’t get what he worked for, thus reducing his incentive to work and his ability to expand his business, and to possibly hire a Paul to work and be productive and pay taxes.

Producers reproduce producers, takers reproduce more takers (poor and needy). Higher taxes and more redistribution produce more poverty and a lower standard of living for both Peter and Paul.

Economics 101: If you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it. When government taxes hard work, productivity, and prosperity — you get less of it. When you subsidize laziness, poor education, slothfulness, by those who can but don’t work — you get more of it.

So why do we ignore the laws of economics? Politicians convince Paul that he doesn’t have money because Peter does, and thus is a victim of Peter. Politician: “If you will vote for me, I will help you get your fair share” from Peter. Thus begins the politics of envy and the poverty cycle. This cycle, like parasites, will weaken and kill the host (Peter) and also Paul in the process. This leaves you with self-serving politicians, bigger promises and a bankrupt nation.

The new jobs bill is guaranteed to increase poverty because it raises taxes on Peter and gives more money to Paul, who will vote for the politician. Dividing wealth never increases it. Robbing producers decreases production and increases unemployment and poverty, but it gets politicians more votes from the poor “victim” who thinks he can make them wealthy by taxing Peter.

This downward spiral can only be stopped by defeating politicians who promise something for nothing, and who are robbing producing Peters and giving to poor Pauls, so they can stay in office.

Human nature won’t keep us from wanting something for nothing or from being discouraged and not wanting to work, when we don’t get to keep what we work for. The downward spiral will continue until citizens get educated on economics, shrink the size and scope of government, and stop electing self-serving politicians who could care less about Peter, Paul or the country.



Nolen Cox is a local businessman and resident of Valdosta. He is the current chairman of the Lowndes County Republican Party.

Every road has an end

Men whose lives are void of a moral compass, find themselves taking risks that they would not ordinarily take. This doesn’t mean that they are evil. It only means that they are subject to the same temptations that are common to us all. And, like the man who grabs hold of a live wire, he can’t let it go because that which he once held is now holding him. Greed always takes us farther than we intend to go, keeps us longer than we intend to stay, and costs us more than we intend to pay.

We listened to the former mayor speak in his own defense before the Citizens Ethics committee, and blame his trusted staff, when the evidence to the contrary was overwhelming. He defiantly refused to be cross-examined, pleading for understanding. And the committee drank what amounted to a cup of charm, laced with sympathy. Then, less than three weeks later, he pleaded guilty of the same charges he had so vehemently denied.

The judge spared Mr. Fretti any jail time, even though, in addition to his $1,000 fine, and restitution of $4,194, he could have gotten up to five years in prison. He was also allowed to turn himself in to the Lowndes County Jail, and was immediately released on his own recognizance.

On May 5, 2005, at the direction of Mayor Fretti, 15 of Valdosta’s finest citizens were arrested and taken to the Lowndes County Jail, denied bail, and were held for 26 hours before we were granted bonds of $2,000 and $1,000. This writer was held in solitary confinement.

None of us had ever been charged with a felony before. Our crime on May 5: We “disrupted a public meeting,” when we refused to move away from the podium because “somebody might want to talk to me about a stray dog in the neighborhood,” the mayor told us. It was a charge under a law which the Georgia Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional.

The mayor, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to a felony, and was released on his own recognizance. Interesting, isn’t it?

In an earlier editorial, the Times wrote, “John Fretti should look to the spirit that inspired him to run for office. That desire to make personal sacrifices in the name of public service: That commitment to the ideal of making Valdosta a better place.” Perhaps he did listen to the spirit that inspired him to run for mayor, and it suggested that he should resign, and he did.

We are pleased that Mr. Fretti won’t be doing any jail time. The shame that he has brought to himself, his family, and to the city that he said he loved, is punishment enough. We wish him and his family well.

 

Rev. Floyd Rose

Valdosta

Myths and facts about driving

Myth: My cell phone is linked directly to my car’s ignition system. If I stop talking and shut off my cell phone, my car will die. Fact: It is entirely possible to drive a vehicle WITHOUT texting or talking on a cell phone. Try it!

Myth: A $1 fee will get charged to my major credit card everytime I use my turn signals. Fact: False. They’re free! You already paid for them. Use them!

Myth: If it’s raining and I can see OK, I don’t need to turn on my headlights. Fact: Wrong. Just because you can see in front of you, doesn’t mean that someone behind you can see you. A good rule — wipers on = lights on.

Myth: The right lane on the interstate is just for big trucks, the “keep right except to pass” rule doesn’t apply to me. This way I can get in the middle lane of a  three-lane interstate and just “Chill,” and avoid the hassles of those getting onto the interstate. “Let ’em go around” is my motto. Fact: If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay home on the porch. Translated, if you’re afraid to go with the flow of the traffic, and afraid to stay in the right lane, take a side road!

Myth: My high-beams don’t bother you because you’re WAY ahead of me. Fact: If you can see my tail lights — yup — you’re sho’nuff botherin’ me!

Myth: A tractor-trailer can use the left lane on a three-lane interstate. Fact: Only if he doesn’t mind paying a $200-plus fine if caught.

