The Clarion Issue Blog

CAMDEN COUNTY ANNUAL GOP DINNER TO BE HELD ON FEB. 12 & TOWNHALL MEETING FEB. 19

2011-02-08T04:14:00.000-08:00

The Camden County Republican Party will hold its annual dinner with all its elected officials on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Osprey Cove in St Marys, Georgia. The social hour begins at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

The special guest speaker for the evening will be Georgia State Attorney General Sam Olens. Also in attendance will be State Senator William Ligon and State Representative Jason Spencer.

Tickets are $50. Contact Patricia Viellenave at wvgal@tds.net for tickets or more information.

The St. Mary’s Downtown Merchants Association have also announced a townhall meeting on Saturday, February 19, featuring State Senator William Ligon and State Representative Jason Spencer which will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Southern Junction. Southern Junction is located just across from the St. Mary’s Public Library at 600 Finley Street.

The pair of legislators indicated they looked forward to engaging the citizens of Camden County on important matters that are before the Georgia General Assembly.

MUSIC REVIEWS: ERIC CLAPTON'S CLAPTON

2011-02-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

Eric Clapton’s 2010 release Clapton is perhaps the now typical blues/jazz/rock genre CD expected by the award-winning artist. The sounds on the CD draw from a long history of music and the songs on the collection are, according to Clapton, “an eclectic collection of songs that weren’t really on the map.” He indicated as it turned out, “This album wasn’t what it was intended to be at all. In a way, I just let it happen.”

The album’s hard blues sounds include “Hard Time Blues” by Lane Harding, done in the traditional Delta blues sounds of a Robert Johnson song. The song “Run Back To Your Side” is very reminiscent of the sounds of Cream or maybe even Derrick and the Dominos, as Derek Trucks is a guest slide guitarist on the track. The jazz sounds on the CD are present in several songs, often sounding as though they were recorded in the 1930s or 40s style, including the songs “When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful,” and the humorous “My Very Good Friend The Milkman.” Other songs of note on the CD include “River Runs Deep,” “Everything Will Be Alright,” “Diamonds Made From Rain,” with Sheryl Crow on vocals, and “Autumn Leaves.”

Clapton’s base band for Clapton includes drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Willie Weeks, Tony Andrews, aka “Trombone Shorty” on trombone and trumpet, Tim Orindgreff on sax, and keyboardist Walt Richmond. He also brings in special guests keyboardist Steve Winwood, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, vocalist Sheryl Crow, and guitarist Derek Trucks.

The CD was produced by Eric Clapton and Doyal Bramhall II. Clapton is definitely a fan CD so check it out before you by it.

Jacob Dylan’s Women And Country is an 11 cut CD produced by the award winning T Bone Burnett. While the album is the artist’s second solo CD it has a full sound using horns and fiddles without overpowering the listener and drowning out the message of the lyrics of the songs. Dylan is joined on the CD by female singers Neko Case from the indie rock group The New Pornographers and Georgia born Kelly Hogan, formally with The Jody Grind. A few interesting cuts on the CD include “Yonder Come The Blues,” “Holly Rollers For Love” and “Lend a Hand.”

Peter Gabriel’s Big Blue Ball is a collection of tracks featuring artists, instruments and vocalists from all over the world. There are over 70 guest artists featured on the 11 cut CD and the instrumentation includes samples of insturments from around the world. Many of the vocals on the CD are performed in the language of the country of origin of the song preserving the natural flavor of the track. Some great tracks on Big Blue Ball are “Shadow,” “Forest,” “altus silva,” and “Rivers.”

Big Blue Ball is a lot like several of Gabriel’s past CDs such as The Long Way Home and several other non-typical western music collections the artist has presented to his fans in the past. A listener may wish to sample a few tracks before purchasing the CD.

In other music news, in early December 2010, outgoing Florida Governor Charlie Crist, an admitted Doors fan, along with the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, voted to posthumously pardon Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, for his convicted of indecent exposure and open profanity.during a wild concert in Miami on March 1, 1969. According to The Doors organist Ray Manzarek, Morrison whipped the fans, most of who were stoned and drunk, into a frenzy and made them believe they had seen him expose himself. None of the arresting officers actually saw Morrison expose himself and none of the more than 100 photos in evidence show any exposure. Morrison was convicted of the crimes in 1970 and received a six-month jail sentence and a $500 fine. He never served the sentence. Morrison’s widow, Patricia Kennealy Morrison, opposed the pardon which came 40 years after the conviction. Morrison died in 1971 in Paris and was buried in a graveyard in that city.

Meanwhile, the Abbey Road Crosswalk in north London, made famous after appearing on a Beatles album cover in 1969, has been granted heritage status by the English Heritage association in the U.K. The status was granted on December 22, 2010, and marks the first time a crossing has been awarded Grade II listed status. Ian Macmillan took the famous shot of the Beatles in the crossing during a 10-minute photo shoot one August morning in 1969. The crosswalk and nearby Abbey Road studios, also listed at Grade II landmark, remain a major attraction for Beatles fans the world over when they visit London.

CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED ACROSS THE WORLD

2011-01-23T05:29:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

During his New Years Day 2011 address to the world, Pope Benedict XVI indicated “Humanity cannot be allowed to become accustomed to discrimination, injustices, and religious intolerance, which today strike Christians in a particular way. Once again, I make a pressing appeal (to Christians in troubled areas) not to give in to discouragement and resignation.” During the homily, on the day the Catholic Church celebrates its World Day of Peace, the pope dedicated his remarks to religious freedom and tolerance. At the time of the Pope’s sermon, the world had seen recent church bombings in Egypt and Iraq, and a death sentence in Pakistan brought on by an Islamic blasphemy law.

Perhaps the recent atrocity against Christians on the Pope’s mind as he spoke to the world on January 1, was the bombing at a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt, the day before which had killed 21 worshippers gathered to mark the New Year and wounded about 43. The incident touched off riots in the Christian quarter of Alexandra. Reports noted there was no police security for the church at the time of the bombing. In Egypt, Christians make up about ten percent of the nation’s 79 million people and the Coptic branch is the largest branch of the Christian faith in the North African Nation. While Egyptian leaders have indicated the incident was an isolated case, Vatican leaders and observers of violence toward Christians around the world indicate the attack was part of a growing trend, especially in the Moslem world.

Another country where Christians have been severely persecuted is Iraq, the country where the United States has been fighting and training army and police forces for six years and lost more than 4,400 killed in action. The onslaught of attacks in Iraq began with the Baghdad church massacre on October 31, 2010, that killed 58 people and was followed by unrelenting bombings and shootings targeting Christians throughout Iraq, including incidents where militants invaded Christian homes and killed people sitting in their living room. A series of ten bombs exploded in Christian homes in Baghdad on December 30, killing two people and wounding more than a dozen.

The UN High Commission For Refugees said at least 1,000 families had fled Baghdad and Mosul since September 2010 for the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. A further 133 families had registered with the organization in Syria, as had 109 individuals in Jordan. U.N officials estimate there are 500,000 Christians remaining in Iraq, down from 1 million when Saddam Hussein was ousted. It appears the Christian persecution in Iraq is divided equally between the Syrian Catholic Christians and the Chaldean Christians in the country.

Other attacks on Christian churches at the end of 2010 included two attacks on Christmas Day in northern Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, where six people died, and a bombing of a Roman Catholic Church on the island of Jolo in the Philippines where six people were injured.

However, the most publicized case of Christian persecution has been in Pakistan where an Islamic anti-blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since November 2010, when a court sentenced Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of four, to death. On January
4, 2011, the governor of the state of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law and sought presidential pardon for the 45-year-old Christian farmhand, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards who opposed Taseer’s opposition to the law.

The incident began in June 2009 near her village of Ittan Wali, a patchwork of lush fields and dusty streets in the Sheikhupura district of Pakistain’s Punjab province. While she was picking berries alongside local Muslim women, a disturbance developed over sharing water and Moslem water purification rituals. A few days later, the women claimed she had insulted the Prophet Muhammad. She was tried under the county’s Islamic anti-blasphemy law and became the first woman be sentenced to death for the crime in Pakistan. She has been in prison for over a year while Christian groups have protested the case and sentence. Her husband and their children fear for their lives and have gone into hiding. In December 2010, a pro-Taliban Muslim cleric offered a $5,800 reward to anyone who killed the Bibi in prison.

Christians make up 4 percent of Pakistan’s population and have been especially concerned about the blasphemy law saying it offers them no protection. Under the law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty, but activists say the vague terminology has led to its misuse. Critics of the law argue convictions hinge on witness testimony and often these are linked to personal vendettas. Also in 2009, 40 houses and a church were set ablaze by a mob of 1,000 Muslims in the town of Gojra, Punjab, and at least seven Christians were burnt to death during the incident. The attacks were triggered by reports of the desecration of the Qur’ran.

On December 29, 2010, Scandinavian intelligence agencies announced they had foiled a plot to kill staff members at the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which published caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in September 2005, and had arrested five suspects in the case. Police in Denmark and Sweden said they thwarted the terrorist attack possibly hours before it was to begin indicating the plan including shooting as many people as possible in the Copenhagen building housing the newspaper’s newsroom. Many people had thought the five-year-old incident involving the cartoons had passed; however, it is apparent some religious leaders and individuals in the Islamic world refuse to let the issue die.

The problem is for years people in the non-Muslim world have been told Islam is a peaceful, nonviolent, benevolent, and tolerant religion; however, the more the world sees of Islam, the intolerance of Islam to other religions and beliefs, the brutality of Sharia law, and hears the vengeful fatwas and sermons of the Mullahs and Ayatollahs, the less the world believes Islam is the peaceful, tolerant religion it claims to be.

While the United States has made its faux pas concerning religious freedom over the last couple of years, the protest over the placement of the Mosque/Islamic Cultural Center near Ground Zero in New York City and the planned burning of the Qur’ran by the minister in Florida being a few examples, Americans believe in the right of an individual to say, worship, and believe as they please. This right of an individual to believe and practice their religion was also included into the Charter of the United Nations and should be allowed by all member nations. However, eight of the countries included on the top ten World Watch List in 2011 for the persecution of Christians include the Islamic nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and the Maldives. Many of these are members of the U.N. and some are U.S. friends and allies. Non-Islamic nations on the list include North Korea and Laos.

In the Pope’s New Year's message he indicated, “words were not enough” to bring about peace, particularly in the Middle East. He called for “concrete and constant commitment” from national leaders and said everyone on a local level should push for peace in their daily relations with their neighbours. It would be nice to see and hear the Mullahs, the Ayatollahs, the secular leaders of the Islamic world, and all the Muslims around the world prove once and for all that Islam is the tolerant and peaceful religion it claims to be.

TEA PARTY CONVERSATIONS: H.O.P.E. FOR A BALANCED BUDGET

2011-01-23T04:49:00.000-08:00

BY JASON SPENCER

As the old saying goes, “The property of no one is safe while the Georgia General Assembly is in session!” Lock up your cows, chickens, dogs and anything else you deem precious.

But with all sarcasm aside, the Georgia General Assembly will convene on January 10, 2011, and I will be one of the thirty-five freshmen in the House of Representatives entering in to one of the most challenging budget years in recent memory. I am confident we will be the most unpopular group of people in the entire state. There will be hard choices to make this session and difficult votes to cast, and no one will like all of them. Most likely, there will be no sacred cow in the state budget spared from cuts.

While I have much to learn about protocol, rules and other formalities, I have noticed a few things and have been briefed on a few issues that are sure to be front and center at the beginning of the session. First, let’s discuss the HOPE scholarship crisis. Whatever the decision will be to continue to preserve this perceived merit based scholarship, which has now turned into an entitlement for any student graduating from a Georgia high school, is sure to bring college students and angry parents to the capitol steps with protest signs demanding to protect the program and keep tuition costs low.

On a personal note, I will probably be one of the few legislators in the assembly that was actually awarded the scholarship during my undergraduate years. While I graduated from high school with a 3.0 the year the first award was given in 1993, I was not eligible to receive the scholarship because an income cap existed. So, HOPE was not always a merit based scholarship. There was a needs-based component to eligibility. After I financed my first two years of college through loans and other scholarships, the income cap was removed. Maintaining my GPA at a 3.0 during college allowed me to become eligible to receive HOPE to finance the final two years of undergraduate education. My point: I did not get the first two years of my education for free, nor did I feel entitled to receive this scholarship.

Today, HOPE has morphed into an entitlement program and students are told that if you just have a “B” average you can go to college “free” in Georgia. Fact: In 1993, there were approximately 42,000 recipients with a total award of $21.4 million and in 2010, there were over 200,000 recipients with a total award of $394 million. An unintended consequence of the HOPE scholarship has been tremendous pressure put on teachers and school systems to contribute to grade inflation; therefore, producing a diluted “B” average. Furthermore, this inflationary pressure turns out more students becoming eligible for the award. The grade inflation coming from the high school level is evident by the fact that a large number (about 50%) of entering freshman lose HOPE during their first year of college because they can not maintain a “collegiate” GPA of 3.0.

One of the many solutions I “hope” is considered is to start HOPE after the first semester of college. Maybe this would help save the program money by weeding out those with inflated grades. Also, HOPE should never be paying for remedial course work. If one has to take remedial course work in college on a scholarship, is one truly a scholar?

While HOPE is certainly going to be a tough issue for the Assembly, other issues will be just as hot to deal with. Educators are bracing themselves for another round of cuts in the state’s budget. With 58% of the state’s $17 billion budget devoted to education, cuts are likely to strike at this portion again in this session. Not only will educators be looking at more cuts, they will be hit with possible pay-for-performance legislation which is one of the conditions needed to win a Federal government Race to the Top award. The win of $400 million to “improve” education is just another “strings attached” power grab from the federal government to control education in Georgia.

Tackling a projected state budget shortfall of $2 billion will be no easy feat. The only Constitutionally mandated job of the legislature is to produce a balanced budget. While major issues like illegal immigration, rewriting the state tax code and how do deal with “Obamacare” provide much political background noise, the focus of the Assembly will be how to balance the budget. Taxpayers are keenly aware of the cuts that may come, and I believe are ready to deal with it. One thing taxpayers will not tolerate is more fees, hidden charges and tax increases. Taxpayers want to see meaningful cuts to the state budget. Also taxpayers want the state to change its tax code in order to foster business and job growth, which will be the main focus in what is to be a turbulent session.

Despite dealing with all of these issues, one dynamic that is interesting for me to be a part of is serving in the Republican caucus that has grown its majority substantially. Georgia was a one-party state of Democrats prior to 2002. After 2002, the state became a two-party state. Today, the two-party state has fallen and we are once again a one-party state, but controlled by the Republicans. From my perspective thus far, this Republican caucus seems to be less uniform and more ideologically diverse with that composition being a coalition of rural-suburban influences. On the other hand, the Democrats have been reduced to a pure and progressive minority mainly composed of urban white liberals and African-Americans. With the Democrats being reduced to its more “pure” ideological elements, some in the party are abandoning a sinking ship and jumping into the Republican caucus.

As an incoming conservative freshman, there will be much to learn, but learning how “the game” is to be played within my own caucus will be a skill I will soon have to master. Representing the people from the district will be challenging no doubt is a historic session, but the journey of doing such a task will be its reward.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Spencer is a Health Care professional in Southeastern Georgia and a leader in the TEA Party movement in the area. He also represents District #180 in the Georgia House of Representatives in Atlanta. His email address in Atlanta is jason.spencer@house.ga.gov and his new web page is www.staterepspencer.com . His articles are presented by THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes.

THE WRONG ROAD: A four part series, written exclusively for the Clarion Issue, illustrating how a small community can go down the wrong road. (Part I)

2011-01-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

By Richard Frizzell

Prior to moving to Camden County and Georgia, I had searched out many places to make a life-changing move to. I lived in New York State, first in the City of New York and later in an upstate county called Niagara County, located on the shores of Late Ontario. You might say that I got a good education in both lifestyles, one of city life and one of rural life. Another source of comparison was based on my being in the military and having traveled both within the country and abroad and having experienced all manner of different places both good and bad.

My choice of places to move to spend the rest of my life was essentially an educated choice. I was using the best information available and making a choice that would give me the best chance of social, personal and economic happiness. I often joke about something one of my neighbors said to me when he greeted me into the neighborhood, “You’re not from Georgia are you?” My response was, “No, but I got here as fast as I could.” To me this was “Mayberry by the Sea.”

I thought I had died and went to heaven. I loved to sail, hike, swim in the ocean, and fish. I also wanted to live in a place that was small, quiet and friendly. Camden County and St. Marys was just the ticket. There was sense of “Americana” and community here that I had found lacking in other places I had lived in over the course of my life. In Camden County I found a house to live in that was not going to cost a fortune, as well as low taxes, and opportunity for any kind of activity you could possibly want for self-fulfillment or entertainment. It was all just a short distance from our home. I could go anywhere I wanted for enjoyable activities either by a walk, bicycle ride, or a short car ride. Best of all, it wasn’t expensive to live here. There was a sense of calm stability, peace, and safety here in my new found home and community.

Since I have moved here some twenty years ago I have seen my dream world start to erode away by turmoil created by the city of St. Marys Elected City Council government over ideas of economic growth, and expanding city governmental agencies in an effort to mimic larger cities. St. Marys city government’s actions have been more and more confrontational and costly to its citizens over these past few years. Vested interest and personal petty agendas appear to have been promoted by those in power. It is all done, of course, with the promise of bringing opportunity and growth, economic prosperity, and a vast array of all manner of things that will make the city of St. Marys the centerpiece of “Coastal Georgia.”

However, it appears that the City Council of St. Marys has failed to consider what the city residents and the surrounding communities want for their future. We must include the surrounding communities because they too are affected by what St. Marys wants to do or does in the hope of economic growth. The cost of these “pipe dreams” doesn’t stop at the city limits and has an effect on all of the county’s citizens.

Just some of the problems that have sprung up recently that are a direct action of St. Marys City Councils of the past few years and most certainly of the present administration will be the topic of this four part series. Some of you may agree with and some you will strongly disagree with the opinions put forth in these articles. If that is true you most certainly can voice your disagreement by offering your disagreement and opinions to the Clarion Issue without fear of “intimidation by a policeman as has happened in City Council meetings” or called all manner of names by officials because of your disagreement with policies that do not directly help residents of the city.

Spending money on the purchase of a private piece of property located on the water front for 1.3 million dollars of taxpayers’ money and then borrowing from banks that same amount to provide needed lift stations to the city sewer system is just one such topic we will discuss in this four part article. Folks, if you disagree with this article, and some may disagree; you have every right to voice that disagreement without fear of retaliation or intimidation. Nor will you be called “back row buzzards” or “trouble makers”.

President John F. Kennedy once said that he had a sense of history and as President of the United States he would not repeat the mistakes of history. However, that wisdom does not appear to be prevalent among the present members of the St. Marys Council. I close the first part of this series with this thought in mind, “Alas, it is the folly of men that too soon, do they forget”(Le Morte d’ Arthur, by Malory).

TIME FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAX TUNE-UP CAMDEN COUNTY

2011-01-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

By Mike Wilson

The beginning of a new year is a busy time in the Assessors’ Office. January through April 1st is the time for accepting applications for homestead exemption. To qualify, you must own your home and reside there on January 1st, and your Camden County residence must be your primary residence. There are several types of additional exemptions available to persons age 62 and over, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of veterans, firefighters, peace officers, and surviving spouses of service men killed in action.

You may also apply January through April 1st for an agricultural exemption. There are several programs available, and all require a bona fide agricultural use. One program requires U.S. citizenship and may be owned by a trust or owned by a family corporation whose majority income is derived from Georgia farm products. This ten-year program has no minimum tract size, but has a maximum of 2,000 acres per person or entity. Another program does not require citizenship and is available to corporations doing business in Georgia. In this fifteen-year program, tracts must be over 200 acres with no maximum acreage limit, and over half the tract must be in forestland. A third program offers a reduced assessment on farmland and up to $100,000 off the assessed value of farm buildings. In each program, there can be no commercial activity on the parcel, including rental property. Applicants enter into an agricultural covenant that carries significant penalties if the covenant is breached.

Through April 1st, the Assessors’ Office accepts the owner’s opinion of value of property in a document known as a return. Any changes made to the property, such as deletions, additions, and acreage changes, may also be returned. According to Georgia law, opinions of value are not accepted past the deadline of April 1st, and values cannot be adjusted when tax bills are received. If the value returned is not accepted, the property owner will receive an assessment notice by mail. With new tax laws in effect in 2011, every property owner will receive an assessment notice with the right to contest the value within a 45-day appeal period.

Also during this time, the Assessors’ Office is accepting personal property reporting forms for boats, aircraft, and business inventory and equipment. Applications for freeport exemption of qualified business inventory are accepted. The appraisal staff is reviewing the percentage of completion on construction in progress for a January 1st status, and reviewing any building permits and sales of property.

The Assessors’ Office makes every effort to maintain accurate records and encourages property owners to verify the data on property record information online at www.qpublic.net/ga/camden. Please notify the office if changes are necessary. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (912) 576-3241.

EPA EMBARKING ON CAT SCAM

2011-01-18T05:37:00.000-08:00

By D. E. Lovett

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun its regulatory campaign to limit emissions of that dangerous pollutant, carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. That’s right: the same pollutant that you emit with every breath, and that all plant life depends upon to grow, has now been declared hazardous to human health, and must be limited. All this in the name of slowing or reversing “global warming,” which is now supposed to be the greatest threat to life on earth- never mind nuclear war, starvation, poverty, disease, religious fanaticism, or any of the myriad threats we can actually do something about.

The most popular (among radical environmentalists) method of doing this is the scheme known as “cap and trade” (CAT). In its simplest form, CAT involves the federal government determining how much CO2 can safely be released (the “cap”), and issuing permits to the major producers of it. These producers can then either meet the cap, or exceed or underproduce it. If they exceed their cap, they can buy a higher cap from those who are under their cap, thus the “trade.”

CAT is fraught with so many perils that even the liberal-dominated 111th Congress found it too “toxic” to address. The Waxman-Markey proposal never made it out of committee, leaving the issue to the EPA, which now seems determined to enact regulations of dubious constitutionality. Congress has, seemingly, ceded to a regulatory bureaucracy its power to make law- a clear violation of the Constitution.

The problems with CAT are almost numberless. How will the “safe” levels of CO2 be determined? Which emitters will be targeted, and to what extent? What will the government charge for permits, and who will reap the monetary benefits? How will the proceeds be spent? What will the impact on consumers be, and how will the benefits be measured? On a deeper level, what is the morality of government benefiting monetarily from selling the right to pollute? This is right up there with “sin” taxes, which gross huge revenues, by taxing supposedly unhealthy behavior.

While it is not possible to measure all of the costs and benefits of CAT, there are a few certainties attached to the measure. The cost of energy will surely escalate, by measures estimated at between $1000 to $3000 per household per year. And the benefit, by the most optimistic measure, will be a reduction in average global temperatures of hundredths of a degree.

More than anything else, this scam illustrates the problems brought on our economy, and our well-being, by Congress delegating almost unlimited powers to unaccountable regulatory bureaucracies.

MUSIC REVIEWS: MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER’S THE AGE OF MIRACLES

2010-10-05T05:53:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s The Age Of Miracles was released in late April of this year and is a CD whose theme is redemption and resilience. In an interview with NPR’s Diane Rehm the artist described the songs on the CD as songs that express the overcoming of traumatic struggles, emotions, and episodes in life.

While Carpenter’s band on The Age Of Miracles includes an excellent band of Matt Rollings on piano and Hammond B-3 organ, Russ Kunkel on drums, Duke Levine on guitar, Glenn Worf on bass, Dan Dugmore on steel and 12 string guitar, and Eric Darken on percussion, the real beauty of the songs is in the lyrics. Songs such as “I Was A Bird,” “I Put My Ring Back On,” “The Way I Feel,” “Zephyr,” “Iceland,” and “We Traveled So Far” mark the emotional points of a person’s struggles at various stages of one’s life. The CD also features guest vocals by Vince Gill and Alison Krauss.

The Age Of Miracles was produced by Matt Rollings and Mary Chapin Carpenter and is a good solid CD by the artist. Her fans will enjoy the CD as will fans of the folk or soft country genre.

The latest John Fogerty CD, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, is basically a CD of covers. The CD contains 12 cuts with only one, “Change In The Weather,” written by Fogerty. The songs include Bonnie and Delany Bramlett’s “Never Ending Song Of Love,” Rick Neilson’s “Garden Party,” “Haunted House by Robert Geddins,” a great cut of John Prine’s “Paradise,” and “Back Home Again” by John Denver. The CD features guest appearances by Don Henley and Bruce Springsteen on vocals. The fiddling, mandolin, and steel guitar are excellent in this CD, and most of the songs are featured in a western/western swing style of instrumentation. Some of these songs may be worth a download; however, it is not a typical Fogerty CD.

In a few weeks I plan to meet over 150 friends from my college days from the 1970s at “the scene of the crime.” I have planed a list of ten obscure album/CDs released by artist popular in the 1970s and still making music today. The first on the list, because of the appropriate name of the CD, is Heretics And Privateers, a 2001 release by John Kay of Steppenwolf fame. The title cut is great and reminds me a lot of the friends and the times we shared in the college days of the 1970s. Kay seemed to do great solo work after the demise of Steppenwolf; it was a lot better than the music he did in his efforts to reform the band. Heretics And Privateers is just one good example.

