• Profligate



“PROFLIGATE”: utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute; recklessly wasteful or extravagant; broken down in character; degraded; debased; licentious.

A better definition of Congress I have never seen. The House of Representatives of the United States of America has now officially lost its collective mind, soul and what little moral character it ever had. Specifically, the 217 members who approved another bill this week for $174 billion more dollars that it does not have, and never had. And these are dollars that were already borrowed and budgeted for TARP and stimulus purposes earlier this year — dollars that were never spent because of the abject failure of the administration to put them into action.

This Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi and her hard-core left-wing liberals, is absolutely out of control. Thank goodness for the 40 or so Democrats, and every Republican, who had the sense to vote against this bill. Pelosi and company are completely clueless. They are addicted to spending money that neither the federal government nor its taxpayer citizens has. It is no different than the worst form of drug addict or drunk, who ultimately spends every penny they have on drugs or booze, and then borrows more, and when that runs out, they rob, steal, cheat or kill to get even more money. That’s where this Congress has arrived at — they are robbing, stealing and cheating the taxpayers. And if the health care bill passes, then yes, they will be killing us as well.

It is time for the American taxpayers to stand up and put a stop to this head-long plunge into federal bankruptcy and the eventual dismantling of this country and takeover by some foreign power. We can start with the National Tax Revolution, and tell Congress and the president that, starting next April 15, we will pay only half of what you ask for (and that is mainly for our military), because you are wasting the other half. Our Founding Fathers pledged their lives and sacred honor when they signed the Declaration and Constitution. If Congress doesn’t regain its senses, it is now time for We The People to do the same.



Scott Alderman

Valdosta

Broker & President

First Commercial Real Estate



• So who should we believe or trust?

I have read with interest The Times editorial and the many who have used the Rant & Rave in regards to the condemnation of the property at 5 Points. It seems that the part of the community that is vocal is very much against this move by the City of Valdosta and do not want this to happen. I am one who is very much for limited government in the lives of the citizens, and am leery of condemnation of property for reasons such as what is being suggested at 5 Points. But I am also one who wants to look at every angle of a situation. Is this just a land grab by the city as many are saying? Do we all need now to sit up at night waiting for our property to be taken next? I think those thoughts are preposterous.

I understand the argument against this action, but I want us to look at two things. The first is the actions of this council in regards to acquiring property. Is this a council that has low bid property owners in the past? Far from it according to the editorial staff at the Times who were very fired up about the price paid for the property next to the cinemas. In fact this council and mayor have bought a number of properties from private owners at fair market price without a problem and each property is now being used for the benefit of our citizens. So why do we believe that this same group of people would now start taking property from good citizens?

The second point is that I do business on this property every day. I see the condition of the parking lot and it is a danger to the citizens of our community. I work for a group that owns a piece of property encircled by this property and have had to calm down more than one enraged customer who had damage done to their vehicle because these owners will not do anything about the condition of their property. It is a danger to vehicles and pedestrians alike.

These owners have showed no concern for the citizens of Valdosta over the last 30 years and have basically told us that they would do nothing with this piece of property no matter how it looked right in the middle of our fine city. In contrast, I see our council and mayor working each day on behalf of each one of us citizens. So who should we believe or trust? I will choose to go to the meeting and listen to our fine council and mayor before the owners of the property and the character that they have shown towards this community and my business in particular. I have confidence that the right decision will be made.



Gerry Russo

Valdosta