Myth: If I go the speed limit, I won’t be a hazard. Fact: It’s way more safer to go with the flow of traffic, i.e. the posted speed limit is 70 miles per hour, and traffic’s moving at 50 mph. You go 50. This goes for the opposite also. If the posted limit is 50 mph, and traffic is moving at 60 mph, go with the flow!

Myth: If I abide strictly by the law, I will be safe. Fact: It has been proven that a person can be legally right AND legally dead at the same time! Enter ... common sense!



Joe Reilly

Hahira

Saving lives in Lanier

This letter is in response to the ranter asking about the Lanier County ambulance service. Even though Lanier County EMS have three ambulance units, there is only enough budget to support just one full-time crew.

The only way to get that second crew is to raise taxes and increase the EMS budget.

About 80 percent of the calls answered by EMS requires that the patient be transported to South Georgia Medical Center. This leaves the county without coverage for at least one-and-a-half hours. The only way to remedy this problem is to have the second crew on stand-by or try to fill the gap with volunteers.

Thanks to EMS Director Randy Patten, the fire department has done just that.

Randy has provided training to many firefighters in Lanier County. This includes EMT, first-responder, CPR, first aid and AED training. The fire department purchased the first LUCAS unit for Lanier County and firemen received training on its operation.

This unit replaces the need for manual compressions during CPR, increasing the survival rate of the patient.

The fire department and EMS work together to do the best we can with what we have to do with. So the next time you call for an ambulance and the fire department shows up, just be glad that someone did.

That firefighter may be the one that saves your life until paramedics can arrive.



Gary Yeomans

Lakeland

District fire chief

Veterans need more support

Now that we are past 9/11, I'd like to address another American tragedy. It’s been a year since I spoke to Mr. Quincy Roberts, commander of Emory P. Bass Chapter  No. 14 of the Disabled American Veterans. I learned that he still did not have a stable office to conduct business and help our veterans.

 I will tell you that this man helped me to win two of my four cases and the others are on-going. It just seems to me with all the empty office spaces, foreclosures, repossessions, and the like that someone could possibly take a tax break and provide the DAV with a stable secure way to help our veterans.

At this point, I myself have heard from several veterans and their problems, but I really have no confidence in just how to tell them to contact DAV except to give them a phone number.

In the years past, the DAV has had a couple of locations and I never know if they are still there or not. This hurts my veterans.

As far as I know at this point, you can contact Quincy Roberts at P.O.   Box 2923, Valdosta, Ga. 31604; or qpremier@bellsouth.net.

The last I heard he is at 1907 Gornto Road on Tuesday mornings. He’s probably overloaded with veterans at that time. If not, busy with cases. I know he’s been a godsend for me.

Let us also remember we have a lot of troops returning in 2012.

As far as I’m concerned, the DAV is this area’s only hope. “We support our veterans?”



Cindy Obester

Lakeland

Some thoughts about our thinking

We say “It’s the thought that counts” when someone forgets their gift on a special occasion but say they have at least “thought about us.” This statement goes much farther than excusing one’s forgetfulness though.

Our thought life is the  genesis for our practical life. The way we think determines the way we’ll act. We can’t think one way and act another way. When we try, we become divided against ourselves and are hypocrites, and of all men most miserable.

Thoughts have moral value: “The thought of foolishness (silliness, frivoulousness, folly, and perverseness) is sin” (Pr. 24:9), and “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord” (Pr. 15:26). When no act of evil has been committed the thought of evil makes one a sinner before God. (See Mt. 5:28). Someone said, “If you’re ashamed to do it before men, you should be ashamed to think it before God.”

Thoughts have moral power and shape our morality. Therefore they bear fruit and have their reward: “I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts” (Jer. 6:19) and “Then they that feared the Lord ... that thought upon his name ... shall be mine ... spared” (Mal. 3:16, 17).

Science credits the brain as the source of our thoughts but the Bible gives our heart (our spiritual being) as the source (Mt. 15:18, 19; Pr; Pr. 4:23:7 et al.). The brain is the bridge that spans the gap between the spiritual and physical. It articulates the thoughts of the here and turns them into words and deeds. As a generator transforms the power of a river into electrical power and sends it into our home, the brain takes spiritual power and transforms it, in compliance to our will, into physical power and sends it to the tips of our fingers and tongue in the form of words and actions.

This is how our inner man creates our outer world. It’s created as a result of our thought life and world view that we live by. Society is a reflection of the state of the heart of the general  public. As all rivers flow into the sea, so all ideals, philosophies, and world views flow from individuals to the masses and influence the world for good or evil. And the world we have made is not very pretty. Something’s terribly wrong inside man.

This something is a sin nature. Man is void of the indwelling Christ, Who is received at the moment of repentance and faith in Him. The Christian is indwelt by Christ, and if his thought life is right, and he has the “Mind of Christ,” he will be the salt and light in a corrupt and dark world. Victory and Christ’s lordship will be seen in his practical life if Christ is Lord of his thought life.

The all-important and life-changing  question is still, “What think ye of Christ?” (Mt. 22:42)



James H. Cagle is a Lakeland resident.