Mark Knopfler’s Sailing To Philadelphia, which came out in 2000, was a great collection of tunes. The title track, “Sailing To Philadelphia” is about Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon who surveyed the Maryland-Pennsylvania boundary line during colonial times. Another release from 2000, John Haitt’s Crossing Muddy Waters, would remind the listener of the type of music a group of friends would play on a warm night on a front porch over a few beers. The title cut, “Crossing Muddy Waters,” is a heart wrenching love-lost story anchoring a solid album by Haitt. Wine aficionados will enjoy Al Stewart’s 2007 offering to the music world, Down In The Cellar. This CD contains great cuts about wine, of which Stewart is a connoisseur. “House of Clocks,” “Under a Wine-Stained Moon,” “Sergio,” “Tasting History,” and “Down In The Cellar” make this CD a must have.

Dr. John’s 2008 CD, The City That Care Forgot, is about Hurricane Katrina and the city the nation seemed to forget after the storm. In this 13 track CD Dr. John attacks politicians, civil authorities, and business leaders who caused the destruction along the Mississippi River and Gulf coast during Hurricane Katrina. Eric Clapton and Willie Nelson make guest appearances on this CD. Major songs on the CD include “Promises, Promises,” “Save Our Wetlands,” “Black Gold” and “Land Grab.” Meanwhile, David Gilmore’s 2006 release, On An Island, maybe as close to Pink Floyd as you will get in this decade. Gilmore’s post-Pink Floyd releases have always been good, but this one seemed a cut or two above. Listen for great guitar work and lyrics on this CD.

John Prine’s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings, which appeared in 1995, was a kind of a CD of love songs regardless of the title. A unique mix of songs on this collection of 14 included “I Love You When It Hurts and a great ballad Lake Marie. Listen for some great mandocello work on this CD. Another CD with a little unusual bit of instrumentation was Jethro Tull’s frontman Ian Anderson’s 2000 release The Secret Language Of Birds. This CD uses Glockenspiel guitars, the flute and many other exotic insterments in a very impressive blend of music and lyrics. The title track, along with “Postcard Day,” “Sanctuary,” “Panama Freighter,” “The Little Flower Girl,” and many other great songs make this a album as good as any Tull CD except for perhaps Aqualung.

Although he mainly played country music for most of his life, Tom Russell’s Blood and Candle Smoke released last year is another overlooked but important and wonderful contribution to the music world. The CD is done in the folk music genre and includes songs “East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam,” “Crosses of San Carlos,” and “Santa Ana Wind.” The imagery in Russell’s lyrics are beyond great and he is joined in the music by the indie-rock band Calexico.

Finally, reaching back into the 1970s into fusion-jazz there are two Santana albums that need mentioning as I close this list, Illuminations and Caravanserai. Illuminations was a collaboration between Carlos Santana and Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane’s widow. On this now remastered CD is perhaps the best of Santana’s jazz period. Caravanserai is another Santana jazz period CD and one with a little more vocal tracks if a listener is into vocals.

THE SEVENTH, FIRST ANNUAL THATHLOTHLAGUPHKA AWARD ANNOUNCED BY THE CLARION ISSUE

2010-09-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

By CLARION ISSUE STAFF MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE CLARION ISSUE

Each year the Clarion Issue presents the Annual Thathlothlaguphka Award. The Thathlothlaguphka Award is a local award for abject stupidity, general idiocy, or total incompetence, given to a local official, body politic, or politically connected contractor or company whose actions have negatively affected the people in the area. The name Thathlothlaguphka comes from the Native American name for the St. Marys River and means “smells like rotten fish.” The Jefferson Muzzle Awards, presented by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and the Ig Nobel Prizes, presented by the Harvard Computer Society, the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students, and the Darwin Awards have served as the models for the Clarion Issue’s Thathlothlaguphka Award.

The winner receives a Thathlothlaguphka Award certificate, a Clarion Issue bar stick, an I HATE THE CLARION ISSUE tee shirt, a $25 bar tab from The Island Bar and Grill on Hwy 40, and a $25 lunch from Lucky Dawgs, Love At First Bite, on Point Peter Rd. We thank our sponsors for their support in the presentation of this prestigious award.

This year’s winner is the Mayor and City Council of St. Marys, Georgia for a host of reasons, but mainly for making major decisions behind closed doors and for being rude and obnoxious to citizens of the city during meetings. The Mayor and at least four of the City Council personnel, usually referred to as ‘the five in the middle,’ made at least two major decisions in executive session and never voted on these actions in open session. These votes appear to be a violation of the Georgia Open Meetings law and these actions taken by the Mayor and the ‘five in the middle,’ the decision to fire tourism director Janet Brinko and to buy the Gilman Boat House property proved very unpopular with St. Marys residents.

The cost of the 2.5-acre waterfront Gilman property was $1.3 million, a large sum to be taken off the city and county tax role. Now that the city has the property, what is the city going to do with the property? There is already a boat ramp, restaurant, and a park downtown at the waterfront and somehow a late afternoon stroll along a boardwalk to the old mill site with sand gnats and mosquitoes gnawing at your ankles and ears is not as romantic as some City Council members may remember. The hoopla over firing of Janet Brinko by the City Manager was also a fiasco the City Council could have easily avoided had the council had a few facts in hand. In America, there are certain steps necessary to fire any public employee, and now that we are in the post Shirley Sherrod era maybe the City Council and City Manager will, in the words of P. I. Mike Hammer, make a few notes.

In early summer, the City Council raised water bills 35% to cover the $42 million expansion of water and sewer capacity in the city. This 35% raise included the water bills of the city residents annexed against their will a decade ago who are still waiting for sewer service. While these citizens have seen sewer service given to new residential developments, the sewer service they were promised ten years ago has not materialized. Many residents in the Gaine Davis Development, to the west of Spur-40 from Hwy 40 to New Hope Baptist Church, are having problems with their septic tanks as are some of the residents of Point Peter. The residents of the Davis Development met on August 7, 2010, to discuss available options and these did include several legal options.

The decorum at the City Council meetings has gotten to a point where St. Marys citizens feel city leaders demean and do not listen to them. In an email sent by one of the ‘five in the middle’ to the new City Attorney dated June 13, 2010, the councilperson described critics attending the meetings as a group of ‘nay sayers’ found in the back of the council room and referred to them as an ‘Amen Corner.’ For all of the aforementioned and a few more unmentioned infractions (such as for continuing to discuss the relocation of the St. Marys Airport, which many residents feel does not need to be relocated, to an environmentally fragile area known as Site 1 near Billyville Rd., not to mention one of the unmentioned) the Clarion Issue feels this award is very richly deserved.

The first member of the St. Marys City Council, especially one of the ‘five in the middle,’ to contact the Clarion Issue at www.clarionish.com will become eligible for the valuable prizes which accompany the award; however, a photo-op is required at the time the award and prizes are presented.

At least Honorable Mention for the Award must go to the County Commission for its slap in the face to representative democracy by appointing a successor to the seat vacated by former Commissioner Steve Berry, rather than holding an election to determine the People’s choice. The decision was promoted as one to save the cost of a special election, a noble goal. However, the cost would be small, involving a few precincts. The Commission knew, many months in advance of the effective date of Steve Berry’s retirement, that a replacement would be needed, with a General Election already scheduled. It could easily have held qualifying and included the District 3 election in the General Election, but chose not to do so. This opens the gate to charges they sought to replace the often fractious Steve Berry with a replacement more amenable to the 3-2 majority which runs the County.

At this time the Clarion Issue usually runs a quick check on a few past winners and runners up of the Thathlothlaguphka Award. Last year’s winner, the Camden County Board of Assessors is still under fire from local citizens concerning what many consider unfair and unequal tax assessments. Last year’s runner up, the St. Marys Ethics Commission is still almost completely dysfunctional and in no way able to help the city leaders play well with others, especially the citizens they represent.

There also seems to be no progress in the real environmental cleanup at the old Gilman Paper Co. mill site, and several real estate developers around the county have left the county flat with partially developed properties and with our citizens holding the bag worth millions of dollars for water and sewer services delivered that will take years to recuperate while the citizens themselves wait for the same service. Both of these entities were former winners of sorts of the Thathlothlaguphka Award.

FARTS AND FLORALS

Florals to the used book sale at Cedar Oak Café and Coffee House in downtown St. Marys, for Clifton Golby, a former Camden County resident who was badly burned on November 15, 2009, at Virginia Beach. The price is two paperback books for a dollar and a dollar for hardbacks so drop by and buy a couple and even unload a few you have sitting around the house for a good cause. While you are there, try their coffee; you’ll be glad you did.

Florals to the St. Marys Earthkeepers who help lead the ecological effort in the St. Marys area. In May the Earthkeepers planted five 6ft. oak trees along the Bartlett and Weed Street walls of Oak Grove Cemetery in memory of Mrs. Susan (Oaks) Lenz. In March the group gathered 138 people who collected 3,910 pounds of trash, including 53 bags of recyclables in the Annual St. Marys River Cleanup. Other actives of the Earthkeeprs, plus their meeting place and times can be found on their web site at www.stmarysearthkeepers.com .

Farts to the City of Kingsland for refusing to implement a curbside recycling program. While much was made about the city ‘going green’ in the recent past, the city did it with Federal stimulus dollars, or other people’s money. Kingsland used OPM (other people’s money) to retrofit its buildings with energy-efficient equipment and lights. However, one of the best ways to help the Earth is by recycling. Every plastic water bottle, soda bottle, cardboard box, newspaper, and other recyclable item thrown into the trash in Kingsland spends decades or eternity in a landfill. Teaching children to recycle is like teaching then to take a can of soup to church for the food closet for the hungry; it is part of doing your part to teach your child how to care about others and to help save the planet. Come on Kingsland, you could do better.

Florals to the Riverview Hotel in St. Marys, Georgia, for installing solar-assisted air-conditioning in their business. This is a step in saving electricity and the environment.

Farts to the Board of Registrars of Camden County for not opening the polls for early voting during the runoff primary elections held in August. Some voters were away on vacation or out of town for other reasons and unable to vote due to this oversight. Early voting is now part of the expectations of the voter so it needs to be available during all elections.

Florals to Habitat for Humanity of Camden County for building three houses for the less fortunate in Camden County over the last year. Congratulations to immediate past president Leonie Pinnell, new president Steven Hooks, and all the HFH staff and volunteers for a job well done. To volunteer or donate to this worthy cause visit their office at 302 S. Lee in Kingsland or their website at www.hfhcamden.org . For more information call 912-673-1266 or contact them by e-mail at info@hfhcamden.org . You may also visit the Re-store for items from new to recycled appliances, furniture, or building materials. The group works on houses on Saturdays from 8:00-3:00, except during inclement weather. Lunch is provided.

Farts to the president and board of directors of the failed Satilla Community Bank of St. Marys who went into default and was issued an order appointing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as Receiver of the Bank on May 14, 2010. Banking regulators indicated the bank was using ‘unsafe and unsound’ banking practices and the board of directors ‘failed to provide adequate supervision’ over bank management. In August 2009, the bank had $4.6 million in problem loans and was unable to overcome this and other problems. A special thanks to Ameris Bank of Moultrie, Georgia, for bailing out the depositors of the mismanaged bank. This action helped make Georgia one of the top states to have banks in failure and receivership.

Florals to the City of St. Marys on finally getting right the traffic lights at Osborne and Dilworth, and Charlie Smith and St. Marys Rds; but farts at the excessive cost incurred. A simple cost of reprogramming the controllers would have sufficed, rather than completely replacing the entire system.

Farts to the City of Kingsland and the Georgia DOT on the Colerain/Gross Rd intersection improvements. With over three years to plan the signalization, they could not manage to get the lights installed by the time the asphalt and concrete was completed.

ONCE AGAIN A SPECIAL THANKS AND A CLARION ISSUE TIP OF THE HAT- to all the local law enforcement agents, emergency medical personnel, firefighters, and all the other first responders who keep our roads, recreation areas, and homes safe. Due recognition goes out to teachers and other educators who returned to work this year in spite of a shortened school year, extended school days, and budget cuts. The Clarion Issue would also like to express our appreciation to all volunteers who work with our local youth in scouts, athletics, and other programs that give them a safe place to grow and learn. Another special thanks and tip of the hat to those who are serving in our armed forces and to those who have served; we appreciate your service and sacrifice. Thank you for all you do and have done for our community and nation.

THE GEORGIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2010

2010-09-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The 2010 Georgia gubernatorial race features former Democratic Governor Roy Barnes and Republican Nathan Deal in a race believed by many political watchers to be a close election. Since the defeat of Barnes in 2002 by outgoing Governor Sonny Perdue, the Republicans have had an impressive hold on the state government of the Peach State; however, recent downturns in the economy of the state and resulting cutbacks in governmental services and education may create a voter backlash against the GOP.

As governor in late 1990s and early 2000s, Roy Barnes committed a number of political sins and was the proverbial political house in the wadi when the Republican rains gathered to finally wash the Democratic Party out of power in Georgia. Barnes’ most remembered faux pas was changing the state flag. While some Georgians agreed it had to be done, most Georgians disagreed with the way the flag was changed. They were especially appalled with the new state flag, the infamous ‘Barnes’ rag,’ a hideous banner many vexillologists described as over reaching, over indulgent, and grossly ugly, which replaced the old Georgia flag containing the state seal and Confederate Battle Flag in 2001. The ‘Barnes’ rag’ lasted about two years and was mercifully replaced by Governor Perdue soon after coming into office after he defeated Barnes in 2002.

However, the most far-reaching debacle of the Barnes’ tenure as governor was the attempted gerrymandering of the state which occurred after the 2000 census. The obvious attempt to keep Georgia in Democratic hands totally backfired in the state which for the first time voted for state candidates of the party of its national affiliation. The Republican wave caused many nominal Democratic state General Assembly members to switch party affiliation after the 2002 election, making Georgia a virtual one party state again, this time a Republican one party state.

During the same election Governor Barnes was able to alienate Georgia’s teachers with his famous quote saying, “Teachers don’t vote.” While Barnes had pushed for pay raises and higher educational spending, he also initiated a two-year education reform program that left many teachers feeling like he blamed them for low-test scores, low graduation rates, and other educational failings. Many teachers indicated they thought he was arrogant, did not listen to their suggestions, and treated them with respect. The remark was the straw on the donkey’s back that sent many Georgia teachers into the Perdue camp, and they showed up at the polls.

Barnes has tried to make his mea culpas to the educators of Georgia by speaking to teacher organizations and offering a more positive platform on educational issues. Educators as a group have been angry about pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs, larger class sizes, and program cuts coming from a Republican General Assembly and Governor Perdue. The state has more than 125,000 teachers plus principals and support staff. In addition there are retired educators, hundreds of thousands of family members who talk to and influence friends, and they could make a formidable impact on the election. If Barnes can really win the educators of Georgia, he may be able to pull off a victory on November 2.

On the new federal health care reform law passed by fellow Democrats in Washington, Barnes’ statements tend to be a little ambiguous as to where he really stands on the issue. He indicated the cost of implementing the law could be “financially devastating” for Georgia unless officials in Washington figure out a way to help the states cope with a staggering jump in Medicaid costs. He also indicated the total partisanship on the bill has made it very unpopular. “I consider it to be the greatest failure, modern failure, of political leadership in my lifetime. Everybody recognized ‘we’ve got to do something here,’ but there was such partisanship on it.” He went on to blame Democrats for failing to explain the plan better and Republicans for not delivering reasonable alternatives to the Democratic proposals, but he said ultimately the buck stopped with Obama and his failure to sell the plan to the American people during and after the legislative process.

Republican candidate Nathan Deal defeated front runner Karen Handel in a close runoff election on August 10. Deal came in second place out of a field of seven candidates in the Republican Primary on July 20 to take on Handel, backed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, in the runoff held in August. Deal was backed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, but he was under a cloud of ethics allegations based on the Office of Congressional Ethics report he had influenced Georgia leaders to continue to have rebuilt vehicles inspected in order to create business for his company, Recovery Services, near Gainesville, Georgia. The profits from the inspections alone earned his company over $250,000 a year. While the Congressional ethics allegations went away when Deal resigned to run for Governor, some political watchers feel they could return to bite Deal at a later date.

Deal was elected to Congress in 1992 as a Democrat and switch to the Republican Party in 1995. He represented the northern part of the state, in the 9th Congressional District. In Congress he has oppose the “cap and trade” bill (a regulatory based approach used to control pollution on energy production), fought for the Republican issues in the health care debates, and pressed for a speedy and fair resolution to the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama water problems in the Chattahoochee-Flint-Apalachicola River basin.

In terms of Education, Deal may struggle to win teacher votes because of spending cutbacks by Republicans during the last years. His recent announcements about education included allowing schools to schedule tests when they thought best and plans to fight obesity by serving local vegetables in the school cafeterias. He plans to announce a comprehensive education package later in September.

However, it is the Georgia economy that should set the stage for the 2010 elections in the state. Nationally the unemployment rate has crept up to 9.6%, in Georgia it is more than 10% and the African-American unemployment in Georgia is estimated at over 13%. This does not include under-employment, those not working a full 40 hour week, or those who have given up on finding a job in today’s economy. An estimated one million Georgians will lose their homes this year to foreclosure; while in 2009, Georgia was in the top ten states in foreclosed upon homes. Georgia also leads the nation in bank failures.

Deal proposes the basic solutions to Georgia’s economic woes that Republicans tend to offer, tax cuts aimed at business. Among other things, Deal proposes to “cut corporate income tax by one-third; exempt businesses from corporate income tax in start-up years; eliminate the corporate ‘net worth’ tax; and allow local governments to exempt all business inventory from taxation.” Even after dramatic spending cuts in the last two years, Georgia’s state government still faces an standing deficit of $1.5 billion to $2 billion a year, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Like our economic problems, that deficit is structural, meaning it will persist even as the national economy begins to recover. Addressing the structural deficit will require still deeper cuts in education and other programs. The question remains, “Is the deficit created by these tax cuts worth the cuts necessary to education and other programs and once the economy begins to recover, will Georgia lag behind the rest of the nation?”

Barnes plans a few government programs to help ease the state through the economic crisis, and he says these programs will put Georgians back to work. Barnes contends the programs are small and inexpensive; of course, what starts out small and inexpensive can grow. However, since Georgia already has one of the lowest state tax burdens in the country, the Barnes’ plan would do little damage to the Georgia budget or deficit although few economists believe they would be very effective.
Georgia spends over 55% of its revenue on education. It also provides and repairs roads, houses prisoners, holds courts, provides for law enforcement, helps provide for community health, and provides services its citizens never think of unless they are reminded of the these services by the media or by the absence of the service. The nation and Georgia today exist in challenging economic times. The November 2 Georgia Gubernatorial election will set the stage for the government of the Peach State for the next four years.

Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal have accepted an invitation to a debate which will originate from WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia, on October 19th at 7:00 p.m. The debate will be broadcast across Georgia on Raycom Media stations and will be live-streamed on walb.com. The Clarion Issue encourages all Georgia voters to watch the debate, follow the election, and vote for the candidate of your choice on November 2. If you live in another state, we encourage you to vote in your election there.

TEA PARTY CONVERSATIONS: BEWARE OF INVOKING ARTICLE V

2010-09-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

By Jason Spencer

It is the month of September and many of us think of paying tribute to America’s workers by recognizing their efforts on Labor Day. There is also another significant date this month which is important to be aware of in our Republic’s history: September 17, 1787. On that day, the Constitution of the United States was signed during the nation’s first and only Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Referred to as a “miracle’ by our founding fathers, our Constitution is now celebrated 223 years later. Created in 2004, September 17 (Constitution Day) became a national holiday.

Today, much debate about the Constitution and the role of limited government dominates political discussions in America because of the unadulterated exhibition of raw, unconstitutional usurpations of power by the federal government. This great awakening has led many in the Tea Party Movement to explore ways to restore the ideas of limited government. Specifically, many conservatives, constitutionalist, and libertarians within the movement are raising the prospect of calling a constitutional convention as a way to restore good government by invoking Article V to amend the Constitution. The people have lost faith in the political will of Congress to propose Amendments that would truly benefit them. Even state legislatures across the country have called for a Con-Con to force the federal government to adopt a Balanced Budget Amendment. This country has not had a Con-Con since the first one convened in 1787. Should this be the strategy of those who champion limited government? Should the Movement encourage Congress to submit specific amendments for ratification to the states instead?

Take a moment to look up Article V of the Constitution and read it carefully. According to Article V there are only two ways that amendments can be proposed to the Constitution: (1) by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress; or (2) on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, Congress shall call a convention for proposing Amendments (commonly referred to as a “constitutional convention” or “Con-Con”). The second method has never been used. After amendments are proposed by either method, they then must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, or by three-fourths of special state conventions. According to Article V, Congress decides which ratification process will be used.

While Article V offers a mechanism to essentially by-pass Congress to amend the Constitution, it does not confront the primary problem that ‘limited government types’ may find appealing. The main problem is that the three branches of government do not adhere to the Constitution as intended by the Founders. For example, it has also been proposed by some in the Movement to invoke Article V just to get Congress scared enough to follow through on proposing various amendments that would include term limits for legislators. Simple amendment of the Constitution will not be adequate to bring government back under control. Therefore, those of us in the Movement who find a Con-Con appealing must understand the major downsides to invoking Article V.

Herein lies the problem with the calling of a Con-Con: Once convened, the convention would be at liberty to consider and propose whatever amendments to the Constitution it deemed beneficial. By doing so, this could lead to a “runaway convention” in the same way the first Con-Con ignored its initial charter, which was to revise the Articles of Confederation on matters of interstate commerce. Its charge was not to write an entire new Constitution and system of government. There are no rules in the Constitution or in any law to limit a Con-Con's purpose, procedure, agenda, or election of delegates. Furthermore, there is no way to control a Con-Con in advance or to require it to consider only one subject, regardless if the application specifically delineates what subject matter is to be considered. Great latitude on any given matter is implied to exist when delegates convene. We were very lucky to have had brilliant minds at the first convention drafting our Constitution. Frankly, I do not see very many individuals that are the caliber of Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Patrick Henry to give us a product that is to protect individual freedoms and liberties.

With all the special interest groups and bitter partisan hacks on both sides of the isle that we have today, a Con-Con would be political chaos, pandemonium and a spectacle of pure evil. In 1788, James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” warned us directly about calling another constitutional convention:

‘If a General Convention were to take place for the avowed and sole purpose of revising the Constitution, it would naturally consider itself as having greater latitude than the Congress.... It would consequently give greater agitation to the public mind; an election into it would be courted by the most violent partisans on both sides ... [and] would no doubt contain individuals of insidious views, who, under the mask of seeking alterations popular in some parts ... might have the dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundations of the fabric.... Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention, which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a second, meeting in the present temper in America.’ [From a letter by James Madison to G.L. Turberville, November 2, 1788.]

James Madison’s arguments for opposing an Article V constitutional convention are very convincing. The Tea Party Movement would do well to heed the warning echoed over two hundred years ago. There are too many progressives, special interest and “individuals of insidious views” ready to completely re-write the Constitution into a modern day Communist Manifesto. Let us dismiss the calls for a Con-Con and appreciate what we currently have. While the Constitution is not perfect, I would surely hate to see the meaning of Constitution Day changer forever, especially for the worse.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Spencer is a Health Care professional in Southeastern Georgia and a leader in the TEA Party movement in the area. He is the Republican candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives in District #180. His campaign web address is www.spencer4georgia.com. His articles are presented by THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes.

MUSIC REVIEWS: JOSH RITTER’S SO RUN’S THE WORLD AWAY

2010-07-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The newest CD released by Josh Ritter, So Runs The World Away, is undoubtedly his best since The Animal Years released in 2006. The CD contains 13 cuts and represents a major deviation from other works by the artist which may cause the listener to do a double take after hearing the album for the first time. However, the CD has immense staying power and a full range of songs that will first grow on the listener, then totally consume them.

The second and third cuts on the CD, “Change of Time” and “The Curse” are representative of the songs found on the album. The music and instrumentation are adequate and well done but not overpowering while the vocals and lyrics carry the selections to a new level. The song “Another New World” about the voyage of a ship called the Annabelle Lee is another great title on this CD. However, the best song in the collection seems to be “Folk Bloodbath,” a song about murder, death, justice, and redemption on the Western frontier. Other songs of note on So Runs The World Away are “”Lantern,” “Rattling Locks,” and “Southern Pacifica.”

Musicians on So Runs The World Away include Austin Nevins on guitar and glockenspiel, Liam Hurley on drums, Sam Kassirer on keyboards, and Zack Hickman on bass and guitar. The collection was produced by Sam Kassirer. It is a great CD.

Mark Knopfler’s new CD Get Lucky sixth solo studio album released by the artist since his days with Dire Straits. It is an 11-track album which contains good, solid Mark Knopfler style songs and music.

