LETTER: GOP recommends voting early

Citizens can vote at 233 E. Broad St., Winder, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., in the County Annex Building. For absentee ballots by mail, voters can call 770-307-3110.

Republican campaign yard signs are available at HomeLand Realty, 147 W. Athens St., Winder. Voters may also call 770.867.5748, or email: chairman@barrowgop.org.

The future of our state and nation is at stake. Please vote on or before Nov. 2.

If you don’t vote, you may have a right to complain later. However, you will have no credibility for being part of the problem. Please exercise your right to vote.

Sincerely,
Ken Young Chairman
Barrow County Republican Party


LETTER: For our country’s future, please vote

Dear Editor:
To the People of the United States of America: Through the years, I have read every word of every sentence of every paragraph in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the ensuing Bill of Rights. These documents are universally recognized as the most influential ever written for the establishment of a system of government using freedom and human rights as its foundation.

Nowhere does it say, “We the Government,” however, the first three words of The Constitution of the United States do say, “We the People.”

The Declaration of Independence says, in part, “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”

The United States of America did not become the greatest society in the history of humankind because of government, but in spite of government. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States and the ensuing Bill of Rights were designed to protect the citizenry from government, rather than become enslaved to governmental rule.

The current administration is using these documents for toilet tissue.

When Mr. Obama was travelling the world apologizing for American arrogance, he was speaking of you and me. What he calls arrogance, I call American “exceptionalism.” Remember the government takeovers (not bailouts) of the automotive and banking industries. Remember the sick feeling in your gut when Obamacare was rammed down our throats.

Remember that the Congress of The United States did not include themselves and their families in Obamacare and the Social Security retirement plan that they have forced upon us.

The current administration has sided with a foreign nation (Mexico) against a sovereign state (Arizona) of our union. Think People Think.

On the federal level, 435 members of the House of Representatives, 100 Senators, one president and one vice president govern us. That is a total of 537 people. 537 elected officials, if we choose otherwise cannot overrule more than 300,000,000 million people. Vote, people, vote.

The current administration and supporters have tried to paint the Tea Party Movement and similar organizations as right wing extremists and radicals.

If wanting the country to return to the laws of the land as described by the Founding Documents, constitutes right wing extremism and radicalism, then count me as one of them. What words would the left use to describe the Signers of The Declaration of Independence and all of the Founding Fathers? I cannot help but wonder?

When the people fear the government it is called tyranny, but when the government fears the people it is called freedom and liberty. I, for one, have great faith in America and The American People. I believe, Nov. 2, 2010, can be the most defining moment in modern American history: the day the American people announced “we will not go quietly into the night” and returned our government to the people. What happens will be up to you.

Vote, people, vote.

Sincerely,
Donald Casper
Winder


LETTER: Politicians must be held accountable

Dear Editor: The Sept. 5, 2010 Newsweek magazine had a poll regarding what should be the highest priority for our policy makers in Washington. The choices were as follows: 1. Federal spending to create jobs 2. Reducing the federal deficit. Fifty-seven percent of the voters favored federal spending to create jobs, 37 percent of the voters favored reducing the federal deficit and 6 percent voted that they did not know.

All governments local, state and federal create some form of service jobs. The remaining jobs come from the manufacturing sector in both soft and durable goods. In the past we manufactured 85 percent of the goods we consumed and imported the balance. Today we import the majority of our consumable goods and export a small number. We have moved from manufacturing economy to a service based economy.

If you study the history of the decline of the manufacturing sector, you will find a high positive correlation with the rise of the “large big box discount stores.” In these stores it is difficult to find items manufactured in the USA unless the item is a food item. The American consumers wanted it both ways. They wanted good paying jobs but they also wanted to be able to purchase cheap imported goods. This caught up with the American consumer in the loss of American jobs.

It is not the job of the government to create jobs except to provide basic services to citizens. Creating jobs is a function of the private sector. The government needs to create a level playing field for American corporations to compete. The American worker can compete with any worker in the world given an equal opportunity.

Our elected leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, should be ashamed of their lack of leadership that has allowed our once great nation to slip to the current level that we are experiencing today. When our manufacturing jobs started being outsourced in the late 70’s our elected officials should have asked the question, “Where will all these people find replacement jobs that once worked in manufacturing?” A service based economy can’t employee the number of workers that once worked in manufacturing.

I spent 30 years working in the private sector of manufacturing. I experienced the great growth of the economy and also the saw the outsourcing and decline of jobs.

I can only hope that voters will demand whoever is in office at all levels local, state and national to be held accountable for their actions or lack of actions when it comes to turning the American economy back around. The day of the career politician must come to an end. We need elected leaders that are willing to work together to be problem solvers and solve the problems that face our country today.

Sincerely,
Ottis Smith
Winder


LETTER: Thankful for PRCC supporters

Dear Editor:
On Saturday, Sept. 25, the thunder roared through Barrow County to bring awareness to one of the “unmentionable” crimes: sexual violence.

The 5th annual “Ride to Survive” was more than just a fundraiser for the Piedmont Rape Crisis Center (PRCC), located in Winder and serving victims of sexual violence in Barrow, Jackson, and Banks counties. It was an opportunity for members of the community to learn the devastating impacts of sexual violence, and the alltoo- common accompanying silence the crime places on victims.

Susan Cash, the PRCC Program Coordinator and Victim Advocate, spoke to the crowd about the victims served right here in our midst.

Participants were invited to remember those close to them whohavebeenvictimized. The good news is that these victims don’t have to be silent and they do not have to go through the recovery process alone.

PRCC exists to provide services to victims and survivors of all forms of sexual violence. Crisis Counseling for victims and secondary victims, referrals, information and resources, discreet and professional nurse examinations that help in criminal prosecutions, assistance through the legal system - these are some of the services provided by Susan and a host of volunteers through a small center.

The Ride to Survive was designed to educate and raise awareness as well as much needed funding to help continue these vital services. PRCC runs the program on a shoestring budget and funding comes from two small Federal grants and private donations.

The route for the ride was beautiful and took the event participants through much of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. As in previous years, the ride was escorted by several law enforcement officers with each jurisdiction being covered by its own law enforcement agency. The ride ended at Dakota’s Bar and Grill where participants were awarded a wide assortment of door prizes. One lucky winner walked away with a 47” LCD HDTV.

On behalf of Piedmont Rape Crisis Center, its board of directors and the Ride to Survive committee, we would like to thank everyone who came out to support this important cause and spent their day with PRCC.

We especially want to thank the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Arcade Police Department, Jefferson Police Department, Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Auburn Police Department, Dakota’s Bar and Grille, InkHead Promotional Products, ADI, Atlanta Highway, and all of the other businesses and individuals that donated money and door prizes.

Special thanks to all volunteers who helped work the event.

Sincerely,
Darrell Gumz
Board of Directors