As a political issue, President Barack Obama’s stimulus package is fraught with contradictions.
Many people have likely taken the confounding position of being opposed to the stimulus package then wondering why their community didn’t receive more federal money.
The stimulus package doesn’t appear to be motivated by a system of political rewards or revenge. Georgia’s electoral votes did not go to Obama, but the Georgia ranks in the Top 10 states in the number of jobs created by the stimulus package.
Sanford Bishop is a Democrat, whose Georgia district received $295 million, while Jack Kingston is a Republican whose Georgia district received $331 million.
The stimulus money seems to be going where the people are.
The more people, the more money.
Still, in some cases, where stimulus dollars have been used to directly create payrolls for new municipal jobs, one must wonder what happens to these positions once the stimulus funding’s gone? If a city can’t afford to pay these positions on its own, will these people lose their jobs when a city runs out of the stimulus money?
With so many opinions and contradictions regarding the stimulus package, The Valdosta Daily Times opted to tell this story mostly by the numbers. With the exception of a recent AP quote from the President, The Times did not seek opinions and comments on the stimulus package for today’s front page article.
Instead, we believe the numbers tell the story and readers can draw their own conclusions.
We hope our reports this week and next week will cut through the political talking points and reveal just how much South Georgia can expect from the stimulus package.
It is our goal to stimulate independent thought rather than regurgitating the same old party lines regarding the stimulus package.
What We Think
What We Think: Numbers tell stimulus story
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