The listener to Get Lucky will immediately notice a tremendous Celtic folk music influence on many songs on this CD. The opening song, “Border Reiver” about smuggling along the British borders in the late 1960s is a good example with classic folk instrumentation. The last two cuts on the album, the haunting “So Far From The Clyde” and “Piper To The End” also contain the themes and musical styles of Celtic folk traditions. There is another moving somber ballad on the collection, “Remembrance Day” about the souls lost to the many wars the nations of the world have fought. Knopfler also breaks out a British blues style in “You Can’t Beat The House” a song about gambling. Other interesting cuts on the CD include “Cleaning My Gun,” “The Car Was The One,” and the title cut, “Get Lucky.”

Musicians on the CD include keyboardist Guy Fletcher and Richard Bennett on guitars, Danny Cummings on drums, John McCusker on violin, Matt Rollings on keyboards, and Glenn Worf on bass. Get Lucky produced by Mark Knopfler, Chuck Ainlay, and Guy Fletcher.

This is the type of collection hard core Knopfler fans will enjoy but there are no smash hits here.

The new Doors movie, “When You’re Strange” has brought about the release of a new Doors collection of music used in the movie When You’re Strange, Songs From The Motion Picture. The CD contains both studio and live versions of various Doors songs blended with short Jim Morrison poems read by Johnny Depp who narrates the movie. The studio cuts on the CD include “Hello I Love You,” “People Are Strange,” “The End,” “L. A. Woman,” and “Riders on the Storm.” Live songs include the famous take of “Light My Fire” from the 1967 Ed Sullivan Show, “Break On Through” from the Isle of Wight Music Festival, “Roadhouse Blues” recorded live in New York in 1970, and “When The Music’s Over” from a 1968 Danish TV appearance. In all there are 13 songs on the CD.

'“When You’re Strange,” The Movie covers the Doors from their formation in 1965, when Manzarek met Morrison at UCLA’s film school, until Morrison’s death in 1971. The film reveals a unique perspective on the creative chemistry between drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison. “When You’re Strange” was directed by the award-winning writer and director Tom DiCillo.

The soundtrack follows the 2007 release of a Very Best Of The Doors CD celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Doors 1967 debut album The Doors. This two CD set contains 34 of the Doors most popular and influential tracks including the version of “The End” used for the film “Apocalypse Now.” This is a good set for a casual Doors fan who is unwilling to purchase all six LPs now on CD or invest in the Doors Box set. There is also an abbreviated version of the CD available at discount stores like Wal-Mart with 20 tracks on one CD.

The new Jimi Hendrix release, Valleys Of Neptune, released in March of this year is a totally unreleased studio album featuring 12 previously unreleased studio recordings by Jimi Hendrix and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Most of the recordings were made in early 1969 after the success of Electric Ladyland (1968). While the CD includes Hendrix songs such as “Red House,” “Fire,” and “Stone Free,” the recordings are fresh and new. The CD also contains Hendrix’s renditions of the Elmore James classic “Bleeding Heart” and “Sunshine Of Your Love” by Cream. However, the title cut, and highly sought after, “Valleys Of Neptune,” has never been released and proved to be the inspiration for this late addition to the Jimi Hendrix collection.

Valleys Of Neptune was mixed by Eddie Kramer, the engineer for all of Hendrix’s albums throughout the artist’s lifetime. The CD was produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, and John McDermott, the team behind all of the Jimi Hendrix CD and DVD releases since 1996. By the number of Jimi Hendrix tee shirts and apparel one sees out and about, the Hendrix legend lives on.

REPUBLICAN PARTY’S GRITS & BITS BREAKFAST ON JULY 10 TO FEATURE CANDIDATES DEBATE

2010-07-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Republican Party of Camden County will continue to present GOP candidates for office during their Grits & Bits Breakfast programs held on Saturday mornings at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie behind the St Marys Police Department, off Point Peter Rd., at 101C Industrial Dr, St Marys, Georgia. The breakfasts begin at 9:00 a.m. and usually last about an hour. The usual cost of the breakfast is $7.00.

The breakfast on July 10 will feature a debate between the Republican candidates for the county commission posts in Camden County. A continental breakfast will be served.

The Georgia Primary is scheduled for July 20, 2010, so mark your calendar and be sure to vote. As always, “We’ll see ya at the polls.”

THE GREATNESS OF AMERICA

2010-06-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

As America celebrates its 234th birthday, the country can look back with pride and point to major accomplishments the people have made along the way. At its founding, the nation took on the strongest country in the world and wrested its independence from that nation by war, something no other country has done to this day. The several states later created a federal government in the form of a written Constitution, with three branches of government, checks and balances on each branch, delegated powers for that government and a Bill of Rights to protect the people of the nation from any excessive powers of the government.

America grew into a continental power by purchasing lands such as Louisiana and Florida, annexing the independent State of Texas, and winning large tracks of the Southwest during the Mexican War. America survived a Civil War between the Northern and Southern areas of the nation between 1861 and 1865; a war that claimed at least 620,000 soldiers lives. During the Spanish-American War, America became a world force acquiring the Philippines, Guam, and other territories. The United States armed forces helped bring an end to World War I, and through the efforts of “the Greatest Generation” America literally conquered the world during World War II, then gave it back asking for only the space to bury our war dead on the land we had liberated. During the early 1950s America’s sons were once again asked to stop aggression in Korean, and they did so in the mud and cold of that peninsular.

The U.S. emerged as one of the two dominant world powers after World War II and granted independence to many of its territories such as the Philippines. While America became engaged in a long and eventually unpopular war in Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 70s, the country continued to prosper economically at home. Finally, The last 20 years saw three wars in the Middle East with the outcome of at least one of these, the War in Afghanistan, still in doubt.

While America was making this march of progress its history was shrouded with the taint of tragedy. The unfair treatment of the Native American tribes who were displaced and decimated by white expansion across America is a major blight on American history. The enslavement of African-Americans who worked in southern fields until after the Civil War cannot be forgotten. Furthermore, the treatment of other ethnic groups such as the Chinese, the Irish, and the Southern Europeans who entered the U.S. as laborers for the railroads and other American projects rank high on the list of American’s exploitation of others for our own benefit.

However, today America finds itself a unique and diverse nation, with a unique history, facing unique challenges. The economy has undergone a major recession and is slowly recovering; however, unemployment is over nine percent. Many have lost and are still losing their homes. Americans face debt on an unprecedented scale. The nation is fighting two costly wars. The national debt is at an all time high. There is a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet the Congress, the legislative body the nation expects guide the nation out of the mess, seems incapable of any type of action except blame, finger pointing, and stalling. The Republicans and the Democrats refuse to work together and rally around their base, waiting for another election while the nation sinks into a quagmire of debt and distrust of government and its institutions.

The problem is that there are no longer statesmen in Congress, there are only politicians. The statesmen have left or been driven out of the political arena due to the fact the American political system has become so divisive no one wants to solve the real problems America faces. To do so requires hard work on real issues. Statesmen do not scream, they leave that for the used car salesmen on late night TV commercials. Statesmen solve problems by working with people of all views and do so with open ears and an open mind. An example of this lack of statesmanship or leadership one can cite is as of June 10, the Democratic leaders in Congress have refused to deal with any budget issues for the next fiscal year for fears of endangering the reelection campaigns of their Democratic membership.

One real statesman who left Washington was Republican Senator Charles (Chuck) Hegel of Nebraska. He was an opponent of the War in Iraq and voted with the Bush administration only about 70% of the time. Many considered him an independent and most respected him for his positions on the issues of the day. He decided not to run for reelection in 2008.

In the 2010 elections two moderate individuals who have come under fire from the extreme wings of their respective parties are Charlie Crist, the Republican Governor of Florida, running for the U.S. Senate, and Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat. Lincoln withstood an aggressive, multimillion-dollar campaign by national unions and liberal interest groups, such as MoveOn.org, who desperately sought to defeat the moderate Senator by supporting Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. The unions reportedly spent $10 million against the Senator citing her opposition to the “public option” in health-care reform as the reason.

In Florida, Charlie Crist dropped out of the Republican primary and decided to switch to independent status in the general election due to rising opposition from Marco Rubio’s challenge from the party’s extreme right. Crist came under fire from taking federal stimulus money and accepting a man hug from President Obama during a presidential visit to the state. Crist’s poll numbers show him a little ahead of Rubio in a three man race and may have a real chance to gain ground if he handles the oil spill with grace and success. His walk on the beach with rock icon Jimmy Buffet during the on going oil spill demonstrates real statesmanship and a willingness to listen and to work with all parties in solving problems. All the solid Republican Gulf states need federal help and dollars on the oil spill. No one around the Gulf is talking secession, nullification, and rejection of federal aid and cash these days, are they?

Americans must also be aware that most political compromises are worked out over long, hard, closed-door sessions. There was a reason the U.S. Constitution was drawn up behind closed doors and closed windows in 1789. The founders wanted to present the document as a whole, not piecemeal to be picked apart item by item before the document could be viewed in its entirety. America has seen the modern sausage being made and did not like it. Compromise needs a little behind closed door diplomacy.

Today we have 24/7 news networks like MSNBC, and FOX News, the blogers, and more talking heads than a triple Hydra. Patrick Henry had said, “I smell a rat” when he heard about the convention. He was afraid for democracy. Today, America has enough rat smellers to sniff out a conspiracy to steal cookies from a Methodist Vacation Bible School in Rural Georgia. However, these ‘commentators’ may be more interested in stirring the pot and their own ratings than allowing real statespersons to work and develop. In a day when Americans choose their news by choosing their news networks, the political screamers and one line zinger sound-biters tend to get more air play and kudos than the real statesmen and problem solvers of the nation.

The greatness of America begins with its moderates and compromise. It was compromise that created the U.S. Constitution and our principals of government. Yet where are the moderates? They are being voted out, thrown out, and forced out by the extremes of both parties. America needs moderates to get things done in Washington. America needs to send the fire-eaters, both left and right, home and elect moderates. Maybe then the peoples’ business can be done, and America can get on with being great again!

THE GAZA BLOCKADE AND TERRORIST HAMAS

2010-06-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

By D. E. Lovett

The recent events off the Mediterranean coast of Gaza have given Israel another ill-deserved black eye. In enforcing its blockade of Gaza, Israeli forces killed nine supposed “peace activists” from Turkey, while they were attempting to deliver banned material to the Gaza Strip. The “international community” has almost universally condemned the Israeli action, and issued calls for sanctions against Israel. It is to be noted that the crews of the “peace flotilla” actively provoked lethal response by attacking Israeli forces trying to enforce the Israeli embargo. Israel had previously agreed to forward humanitarian cargo, but that was not the objective of the “activists.” Their aim was to provoke a response which could then be branded as “disproportionate,” and they were successful beyond their dreams. When Palestinians, and their sympathizers, provoke a response, that response is always portrayed as disproportionate. Incredibly, the latest blood-letting is, in some quarters, attributed to a less-than-desirable use of force, where a more over-awing display would have achieved Israeli objectives without the loss of life realized. The world ignores suicide bombings and rocket attacks aimed indiscriminately at killing both Jews and Muslims, but pretends outrage at the killing of those self-same militants who perpetrate indiscriminate murder.

First, in considering the Israeli actions, it must be acknowledged that the State of Israel has every right, under International Law, to declare and enforce an embargo against an entity which has effectively declared war against it. The aim of the Hamas government of Gaza is not to promote the welfare of its citizenry, normally the first duty of any government, but to destroy the State of Israel, regardless of the effects of its actions on its subjects. This is perfectly in keeping with the Arab and Muslim policy of keeping the “refugee” issue as an open sore, and placing the entire plight of Palestinian Arabs at Israel’s door. The Arab/Muslim community has an innate hatred of all things Jewish, from individuals, to practices, to policies, to the very existence of the State of Israel; and proactively teaches this hatred to its children, so that the hatred will never die. The Holocaust must be perpetuated!

Having failed repeatedly, and inexplicably, to destroy Israel by force of arms, the Arab/Muslim world is now engaged in an international campaign to destroy Israel via the route of delegitimilization, using the tactics of boycott, divestiture and sanctions (BDS.) In this, they are joined by the usual self-proclaimed “progressive” forces, who use the cry of “justice” to cover the ages-long persecution of Jewry. It is hard to reconcile the imbalance of outrage over the actions of Israel with the actions of its enemies. A seven-year-old boy was executed by Hamas for “collaborating” with Israel; Hamas encourages rocket attacks on civilians; and the world yawns. But let an Israeli shoot an activist, and the world rises up in outrage.

All condemnations of Israel begin with a pious proclamation of “the right of Israel to exist,” and “the right of Israel to defend itself,” then degenerate into vituperous criticism of the very means employed to assure those rights. To be sure, Israel has made mistakes in its international relations, including installing the hawkish Avigdor Lieberman as its Foreign Minister, who is “persona-non-grata” in enough countries to eliminate his effectiveness as a spokesman for Israel. But one has to wonder if anyone in that position could soften the outcry against Israel. The BDS campaign had no chance of advancing Arab/Muslim aims as long as America stood behind Israel. In the past this has been a given; but the advent of the Obama administration has given Israel’s enemies hope that America’s resolve to stand by Israel is not unconditional. Every American President since Jimmy Carter has made it a central point to “solve” the Middle-East problem, but there is no solution short of either Israel committing national suicide, or the Arab/Muslim world deciding peace is better than war. Neither outcome is likely in the near or distant future, and misguided efforts to punish Israel for defending itself are doomed to failure- as long as America continues to support Israel.

All efforts to achieve peace in the Middle-East by extracting unilateral concessions from Israel are doomed to failure. But there is no comparable effort to extract any concessions from the Palestinians, except meaningless assurances of peace, once Israel accepts conditions (the “right of return,” recognition of the 1967 boundaries, ceding East Jerusalem to Palestinian control, signature of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty) designed to be ruinous to the State of Israel. The Arab Palestinians are really quite content with their status at present, and have no incentive to negotiate away anything. Their population has grown from about 700,000 in 1948 to over 7,000,000 today, as they prosper from charity, mostly from other Muslim countries, but in large part from the US and other western countries. The Western fixation on BDS against Israel to coerce it into national suicide only feeds the aspirations of murderous Muslims to kill Israel itself, and as many Israelis as possible, completing the “final solution” begun by the Nazis.

GEORGIA GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE LEADS 40 PLUS TRADE DELEGATION TO CUBA

2010-06-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

After a three day junket to the Caribbean island nation of Cuba in early June, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue called for freer trade between the United States and the communist nation, saying it would help the longtime foes resolve their differences. Perdue, a Republican, indicated he hoped the two countries would improve relations “very soon” so they “can join the hearts of our people in what would be the best outcome for both nations.” He added he is in favor of expanding trade between his country and Cuba.

Sonny Perdue arrived in Cuba leading some 43 lawmakers, officers, and representatives from agribusiness and the University of Georgia. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Georgia is the third largest among the 50 states in exports to Cuba. So far in 2010 Georgia has exported to Cuba almost 16.3 million U.S. dollars worth of food such as chicken, pork, sausages, soybean, and margarine.

Perdue’s schedule did not include a meeting with President Raul Castro or his older brother and former leader of Cuba, Fidel. The group did meet with directors of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and leaders of the company Alimport, Cuba’s state-run food import company.

Perdue described the trip as “very successful” and hoped that he would not be criticized in Georgia for having taken the trip although no trade contracts were signed during the visit. There was no report of how many boxes of Cuban cigars were brought back to Georgia by junketeers.

The problem is the 43-person junket has come under fire from both Republican and Democratic sources, especially for the number of individuals who accompanied Governor Perdue during the trip to Cuba. With the state now issuing furloughs to state workers, even State Patrolmen. The state’s lack of revenue has forced a cutback in the number of teachers, a lowering of the number of days in the school year, and packing more and more children into Georgia’s classrooms. With all these cuts and sacrifices on the state’s plate, a 43-person trip to Cuba for a two day sit down with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and its state-run food import company seems a little excessive to many political and even casual observers.

Of course, Perdue could be looking to aid his post-political career with the Cuba move. With his not so successful tenure as Governor, he is sure to return to his successful small business in Houston County in middle Georgia rather than continue in politics. His business enterprise concentrated on agribusiness and transportation where improved trade with Cuba would truly be an asset.

In Cuba Governor Perdue indicated, “When we go back (to Georgia) what we will say is that there are opportunities for better jobs and prosperity in the United States as a result of trade with Cuba.” However, many Georgians are asking if the money could have been better spent, or, better yet, not spent at all. Another question many Georgians are asking is, “Did Sonny just pull another fast one like he has done so many times before?”

Editor’s note: Governor Perdue also took a trip to Uruguay and Argentina for a three-day visit on June 20; this time with a smaller group. Several state agencies are expected to share the cost of the two trips which will cost the State about $100,000. Today the state is believed to be looking at a $375 million short fall from next year’s budget due to Congress’ failure to pass the extended Medicaid assistance to states. Georgia legislators counted the Medicaid assistance when they drafted the budget.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S CONFEDERATE RELIC ROOM AND MILITARY MUSEUM IN DANGER OF CLOSING

2010-06-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

By David Pearson

Earlier this year, Governor Sanford vetoed the $675,000 annual budget of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum along with 106 other items. The South Carolina legislature failed to overturn the veto for the Relic Room along with 50 other items Sanford hit with a line item veto. The Relic Room has been maintained at the South Carolina State House since 1896 and maintains significant artifacts from South Carolina’s involvement in all wars since the American Revolution. It has been a favorite site for people visiting the capitol building, and people have visited the capitol just to see the items there. Although the museum has survived two World Wars and the Great Depression, the state has chosen now, just six months before the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, to close the site.

The 150th Anniversary of The War Between the States seems to be a foolish time to close a site of interest and importance to American History. Many states, including South Carolina, have appointed boards and financed activities to capitalize on the interest that will be generated by the Sesquicentennial. Most of the states (again including South Carolina) have made very nominal investments in celebrating the Sesquicentennial but stand to gain financially from the events involved in the celebration. The investments by other states do not compare to that of Virginia, who resolved to spend the largest amount through their Tourist Board and Parks Commission. South Carolina has a large number of historic sites significant to the war and several major events critical to the history of the period.

Several years ago South Carolina cut the budget for River’s Bridge State Park, the park which is dedicated as a memorial to Confederate Veterans. Where the park once had a small museum, public swimming, recreation, and camping facilities, it now has only the remaining fortifications preserved and a few picnic tables.

The Sanford veto this year also threatened the State Archives and the State Museum though those vetoes were overturned.

There are now ideas in their infancy to save the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum being considered by the government, the executives of the museum, and local groups interested in preserving history and heritage. The resources of the special interest groups considering helping to keep the museum open are all ready stretched and devoted to worthy causes. The $675,000 needed to meet the budget will take away from funds used by these groups to historic preservation never associated with, on the property of, or belonging to the State of South Carolina.

By this veto and the failure to overturn it, South Carolina is very shortsighted; this is on the eve of renewed interest in the War Between the States.

TEA PARTY CONVERSATIONS: IS DISSENT THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM?

2010-06-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

By Jason Spencer

If one has been to a local Camden County Tea Party meeting recently, one will notice that the meeting begins with the usual opening prayer to God, followed by the Pledge to the Georgia Flag, and then we conclude our “opening ceremonies” with a pledge to Old Glory herself. Recently, I have been criticized by some who believe it is a mistake or even an act of “treason” to acknowledge an allegiance to the State of Georgia before that of United States of America. I find this criticism nothing more than rhetoric based in ignorance about the essence of the TEA Party Movement (henceforth known as The Movement).

The Movement embraces dissent and challenging the status quo in order to effect positive change that drives our nation back to its founding principles. Not until the election of President Barack Hussein Obama, have the people realized that there have been a “long train of abuses” against them. These abuses pre-existed the election of Mr. Obama and now dissent is seen by those in The Movement as the highest form of patriotism. Resistance to illegal and unconstitutional usurpation of our rights is required. Each of us must choose which course of action we should take: education, conventional political action or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring necessary changes.

Furthermore, our rights come from our humanity, which is a gift from God or Nature. As a result the Camden County Tea Party recognizes this fact by honoring the Creator with an opening prayer. The Pledge to the Georgia Flag follows the prayer because The Movement is committed to our founding principles and it recognizes that the States preceded the birth of the Union. By that acknowledgment, The Movement is recognizing a fact in our history that is so often ignored. In our country’s founding, the States were seen as sovereign political entities that represented sovereign individual citizens that came together to form a Union. Hence, the strong stance The Movement takes with regards to state sovereignty.

The Union was given enumerated powers by the States to handle a limited list of duties for the general welfare and interest of the United States. In essence, it was the Federal government who became the servant to the States, but today the role is clearly reversed. States now beg for stimulus money, federal highway money, federal dollars for public education, and entitlement programs. This role reversal includes an omnipotent Federal government that uses the States as an administrative sub-unit to carry out its functions while the individual, and even God, are in a position of serfs to the almighty central government. It will take real patriotism to reverse the “top heavy” structured form of government.

So, what is real patriotism? Webster’s dictionary defines it as "a person who loves his country and defends and promotes its interests." I find this definition too broad on not in sync with the current political mood in our own state and in our country. First, a love of country cannot and does not mean a love of state or a love of government. I certainly do not love or adore most of the policies coming from the federal government. In addition, I certainly do not agree with the latest coming out of Atlanta with Governor Purdue vetoing two of the most important bills (SB1 and SB 148) that would bring fiscal sanity to the Gold Dome. I would define patriotism as the defense of liberty, and at all costs; nothing more and nothing less. Furthermore, one could say that patriotism is that effort to resist oppressive state power.

American patriotism is based upon principles and ideas. Since our founding, the country has continually expanded with more and more hypothetically sovereign states, and has people from many diverse backgrounds, so it is hard to say that it is based on blood and soil. The real American ideals are rooted in the principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and ensured in the Constitution. But somewhere between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr., today’s concept of patriotism turned into a love of the federal government, combined with apathy whenever our freedom and money have been taken away. Our allegiance should be to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and that of our own State Constitution.

Almost every single public school student has to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, yet a recent survey shows that the majority of them thought that the Marxist credo: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need” is from the US Constitution. I am sure most of these students love America and feel patriotic, but there's obviously little substance behind that patriotism if they do not even have a basic understanding of our constitution. When the Pledge to the Georgia flag is recited at our meetings, I often have the pledge written down so people can learn it. This is an attempt to get people closer to their history, not an act of treason. However, if recognizing my own state is an act of “treason”, then I embrace this label. Thomas Jefferson did say, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”

As we celebrate Independence Day, think about where your allegiance lies and really discover what does patriotism mean. Does patriotism mean love for government institutions and programs or is your patriotism rooted in the defense of liberty at all cost? Among many of those in The Movement, patriotism has to do with resisting state power, not supporting it. The true patriot challenges the state when the state embarks on enhancing its power at the expense of the individual. The Camden County TEA Party chooses to recognize the State of Georgia with its pledge because we recognize the historical contribution Georgia has made to America. Georgia was one of the brave thirteen colonies who understood that a greater determination to rein in the oppressive state power of Britain was the duty of the people. Are we, as a nation, faced with a similar circumstance today? I believe dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Our Founders exercised courageous dissent as well as many historical figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Were they wrong to challenge the status quo?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Spencer is a Health Care professional in Southeastern Georgia and a leader in the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement in the area. He is a candidate in the Republican Primary for the Georgia House of Representatives District #180. His campaign’s web address is www.spencer4georgia.com. His articles are presented by THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes, R. A. Pearson, editor.

REPUBLICAN PARTY’S GRITS & BITS BREAKFAST ON JUNE 19 TO FEATURE CANDIDATES DEBATE

2010-05-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Republican Party of Camden County will continue to present GOP candidates for office during their Grits & Bits Breakfast programs held on Saturday mornings at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie behind the St Marys Police Department, off Point Peter Rd., at 101C Industrial Dr, St Marys, Georgia. The breakfasts begin at 9:00 a.m. and usually last about an hour. The cost of the breakfast is $7.00.

The GOP 'Special' Grits and Bits meeting on Saturday, June 19th, will be from 9a.m. until 11a.m. and will feature a debate of the three candidates for Georgia House District 180 and a debate between the two candidates for Senate District 3. The candidates for the House seat include incumbent Cecily Hill, Rindy Howell who is the director of the St Marys Senior Center, and Jason Spencer, a health care professional in Southeast Georgia.

Candidates in the Senate race include Terry Carter and William Ligon.

The Georgia Primary is scheduled for July 20, 2010, so mark your calendar and be sure to vote. As always, “We’ll see ya at the polls.”

40 YEARS AFTER THE KENT STATE MASSACRE

2010-05-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

May 4, 2010, marked the 40th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre where four students were shot and killed and nine others were wounded by the Ohio National Guard under the command of Brigadier General Robert Canterbury. The incident marked a turning point in the American attitude toward the War in Vietnam.

The events leading up to the Kent State Masscare begin on April 30, 1970, when President Richard Nixon announced the U. S. was invading Cambodia as part of the war in Vietnam. Students across America rose up against the news. At Kent State, a typically peaceful school about 45 miles south of Cleveland, the protests quickly took a dangerous turn. The campus building for the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was set ablaze on Saturday, May 2. When the municipal fire department arrived to put it out, protesters attacked the firemen, slashing their hoses with machetes and throwing bricks at them. The firemen retreated and the local mayor called in the National Guard. The fire trucks returned with a military escort. By this time the ROTC building had burnt to the ground; however, the Guardsmen, mostly young, part-time soldiers, remained in place.

