Letter in Gainesville Times

A voice of reason in the Gainesville Times.


As a nation, we have overcome great adversity by pulling together in times of crisis to make our nation stronger. The adversity that we now face -- including two wars, economic turmoil, lingering threats of terrorism and declining civility -- appears to be intensified by another monster that has been asleep for some time: open racial strife.

Although Barack Obama's election made a powerful statement around the world that reinforces our standing as the world's last best hope, an ugly underside is being revealed in our local community that does not bode well for our future. I was not surprised when both of my high school-aged children came home saying that many of their classmates were unhappy regarding Obama's election. However, I was shocked to hear that young people are spewing venom of ages past.

On at least eight separate occasions their classmates said that our president-elect should be assassinated, or expressed casual expectations that he would be assassinated within coming months. One young "lady" who comes from an apparently respectable family in our neighborhood said she would be willing to carry out the act herself!

Do we have to wonder what these young people are learning from mom and dad?

I have also heard unreasonable fears expressed by adults in our community following Obama's election, even from some who are pillars in our community. You have probably heard the same. Like hatred, such fear drives hysteria, strife and unrest. For all those who are worked up, relax! If our federal government is your primary source of security, you have been in trouble a long time anyway.

On the other hand, I have heard others in our community express a patriotic and godly desire to support and pray for our president-elect in spite of the fact that they do not agree with all of his policies. These are our true patriots and these will be the true winners regardless of who occupies the Oval Office.

I encourage all people of good will to refuse to stand by in passive agreement with those that would tear us apart. As we have heard repeatedly, all evil needs to prevail is to have good men stand by and do nothing.

Jonathan Rucker
Flowery Branch

Mr. Doss and the $2.4 BILLION dollars lost by the GDOT

An update on budget shortages in Georgia Government:

"A sweeping audit of the Georgia Department of Transportation found the agency overstated its federal funding by nearly $2.4 billion before the past fiscal year, leading to a massive deficit that has shut down local road construction aid and threatens the jobs of hundreds of state employees.

Officials with the department said the audit supports their contention that some of the previous transportation commissioner's funding methods were unconstitutional and are ultimately responsible for the deficit now rocking the agency. "


$2.4 BILLION! And, what's the defense for this? It's just an accounting change.

What's the reality?

"The deficit already has prompted the department to cut off millions of dollars in state aid for local road projects, angering lawmakers who say the agency should instead lay off hundreds of employees as part of any plan to right the financial ship.

"The tragedy here is that we have basically shut down road and bridge projects in this state for the past 11 months. ... And the result is we have put thousands of Georgians out of work as a result in the private sector, and of course, there are calls for us to lay off hundreds of GDOT employees at a time when the state of Georgia has the second-highest unemployment rate in the United States," Mr. Doss said."

Well, Mr. Doss, do you have the money or not? In my humble opinion, you don't have the money and you know you don't have the money. Stop lying about some mysterious accounting change.

If you really had the $2.4 BILLION, then you wouldn't be stopping "road and bridge projects in this state for the past 11 months."

Mr. Doss must be a Paul Stanley/George Bush Republican.

A job for the GOP and a epitaph for Bush

I haven't seen the on the street reaction to the national beating the GOP just took. The GOP in the media talked about regrouping, redefining, rebuilding, finding new leaders, etc etc etc.

I was a college student studying business and political science in 2004 when Bush won a second term in office.

Boy o Boy was there rude and crude comments towards Kerry! And, Kerry supporters. Comments like the Democratic Party is finished. And, some others that we just don't need to visit now that the rest of the country has spoken on race in politics.

Do you remember the maps printed in the newspapers? The ones that allegedly showed county level support for the "Bush Mandate?"

In those maps the country was red with very little bluish purple. Losers, kindly remember that map when crying about media bias.

Remember the battle cries from the victors of 2000 and 2004?

The Bush Cabal shoved that 'rebel yell' right back down his supporters throats with $5 trillion dollars of deficit spending and we're still counting.

Yet, we have GOP victors in this state, like Nathan Deal.

What's his victory cry?

"Where will Obama and the Democrats get the revenue to run the government?"

Obama and the Democrats should beat it out of your hide, Nathan Deal. When things were going good, you took all the credit. Now that reality is upon us, you still won't accept responsibility for your "party at taxpayer expense."

Paying the $5 trillion back should be your only job for the next two years.

So what does yesterday mean?

It means the GOP will blame the Democrats, do nothing to help run the country, and just collect their salary/pension.

Just out of curiosity, can anyone tell me about Nathan Deal's 'signature legislation?'

I want to put it on George W. Bush's political tombstone.

Here lies the second Coming of Ronald Reagan.
The Great Decider and 'Uniter,' not divider.
Killed by the signature legislation of one Nathan Deal.
The Deal legislation was called the _________________ Act.