Over the weekend the campus remained generally quiet. On Monday, May 4, the day of the Massacre, student leaders called a noon-hour rally to protest the military presence. This was to occur on the Commons, a field adjacent to the smoldering ruins of the ROTC building. The Guard leadership, however, declared a curfew. Whether this was sanctioned by civil authorities remains a contentious issue even today.

When the students began to gather they started to ring a historic bell on the Commons, at this point General Canterbury decided a show of force was necessary. 96 Guardsmen and seven officers assembled on the Commons in a skirmish line. Armed with their M-1s the guardsmen loaded their rifles, fixed bayonets and began marching across the field to disperse the crowd, estimated at perhaps 2,000 students.

The soldiers marched up a small rise beside the Commons called Blanket Hill. They had on gas masks and launched tear gas at the crowd. The students threw the canisters back. Then upon reaching the top of the hill the guardsmen blindly marched down the other side of Blanket Hill. The trek ended when the soldiers arrived on a practice football field with fences on three sides. Behind them was a student mob at the top of the hill throwing rocks and bottles. Without any clear objective in mind, the Guard had marched themselves straight into a box.

The problem for General Canterbury and the guard was they had not scared the protesters off, and the only thing the Guard could do was to march back up the hill through the gauntlet of rocks and angry students. Once the Guard got back to Blanket Hill the soldiers once more shouldered their weapons: however, this time 61 shots rang out in 13 seconds. Four students died, and nine were wounded.

There have been numerous investigations in the 40 years that followed the Kent State Masscare. Still no officer has ever admitted to giving a fire order. Whether it was a spontaneous reaction to the harassment, a misheard directive, or a deliberate action that was later covered-up, someone, either the officers or enlisted men, lost control.

But did the Masscare have to happen at all? Why was the National Guard on campus at all on Monday, May 4, 1970? By all accounts the campus was quiet, the ROTC building fire was out, and their presence only provoked the protest which led to the Massacre. Another problem was the declaration of the curfew by the Guard leadership and the attempt to disperse the crowd which met to protest the Guard’s presence at Kent State. Had General Canterbury and the Guard stayed put at the ROTC building and simply guarded the smoldering ruins, probably nothing would have happened. However, like the Grand ol’ Duke of York, he marched his men up and down the hill into the teeth of the protest and invited a confrontation. Finally, when the guard lost control of the confrontation, and the only weapons they carried that day were M-1 carbines, bayonets, and tear gas. Like the proverd indicates, when the only tool you have is a hammer, all your problems look like a nail. The only solution the Guard had at Kent State was to fire and fire they did.

The incident at Kent State has been immortalize in the Song “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The four dead from that day, Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer, are remembered at a local memorial on the site where the Massacre occurred. Today there is talk about putting the site on the National Registry of Historic Locations even though it has only been 40, not the usual 50 years, since the tragedy occurred.

The terrible thing is the Kent State Massacre did not have to happen. The National Guard did not have to be there. General Canterbury did not have to confront the protesters, and the Guard did not have to have loaded M-1s to aim and fire at the protesters. Of the four students to die that day, the closest student to the Guard on Blanket Hill was Jeffrey Miller, who was shot in the mouth while standing in an access road leading into the Prentice Hall parking lot, a distance of approximately 270 feet. In all the hearings and court cases concerning the events of that day, the National Guard has never really convinced anyone they were in real danger from the student protestors at Kent State and really needed to defend themselves.

ST MARYS FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES TO HOST CHILD ADVOCACY DAY

2010-04-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4379 will host a Child Advocacy Day on Saturday, May 1, 2010. Activities will begin about 10:00 a.m. and conclude about noon. The event will take place at the St. Marys Aerie at 101-C Industrial Drive in St. Marys located directly behind the St. Marys Police Complex on Pt. Peter Road.

The event is free to all. The Camden County Sheriff’s Office Drug Canine officers will be on sight and deputies will do identification finger printing. The Camden County Fire Department and St. Marys Fire Department will teach about fire safety. St. Marys Police Department will be on hand to do Stranger Danger instruction. The U.S. Coast Guard will do a program on water safety and there will be other activities for the kids. The Eagles will provide free lunch for all.

Event Co-chairman Tricia Perrine said, “The Fraternal Order of Eagles has recognized May 1 as Child Advocacy Day sine 2004; all local Aeries are encouraged to do something to empower and protect the kids in our communities on that day. We have done this several times in the past. It is a good time for the kids and for those of us working with them. We are a family oriented organization but this is for all the kids in our community, as many of our Eagle members do not have young children. We hope to have a good response from the community. Our target is kids from about age 6 to age 12 but we will not turn away any one. An exciting part of this is that the program will enter us into competition with other Eagle Aeries for a $3,000.00 grant from our Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund which I would love to give to one of our local charities. We won that grant the first year and would like to do that again. After all, our motto is People Helping People.”

The St. Marys Aerie #4379 Fraternal Order of Eagles is a non-profit benevolent organization whose focus is community service and charity. For information on Child Advocacy Day contact Pat Perrine at 882-5505 or Dr. Jim Burnham at 882-4377. To learn more about the Eagles visit our websites at http://FOE.com or for our local sit http://4379.FOE.com.

REPUBLICAN PARTY’S GRITS & BITS BREAKFAST ON APRIL 17 AND MAY 8 TO FEATURE HAROLD LOGSDON AND JASON SPENSER

2010-04-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Republican Party of Camden County will continue to present GOP candidates for office during their Grits & Bits Breakfast programs held on Saturday mornings at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie behind the St Marys Police Department, off Point Peter Rd., at 101C Industrial Dr, St Marys, Georgia. The breakfasts begin at 9:00 a.m. and last about an hour. The cost of the breakfast is $7.00.

The speaker for the April 17 event is Harold Logsdon, a candidate for Insurance Commissioner in the GOP primary race. His web site is at www.haroldlogsdon.org .

The speaker for the May 8 breakfast is Jason Spenser, a candidate in the GOP primary for the Georgia House of Representatives, District 180, which includes Camden County. His web site is found at www.spencer4georgia.com .

The Georgia Primary is scheduled for July 20, 2010, so mark your calendar and be sure to vote. As always, “We’ll see ya at the polls.”

THE GOLDEN ISLES TEA PARTY PARTIOTS ANNOUNCE A RALLY FOR APRIL 15

2010-04-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Press Announcement

The Golden Isles Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party Patriots have announced a rally for April 15, 2010, at Howard Coffin Park between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. The park is at the corner of Gloucester and Hwy 17 in Brunswick, Georgia.

Organizers encourage participants to bring signs (in good taste), flags, and "teapots" if you have them. They remind participants these protest will take place simultaneously all over the nation.

For more information visit their website at www.goldenislesteaparty.org

MUSIC REVIEWS: David Gray’s Draw The Line

2010-04-07T04:20:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

David Gray released a new CD, Draw The Line, in the fall of 2009, to the acclaim of his fans and music critics alike. Many see this release as a follow up to his 1999 breakthrough CD White Ladder. Draw The Line has a studio CD with 11 songs; songs which give the listener an ‘on the lam’ type of feeling. The first two tracks, “Fugitive” and the title cut “Draw the Line,” help set the mood for the entire collection of songs on the CD and have received some air play along with “Nemesis.” Gray also does duets with Jolie Holland and Annie Lennox, formerly of the Eurythmics. The duet with Lennox is the final song on the album, “Full Steam” and provides a great climax to the CD.

Gray’s band for the Draw The Line includes Gray on keyboards, Keith Prior on drums, Robbie Malone on bass, Neill Maccoll on guitar, and many other musicians and guests brought in for the project. The CD was produced by David Gray, Robbie Malone, and Iestyn Polson.

The second CD contains live recordings of eight songs recorded at the Roundhouse in London in September 2009. The live CD included great cuts of David Gray classics “Sail Away,” “Babylon,” “Other Side” and “Nightblindness.”

Draw The Line is a great CD. It should attract a wide range of listeners rather than the regular David Gray fans.

24- year-old artist Colbie Caillat’s new CD, Breakthrough, also released in 2009, contains her hit single “Falling For You” along with 16 other songs. The CD is a follow up to the extremely popular CD Coco, which contained the songs “Bubbly” “Little Things”, and “Realize.” She won a Grammy Award in 2008 for a duet with Jason Marz on “Lucky.” Colbie is helped in her music and her career by her father, Ken Caillat, an established audio engineer who helped produce Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and Tusk albums during the late 1970s.

Breakthrough is basically a pop CD with most of the songs co-written or written by Colbie Caillat herself. There are some good songs and good music on the CD, and with time the artist’s writing of both lyrics and music will mature as many artists eventually do. The CD features world renowned guitarist David Becker on two tracks, “Rainbow” and “Runnin’ Around” giving those songs added spice. Other interesting songs on the CD include “Begin Again,” “Fearless,” “Breaking At The Cracks,” and “Break Through.”

Carly Simon, who looks as though she has not aged a day since she released Anticipation in 1971, has released a collection of her tunes she has remade with largely acoustic arrangements entitled Never Been Gone. On this CD look for piano, acoustic guitars, other string instruments, and percussion instrumentation other than heavy drums to set the mood for the music and vocals.

Several of the songs Simon revisits on this 12 cut CD include songs that have formed the backbone of her long and influential career including: “Coming Around Again,” “Let The River Run,” “It Happens Every Day”, the title cut “Never Been Gone,” and “The Right Thing To Do.” The CD includes great renditions of “Anticipation,” “That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be,” and two songs from one of my favorite Carly Simon albums, Boys in the Trees, “You Belong To Me,” and the title cut “Boys In The Trees.” On the new CD “Boys In the Trees” has a somewhat Calypso/Samba, semi-Latin style that, along with the artist’s signature voice, really sets the song aglow. The CD has two new songs “No Freedom” and “Songbird.”

Of course, the collection would not be complete without Simon’s signature song “You’re So Vain.” This version offers a few new twists to the classic; however, all the characters, accusations, and betrayals of the early version are alive and well in this 2010 “You’re So Vain.”

Meanwhile the guessing game continues as to who the man in “You’re So Vain” really is. The latest guess by the British newspaper the Sun was David Geffen the head of Elektra Records at the time the song was first recorded in 1971. According to the Sun, after playing the new version of the song backwards Simon is clearly saying “David” during the song. The information was picked up by blogers and hit the blogosphere immediately. Simon denied the reports saying she did not know David Geffen at the time she wrote the song. Past suspects for the inspiration for the song have included Carly’s ex-boyfriends Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Cat Stevens, and Kris Kristofferson.

Never Been Gone, is a unique set of remakes. For those readers who want to remember the songs the way they were leave Never Been Gone alone, but if you enjoy a different interpretation of classic tunes, give it a listen.

In other music news the Australian pop band Men At Work lost a multi-million dollar lawsuit over their famous hit “Down Under” in early February when an Australian judge ruled the song was largely lifted from an old Girl Guide song called “Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree’ written more than 75 years ago by a country school teacher. The judge ruled the famous flute riff was unmistakably the same as the children’s tune, written in 1934. This could mean a big payday for publishing firm Larrikin Music, who took EMI (a British record company Electric & Musical Industries) and “Down Under” to court.

Pink Floyd also began a lawsuit against EMI attempting to stop the sell of individual tracks form their albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon, one of the best selling albums of all times. The band contends the selling of individual tracks, such as MP3 Downloads was “expressly prohibited” under the group’s contract signed over 40 years ago. Pink Floyd’s back catalogue has only been outsold by the catalogue of the Beatles.

ST. MARYS’ PLURALITY DILEMMA

2010-03-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

On March 8, 2010, the St. Marys City Council faced an overflow crowd at City Hall to attend a 1:00 p.m. meeting concerned with changing the local election methods from winning by a plurality (the most votes) to winning by a majority (one over half). Two weeks before this meeting the St. Marys City Council, some of whom can be a little condescending at times, had questioned exactly how much interest residents had about changing the election method when only 21 people attended a public hearing to discuss the issue. The interest seemed to shock the movers and shakers of the City as former political leaders, press and bloggers, and enough lawyers to double the bar membership of a small Banana Republic, crowded into the room and packed the hall outside the room while speakers barraged them with opinions.

One of the first to address the City Council was Adam Jacobson, chairman of the Camden County Republican Party, one of the primary movers in the attempt to change the election process. When he asked the crowd if they support changing from plurality to majority elections, perhaps 85 to 90% of the people in the room stood up. Jacobson continued by saying, “There’s absolutely no reason this can't be put on the ballot for a referendum in November. It should be a no-brainer.” He also encouraged simple wording on the ballot.

Barbara Ryan told council members, “Every decision made in this room is determined by a majority vote except the process of putting you there. Why wouldn’t the election of our city leadership be determined by the same method?”

St. Marys changed to plurality elections in 1996. Since then only two candidates have won by a majority vote and they were in two candidate races. Most races have had at least three candidates and the winner received less than 50 % of the votes, a plurality (the most) not a majority (one over half).
Councilman Sidney Howell is the only member of the current City Council elected by a majority vote.

Former county commissioner Artie Jones Jr. said runoff elections are costly (an objection to runoffs expressed throughout the discussion) and expressed concerns about a suggestion to create single member districts and drop at-large voting for council seats. Jones indicated St Marys was about 20% African-American and 5% Hispanic and advised, “Why don't we wait until the census results to determine where residents live?” The question of moving voting in St. Marys to district instead of the current post voting was announced by Mayor Bill Deloughy as a topic for the referendum and discussion during his opening statements.

Alex Kearns took the room by storm when she proposed a type of voting which allowed the voter to list their preferences for candidates in numerical order at the time of the original election thus bypassing the need for a runoff election even in a multi-candidate race. This type of election is called an Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). The basic idea is the voters rank candidates in order of choice: 1, 2, 3 and so on. It takes a majority to win. If anyone receives a majority of the first choice votes, that candidate is elected. If not, the last place candidate is defeated, just as in a runoff election, and all ballots are counted again, but this time each ballot cast for the defeated candidate counts for the next choice candidate listed on the ballot. The process of eliminating the last place candidate and recounting the ballots continues until one candidate receives a majority of the vote. With modern voting equipment, all of the counting and recounting takes place rapidly and automatically.

Kearns pointed out IRV encourages positive, issue-oriented campaigning, it eliminates the “spoiler” dynamic in elections, and it eliminates expensive, two-round runoff elections. She also indicated IRV has been used in the United States in various jurisdictions since 1912. Its popularity has increased more recently since 2002.. The crowd seemed to feel the IRV election process had merit and should be looked at for future elections in St. Marys.

After Kearns electrified the room, Charlie Smith, a St. Marys lawyer and former state representative, lowered the temperature a bit by indicating the council members needed to contact the U.S. Department of Justice before putting a referendum question on the ballot to make sure the city can hold majority elections. Smith believed the Justice Department would find problems in the plan to go from plurality to majority voting without some safeguards for minorities in the area.
However, Jim Stein, another lawyer and member of the Republican Party, said he had already checked with federal authorities and was told the city can change to majority elections if voters approve a referendum.

After the public had commented on the issue at hand, various members of the council lamented they had not been elected to their seats with a majority vote. Attendees at the meeting were relieved when the meeting adjourned before the council could adorn sackcloth and ashes to emphasize the point. While council members agreed voters should decide the issue, Mayor Bill Deloughy said the challenge is to draft a referendum question everyone could agree on.

The dilemma is there is no simple resolution to the problem. Almost everyone agrees on the concept of majority winners in municipal elections; however, the costs of runoff elections plus the poor turn out of voters in these elections seems hardly worth the cost of the runoff elections. Here is where the IRV style of election looks very appealing. In a day when electronic voting machines can be used to hold an election to allow voters to vote on which of 144,000 angels is dancing the best Tango on the head of a pin, this editor believes IRV elections can be used in St. Marys to eliminate runoff elections.

There is also a need to address the district versus the post form of election process. The concept of a representative being elected from and representing citizens of a specific district is as old as the English style of democracy brought to this country by the settlers of Jamestown and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It became a fixture of the U.S. Constitution in the form of the House of Representatives and is a feature of the state government as both houses of the Georgia General Assembly are apportioned by population. Mr. Jones is right here; we will need the census to do this correctly.

The final item of concern on the issue was the date for the municipal elections. As Councilwoman Deborah Hase said, the referendum and voters should consider changing the years elections are held to coincide with county, state, and federal elections as a way to save money. This is a great idea. It would improve voter turn out and increase participation in city political awareness. For those who believe voters can not follow a national or state and then the local campaign, and the various issues at the same time, that is like saying a redneck can’t watch a fishin’ show on TV and chew tobacco at the same time. Of course they can.

In conclusion, the concept of the majority versus the plurality election may have a few hurdles to cross, including Justice Department scrutiny; however, it seems to be gaining support in St. Marys and may be on a ballot in a future election. Certainly the IRV promises to hold down the costs and inconvenience of runoff elections. St. Marys needs to move toward districts where a councilperson is elected solely from and represents that district, a time honored American tradition. Finally, municipal elections need to be moved to coincide with state or national elections to improve voter turn out and interest in city politics.

Editor’s note: The city of Woodbine, Georgia, has also initiated a ballot initiative to move from plurality to majority voting. An election will be held in the “Crawfish City” in the future on this issue.

TEA PARTY CONVERSATIONS: CENTRALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT POWER REPEALS LIBERTY

2010-03-30T04:32:00.000-07:00

By Jason Spencer

As a result of the current economic crunch being felt at all levels of government, Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue announced plans for a major restructuring of state government that would make four constitutional offices appointed, rather than elected. Those offices would include Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, and School Superintendent. This announcement set off a fire storm of debate, especially among those who favor decentralized government. Of course, this measure would require a constitutional amendment to give the state’s executive more concentration of power. Those in favor of centralizing more power within the governor’s office are quoted as saying these functions would be “mainstreamed” and “make government more efficient”. In that same line of thinking, there is even a movement within Camden County to consolidate county and local government to “stream line and eliminate redundant services”.

As a result, movements to centralize government services for the sake of “efficiency” seem to be the new fad among creatures of government. While this fad within government circles is being brainstormed, it poses the question of whether centralized efforts would actually translate into “more efficient” government. Those in the Tea Party Movement are among the most ardent proponents of liberty and decentralized power and do not favor Gov. Perdue's attempt to take electing power away from the citizens of Georgia. To remove the people’s ability to elect four Constitutional offices, and amend the Constitution to grant that power to the Governor to appoint those positions, runs counter to our philosophy of decentralization.

The philosophy of decentralization rest on the premise that decentralized government is most compatible with long-run concerns for liberty. The presumption in favor of decentralization is rooted in the idea that local jurisdictions must compete for residents and capital, which provides some incentive for greater degrees of freedom. In other words, smaller jurisdictions are able to contain the rise of would-be despots that could endanger the flight of capital from local businesses and its residents. Ultimately, smaller jurisdictions would be more likely to recover from “capital flight” and affect the least amount of people as compared to a larger demographic or region.

Furthermore, localism exposes corruption more easily when it becomes embedded within its governing apparatus; therefore, as a consequence, it is more easily uprooted. Local corruption can be more benign. For example, it would be easier for someone on a middle class budget to bribe the local zoning board than the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources or the U.S. State Department.

Another aspect of decentralization is that tyranny on the local level is much more soluble. This solubility allows locals to minimize the damage it could cause. Tyranny is far less destructive when it is localized. This means that evil people are prevented from violating the rights of people outside their jurisdiction. In addition, the ability of government’s power to intervene wisely should never be trusted. Governments will always invoke good motives even when they are a mere mask for power grabs (just like the recent passage of the Obama Health Care Bill). Once the power grab has occurred, it is used as a decree for central planning and prevents local jurisdictions from escaping its grasp.

Moreover, a plurality of government prevents the accumulation of centralized power and act as a “longitudinal separation of powers” amongst the various jurisdictions. Lower governments are envious of their turf and they will resist against ceding any of their authority, notwithstanding lucrative bribes or deals. In essence, centralization dilutes the voice of the people. In fact, the entire history of liberty is steeped with impressive results of competing institutional structures. By the way, not one of which can be trusted with complete control.

With all of this said, I would caution those well intended motives on the subject of consolidating city-county governments within Camden County. Much research has been done on the consolidation of governments and what is clear from the findings is that trying to measure outcomes of “consolidation” and “efficient government” is nebulous at best. It is somewhat oxymoronic to think the words “efficient” and “government” go together like “peanut butter and jelly”. The act of consolidating will not guarantee more efficient operations, despite what some of its advocates would have us believe. However, some of the research on this subject has been done on large metropolitan areas. But one interesting tidbit to note is the some consolidated governments with a population of over 15, 000 tended to see a U-shaped cost-curve in the cost of services. This means that average costs fall over a range, flatten, and then begin to rise as the newly consolidated government establishes itself. Attempts to consolidate governmental authority imply that public goods and services are best handled by a single comprehensive organization—a government monopoly.

Now, let’s get back to Gov. Purdue’s call for more centralized power into the Governor’s office. In 2003, the Council of State Governments reported “merely shifting organizational boxes does not guarantee savings” and warned that restructuring can at times lead to shifting of costs rather than savings. So the better question to ask is: Why not eliminate some of these agencies all-together? For instance, eliminating the State Department of Education would empower local school boards in much broader ways. It stands to reason that local schools boards are more familiar with their needs than a distant bureaucracy a few hundred miles away in Atlanta.

Ultimately, preserving liberty and economic freedom is more likely to be found in a competitive, decentralized governmental system. Those who love liberty must favor decentralization of power because it is the path towards greater individual freedom and the respect of rights. That goal of maintaining economic and individual freedom can be reached only by avoiding a consolidated, monopoly government system that depends on one organization to provide all public goods. A decentralized, fragmented political system that is competitive and responsive to the needs of the locals can achieve that goal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Spencer is a Health Care professional in Southeastern Georgia and a leader in the TEA Party movement in the area. His articles are presented by THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes. There is a link to the local TEA Party’s blog from our blog at www.clarionissue.blogspot. com .

SOWING THE SEEDS OF PROGRESS IN HAITI

2010-03-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The recent devastating 8.8 earthquake in Chili has once again refocused the world’s attention on the progress of the rebuilding of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Haiti, as everyone knows, is the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation and will continue to be so for a long period of time. On March 10, Haiti’s President René Préval visited the White House and thanked President Obama and the American people for the hundreds of millions of dollars in aid provided to Haiti since his country’s ruinous earthquake on January 12. While many Americans and people around the world donated money to many private charities during the initial crisis, and the United States and many other governments contributed initial relief efforts to the stricken nation, the question remains, what is the best way to help rebuild the Haitian economy and infrastructure for a truly better future for the people of the country? Perhaps one of the best ways to help the economy and the vast majority of the Haitian people is to improve the agriculture of the country and the infrastructure that supports it.

The agricultural situation in Haiti is perhaps a mirror of the economy itself; it is backward, inefficient, and lacking an adequate infrastructure to sustain prices after the harvest. For the most part it is a subsistence agricultural economy with a family growing crops and animals to provide for themselves on a small plot of land. Here is a major fact: an acre of cultivated land in the Dominican Republic, the nation which shares the eastern part of the island with Haiti, grows five times the amount of food as an acre in Haiti. In the Dominican Republic they have the same basic soil, weather, and other natural factors, but they have better seed, fertilizers, insecticide, and irrigation projects than their neighbors to the west.

The development of a truly diversified food crop system in the countryside in Haiti would help as the population moves back from the cities. The major crop of the country is corn, but Haitians also grow sorghum, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cassava, yams, and red and black beans. In low areas rice is grown. Another important crop is peanuts. The peanut could become an important cash or money crop for Haiti if the country could develop processing plants for major peanut products such as peanut oil, peanut butter, and peanut flour. The peanut is a diverse product and highly nutritious.

The increased development of the agricultural output of Haiti through various improved seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, and irrigation projects has already come to the attention of the world community. In Haiti they plant around the rainy season. If it rains and you are not ready with your soil, your seeds and fertilizers then you miss the planting season and you could lose 60 percent of your food production. While the United States and Brazil promised to send batches of seeds and fertilizers to Haiti through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a U.N. food agency, it will take a true international effort to rebuild the agricultural economy of Haiti to a point to where it can be a viable part of the nation’s economy.

Before the earthquake agriculture represented 27 percent of Haiti's GDP. A large number of people had left the farms and went to the cities looking for work. Around 60 percent of the food eaten in Haiti is imported, making the nation highly vulnerable to external price shocks and in an automatic trade deficit with its trading partners. One agricultural trade group estimates one dollar invested in agriculture will produce 40 to 60 dollars worth of food in Haiti.

Another major problem in Haitian agriculture is the lack of adequate roads or infrastructure to move crops from farms to market in the cities. Without adequate roads farmers are forced to sell their crops locally at a depressed price rather that in a city for better prices. While the earthquake was a tragedy the rubble has to go somewhere, and the rubble could be pounded down and used to pave miles or rural roads for a better agricultural infrastructure.

However, a real elephant in the room in the Haitian agricultural dilemma is the problem of deforestation. Fewer than 100,000 acres of forest remain in Haiti, a country that was three-quarters tree-covered when European explorers first arrived 500 years ago. Haiti has lost at least 95 percent of its tree cover, making it one of the worst cases of deforestation in the world. Every year, the country’s 9 million and growing inhabitants cut down and burn 30 million trees for wood and charcoal for cooking fires. This harvesting of trees is 20 million more trees than Haiti grows yearly. Seventy-one percent of all fuel consumed in Haiti is wood or charcoal.

The loss of trees and their roots has led to widespread erosion, especially in the mountainous areas of Haiti. Some 36 million tons of valuable topsoil is swept away every year. The deforestation has added to the problems caused by hurricanes and other storms such as floods, mudslides, wind erosion, and the clogging of irrigation ditches and irrigation projects around Haiti. The planting of trees would help with erosion, mudslides, flooding, and provide jobs for Haitians returning to the countryside. Haiti could also continue to plant crop trees such as citrus fruits, breadfruit, almond, and pineapple trees which would combat both the deforestation problem and aid in the diversification of Haitian agriculture.

While the old large commercial farming days of sugar, cotton, and sisal are gone in Haiti, primarily due to a drop in prices and production, agriculture is still Haiti's most important sector with more than 70 percent of its people living off the land. The world needs to invest and keep investing in seed, fertilizers, irrigation projects, roads, and deforestation projects over a long period of time. The entire agricultural infrastructure of Haiti needs to be built up. While the United States will spend hundreds of millions on government buildings in Port-au-Prince (complete with plenty of bells and whistles, miles of computer cables, and ‘earthquake proof’ foundations) the aid to the agricultural base of the nation will soon be forgotten. This is a shame; given seeds, fertilizers and irrigation Haiti, could not only improve its production of the crops it grows now, but since it is in the tropics it could move toward double or triple cropping (growing more than one crop a year). With even more help Haiti could improve its animals and process its own food.

Investing in the Haitian agriculture and agricultural infrastructure would pay big dividends for the world and Haiti. It would help build the Haitian economy from the bottom up. It would put money in circulation in the countryside where 70 percent of its people live and stop the bleeding of Haitian cash from the country for foreign foodstuffs. A good economy in the countryside would give the cities time to rebuild without the pressure of refugees from the farming areas returning and overcrowding the cities looking for work in a year or two. However, the world needs to hurry. Spring is here, and so are the rains, and the summer hurricane season is right around the corner. To really aid Haiti, America and the world must act immediately with real agricultural aid to this distressed and impoverished nation.

HEALTH CARE ‘REFORM’: ARROGANCE AND FOLLY

2010-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

By D. E. Lovett

In a fit of arrogance and folly not seen in America since mad King George ruled the 13 Colonies, the government has foisted on us a truly monstrous take-over of our health care system- monstrous in size, monstrous in cost, and monstrous in effect; and of very dubious constitutionality.

The methods by which this was done include all of the most unsavory features of politics- partisanship, log-rolling, vote buying, “gaming” the Congressional Budget Office, distortion of reality, demonizing opponents, making glowing but empty promises, arm-twisting, and downright lying. This is usually overlooked when only a billion dollars are at issue, but a trillion? (And that figure doesn’t count the fact that the cost will surely at least double, when the main benefits kick in in 2014, when a lot of the perpetrators will be enjoying their huge pension benefits.)

Now let’s get one very important point to the front: this is not “health care reform.” It is “increased health care access.” The system, with all it warts and blemishes, remains basically unchanged, simply more expensive. Call it Lovett’s 1st Law of Economics: the more money you make available for something, the more it will cost. And the bill does absolutely nothing to restrain the current cost growth.

No one, not even the designers of this Frankenstein’s monster, and certainly not those who brought it to life, knows what is in it, and we, the people who will pay for it, certainly don’t. The only thing we do know is the publicly stated aim of its sponsors. What we don’t know is what all the consequences, especially the unintended consequences, will be. Among the intended consequences: people who don’t need or want insurance will be compelled, with large penalties, to buy it anyway; businesses will be burdened with huge new taxes; the cost of private insurance for everyone who buys it will escalate; the annual deficit, and the public debt will soar; and a host of other serious consequences. The unintended consequences are likely to include: shortage of health care professionals; decline in the quality of service; rationing of care; doctors leaving the profession; an inevitable growth in the total cost of the program; and a host of others we won’t begin to see for years to come.

Polls and analysis show 85% of us are insured, and 89% of those insured are happy with their program. This monster was given birth for the benefit of 7% of the population, at the expense of the rest of us, and that expense will be huge. Taxed Enough Already? You ain’t seen nothing yet! As usual with government programs, the productive are being punished for their success for the benefit of the indigent.

So who are the main beneficiaries of the monster? Aside from the few who may get help paying their bills, one of the biggest winners is the hospital industry, which will not have to write off their huge losses from treating the uninsured (but they will still have to treat, at their own cost, all illegal immigrants, who, paradoxically, are prohibited from buying insurance, even if they want it and can afford it.) Another major beneficiary will be private insurance companies, who will see a major increase in business, and will simply raise all of our rates to compensate for additional taxes. A third major beneficiary will be the federal bureaucracy, which will balloon to administer this program, and, of course, the unions which represent them.

This whole monster was a creature of the Democrat Party alone, and to the extent it thrives, they deserve all the credit. To the extent it stumbles, bumbles, fumbles, and eventually collapses under its own weight, as it surely will, they deserve the entire blame.

REPRESENTATIVE JACK KINGSTON TO HOLD TOWN MEETING IN CAMDEN COUNTY ON MARCH 31

2010-03-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Rep. Jack Kingston will be holding a Town Hall meeting in Camden County on March 31, 2010, at 12:00 noon. The meeting will be held at the Camden County High School Auditorium.

Kingston, a Republican, represents the First Congressional District of Georgia in the House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress. He was first elected in 1992 and is from Savannah.

KU KLUX KLAN HOLDS RALLY IN NAHUNTA, GEORGIA

2010-02-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

48 Knight Riders of the Ku Klux Klan held a two hour rally in Nahunta, Georgia, a small town in Brantley County about 35 miles west of Brunswick, on Saturday, February 21, 2010, beginning about noon. The crowd was estimated to be about 550, with about 30 or so protesters. Klan supporters in the crowd applauded, shouted “white power,” and waved Confederate Battle flags (actually Confederate Naval ensigns) while Imperial Wizard Jeff Jones railed against illegal immigration and our country’s leaders. The Imperial Wizard is the head of the “Southern Alliance of Klans.”

Jones said, “We are here to tell you wake up Georgia and stop the Latino invasion now. I know plenty of people who are willing to work and would do anything right now.” He also encouraged the crowd to, “Get rid of the people running this country. They’re running it into the ground.”

The Klan members were adorned in their traditional white robes but were not allowed to wear masks because Georgia State law forbids the wearing of masks. The Klan members wore their caps, but their faces were shown. The rally was held on U.S. 301 with police and other law enforcement providing security for the event.

Brantley County Sheriff Robert Thomas said all 18 deputies were on duty for the rally. Nahunta Mayor Ronnie Jacobs estimated 300 law enforcement officials from surrounding counties, as well as the Georgia State Patrol and the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Marshals, were in town to maintain order. A contingent of 17 Deputy Sheriffs from Camden County assisted at the event.

Jacobs said African-Americans and whites “get along great here” and he had no idea why the Klan chose his town for the rally. However, in a pre-rally statement to a local TV station, Greg Wolfe, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia, indicated in an unofficial statement the Klan chose Nahunta because it is primarily white and the surrounding area has had a high number of Klan applicants.

While Wolfe indicated the topic of the rally would address sex offenders, taxes, reduction of welfare, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and uniting government with religion, as well as illegal immigration, Imperial Wizard Jeff Jones spent most of the speech on illegal immigration, employers’ illegal hiring practices, questioning of Mexicans’ patriotism toward the United States, and offering a sprinkling of racial slurs during the entire speech.

As Wolfe indicated in his pre-rally interviews, the February 21, rally in Brantley County was a recruiting trip for the Knight Riders of the Ku Klux Klan. The institutes and individuals who track extreme right wing, white power organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, militias, and other organizations report an up-swing in membership since the election of President Obama, the first African-American to become President, and the worsening recession. The fact that the Ku Klux Klan would go into a small (1000 people), mostly white town in rural Southeastern Georgia seeking new members is not surprising in the least. Here at the Clarion Issue we hope the city council of Nahunta and the County Commission of Brantley County will calculate the cost of the rally in payment of law enforcement and all other cost, and send the Knight Riders of the Ku Klux Klan a bill for the costs. They have a state headquarters in Ellijay, Georgia, and a state office in Brunswick.

Furthermore, as the Clarion Issue has always indicated, the Ku Klux Klan needs to come up with its own symbols. They have disgraced the Confederate Battle flag, a historic flag used by some of the Confederate forces during the Civil War, and parlayed the burning cross, a Scottish symbol used to call the highland clans to battle, into a symbol of hate. Can these guys have an original thought?

KU KLUX KLAN PLANS RALLY FOR NAHUNTA, GEORGIA

2010-02-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

City officials in Nahunta, Georgia, a small town in Brantley County about 35 miles east of Brunswick, have confirmed the Knight Riders of the Ku Klux Klan have obtained a permit for a rally at noon untill two p.m. on Saturday, February 21. Spokespersons for the Ku Klux Klan indicated the rally would focus on illegal immigration and sex offenders. According to various news sources, Nahunta’s City clerk, Angela Wirth, credited the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia, Greg Wolfe, with saying he is expecting a turnout of about 100 people. She says city officials are expecting the Klan to make its presentation and leave. The mayor and other government officials are encouraging the citizens to go about their regular business and say anyone with concerns to stay home or simply to avoid the area where the rally is expected.

In an unofficial statement to a local TV station, the Grand Dragon of Georgia said the Klan chose Nahunta because it is primarily white and the surrounding area has had a high number of Klan applicants. Wolfe indicated the rally would address taxes, reduction of welfare, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and uniting government with religion, as well as illegal immigration and sex offenders.

Georgia State law forbids the wearing of masks; therefore, there will not be hoods over the heads of the Knight Riders of the Ku Klux Klan. They can wear a cap, but their faces have to be shown.

The Mayor of Nahunta, Ronnie Jacobs, has sent a public letter to town residents asking them not to panic. In the letter he details a strong police presence, adding that there will sheriff's deputies, Georgia State Patrol, Federal Marshals, and even sharp shooters at the rally to keep the peace.

This is the Ku Klux Klan’s first rally in Nahunta, Georgia.

MUSIC REVIEWS BLOOD AND CANDLE SMOKE

2010-02-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

American folk/country singer Tom Russell released a new CD in late 2009 entitled Blood and Candle Smoke. The CD is a 12 cut CD set and for the most part the setting for the songs on the album is in the American Southwest or in Mexico making the collection a true compilation of related music. The instrumentation on the CD is exceptional. The horns, the accordion, and other instruments seem to give each song just the right blend for just the right mood in the song. While Russell’s carrier spans over 40 years and includes over 20 album credits, Blood and Candle Smoke may be the 56-year-old artist’s best work ever.

The opening song on the CD, “East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam,” is the unique story of a traveler through time and Africa during the turbulent times on the continent. It is a great song as is the second cut on the CD, “Santa Ana Wind.” “Santa Ana Wind” is about California and the deceit and lies used by the whites in settling the area. “Nina Simone” is another great song on the album. It is the story of a man who discovers a long lost singer during a trip down into Mexico. Another great song on the CD is “Crosses of San Carlos.” This song is about being confined by civilization. From the young Native American boys, to the old jaguar on the hunt portrayed in the song as crossing the border hunting a deer and ‘he ain’t afraid of your hunting dogs,’ Russell examines the forces of society’s confining influence on nature and natural freedom. Other songs of interest include, but or not limited to, “Finding You,” “Criminology,” “The Most Dangerous Woman In America,” and “American Rivers.”

Members of the Tucson, Arizona, band Calexico who helped make the CD included: Joey Burns on guitar and bass, Jacob Valenzuela on trumpet, Barry Walsh on keybords, and John Convertino on drums. Blood and Candle Smoke was produced by Tom Russell and Craig Schumacher.

In an interview on National Public Radio (NPR) Russell said, “these are 12 songs I can live with for the rest of my life.” This is one of the best CDs I’ve heard in a long time. It’s worth a listen.

2009 also saw the release of a new CD for Native American folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Cree Indian born in Saskatchewan, Canada, but who was orphaned at an early age and raised by relatives in Maine. She became an influential folk singer in the 1960s and never really left the folk music scene. Her most popular songs include “Universal Soldier,” “Mister Can’t You See,” “Summer Boy,” and “Cod’ine.” Her 2009 CD, Running For The Drum, is her 18th album and her first new album in over 15 years.

The songs on Running For The Drum are often set to the beat of Native American drum rhythms. The first song “No No Keshagesh,” is a heavy rock beat about corporate greed, real estate fraud, and the harm the exploitation has done to the earth. “Working For the Government” also attacks the political establishment for their wars, spies, and continuation of conflicts at the cost of millions to tax payers. However, the CD has a sensitive side. The love songs “Too Much Is Never Enough” and “Still This Love Goes On” show a very tender side of the artist and “When I Had You” is a very emotional break-up song. The collection has several spiritual numbers also. The quietly comforting “Easy Like the Snow Falls Down” is a reflective song about being there for others. “Still This Love Goes On” is a remembrance of the beauty and quietness of the Cree reservation when the artist is away from the beauty of the Canadian wilderness. “Cho Cho Fire” is a song about the first time a city person experiences a powwow and includes the line ‘See ‘em running for the drum’ where the CD gets its title. The CD includes an acoustic treatment of “America the Beautiful,” with new lyrics to reflect the Native American community and a lovely new re-recording of The Buffy Sainte-Marie classic, “Little Wheel Spin and Spin.”

Running For The Drum is a unusual CD. For those readers who like music with a Native American flair or are fans of Buffy Sainte-Marie from way back, this may be an album to look into.

Off The Map by the Silk Road Ensemble is a classical/cultural group originally assembled by fabled cellist Yo Yo Ma. This CD celebrates the group’s 10-year anniversary. The traditions of the Native Americans in the Andes can be encountered with Gabriela Frank’s composition “Ritmos Anchinos.” Evan Ziporyn’s “Sulvasutra” features India’s great tabla player Sandeep Das, pipa player Wu Man, and violin and cello players Johnny Gandelsman, Colin Jacobsen, Nicholas Cords,and Eric Jacobsen in an explosive piece of music designed to present a type of musical Big Bang experience for the listener. Angel Lam’s “Empty Mountain, Spirit Rain” and Osvaldo Golijov’s “Air to Air” help round out as unique a CD as the Silk Road Ensemble has yet to produce.

A Book of Note: In late 2009, Terry Gross host of NPR’s ‘Fresh Air,’ interviewed David Bianculli, the author of Dangerously Funny, The Uncensored Story of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The author indicated the book was about the Smothers Brothers, especially Tommy Smothers’, battle with the CBS censors during the late 1960s. One episode Bianculli recalls in the book is when folk singer Pete Seeger performed his anti-war song “Waist Deep In The Big Muddy.” The song, set during a training exercise in World War II, is about an officer who leads his troops into an unreconnoitered deep stream and was drowned. The refrain would follow along the line of ‘We were (knee) (waist) (neck) deep in the Big Muddy -- And the big fool said to push on.’ In the symbolism of the day, the big fool was the President ( LBJ or Nixon) who continued sending troops into Vietnam (the Big Muddy) only to be swallowed up by a hopeless quagmire. Some people will argue the song is as valid today as it was in the 1960s thanks to decisions by Presidents Bush and Obama. “Waist Deep In The Big Muddy” is now on Pete Seeger’s Greatest Hits CD (the 16cut version) re-released in April 2002. The Smothers Brothers have a greatest hits CD entitled Sibling Revelry, an 18 cut compilation including “Cabbage,” “Chocolate,” “The Saga of John Henry,” and “Crabs Walk Sideways.” Both CDs are available at the online music stores.

JOHN OXENDINE TO SPEAK AT GOP DINNER IN CAMDEN COUNTY: TEA PARTY PATRIOTS TO HOST RAY McBERRY

2010-02-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Camden County Republican Party will be having their annual dinner on February 20, 2010, at the Osprey Room at Osprey Cove in St. Mary’s, Georgia. A social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner starts at 7:00 p.m. The guest speaker for the event will be Georgia Insurance Commissioner and Republican candidate for the party’s nomination for governor, John Oxendine. Oxendine is from Gwinnett County.

Oxendine is in a crowded field of at least seven Republicans vying for the gubernatorial nomination; however, he is believed to be the early leader due to name recognition. Other candidates include Karen Handel, Georgia’s Secretary of State, from Roswell, State Senator Jeff Chapman of Brunswick, State Senator and former President pro tempore of the Senate Eric Johnson, who leads the race in fund raising from Savannah, and Congressman Nathan Deal from northern Georgia.

The cost for the event is $50 a plate. To purchase tickets contact Adam Jacobson at adamjacobson@hotmail.com .

The Camden County GOP will hold its February Grits & Bits Breakfast Meeting on Saturday February 6, 2010, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie in St. Mary’s (behind the police station in the industrial park). The breakfast will begin at 9:00 a.m. The cost is $7.00. The guest Speaker for the breakfast is William Ligon a candidate for GA State Senate District 3. William Ligon served as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Brunswick for 16 years. He has practiced law in Brunswick since 1988 and is the Senior Partner of Ligon, Middleton and Lindberg, law firm. He is on the Board of Heritage Christian Academy, a fully accredited K-12 school in Brunswick. Ligon is a member of the Coastal Georgia Gun Club, the National Rifle Association, and Gideons International.

Also of interest, the Camden County Tea Party Patriots (CCTP) will be hosting GOP gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry on Feb 8th, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at the Camden County Annex Building. McBerry is president of Ray McBerry Enterprises, Inc. a company that produces radio and television commercials, primarily in the Atlanta market. His web site is http://georgiafirst.org/governor/enter.shtml.

The GOP will be having other candidates for various posts at both their Grits & Bits breakfasts and their Camden County Republican Women forums. Check the Clarion Issue blog and with the Camden County GOP for the time and place of these events. The Republican Party in Camden County’s web site is www.GOPCamden.org .

HISTORY’S CURRENTS: JOHN S. MOSBY

2010-01-31T06:16:00.000-08:00

By John Bailey

John S. Mosby was commander of the 43rd Battalion, Virginia Partisan Rangers, an independent Confederate cavalry unit which operated behind Union lines in Northern Virginia. Mosby’s unorthodox hit and run tactics tied down at least 100,000 enemy troops to guard supply lines and in the opinion of General Grant lengthened the Civil War by three months.

John Mosby was born on December 6, 1833 in Powhatan County, Virginia about forty miles west of Richmond. He was a small frail child and thus was bullied by other boys his age. He said that he never ran from a fight, but never won a fight either. In 1849 Mosby entered the University of Virginia in classical studies. He excelled in Latin, Greek and literature but struggled in mathematics. During his third year Mosby got into a fight with a local bully whom he shot in the neck with a pepperbox revolver. He was arrested and convicted of unlawful shooting for which he was fined $500 and sentenced to a year in jail. While in jail Mosby took up studying the law and due to irregularities in the jury as well as his poor health, he was released after eight months. He was later pardoned and the fine was rescinded.

After he was released from jail, Mosby continued his law studies and was admitted to the bar. He opened a law practice in Howardsville, Virginia. Shortly after opening his practice, Mosby met Pauline Clark who was visiting from Kentucky. They were married in Nashville on December 30, 1857 and settled in Bristol, Virginia.

Prior to the Civil War Mosby was very vocal in his opposition to secession but when war broke out he enlisted in the army as a private. He later said that he thought that the war was fought for the preservation of slavery of which he disapproved but that a soldier should fight for his country. Mosby said that the South was his country.

Mosby’s unit was sent to Richmond where they were issued weapons and uniforms. The uniforms were the same as clothes worn in the penitentiaries and the men piled them in front of their commander’s tent, refusing to wear them. Only two men wore them, Mosby and one other. Mosby later said that in three months the others would have been glad to have the prisoner’s clothing.

Mosby’s unit participated at First Manassas, the first major battle of the war. Soon after the battle Mosby wrote to his wife telling her of his peril during the fight. Actually the men were held in reserve and never fired a shot.

Following the battle, Mosby became a cavalry scout in Northern Virginia and was soon recognized for his courage and quick thinking. By late winter of 1862, Mosby was promoted to First Lieutenant and made regimental adjutant.

In the winter session of the Confederate congress a law was passed dictating that soldiers would elect their own officers, up to the rank of regimental commander. Mosby’s commander, Colonel Jones was replaced by Fitzhugh Lee, a nephew of Robert E. Lee. Lee and Mosby did not get along so Mosby offered his resignation which was accepted and Mosby was again a private. J.E.B. Stuart, the cavalry commander had Mosby transferred to his staff as a courier, although he used Mosby as a scout rather than as a courier. During the Federal campaign to capture Richmond in the spring of 1862, Mosby found that the enemy flanks were guarded only by cavalry. He reported this to Stuart who gained permission to conduct a raid behind Union lines. With a force of 1200 riders and 2 pieces of artillery Stuart rode around the opposing army capturing 166 prisoners, 260 horses and mules, disrupted enemy supply lines and gathered invaluable intelligence. This was accomplished with the loss of only one man. Robert E. Lee publicly praised Mosby in his report of the affair.

Following the Seven Days Battles, Mosby was captured and taken to Washington for ten days until he was exchanged. While being returned south onboard a ship Mosby saw several ships loaded with Union troops being transferred from North Carolina. By questioning people on the ship Mosby ascertained that the troops were being moved north to reinforce General Pope in Northern Virginia rather than to add to the army on the peninsula which had assaulted Richmond. Upon his release he went straight to Lee’s headquarters where he gained access to the General. He gave Lee the information and upon reminding Lee of his accomplishments in Stuart’s ride around the Union Army his information was taken seriously. Based on Mosby’s report Lee ordered the bulk of his army north resulting in the Confederate victory at 2nd Manassas. Mosby’s star was rising.

In early 1863 Mosby was given command of a battalion of partisan rangers and ordered to operate behind enemy lines in Northern Virginia. He became so effective in disrupting the invading army that the area between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Washington D.C. became known as “Mosby’s Confederacy.” He was promoted to Captain on March 15th and to Major on March 23rd. Beginning with a band of 15 men Mosby was soon disrupting enemy operations by capturing soldiers and horses at night and destroying supplies. He also captured a group of Union soldiers who had been systematically robbing homes. Following an operation the rangers would scatter with orders to meet again at a predetermined place. Some would lodge in a friendly home while others preferred to camp outdoors. One soldier slept in graveyards because he found them to be quiet and the ground was soft.

The Union cavalry in the area was commanded by a British soldier of fortune named Percy Wyndham. He took Mosby’s operations as a personal insult and publicly vowed to destroy the Confederates. In response, Mosby determined to capture Wyndham and on a rainy night in March Mosby with a force of 29 men infiltrated Wyndham’s headquarters in the town of Fairfax. Wyndham was not in town but his second in command, General Stoughton was in charge. With five rangers Mosby entered headquarters, rudely awakened Stoughton by raising his nightshirt, and slapping his bare buttocks. When Stoughton demanded to know the meaning of the outrage he was asked if he had heard of Mosby. When he said, “Yes, have you caught him?” Mosby stuck the barrel of a pistol in his nose and said, “No, but he’s caught you.” Mosby escaped without firing a shot taking with him one general, two captains, 30 privates and 58 horses. Two days later Mosby turned Stoughton over to Fitzhugh Lee. Stoughton and Lee had been West Point classmates and Lee cordially welcomed his old friend dismissing Mosby without comment. General Stuart as well as the rest of the South was elated with Mosby’s exploit. Lincoln’s comment was that he could always make more generals but good horses were harder to come by.

Mosby’s men were a loosely organized group, coming together at a predetermined time and place, conducting a raid and then scattering throughout Northern Virginia. They slept in private homes, barns, haystacks and camped in the woods. One Ranger preferred graveyards because they were quiet and the ground was soft.

Between raids, Mosby was constantly on the move scouting enemy positions. Due to the sensational articles in both the Northern and Southern newspapers most people pictured him as a giant of a man so no one recognized the small stoop-shouldered man as the commander of the Rangers. One rainy night Mosby, accompanied by two prisoners held at gunpoint, fell in with a troop of Union cavalry for several miles and then turned off on a side road. On another occasion it was reported that Mosby was in Culpepper, Virginia and enemy cavalry came into town looking for him. A man sitting in a barber chair informed the Union commander that Mosby had left the town not ten minutes before and told which way he went. After the cavalry galloped away in pursuit, Mosby got out of the barber chair and rode out of town in the opposite direction.

By spring of 1863 Mosby’s command had grown to about 55 men. Many were transfers from other cavalry units while others were local men whose knowledge of the terrain proved to be invaluable. There was also a European adventurer, a soldier of fortune and a Union sergeant who deserted to Mosby because he enlisted to save the Union, not to end slavery. The sergeant later became a lieutenant in the Rangers known as “Big Yankee” Ames. Many were attracted to Mosby because of the opportunity for plunder. According to the Partisan Ranger Act, regularly enlisted men were allowed to keep whatever valuables they captured. While some independent units were little better than thieves, Mosby did not tolerate pillaging from private citizens. Deserters, thieves and cowards were quickly weeded out.

Throughout the spring Mosby was able to raid throughout Northern Virginia capturing men and material as well as disrupting communications. While most of the citizens were loyal to the South, there were many Unionists who were quick to point out Mosby’s activities to the Northern troops leading to near disaster. During one raid Mosby was at first victorious but was soon surprised by a large force of Union cavalry and was routed leaving his prisoners as well as many of his own dead and wounded men behind. At a place called Miskell’s Farm Mosby’s command numbering about 70 soldiers was surprised by a force of over twice their number. Mosby was able to rally his men into a savage counterattack and routed the Union cavalry capturing 85 men. While Mosby’s exploits were impressive his real value lay in scouting the enemy’s movements and the diversion of large bodies of Union troops from the battlefront.

Mosby’s rangers were attached to Stuart’s cavalry as scouts for Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863. While Stuart’s performance was marginal at best Mosby was cited for his outstanding performance.

Throughout the rest of the war Mosby’s men became adept at destroying railroads forcing the Union to construct blockhouses within sight of each other all along the tracks. Mosby even used a cannon to attack the trains and on one occasion stopped a train carrying General Ulysses Grant. The Rangers were driven away before they discovered their prize.

In the spring of 1864 General Custer hanged ten of Mosby’s men as spies, even though they were in uniform when captured. Mosby hanged five of Custer’s men in retaliation and the hangings ceased. Ten Union prisoners were chosen by lot for hanging Mosby excused one prisoner because he was a child while three others escaped. One was released by some of Mosby’s Rangers because he was a Mason. When Mosby heard of this he was enraged, informing his men that his unit was a military command, not a fraternity house.

As Lee’s army was forced further south toward Richmond, Mosby’s area of operation grew in size. In early1865 Mosby had eight companies under his command. His unit was scattered from east of Fredericksburg, north to the outskirts of Washington and west to the Shenandoah Valley.

By the war’s end, most of Mosby’s command just dissolved and went home. At least one Ranger committed suicide by single handedly attacking a large body of Union troops. Because one former Ranger was implicated in the Lincoln assassination Mosby’s Rangers were specifically excluded from being paroled. On April 21st Mosby called his men together at a place called Salem Crossroads and disbanded the battalion. Mosby was declared an outlaw and a $5000 reward was placed on his head.

Mosby was forced to hide in the mountains of his native in southwestern Virginia while his brother negotiated his surrender. Under the impression that he could turn himself in, Mosby rode into Lynchburg, Virginia and presented himself for surrender. The provost marshal knew nothing of the arrangements and promptly ordered Mosby’s arrest. Mosby drew his pistols and informed his would-be captors that all 12 cylinders would be empty when they took him. He backed from the room and rode from the town.

Upon hearing of this incident, General Grant ordered that Mosby be allowed to surrender.
After being paroled, Mosby opened a law practice in Warrenton and soon moved his family there. He was doing quite well, soon expanding his practice to real estate. He even received a $10,000 fee for negotiating a contract to rebuild a railroad that he and his men destroyed.

While the war was over, Mosby was often arrested by his former enemies, partly due to old grudges held against him and partly because Mosby was extremely difficult to get along with. Mosby’s wife finally went to General Grant and got a letter granting Mosby his full civil rights.

Following the death of his wife, Mosby traveled the world becoming a railroad attorney and at one time was appointed ambassador to Hong Kong. Throughout the remainder of his life he was always accompanied by one or more former Rangers. While living in California Mosby was a frequent guest of the Patton family and often was seen drawing maps and diagrams in the dirt for young George Patton.

In his final years Mosby managed to alienate nearly everyone and was constantly involved in controversy. One of his sons commented that the war ruined a good father. Mosby often regretted that he had not died in the war. To his credit, Mosby always looked after his men, helping them in any way he could.

Mosby died on May 30, 1916, and was given a hero’s funeral in Warrenton, Virginia.

History’s currents or current history? You decide!

ED. NOTE: Published in two parts in the paper edition of the Clarion Issue.

THE BOW, THE FLAG, AND THE WHITE HOUSE PARTY CRASHERS FALLOUT

2010-01-21T04:06:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

As an American citizen I have become very concerned about several items appearing in the news toward the end of last year. When President Obama met with the Emperor of Japan during his tour of Asia, I became upset, maybe even nauseated, at the idea of an American President bowing to the Emperor of Japan, or any other foreign leader for that matter. The second problem I had was the photo of Sarah Palin on the cover of Newsweek in which she appears in running attire, with which I have no problem, but the American flag is flopped over a table or chair like a throw quilt. This displays a complete lack of respect for the flag of our country. Finally, after all the hoopla over the White House party crashers, why did the Obama administration claim executive privilege for the White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers? It is the bow, the obvious disrespect of the flag, and the claim of executive privilege for a White House Social Secretary that have upset this writer.

As “they” often say, “When in Rome do as the Romans do,” the Obama administration protocol experts assured the American public and the president a bow was proper when meeting the Emperor of Japan. However, as this editorial is being written on December 7, 2009, the anniversary of the date that has lived on in infamy, Americans need to be reminded of the many thousands of American and other allied prisoners of war in the Pacific Theater during World War II who had to begin their day by bowing to the Emperor of Japan. Statistics show 40% of these POWs died from disease, mistreatment, torture, lack of medical care, starvation, and simple neglect at the hands of the Empire of Japan. For our President to repeat this humiliating gesture is a slap in the face of these POWs both living and dead, even though some protocol experts indicate it is proper and appropriate. At sea, the ships of our proud nation never dip our national flag even when another country’s ship dips its flag to them; therefore, our President should never bow to any emperor, king, Pope or potentate, be him from an oil rich Middle Eastern country, Japan, or Shangri-La.

Another point of contention this editor has had with the news towards the end of the last tear was the photo of Sarah Palin on the cover of the November 17 issue of Newsweek, where the U.S. flag was used as a drop cloth and virtual arm prop for the former Governor of Alaska and Republican Vice-presidential candidate. It is not the intention of this article to debate or rehash whether the use of photo by Newsweek was appropriate or sexist, the intent of this discussion is to discuss the inappropriate use of the flag in the photo wherever and for whatever reason Sarah Palin posed for the picture. The proper display of the American flag and flag etiquette has been a long-standing issue in the Clarion Issue as any long-term reader of the newsletter can attest. The display of the flag in the photo is a clear violation of Section 8, part b, of the Flag Code which reads: “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”
While Americans have grown accustomed to seeing violations of the Flag Code all around, such as rock stars with the flag used as a cape (Kid Rock at the 2004 Super Bowl), flag shits and jackets, flag embossed popcorn carafes, and even President and Mrs. Bush standing on carpet of the American flag at Ground Zero in Manhattan on September 11, 2006, one would expect better of Mrs. Palin for a posed photo for a runners magazine (Runner’s World) cover. As a governor who sent Alaska’s National Guard and her son to Iraq, she should know a little flag etiquette and the Flag Code. The flag is to be treated as a living symbol of our great nation and not as a photo prop. If Sarah Palin wants Americans to really take her seriously, she may start by treating the American flag with a little more respect.

Perhaps the final insult to the American intelligence at the end of last year came in the wake of the White House party crashers at the reception for the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, held on November 24, 2009. While the interloping, Washington socialite couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, may have caused a few headaches for Homeland Security and the Secrete Service, the real people who droped the ball were the people at the White House Social Secretary’s office who were obviously and obliviously eating caviar, knocking back Champaign, and looking forward to a dinner of curried shrimp and rice while the whole mess was unfolding. It is typical for the Office of the White House Social Secretary to have personnel posted at the entrance of any official White House event with the official guest list. This sensible observance of reasonable protocol would have sent the Salahis back out into the rain or into Secret Service detention where they needed to be and kept them off the news and their Facebook pages for weeks following the event. However, what is more appalling, is that an administration which promised openness and transparency has now claimed executive privilege in regards to White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. This seems very Cheney and Nixonsque in the light of what executive privilege is intended to cover and protect and what it is not intended to cover and protect. The privilege should protect top national decisions and how the executives arrived at the decisions, not who sits next to whom at a state dinner and if broccoli is to be on the menu. During the Clinton administration Capricia Marshall, Special Assistant to the First Lady, Hillary Clinton, testified concerning the investigations into the Whitewater Scandal, the death of Vincent W. Foster, and other White House matters. The Obama administration dropped the ball on this call, and if this transparency, the President is “neck deep in the Big Muddy” to quote an old Pete Seeger anti-war tune from the 1960s.

The end of the year events discussed in this article are certainly not the milestone events of the last four months by a long shot. The surge in Afghanistan will affect the lives of our service personnel and the national debt for years to come, the nation’s unemployment rate is still very high, the health insurance debate rages on and will affect many citizens, and other issues are more important, but somehow I had to have a say on the issues discussed above. For our President to bow to any world leader, especially the Emperor of Japan, is unreasonable: it should never happen. For Sarah Palin, or any public figure, to be photographed with the flag as an armrest and in violation of the Flag Code is disgraceful. Finally, for the Obama administration to claim executive privilege for the White House Social Secretary, regardless of the situation, is an outrage and an indignity to the conscience of the American people. I only hope that in 2012 I can choose between someone other than the incumbent and Sarah Palin.

Editor’s Note: Who are the mysterious “They” everyone speaks about? As in “They won’t let you do that.” They won’t let you read that.” “They won’t let you show that DVD.” “They won’t let me sell that car for that price.” Here at the Clarion Issue we know who “They” are. T is for the trouble they cause. H is for the hassles they give. E is for the earnings they take away. Y is for you who wants to be one of they!

NULLIFICATION: THE GREAT DECENTRALIZER

2010-01-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

By Jason Spencer

With the passage of monstrous pieces of legislation in 2009, big government is on a frantic pace to destroy the last vestiges of the Constitution that secure our liberties. Specifically, the health care bills that passed in each chamber of Congress, which are now in conference, has the authority to mandate individuals to purchase health insurance…or else. If one does not purchase what they tell an individual to buy, the government may fine, prosecute and even make that individual see the inside of a jail. In addition, the cap-and-trade bill that passed the House of Representatives requires homeowners to retrofit their humble abodes with new energy efficient construction codes. If the cap-and-trade bill becomes law, homeowners failing to retrofit their homes with these new “green” federal requirements will be denied resale.

The aforementioned examples are just a few of many unrelenting assaults upon the liberties of American sovereigns. Once upon a time, American sovereigns and their respective States made sure that Congress operated within its seventeen enumerated powers that were delegated to them. Presently, abiding by these constitutional constraints is seen as trivial, insignificant, and inconvenient by today’s Congress. American sovereigns and their respective State legislatures, with stunning insouciance, have allowed this power grab to transpire over many years. Now, we may have “crossed the Rubicon” in terms of recovering what liberties we have ceded to the federal government. Are we now just merely lowly subjects who are at the mercy of an all powerful centralized State groveling for the crumbs of freedom it now desperately craves?

We must become sovereigns again, but how do we do that when the federal government’s powers are no longer bound by the original seventeen enumerated powers granted under the Constitution? Instead, the federal government’s powers have expanded beyond the original enumerated powers with over 4000 federal criminal laws and over 40,000 pages of a perverted and incomprehensible tax code. How do we, as individual sovereigns, empower our States to reclaim the great residuum of power from the federal leviathan in order to serve our interest and be the protectorate of liberty? The answer to these questions is the idea of nullification.

Nullification or “to nullify” is a topic that nowadays is considered archaic, a historical novelty and is even considered taboo in polite political conversation amongst academic historians, jurists and the political mainstream. This word is much akin to its close cousins “secession”, “devolution”, “interposition”, “States Rights”, “delegated powers” and in some cases “Constitution”. However, an interest in nullification is gaining momentum among state legislatures with the advent of multiple state sovereignty resolutions being enacted to slap the proverbial and overreaching hand of the federal government.

So, what is nullification? Nullification is the legal theory by which states can declare federal laws unconstitutional. The United States was founded on the ideals that federal power could be challenged by the states. When a state ‘nullifies’ a federal law, it is proclaiming that the law in question is void and inoperative, or ‘non-effective’, within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as the state is concerned. Nullification is also a fundamental state right to prevent federal domination: A domination that is all too commonplace today.

Nullification is an important means for the several states to defend themselves against an all powerful central government just as the original thirteen colonies achieved at the nascency of the Republic. The individual thirteen British colonies that eventually became individual states were always separate political entities. American victory established the precedent and left no doubt upon where sovereignty resided. Individual state sovereignty was at the heart of the Anglo-American argument that led to the American Revolution, and for that matter, it was the prime issue that led to the subsequent War Between the States. At present, state obstruction of intrusive federal laws through meaningful nullification must now be considered as a rightful remedy and a necessary tool against the centralized state. Among other rightful remedies to thwart wrongful infringements afforded to the sovereign states are interposition and even secession. Specifically, interposition is where a state may use force to prevent the execution of federal laws it deems a violation of the Constitution; and a state may claim the right of secession, which is a peaceful withdrawal from “the political bands which have connected them…” to a tyrannical central authority. However, throughout human history most secession attempts have not ended peacefully—but in the 1990s, the Soviet Union did not forcibly prevent breakaway republics from leaving during its collapse. As a result of the central authority’s impotence, those republics were allowed to leave peacefully.

Andrew Jackson once argued that nullification is “incompatible with the existence of the Union”, but nullification is entirely compatible because it underscores the very foundation of the Union: The doctrine of delegated authority and the separation of powers. Thus, the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution, along with Article VI (the Supremacy Clause) prohibit federal usurpation or the wrongful infringement upon the reserved authority of the States or “We the People”. Furthermore, some would even say that secession is not legal since the War Between the States settled that issue. On the contrary, states have a right to resist and even call for a political divorce “whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive” for which it may then “institute new Government.” Laws enacted by the federal government that reach beyond the scope of its delegated authority under the Constitution are illegitimate. Thus, without the possibility of state secession or nullification, what does the federal government have working against its power? Some would answer this question by employing the use of the courts.

Unfortunately, the courts have become politicized and are not impartial and not objective arbiters for the cause of liberty as secured by the Constitution. The role of the federal courts as the final arbiter of disputed constitutional issues is probably the weakest aspect of the Constitution. Over the years, there have been issues presented to the courts to answer constitutional questions where violations may have occurred and how the Constitution applies. Conversely, the courts have been involved in issues where the Constitution does not apply. When the courts involve themselves in non-constitutional issues, it politicizes the halls of justice. By doing so, our liberties fade, and passing political litmus tests becomes the objective of the court—not whether the courts understand the Constitution. This weakness in our federal courts allows Congress to pass numerous laws over the past 100 years giving the federal government additional authority not mentioned in the Constitution. But, without amendment, altering the enumerated powers by legislative fiat is, in and of itself, unconstitutional.

Presently, there are many numerous nullification efforts currently underway in several states. A proposed Constitutional Amendment to effectively ban national health care will go to vote in Arizona in 2010. Thirteen states now have some form of medical marijuana laws—in direct contravention to federal laws which state that the plant is illegal in all circumstances. And, massive state nullification of the 2005 Real ID Act has rendered the law nearly void. Similarly, as in Montana and Tennessee, New Hampshire seeks to “exempt firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition manufactured in New Hampshire from federal law regulation” with House Bill 1285. Furthermore, in an effort to interpose for its citizens, New Hampshire will implement felony charges against federal agents for violations of their citizen’s rights.

Finally, Americans have started to wake up to the intrusive omnipotent central government and have begun to resist. Thus, nullification proves to be an efficacious legal method as a great ‘decentralizer’ by binding government with the chains of the Constitution.

TERM LIMITS, THE CONSTITUTION, AND WHAT AMERICANS CAN DO ABOUT THE SITUATION

2010-01-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

During a mid-November broadcast of the CNN Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, every news watcher’s favorite curmudgeon, Jack Cafferty, asked a question concerning congressional term limits on his Cafferty File. The responses Cafferty chose to read from the audience pointed to an overwhelming preference to term limits among American voters. Cafferty pointed out there is a proposed amendment to the Constitution imposing six-year or three term limits on Representatives and 12-year or two term limit on Senators. The bill was proposed by Republican Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina has who described it as “an historic opportunity to bring an end to an era of oppressive political oligarchy that threatens the very fabric of representative government.” Of course for this momentous constitutional change to occur members of Congress will have to literally vote themselves out of office, a job which has a good salary and many perks, and this is situation which is very unlikely to occur.

One has only to look at the recent New York City mayor’s race where term limits were changed by the City council allowing the current mayor Michael Bloomberg and themselves to run for third terms. Term limits were also on the agenda for the Republican ‘Contract With America’ during the 1993 congressional elections where Newt Gingrich and his party promised the American people a vote on the reform, but the vote failed. In Georgia, Jack Kingston, a Republican who represents the first district which includes costal Georgia, ran on term limits in the 1993 election, won, and is still in Congress. He has served nine terms.

Politicians point to a couple of facts about term limits which are true. To impose term limits will take a Constitutional admendment. Since the Constitution does not impose them they are unconstitutional until such an admendment in passed. They also point to elections, indicating the people will vote the individuals out of office when and if they become dissatisfied with the job the person is doing. However, long term service does have disadvantages to the American political process.

The obvious problem with the absence of term limits is individuals tend to stay for a long multi-terms. A week or so after his initial question on term limits, Cafferty asked a question about West Virginia’s long term Senator, and former Ku Klux Klan member, Robert Byrd, who has served 51 years in the Senate and a total of 57 years in Congress. Cafferty pointed out the initial intention of the founders of the American republic was not for long-term public service, but for short-term public service and then the individual would return to the private sector. Other individuals with long, multi terms included South Carolinia’s Strom Thurmond (47 years in the Senate), Arizona’s Carl Hayden (56 years in the House of Representatives and Senate), Georgia’s Richard B. Russell, Jr. (38 years in the Senate), and Michigan’s John Dingell (54 years in the House of Representatives). While long tenures allow individuals to gather power in Congress by obtaining important roles in their committees and parties, it can also lead to corruption, a lack of sensitivity to the needs of the American people, and simple distance from their constituents.

The lack of term limits creates the steady need for raising money to hold a long-term job. Each Congressman or woman finds him or herself running for office every two years mandating a constant need for campaign cash. The six-year cycle in the Senate is almost as bad since a Senate race is state wide and even more expensive. The constant need for cash forces the members of congress to rely on lobbyist for fundraisers, which helps lawmakers and lobbyists bond as long-term partners in fund raising and binds the members of congress to the lobbyist for information swapping on various pieces of legislation and even in the production of legislation.

Another problem with the lack of term limits is it helps create political dynasties. When even a casual observer looks across the nation it is easy to spot states where political dynasties, even oligarchies, have formed over the years. The Kennedy clan in Massachusetts, the Dodd family of Connecticut, the Udall relatives out West, the Rockefellers, the Bush family, and even the Biden family in Delaware, where a hold was placed on the Vice President’s Senate seat so his son Beau Biden could run in 2010. The basic problem with political dynasties is with the same families in control of the major political offices: new officials who would bring new ideas, new energy, and new proposals to the country are blocked from service. The country gets the same old tired policies and the same old rehashed rhetoric, political bickering, and legislative stagnation it has seen over the past 50 to 75 years.

However, to impose term limits would require a Constitutional amendment. To date all 27 amendments to the document have occurred using the two-thirds clause, a part of Article V saying, “The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution.” As we have noted, the problem with a term limit amendment beginning in Congress is the Congresspersons would literally be risking voting themselves out of a job, and a somewhat lucrative one with excellent perks at that, if they put a term limit amendment before the country. This is just not going to happen in any existing universe.

Yet, our founding fathers, or founding persons to be politically correct, gave the American people another door to amending the Constitution. Further in Article V we find the never used three-fourths clause which states, “the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress.” This provision allows for state legislators to call a convention (everyday citizens) to propose an amendment or amendments to the constitution and then the state legislatures or state conventions approve amendments to the Constitution thus bypassing Congress in the process. While this way of amending the Constitution has never been used, it is a perfectly legitimately way to do so.

In a day of mass communication, with internet blogs and political web sites, cell phones, blackberries and other hand-held communication devices, and massive grass roots movements emerging across the nation such as the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement, with social networking sites such as Facebook and twitter, perhaps the American public could force a new amendment concerning term limits into the Constitution if they chose to do so. The process is there; it simply requires the political will of the American people to make it happen if term limits are the true wish of the American people. If America is to remain a government of, by, and for the people, the people must exercise all of the political and Constitutional tools within their power.

Mr. Cafferty, here in the great state of Georgia we say, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and a Climax, Georgia, and in Climax they even have a country festival called Swine Time complete with a chitterling eating contest.” If these things are possible, the Constitution can be amended to include term limits, even without the approval of Congress!

GEORGIA HOUSE ELECTS NEW SPEAKER

2010-01-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

On Monday January 11, 2009, the Georgia House of Representatives elected David Ralston its new speaker. The election ends a somewhat turbulent scandal that brought down former speaker Glenn Richardson, one of the state's most powerful politicians, , who stepped down as following allegations of an affair with and a lobbyist a suicide attempt. Ralston's supporters said the Blue Ridge Republican would offer a steady hand in the wake of the drama surrounding the GOP scandal.

Richardson resigned as Speaker of the House at the beginning of the year, and resigned his House seat representing Paulding County in a letter to the governor later in January 2010. State Rep. Mark Burkhalter briefly ran the House on Monday, capping off an 11-day tenure as speaker. Burkhalter, who had been speaker pro tem, automatically took over when Richardson stepped down on January 1. After Ralston's election, Burkhalter handed over the gavel and embraced his party's new leader.

The House also elected Jan Jones, a Republican from Milton, as speaker pro tem. The vote made her the highest ranking woman in Georgia legislative history.

Ralston, the 72nd speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, indicated the state budget will be his top priority. While they have already made $3 billion in cuts, state revenues have continued to decline. This year state lawmakers are predicting a shortfall of $1.5 billion. The lawmakers point out thousands of teachers and state workers already have been furloughed and the State parks have scaled back their hours. Prisons have grown more crowded. In the courts there is a growing backlog in civil cases and delays in thousands of criminal cases.

Ralston says public education is a core mission of state government, but with the budget shortfall in evidence everywhere, teachers in Georgia are already bracing for more cuts as Georgia’s budget continues to shrink.

Ralston has offered an olive branch to minority Democrats who have complained for years about Richardson's sometimes bullying style. He immediately sought to strike a tone of firm reassurance saying, “Sometimes renewal is born by adversity,” as the chamber recovers from scandal and moves forward into a session of brutal budget cuts which will impact all Georgians.

Today the Georgia GOP holds a 105-74 advantage in the House.

THE ‘GLOBAL WARMING’ CONSPIRACY

2010-01-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

By D. E. Lovett

The recently concluded Copenhagen conference on “climate change” was an absolute and dismal failure on doing anything of substance to address the issue. This is good news for the great majority of us.

While most of the participants paid lip service to the fiction of human activity being the primary cause of “global warming,” most of them, rightly, refused to sacrifice any of their own real economic self-interests in the name of speculative benefits. This is entirely in keeping with the spirit of Kyoto, which produced absolutely no benefits whatsoever, despite Al Gore’s ardent pleading for it (not to mention the scare-mongering.) The US Senate served notice, 12 years ago, by a unanimous vote, that it would not ratify a treaty which so seriously would have impacted the American economy, with no discernable benefits to America. This philosophy should still be operable today, but is in danger of losing root (Waxman-Markey) so that the leftists can placate their ideological base of radical environmentalists. Their view is that human activity is responsible for all the woes of the world, and only by seizing control of, and limiting, all human activity, can the planet be “saved.” These cultural elites are firmly convinced they know much better than ordinary folks what is good for us, and are determined to impose their ideology on the rest of us “unwashed.”

“Climate change” has been going on for billions of years, and the idea that humanity can alter its course is pure hubris. The best estimates the climate change extremists can produce show that returning the US’s energy consumption to the level of the 1700s will perhaps reduce “global warming” by a few tenths of a degree. All the resources now proposed for reducing global temperatures by that minute fraction would be much better spent in efforts to mitigate the effects of the warming, rather than futile attempts to prevent it. But the issue is not reducing global temperatures: it is imposing control by an ideological minority on the vast majority of us who want to maintain and improve our current standard of living.

KU KLUX KLAN HOLDS RALLY AT OLE MISS

2009-12-05T06:10:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

Members of the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan spent about 10 minutes waving flags, displaying Nazi-style salutes and occasionally gesturing at a group of about 250 hecklers that included young children at a pre-game rally in Oxford, Mississippi, on November 20, 2009, before the Ole Miss Rebels’ football game with LSU. They were protesting the school's decision to drop a pep song that included “Dixie.” Fans often ending the song by chanting, “The South will rise again.” Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones had asked the fans to stop the chant, and when they did not, he instructed the band to stop playing the song. The Klan said it was protesting over lost Southern symbolism at the university, which has been rocked by racial strife before.

The controversy began in October when the Ole Miss Associated Student Body passed a resolution in favor of discontinuing chanting “the South will rise again.” However, the resolution was never fully enacted because it was not signed by the proper school officials after passing the senate, said Peyton Beard, Ole Miss Associated Student Body director of athletics. The song, ‘From Dixie with Love’ is one of Ole Miss’ traditional songs on game day, and the student section has chanted “the South will rise again” during the song for years, said Brian Ferguson, alumni chairman of the Colonel Reb foundation.

The student section largely ignored the resolution and other attempts to stop the chant prompting the removal of the song from the band’s game day repertoire. In a written address to the Ole Miss student body Chancellor Jones said, “We cannot even appear to support those outside our community who advocate a revival of segregation. Consequently, I have asked the band not to play ‘From Dixie with Love’ at upcoming athletics events. The absence of this song will send a clear message that the university is neither facilitating nor indirectly condoning the chant.”

The decision to ban the song drew the attention of the Ku Klux Klan, which made plans to protest the ban in full robes on the day of the LSU game from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shane Tate, the North Mississippi great titan for the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, indicated the protest was to tell Ole Miss enough is enough. The Klan considered the removal of the song as an attack on our Christian, southern heritage and culture, and it’s time for every person to have a right to freedom of speech. Prior to the event Tate said, “We aren’t coming there to cause problems or cause trouble. Trouble has already been caused by a handful at Ole Miss, including the black student body president, who wants to shape Ole Miss into yet another liberal sodomite college.”

Ole Miss officials said the Ku Klux Klan had the right to voice its opinions as long as it did not interfere with university activity or the personal rights of others. In the end, the protest lasted about 15 minutes.

In 1997, student leaders approved a resolution asking Ole Miss fans to stop waving Confederate Battle flags at athletic events. University officials then banned people from bringing sticks into games, a move that dramatically curtailed the decades-long practice of fans carrying the flag. Jones’ predecessor, Robert Khayat, said the Confederate Battle flag had been misused by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and it was not in the university’s best interest to use it as a symbol.

Six years ago, university officials decided not to have an on-field mascot during sporting events, getting rid of the long-standing Colonel Rebel, a white-haired old man who carries a cane and resembles a plantation owner. At the time, school officials had said they needed a more athletic-looking mascot.

Perhaps nixing “The South shall rise again” and ‘From Dixie with Love’ was the next appropriate step. The Chancellor gave the students plenty of time to keep the song and end the chant.

As the 'Clarion Issue' has always indicated the Ku Klux Klan needs to come up with its own symbols. They have disgraced the Confederate Battle flag, a historic flag used by some of the Confederate forces during the Civil War, and parlayed the burning cross, a Scottish symbol used to call the highland clans to battle, into a symbol of hate. Can these guys have an original thought?

LIBERTARIAN PARTY TO MEET ON NOV. 21; TEA PARTY SPOKESPERSON TO SPEAK

2009-11-15T04:13:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Camden County Libertarian Party will meet on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. at the Camden County Library at 410 Highway 40 in Kingsland, Georgia. The guest speaker at the meeting will be Dawn Forbes of the Camden County and Golden Isles Tea Party Patriots. The speaker will address why the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party started and how the Tea Party Patriots are aligned with fiscal conservatives of all political parties.

Anyone who has questions about the Tea Party Patriots may email them to camdenteaparty@gmail.com before Nov.20.

The meeting usually lasts about an hour and everyone is invited to attend.

For more information about the meeting or the Camden County Libertarian Party you may contact Anne Orr, Co-Ordinator of the party, at anneorr@mindspring.com .

Aficionados of former Republican Vice-presidential candidate, former Alaskan Governor, and former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin, will want to know Mrs. Palin is scheduled to be signing her new book, “Going Rogue” at a book signing in Orange Park, Florida, on Nov. 24, at Books-A-Million. However, the Clarion Issue has it on good sources Mrs. Palin will not autograph any Caribou Barbie dolls or any Levi Johnston action figuers.

CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR TO SPEAK AT GRITS ‘N’ BITS BREAKFAST ON NOV. 7

2009-10-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Republican candidate for governor and former President pro tem of the Georgia Senate Eric Johnson of Savannah will be the featured guest speaker at the Grits 'n' Bits breakfast for the Camden County Republican Party to be held on November 7, 2009. The breakfast will begin around 8:45 AM at the Fraternal Order Of Eagles Aerie in St. Marys located at 101-C Industrial Park Dr. Directly behind the St. Marys Police Complex on Point Peter Rd.

Mr. Johnson has said his campaign would focus on jobs, education and ethics.

Eric Johnson was the Republican Caucus Leader for 10 years and was a long time advocate of the need of a viable two party system in Georgia. Many Clarion Issue readers will remember the Senator’s “Legislative Session Wrap Ups” we ran during the years he was President pro tem of the Senate.

During his tenure in office Senator Johnson represented District 1, a district that at one time included most of costal Georgia from Savannah to Glynn County and parts of Camden County. Today the district includes parts of Chatham, Liberty, and all of Bryan Counties.

Senator Johnson’s campaign web site is www.JohnsonForGeorgians.com.

Senator Johnson is among several contenders for the Republican nomination for governor. His opponents include Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, and State Representative Austin Scott.

The cost of the breakfast is seven dollars.

Also of interest is the Camden County Republican Womens’ meeting on October 27, 2009, at 6:30 p.m., at the Camden County Annex in Kingsland. Their featured speaker will be Virginia Galloway, Director of Americans for Prosperity, who will be teaching a class on grassroots and how to affect policy with elected officials. You will need to RSVP Patricia Viellenave at wvgal@tds.net as seating is limited.

MUSIC REVIEWS: 40 YEARS AFTER WOODSTOCK

2009-10-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

In mid-August 2009 the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival had its 40th anniversary. The celebration of the anniversary, along with the release of a new Woodstock movie, Taking Woodstock, has stirred a renewed interest in the music, the groups, and the events of the Woodstock Festival, the “Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace, Love, and Music” which took place on Max Yagsur’s 600 acre dairy farm near Woodstock, New York, over the weekend of August 15-18, 1969. Over 500,000 music fans and 32 acts attended the outdoor festival and braved heavy rains and poor planning to participate in the event.

The events of the festival, especially the musical performances, were immortalized in a documentary film, directed by Michael Wadleigh, released in 1970, along with a sound tract of the film. The film, Woodstock, and the sound track from the movie were major successes at the time. The entire event had been recorded leading to later releases after the initial success of the first album set.

The first Woodstock album, Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More, was a three-album set including performances from The Who, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, Jimi Hendrix, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. During the CD years this three album set was re-released as a two CD set. There is a Best of Woodstock CD released in the mid-1990s. This is a 12 cut CD collection, and it includes the mandatory Country Joe McDonald “Fish Cheer,” The Who, the Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, and Jimi Hendrix. The CSN&Y selection on Best of Woodstock is “Wooden Ships.”

In 1971 Woodstock Two was released. This album included more songs from performers who were on the original album and movie and cuts from performers who were not on the first album. There were two great songs, “Theme From An Imaginary Western” and “Blood Of The Sun,” from Mountain, as well as two songs by Melanie (Melanie Safke) on this double album. However, most of the album was given over to music by CSN&Y, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, and Jimi Hendrix.

There are also several box sets of Woodstock CDs available containing The Original Woodstock, Woodstock Two, and other recordings from the weekend. Recently there has been an effort to release the performances of the various bands at the festival. Released under the title “The Woodstock Experience,” most of these are two CD sets. So far Janis Joplin, Santana, Johnny Winter, Jefferson Airplane, and Sly and the Family Stone have released such CDs. Jimi Hendrix has a Woodstock CD entitled Live At Woodstock.

The Woodstock festival was not only immortalized in film and on the recordings of the event itself, but in several songs about the event. Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” appeared on her 1970 hit album Ladies of the Canyon and was ‘rockafied’ up and covered by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young on their 1970 album Deja Vu. Mountain’s ode to the festival, “For Yasgur’s Farm,” appeared on their 1970 LP Mountain Climbing. Since then Woodstock has made many cameos in songs, poems, literature, and is part of the persona of the counter culture movement of the 1960s and early 1970s.

On a sad note, the music world said goodbye to guitar legend and innovator Les Paul who died at age 94. Les Paul was best known for his design of the solid-body guitar which bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul. His work on studio improvements in recording and mixing made him an important factor in the rock’n’ roll movement. He will be missed.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROTEST IN THE AIR AGAINST THE PROPOSED TAX MILLAGE HIKES IN CAMDEN COUNTY

2009-10-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

Jason Spencer and the newly formed Camden County Tea Party Patriots (Taxed Enough Already) invite you to protest the proposed tax hikes in Camden County. The Camden County Tea Party Patriots group is an off-shoot division of the Golden Isle Tea Party Patriot movement. The Tea Party Patriots feel both political parties and the local political leaders are ignoring the will of the people, and the people must be heard! The Tea Party Patriots will be aligning themselves with the Camden Watch Dog group that has built an excellent way to “watch the local government’s taxing and spending. Please go to their web site at www.camdenwatchdog.com to get up to date on local issues. The Tea Party Patriots do not currently have a web site operation at this time.

PROTEST TIMES: There will be two (2) protests you are encouraged to attend.

Protest #1.
October 15th, 2009 Start Time: 5:00 p.m. End Time 6:00 p.m.
Place: Board of Education Admin. Office, 311 South East Street, Kingsland, Ga.
Reason: The BOE is proposing a millage increase that will increase property taxes by 0.88%. Hearing to follow after the protest.

Protest #2
October 22nd, 2009 Start Time: 4:15 p.m. End Time 5: 15 p.m.
Place: Camden County Government Services Building, 200 East 4th St, Woodbine, Ga.
Reason: Board or Commissioners have tentatively adopted a millage rate by 0.88% and the Woodbine tax district by 4.65%

For more information email Jason at jcsdawg@yahoo.com.

THE SIXTH, FIRST ANNUAL THATHLOTHLAGUPHKA AWARD ANNOUNCED BY THE CLARION ISSUE

2009-10-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson and other staff members

Each year the Clarion Issue presents the Annual Thathlothlaguphka Award. The Thathlothlaguphka Award is a local award for abject stupidity, general idiocy, or total incompetence, given to a local official, body politic, or politically connected contractor or company whose actions have negatively affected the people in the area. The name Thathlothlaguphka comes from the Native American name for the St. Marys River and means “smells like rotten fish.” The Jefferson Muzzle Awards, presented by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and the Ig Nobel Prizes, presented by the Harvard Computer Society and the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students, and the Darwin Awards have served as the models for the Clarion Issue’s Thathlothlaguphka Award.

The winner receives a Thathlothlaguphka Award certificate, a Clarion Issue bar stick, an I HATE THE CLARION ISSUE tee shirt, a $25 bar tab from The Island Bar and Grill on Hwy 40, and a $25 lunch from Lucky Dawgs, Love At First Bite, on Point Peter Rd. We thank our sponsors for their support in the presentation of this prestigious award.

This year’s winner is …. The Camden County Board of Assessors! Hardly a surprise, in view of the recent County Commission vote to initiate an investigation of their activities.

After almost two years of dramatic devaluation of almost all real property, defaults and foreclosures, the Assessors seem to think Camden County was spared. There are so many protests over the inflated valuations that the entire Tax Digest is threatened. To make matters worse, the Assessors sent out “preliminary” valuations which were even worse inflated, presumably thinking tax payers would be grateful when the final assessments were slightly lower. This is akin to the federal government’s stunt of quadrupling the annual deficit, then bragging about their plans to cut the deficit in half, leaving the final amount only twice what it has been in recent years. We can only hope the investigation proceeds a little faster than the strung-out investigation of former Sheriff Bill Smith, a former winner, and frequent dishonorable mention (see below.)

The first member of the Camden County Board of Assessors to contact the Clarion Issue at www.clarionish.com will become eligible for the valuable prizes which accompany the award; however, a photo-op is required at the time the award and prizes are presented.

Honorable mention is only that because the scope and effect of their failures is much more limited. The St. Marys Ethics Commission is almost completely dysfunctional, and might as well disband. The Commission received a complaint against a Council member, and dismissed it for lack of evidence. When the complaint was re-filed, with the supporting evidence, it was dismissed on the basis that it had previously been dismissed. When the subject of that complaint filed a new complaint against the Council members who colluded to violate the Open Meetings law, so many Commission members recused themselves that the Commission could not get a quorum to consider the complaint. In other words, all it takes to beat the law is enough members of the Council to agree to flout it!

A quick check on a few past winners shows slow progress on the cleanup of the old paper mill in St. Marys. LandMar, the 2006 winner, was left holding the bag on this land deal faux pas, has pulled an “Elvis,” and left the building site. Today it seems a series of various “contractors” ease in and out doing various jobs and moving on. The latest seems to be a Florida contractor crushing the concrete to be recycled into roads in the Sunshine State. Many St. Marys residents still believe the real toxic chemical damage to the site, the chemicals stashed underground, has not been adequately dealt with by the “clean up” at the mill. When will the citizens of the nation’s “second oldest city” get a real answer from its city or county government on this issue? Who are these companies and whose making the money at the mill site on these deals? When will the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) be called in for a real study and clean up? Inquiring minds want to know!

The St. Marys City Council received last year’s award for their role in the give-away of the St. Marys City Airport to the north end of the county. The City Council, the Sea Island Corp., and various other county officials and attorneys pushed a deal to move the airport spending almost $50,000 of federal, state, and local money studying possible relocation sites. They then chose the worst, most expensive, and most distant of the nine sites from the city, evidently based solely on an agreement between city officials and the Sea Island Corp, the owner of the chosen site. It now appears the Tarboro International Airport will soon be a reality. At this airport flocks of geese at the end of the runway are not the real danger, but pilots had better beware of wild hogs and the infamous 150 pound Tarboro armadillo known to haunt the area.

Meanwhile building has stopped and the company gone bust at the 2005 winner, Cumberland Palms (a.k.a. Fiddler Flats), off North River Causeway in St. Marys. The ‘marsh front’ (that is gum-palmetto swamp front) property that idiots were supposed to pay $500,000 to 850,000 a home for is another example of over building and over pricing in the area. As part of the plan, the builders installed a large wall, which would keep any rising floodwaters or a tidal surge from a hurricane inside the site, ricocheting back and forth, compounding the damage to the condominiums. Today the beautifully landscaped area outside the wall is growing a fine crop of coffee weeds making the site a major eyesore. Perhaps the Clarion Issue Inc. can pick up this property cheap; it will make a great site for our planned alligator farm and alligator petting zoo. Thanks to the city’s generosity toward builders and contractors, water and sewerage are in place while some areas with real taxpayers wait for service.

FARTS AND FLORALS

FARTS TO THE FORMER SHERIFF- Bill Smith for misspending over $660,000 in federal funds. The misspent cash was discovered in a federal audit covering a period from July 2004, to April 2008. It now appears the new sheriff must make restitution to the federal government for Bill Smith’s good ol’ boy spread the cash system, ultimately cutting his departments ability to serve and protect the citizens of Camden County.

FLORALS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COASTAL CAMDEN ART LEAGUE- for opening a new gallery at 121 N. Lee Street in Kingsland. The gallery features local artists and displays and sells paints, pottery, photography, jewelry and many other artistic genres. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The group also has a gallery and studio with classes the St. Marys shopping center near Hardee’s. Call (912) 673-0102 for more information.

FARTS TO ST MARYS WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT- What does Bank of America and the St Marys City Water and Sewer Department have in common? They have both stepped or moved up their billing cycles. Bank of America has moved up its credit card billing cycle to a bill every 29 days. The St Marys City Water and Sewer Department have moved their bills from around the 10th of the month to sometimes before the beginning of the month. One has to wonder is the City of St Marys in the same financial difficulties as the Bank of America? No wonder the fine folks at the City of St. Marys Planning and Building Department persist on insisting the Clarion Issue is a business, has employees, and charges the Clarion Issue over $100 for a business license every year.

FARTS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF WOODBINE- for their water drainage ditch project. The project has left the city full of stagnant ditches, scarred and bumpy roads, and unsightly landscapes reminiscent of a World War I battlefield. Evidently the project was designed by Hieronymus Bosch and drainage into the Big Satilla River was not approved by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or the Army Corps of Engineers. Citizen comments on the Woodbine blog also suspect the ditches have and will add thousands to the city budget while becoming a breading ground for mosquitoes, mosquito related illnesses, and other water borne illnesses. The Clarion Issue would also like to dispel the rumor that the Woodbine ditch program is part of a remake of Gone With The Wind (the Battle of Atlanta sequence) costarring Joe “You Lie” Wilson of South Carolina and Kanye “Jackass” West in the epic story of the South.

FLORALS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY- for building two houses for the less fortunate in Camden County over the last year. Congratulations to immediate past president Dr. Mary Keating, new president Leonie Pinnell, and all the HFH staff and volunteers for a job well done. To volunteer or donate to this worthy cause visit their office at 302 S. Lee in Kingsland or their website at www.hfhcamden.org . For more information call 912-673-1266 or contact them by e-mail at info@hfhcamden.org . You may also visit the Re-store for items from new to recycled appliances, furniture, or building materials. The group works on houses on Saturdays from 8:00-3:00, except during inclement weather. Lunch is provided.

FARTS TO THOSE NEW FANGLED MULTICOLOR NEON SIGNS NEAR THE ROAD- especially those at roadside/eye level. With cell phones, iPods, texting, tweeter, sodas, Big Macs, and all the bells and whistles now in our automobiles do we really need more distractions designed to take our eyes of the road? Look for more accidents, especially on Coleraine Road at the intersection of N. Gross Road. There is a great example of this type of signage there.

FLORALS TO THE CAMDEN WATCHDOG COMMITTEE- a group of citizens working to keep local taxes low and local politicians frugal with tax payer dollars. The Watchdog Committee is a non-partisan organization formed when tax assessments went through the roof in St. Marys. The watchdogs warn against public apathy and encourage individuals to join their group so ‘watchdogs’ can attend every governmental meeting in the county, be it county or municipal, to keep an eye on attempts to raise taxes and to check on wasteful governmental spending. The Camden Watchdog Committee has a web site at www.camdenwatchdog.com where interested citizens can obtain information on their meetings and activities.

FARTS TO THE CAMDEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS- who took too long to look into the shenanigans going on inside the County Tax Assessors office and the Board of Assessors. The untimely rise in the property values in the county plus Governor Perdue’s suspension of the homestead exemption will mean excessive tax burdens for all Camden residents. The decision of the Commissioners to look into the problem is too little and comes too late for any type of tax help this year. Of course, the county should make a killing with the higher assessments and the suspended homestead exemptions. Maybe that was the plan all along! Perhaps we need a new definition for incumbent during the next election. Incumbent- v. grab another lever or press another button.

FARTS TO THE ST MARYS CITY COUNCIL- for blowing $14,000 on a consulting group for ideas to bring tourists and business to St. Marys. For the mere cost of $14,000 the group suggested a name change of the “second oldest city” from St. Marys to Saint Marys. For a lot less the Clarion Issue would have gladly made suggestions to the city council to bring tourists and business into the city. St. Marys could host activities such as a fishing tournament. But we had one, which we had to send away. City Hall and city scuttlebutt has it this was due to a scheduling faux pas when a wedding was scheduled at the waterfront park on the same weekend as the fishing tournament. St. Marys lost thousands of dollars in sales of gas, ice, bait, restaurant meals, and rent on hotel rooms. St. Marys may never get the tournament back. As the Clarion Issue so often points out, the city is not business friendly. If you ain’t a land developer or restaurant ‘go to Kingsland’ seems to be the city’s motto toward business. A good calendar and a better approach toward business may help tourism and business in the “second oldest city.”
P.S. Keeping a bait store at the waterfront might be a plus also.

FARTS TO DEVELOPERS- who don’t pay their taxes. After all the local municipalities and county governments have done to provide utility services (like water and sewer services) to these developments the least these developers can do is pay their taxes. Everyone, especially regular citizens, are seeing their taxes go up and are finding it hard to pay their taxes. Developers have taken from the local governments, now they too must pay.

FARTS TO ANOTHER TAD (Tax Allocation District) VOTE- this time for Laurel Island. Do we really need this?

DOUBLE FARTS TO GEORGIA GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE- first for the stupidity of the teacher furlough and second for the homestead exemption nullification this year. During a time when Georgia schools were trying to open their doors for a new school our Governor called for teacher furloughs of three days to save the state’s money. When teachers are trying to hold meetings, arrange their rooms, secure supplies and textbooks, become aware of Swine flu contingency plans, and even hold open house the governor furloughs them in the name of saving a few dollars of state money. Of course we all know “teachers make too much money anyway.” All Georgians should also thank the governor and the state’s General Assembly for suspending the Homestead Exemption for this year. Look for your property taxes, if you own a typical home, to be about $230 more than last year, assuming the millage and property assessment remain the same. The governor cannot run again; however, the members of the General Assembly sure will, so fill out a faux pas memory card on this blunder fellow Georgians, take it to the polls in November 2010, and when Sonny runs for another public office.

ONCE AGAIN A SPECIAL THANKS AND A CLARION ISSUE TIP OF THE HAT- to all the local law enforcement agents, emergency medical personnel, firefighters, and all the other first responders who keep our roads, recreation areas, and homes safe from those things that go “bump in the night.” Another special thanks and tip of the hat to those who are serving in our armed forces and to those who have served, we appreciate your service and sacrifice.

CAN AMERICA STAY THE COURSE IN AFGHANISTAN?

2009-10-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

On September 11, 2009, America solemnly remembered the eighth anniversary of the horrible terrorist attacks of 2001. Shortly after those attacks the Unites States armed forces intervened in the ongoing Civil War in Afghanistan on the side of the Northern Alliance and helped overthrow the Taliban leadership of the country. The U.S. also helped establish a government based on western democratic principals, began to help train and equip an Afghan police force and armed forces, and American military personnel stayed to fight both the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the country. The war has gone on now for eight years.

The initial success of the Afghan War was negated when the Bush administration elected to switch American war strategy from Afghanistan to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, leaving the War in Afghanistan a backwater or more or less forgotten war in the theater. Over a period of time the Taliban recovered and has presented itself a much more formable enemy than the one which appeared to have been defeated in 2003. In 2009, as the U.S. forces scale down their involvement in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan has become the major front in what was once called “The War On Terror;” however, the terrain, people, government, and history of the country itself make the Afghanistan countryside a difficult place to fight a war.

President Obama has assumed ownership of the war. Labeling it a “war of necessity,” the president has hand picked his own commander, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and backed the commander with an additional 21,000 U.S. forces being sent to Afghanistan already this year. The U.S. will soon have a total of 68,000 military personnel in the country. On September 21, the White House leaked a report from Gen. McChrystal indicating the need for a future increase in the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to insure victory. Pentagon watchers, news media talking heads, and most of the public informed about the war believe the commanders in the field will ask or may have already asked for another 40 to 55 thousand troops in the weeks and months to come. According to the General David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, and author of the Army’s anti-insurrection guide, it requires a one to 20 ratio of military personnel to quell an insurrection in a country. Even with the NATO forces in the count, the number of coalition forces in Afghanistan do not come close to the required one to 20. By mid-September the situation in the Afghan war had really taken a bad turn for the Americans. The situation was described by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, as “seriously deteriorating.” The Taliban now holds and controls one-third of Afghanistan. 51 U. S. service personnel were killed in August making August the deadliest month of the war. Many of the NATO allies are getting war weary fighting in the mountainous terrain, and the apparent fraudulent election, which reelected President Hamid Karzai, has created doubt about the real chance to establish any type of democratic government in Afghanistan. Finally, a poll taken in mid-September showed 60% of the American public feeling that America should not be fighting in Afghanistan. If one looks at the Democrats in that survey a full 75% indicated the U.S. should not be in the fight.

Around Labor Day a group of neoconservative leaders joined by several political leaders, including Sarah Palin, sent a letter to Pres. Obama encouraging him to continue the Afghan War. However, during the same time period conservative columnist George Will wrote and editorial calling for an American exit in the war. Will stated the U.S. strategy of “clear, hold and build” in the country was not workable and America needed to withdraw and strike from a distance at Taliban and al-Qaeda bases “using intelligence, drones, cruise missiles, air strikes and small, potent Special Forces units, concentrating on the porous 1,500-mile border with Pakistan, a nation that actually matters.” If the war has lost George Will, what other conservatives has it lost?

The fraudulent presidential election held in August only proved to America and the world the unwillingness of the Karzai government to move toward democracy. The Karzai government is often seen as corrupt, full of nepotism, and whose writ does not extend very far beyond the city limits of Kabul. Yet, the U.S. government persists on backing this fraudulent and corrupt president and his government with millions of dollars and the lives American troops.

In the Afghan countryside, local warlords control the provinces, and the people are loyal to tribal and clan leaders. Village leaders indicate they need three things for their people: security from the Taliban, ability to trade (move crops and goods to market), and education for the young people in the village. The part of the Petraeus playbook in Afghanistan providing this type of aid to the Afghan people is called the Human Terrain System. This program enlists engineers, anthropologists, and people of many skills to go into the villages and develop the irrigation ditches, the roads, and schools needed to meet the needs of the villagers. Of course, the number one need, security, is proving the hardest need to meet and keep.

In terms of American politics, the Democratic Party is leaning more and more away from the Afghan War, while the Republicans tend to support President Obama’s continued pursuit of the war. Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the Senate Armed Services Chairman, indicated an objection to another major increase in troop strength in Afghanistan on September 11. With public opinion deserting the war and casualities mounting, more and more Democrats will eventually do the same.

What will it take to keep American hearts in the war? The first thing Gen. Petraeus and McChrystal must do is to get the causalities down. Americans are not willing to take these types of causalities in a war that was supposed to be winding down. The second thing Pres. Obama must do is define the Afghan mission and identify the circumstances for victory in the country. Finally the U.S. needs a clear exit strategy; however, as Iraq proved, the more troops there are in a country, the harder it is to exit that country.

Our leaders, both civilian and military, tell us the U.S. forces need to train Afghanistan’s army and police to stand up to the Taliban. America has been at war in Afghanistan for eight years. It takes eight years to train a doctor. With all due respect to the fine policemen and members of our armed forces, their training periods are a whole lot less.

Can America stay the course in Afghanistan? It can only if Pres. Obama is willing to take a lot of heat from his own party, get the causalities down, define the mission, victory, and exit strategy, and begin to move the Afghan government toward helping the people in the countryside rather than helping themselves to power. Afghanistan has swallowed up many empires including the Greek, British, and Soviet. Let’s hope America is not next on the list.

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT; HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU WILLING TO WASTE?

2009-10-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

By D. E. Lovett

Camden County is in serious need of the services of a competent traffic engineer, and the political will to enforce the findings of a traffic engineering study. The most obvious starting place is the massive proliferation of traffic lights. Think we have enough already? Think again: there are definite plans for at least nine more in the near future. It is now impossible to get out of St. Marys without passing through five, soon to be six, traffic lights. And unlike true love, a traffic light is forever- witness the lonely monument in Woodbine which bears blinking testimony to the days, a generation ago, when there was actually traffic on US 17.

It would be hard to judge the most pernicious lights, given that the great majority of them poorly serve a limited usefulness for only an hour or two a day, and constitute an active impediment to the smooth flow of traffic the remaining 22-23 hours. But serious claim must go to the light at Gross Road and Colerain (it is not a Parkway, and doesn’t pass within gunshot of Laurel Island.) In the modern day of intelligent traffic control devices, this controller shows all the intelligence of the politicians who ordered its installation: it turns color, 24/7, at 45 second intervals without regard to whether or not there is any traffic to justify it. And if you haven’t figured it out, don’t try to get out of town that way when the High School is letting out: one left turning vehicle can back up traffic for more than a mile!

In the fraud and waste department, for which government is duly famous, consider the absurd pedestrian signals at Colerain and Kings Bay and St. Marys Roads. At least we have not replaced the burned out lights which simply waste electricity! And is there any rationale for the light southbound on Colerain at St. Marys Road to stay green for 45 seconds, regardless of the lack of traffic? In a similar vein, why does the light at the Franklin Gate to the Sub Base hold up traffic on Spur 40 for almost two minutes, including 45 seconds for the green arrows, absent any traffic?

While the lights on Osborne at Dilworth and Julia might have made some sense when the paper mill was changing shifts, and the Bag Plant was thriving, before the Unions drove it away, today they simply impede traffic on GA 40, without regard to demand from cross traffic. They, like their cousin on Colerain and Gross, simply turn red for no apparent reason, other than the passage of time. The lights at St. Marys Road and GA 40 never made sense from the beginning, and the left turn arrows on GA 40 (westbound) at Kings Bay Road are a serious waste, since there is no road to the left!

The waste of time and gasoline to our citizens is truly appalling, and it’s going to get worse. Camden County is in serious need of the services of a competent traffic engineer, and the political will to enforce the findings of a traffic engineering study.

EAGLES TO HOST FORUM FOR ST. MARYS CANDIDATES

2009-10-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

Eagles Press Release

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4379 will host a public forum on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, for candidates in the St. Marys City Council and Mayoral Elections. The forum will begin at 6:30 PM. and will be in the St. Marys Aerie #4379 at 101-C Industrial Drive in St. Marys located directly behind the St. Marys Police Complex on Pt. Peter Road.

The election will be Tuesday November 3, 2009. The seats up for grabs include the Mayor’s office being sought by incumbent Rowland Eskridge, City Councilman Bill DeLoughy and Tom Cyphers. City Council Post #4, which will be vacated by DeLoughey, will include candidates Keith F. Post, former County Commissioner Sandy Feller and Roger Rillo. Candidates for Post #5, which will be vacated by Larry Johnson, will include Jolene Haney, John Morrissey, L.J. Williams, and Christopher Bennett. Candidates for Post #6 will include incumbent Gull Weaver and former City Councilman Sidney Howell.

All five precincts in St. Marys will be used and voters will vote in the same location where they vote in any other County, State or Federal election. The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Election Day, November 3. Early voting will be available at the Registrar’s office in the Historic Court House in Woodbine from Tuesday October 13 through Friday October 30 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Absentee ballots will be available after October 13, 2009 from the Registrars Office in Woodbine at 576-3245, but you can obtain absentee ballot request forms at any city hall, on line or at the Registrars office at any time. October 23 is the deadline for requesting absentee ballots.

At the forum questions will be submitted in writing and Eagle member Edward W. Clary will moderate the forum. Event organizer Dr. Jim Burnham said, “The Fraternal Order of Eagles is providing this service to the community and to the press. We frequently do this for non-partisan and bi-partisan elections. It brings all the candidates together at one time, which is convenient for the news media and it gives the public an opportunity to meet, hear and address the candidates. An informed electorate should bring about better government. I hope many St. Marys voters will turn out to meet the candidatures and hear them address the issues. I look forward to hearing the questions to see what issues are on the minds of the public and to see how the candidates do in public.” You may submit questions in writing at the forum or you may e-mail them in advance to JBurnham1@tds.net.

The St. Marys Aerie # 4379 Fraternal Order of Eagles is a non-political, non-profit benevolent organization whose focus is community service and charity. The Eagles are non-political, non-partisan and endorses no candidate. They are sponsoring this forum as a service to the community of St. Marys in an effort to increase familiarity with the candidates and the issues. The F.O.E. encourages civic participation. For questions or information call 882-4377.

THE CZARIST RISE AND THE AMERICAN POLYCRACY

2009-09-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

By Jason Spencer (Libertarian)

With the Obama administration now in full force, a special mutation in government expansion can be seen. It is the rise of a horizontal network of competing agencies headed by “super aides,” known as “czars” in the media, to run the bloated and powerful executive branch. This system is otherwise known as a polycracy, which is system governed by many rulers. Thus, this unique horizontal mutation has moved away from the traditional vertical hierarchy seen in the past. However, I must say that the pathogenesis of this mutation was bequeathed to the present administration from prior ones. Only as a result of Mr. Obama’s brand of government expansionism has the mutation become so glaringly obvious to the public.

To date, there are currently 32 Czars in the Obama administration. Apparently, Mr. Obama cannot wait on the traditionally slow legislative process to execute his ambitious agenda and needs action now! So, he appoints “czars” to “stay above” the usual Washington “fray” to execute his policies while so many of the Cabinet members become wrapped up in countless Congressional hearings to justify bloated budgets, which amounts to nothing more than political grandstanding. (Note: The thesaurus recommended synonyms for “czar” include: “despot,” “tyrant,” “dictator,” “slave driver,” “duce,” “oppressor,” and “Führer.”

For the record, the current czarist mutation is not the first of its kind seen in presidential administrations. According to Wikipedia, 47 “czar” appointments have been made in US presidential history (32 are currently active). George W. Bush bequeathed 17 “czars”, well over half of the current appointments, to the Obama administration. The precedent of establishing “czars” was set by “Raw Dealer” Franklin D. Roosevelt in December of 1941, with the appointment of Byron Price to the Office of Censorship as the Censorship Czar.

This mutagenic expansion of US departmental power from its traditional organizational structure is reminiscent of the polycratic system seen in the Nazi government. According to The Hitler State by Martin Broszat, the Third Reich’s government resembled an “Organizational Jungle” of competing agencies. Today, similarities are very apparent in the current American polycratic system in which this “jungle” has a “Mideast peace czar” (not to be confused with the “Mideast policy czar”), a “Sudan czar” and a “Guantanamo closure czar.” Now, don’t forget the “Great Lakes czar” or the “WMD czar,” who no doubt overlap with the “terrorism czar.”

In the final polycratic illustration, the White House press secretary (a.k.a., the “propaganda czar”---I made that one up.) Robert Gibbs could not accurately articulate the difference in roles between the Health and Human Services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, and the president’s Health czar, Nancy-Ann DeParle. Mr. Gibbs initially said the czar would be in charge of health care reform but then had to recant that statement, after realizing that is the role of the secretary, recognizing the redundancy in the two appointments.

In the current government power vacuum already infested with duplicative bureaucracies, adding more mutagenic layers with overlapping responsibilities seems cannibalistic. With the ongoing accumulation of power in individual US agencies, it is not difficult to imagine a “Political Darwinism” within our own government departments. This type of political struggle is much akin to the political power grabbing that ensued within the ranks of the Third Reich. It was this kind of political cannibalism amongst the Nazi henchmen that allowed Hitler to stay in power and avoid being unseated for so long (despite many attempts). Wouldn’t you pay money to see a bunch of armed IRS agents (yes, there is such a thing) seizing the “ill gotten gains” from the DEA?

Furthermore, politicians in both parties have become drunk with power, with each party having seeded the government with their share of “czars.” Czarism’s fate in polycratic America is tied closely with the main theme from The Lord of the Rings: power is inherently evil and it corrupts the most virtuous and well intentioned of men. Thus, so is the case with these newly appointed “czars” in that they will be seduced by the power entrusted to them, just as the wearers of the One Ring became simultaneous slaves and wielders of great power. In essence, the Ring not only conferred great power but it also imposed serfdom on the wearer. Therefore, the rise of Czarism in American polycracy will be difficult to control or dismantle.

The mutagenic changes plaguing our government organizations into a polycratic system is a stark warning sign that the Constitutional checks and balances outlined by the Founding Fathers are being usurped. The increase of power and resources given to appointees and departments, without much Congressional oversight, produces counter-productivity and jealous infighting among them. It leads to power-mongering among individuals who carve out niches within the organization for their own agendas and benefit. For example, one need to only study the history of the first Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, and see how he used that agency as his own personal intelligence gathering and blackmail cartel. If this growing and metastatic polycracy within the U.S. government continues unchecked, citizens will be subject to an increasing schizophrenic government having turf wars with itself--all in the name of supposedly promoting the general welfare of its citizens.

EDITOR’S NOTE: With the formation of a Libertarian Party in Southeast Georgia and Camden County, this article is the second of a series of articles on and by the Libertarian Party, its platform, and its principals. The views of the party and its members do not necessarily represent those of the editor or any of the staff. However, we do encourage the presentation of all views. Our masthead reads: THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes.

FINAL CARLIN BOOK DUE OUT IN NOVEMBER

2009-08-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Last Words, an autobiography George Carlin was working on at the time of his death, will be released by Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in mid-November.

Carlin, who died in June 2008 at age 71, had worked on the book for the last decade of his life. He collaborated on it with author, humorist, and long time friend Tony Hendra. According to descriptions of the book it was nearly completed before Carlin died.

George Carlin was one of the greatest and most influential stand-up comedians of all time. He recorded 23 solo albums, won the Grammy Award five times, including a 2001 Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album for his reading of his best seller Brain Droppings. In 2002, Carlin was awarded the Freedom of Speech Award by the First Amendment Center in cooperation with the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, and he was the named 11th recipient of The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in June of 2008. His other books include Napalm and Silly Putty and When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops?

Tony Hendra was one of the original editors of National Lampoon and starred in This Is Spinal Tap. He has written or edited dozens of books, most of them satirical, with the exception of two New York Times bestsellers Brotherhood in 2001 and his most famous work Father Joe in 2004.

Carlin’s death was a tremendous loss to his fans and the world of comedy. Perhaps Last Words will soften the blow of his demise to his many fans around the world.

NAGASAKI DAY COMMEMORATION PLANNED FOR AUGUST 9TH AT KINGS BAY

2009-07-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

From a FCPJ Press Release

Concerned citizens from northeast Florida and southeast Georgia will gather at the entrance to Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Marys, Georgia, on Sunday, August 9, at 3 PM to observe the 64th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

The event is sponsored by the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice (FCPJ) under the theme, "Lest We Forget." Sixty-four years ago more than 150,000 people, mostly non-combatants, were instantaneously killed when atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9. Subsequently, many additional thousands of Japanese citizens died of radiation poisoning from these two U.S. weapons.

FCPJ invites concerned citizens to stand for a short while on August 9th at the main gate of Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, off Spur 40 also called Charlie Smith, Sr. Hwy., in St. Marys, lest we forget the insane reality of this U.S.-created nuclear age. Come stand with us and begin to build a new world before it is too late.

For more information you can contact Bob Tancig, Executive Director of Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice at btancig@gmail.com or 352-214-1778; John X. Linnehan at metanoia.mx@gmail.com or 904-504-1004; or Robert Randall, at rrandall@compuserve.com or 912-342-5984.

MUSIC REVIEWS

2009-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

ERIC CLAPTON & STEVE WINWOOD LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
By R. A. Pearson

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood Live at Madison Square Garden was released on May 19, 2009. It is a two CD set with 21 songs performed over three nights in 2008. Clapton and Winwood were in Blind Faith in 1969 after the break up of Cream and many of the songs on the CD come from the one album the band produced.

The CD contains the standard Clapton songs the listener would expect and there are no surprises in the style and scope of these songs, another live version of “Tell the Truth,” “Cocaine,” and “After Midnight” really do very little to distinguish this live CD from any other live Clapton CD; however, it is really the songs from Blind Faith, Winwood’s early band Traffic, and even Jimi Hendrix which set this CD apart.

The Blind Faith songs on the CD, “Had To Cry Today,” “Well All Right,” “Presence Of The Lord,” and the fairly popular “Can’t Find My Way Home” really add luster to this collection and were the backbone of the reunion of these two artists after almost 40 years. The Hendrix song “Little Wing” would bring back memories from the 1970 album “Layla And Assorted Love Songs” by Derrick and the Dominos while Winwood played on the original Hendrix version of “Voodoo Chile” on Electric Ladyland in 1968. Winwood’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” is a great live rendition of this classic tune.

There is little doubt Clapton’s guitar is a hard hitting force on this live performance and Winwood’s organ and keyboard performance is also exceptional. Other performers on Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood Live at Madison Square Garden include Willie Weeks on bass, Ian Thomas on drums, and Chris Stanton on keyboards.

This is a great CD. There is also a DVD of the performance and it appeared on public TV and will probably be rebroadcast at a later date.

July 15, 2008, the Portland, Oregon, indie folk/pop band Blind Pilot released a CD called 3 Rounds And A Sound. The band consists of Ryan Dobrowski on guitar and Israel Nebeker on drums but adds members for tours and performances. The band uses acoustic guitars, dulcimers, violins, soft drumming and unique yet sentimental lyrics to cast a very mellow mood to the listeners of their music. Interesting songs on this CD include “One Red Thread,” “Go On Say It,” a heavily downloaded song on iTunes, “I Buried A Bone,” and the title cut, “3 Rounds And A Sound.”

You may want to give 3 Rounds And A Sound this a listen and downloads are available.

Don Henely fans will be glad to know a new collection of hits was released in June, The Very Best Of Don Henley. The CD contains 14 cuts; however, some songs may coincide with an earlier hits released in 1995 Actual Miles: Henley’s Greatest Hits. Songs on The Very Best Of Don Henley include “Dirty Laundry,” “The Boys Of Summer,” “The End Of The Innocence” and “The Heart Of The Matter.” If you are a Don Henley fan you may want to check the new CD out, but if you have Actual Miles, you may want to check the song list against the new CD before you buy.

Michael Jackson dies at age 50. The music world was shocked on June 25 to hear of the death of Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” who died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles while rehearsing for a big comeback tour in London. Jackson rose to fame as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a group formed with his four older brothers. Their hits included “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” His solo carrier included the 1982 album Thriller, the best-selling album of all time with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide, which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and the title cut “Thriller.” He will be missed by his family, friends, and his many fans from around the world.

IS THE GENIE OUT OF THE BOTTLE IN IRAN?

2009-07-10T03:38:00.000-07:00

By. R. A. Pearson

With the promise of free and fair elections from the government and ruling council of Iran, voters of the Islamic Republic went to the polls on June 12, 2009, and cast a reported 32 million votes. Even before the polls had closed election results showed the unpopular President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead with almost 63% of the vote to 34% for Mir-Hossein Mousavi the closest challenger. As Ahmadinejad’s lead held and he was declared the winner by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his hand picked Guardian Council, who had chosen the candidates for the election to begin with, Mousavi, the world, and the people of Iran cried foul. The problem for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Guardian Council, President Ahmadinejad, and the hard core Ayatollahs now in control of Iran’s government is the people of Iran did not stop crying foul, and they took their protests to the streets.

For the most part the protest was led by and made up of women. Women make up 60% of Iran’s collage population and turned out to vote en mass in the June 12 election. The face of the protest now bares the face of two women, Neda (Neda Agha Soltan), whose name means voice in Farsi, who was shot dead in the streets of Tehran and Faezeh Hashemi, the eldest daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was arrested during the protests after the elections for openly supporting Mousavi at public rallies.

The government of Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei deployed the police, the Revolutionary Guards who tried to keep order without ‘cracking heads’ to end the protests; however, they soon sent in their storm troops, the Basij, who used batons, chains, and even guns on the protestors. They even called in help from Hezbollah thugs. Protestors were arrested, as were leaders of the opposition and their supporters. Members of the intellectual class such as college professors were arrested and foreign and unfriendly press agents were restricted and thrown out of the country.

However, the Ahmadinejad and Khamenei government could not hide the fact the election was a fraud. Iran has a 28% inflation rate and a 25% unemployment rate. Ahmadinejad has not paid the farm price supports in the farming villages began by Mousavi in the 1980s. Basically Ahmadinejad had no support and had not done well in the debates.

But the election has demonstrated to the world Iran’s Achilles’ Heel. The moderate clergy and politicians in Iran are opposed to Ahmadinejad and Khamenei as are some of the Revolutionary Guards. These leaders see the republican principals of the Islamic Republic being eroded by the strict rule of Khamenei and his conservative Ruling Council. They also see the sham of the June 12 election.

Here are some important leaders that may help swing Iran in a different direction in the near future in the wake of the election and protest. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani the former president whose daughter was arrested during the protests following the election. He leads two influential councils and openly supported Mr. Moussavi’s election. At age 75, Mr. Rafsanjani heads two powerful institutions. One, the Assembly of Experts, is a body of clerics that has the authority to oversee and theoretically replace the country’s supreme leader. He also runs the Expediency Council, empowered to settle disagreements between the elected Parliament and the unelected Guardian Council. He could play a major role in unseating Khamenei.

The speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Ali Larijani, saw the election as flawed and is a believer in the rule of parliament over the theocratic forces that dominate the government of Iran today. He could lead the lawmakers in an “inside the beltway” revolt” against Ahmadinejad and Khamenei when the time is right.

The moderate clergy in Iran is led by Grand Ayatollah Yasubedin Rastegari who has been in prison since April 2004. He has been detained or arrested on numerous occasions for speaking against what he considered to be undemocratic legislation and activities of the government of Iran especially under Khamenei’s leadership.

The real wildcard may be the Revolutionary Guard itself. Mohsen Rezaee, one of the four candidates in the June election was a former commander of the guard. If the guard feels the Ahmadinejad and Khamenei government has forsaken the principals of the Islamic Republic it may turn on the government and side with the people in the style of the Russian Army 1917.

Today Iran is a power keg. With cell phones, Twitter, the internet, and all the forms of mass communication, it is hard for a government to suppress information. With a nation whose population is largely under 30 and unemployed, discontent is growing. The nation feels betrayed, it believes it spoke and the government turned a deaf ear to its calls for change.

As of July 9th the protesters are still out in Iran. Perhaps the Iranian genie is out of the bottle.

LOG-ROLLING 101: HOW MINORITY INTERESTS HAVE TAKEN OVER AMERICA

2009-07-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

By D. E. Lovett

If you doubt the premise that minority interests have taken over, consider the following:

The majority fears the current massive debt, and deficits, stretching further than the eye can see, but the government spending binge continues unabated.

The majority favors smaller government, but socialism has gone from creeping to galloping.

The majority believes labor unions (which represent a small fraction of the workforce) have too much power, yet all government spending bills protect and reinforce that power, the secret ballot for unionization elections is about to fall, and unions have been given control of the Chrysler Corporation (should make for very interesting contract bargaining.)

The majority wants domestic oil drilling (offshore and ANWR), but there will be none; nor any other development of domestic fossil fuel sources.

The majority considers themselves pro-life, but federally funded abortion on demand is within a few votes of being enacted.

The majority believes marriage should be between one woman and one man, but legislation is advancing to require the great majority of states which oppose homosexual marriage to recognize such marriages from the small minority of states which approve it.

The majority supports term limits for Congress, and perhaps even federal judges, but politicians with a vested interest in perpetual power have a stranglehold on the machinery which might bring about term limits.

The majority favors less taxation, and tax simplification, but energy taxes and “sin” taxes are about to explode, and the tax code will further expand for more “social engineering.”

The majority likes their current health care and insurance arrangements, but are about to see the whole system tossed into the trashcan for the benefit of a very small minority.

The majority favors school choice, and public assistance to assist the poor in getting it; but one of the first acts of the Obama administration was to kill such programs in the District of Columbia, another sop to unions.

On a list of the top twenty concerns of voters last November, “global warming” was number 20, but the disastrous Waxman-Markey energy tax is nearing enactment.

How has all this come about? By the ancient tradition of “log-rolling,” which can best be explained as “you vote for my turkey, and I’ll vote for yours.” Thus a coalition of minority interests has effectively thwarted the clear majority on almost every issue of current public concern. Will the “silent majority” again find its voice? Only time will tell, and the majority can only hope the damage these minorities have inflicted can eventually be undone.

TEA PARTY TO BE HELD ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND ON JULY 4

2009-06-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The group The Citizens of Glynn County has organized a TEA (Tax Enough Already) Party scheduled for July 4, 2009, to be held at Gascoigne Park on St. Simons Island from 11am - 3pm. The program will start at 12:30 as a motorcyclist Freedom Ride joins the tax protest from Shooters of America. The program will feature Barry Farber, the legendary radio talk show host, and Jim Gossett, a political satirist and comedian, as well as local citizens speaking and/or performing at the event. Included in the speakers at the TEA Party will be Camden County Libertarian Jason Spencer who will be speaking on freedom and liberty in health care as part of a series of liberty inspired speeches.

The website for the event is http://www.goldenislesteaparty.org and the email is goldenislesteaparty@qmail.com . Check the website or email the Golden Isles TEA Party HQ for more information.

WHAT IS A LIBERTARIAN?

2009-06-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

By Jason Spencer

“What is a Libertarian?” is often a question I am asked when espousing my political views. To answer that question, I would like to dispel a common myth: Libertarians are not pot smoking Republicans. Somewhere along the way, libertarianism has been branded as a hedonistic ethic. Libertarianism is not a moral value system or ethic, it is a political theory. Recently, libertarian political thought had made a rise in political circles, especially among conservatives who feel the current political climate is not congruent with the founding principles of the United States. Libertarianism offers a way for the country to guide itself back to its founding principles and among those principles is liberty. Lord Acton once said that “liberty is the highest political end”—not necessarily the highest end in everyone’s personal value system. Hence, when liberty is not seen as the highest political end, then degrees of totalitarianism (or collectivism) dominate politics.

Libertarianism is defined as a political theory which states that everyone should be free from violent invasion and malicious coercion; therefore, the individual is sovereign and should be free to do as one sees fit except invade the person or property of another. This theory is not and does not pretend to be a complete set of moral beliefs; however, it does act as a subset of moral theory by dealing with the proper role of violence and aggression in social life. This is very simple and in essence the Golden Rule. Therefore, this non-aggression principle is the cornerstone upon which libertarianism is rooted in and based. It tells us that theft, murder, and rape are evils that violate another’s natural right to life and property for example. Furthermore, the only proper role of violence is to defend person and property against violence, and that any use of violence that goes beyond such just defense is itself aggressive, unjust, and criminal.

Libertarians apply the non-aggression principle to both individuals who act as aggressors and also to the government. Government is distinguished from every other group in society as being the institution of organized violence since it is suppose to be the defender of property and individual rights, especially under our form of government. Unfortunately, a closer examination of the government reveals that it knowingly commits acts of aggression to promote certain polices and the interests of special groups, which in fact makes it an agent of aggression—not a defender of rights and property. This is the essence of tyranny. Government must be restrained in its capacity to use violence only to defend and not to aggress.

Another inquiry that is often posed is the differences between a libertarian and a conservative. While libertarians maintain that a free society is dependent upon a moral and just people, it does not seek to use the power of the state through laws to compel virtues on society or preserve a traditionalist morality unlike many conservatives. Libertarians believe the transmission of culture should be done through the family and the churches. Libertarians affirm that individuals have to decide for themselves to follow an ethic that defines their morality. Many libertarians do not follow a prescribed religion; however, many do as a way to set their moral compass. Albeit, for many years the United States has been a secular nation observing no established state religion, our Constitution, laws, and social mores have been based on the concept of Natural Rights, which are rooted in the Judeo-Christian ethic. Many of the philosophers our founders studied were of the Judeo-Christian ethic while some were not. Libertarians do not ignore this fact and are easily seen supporting conservatives in their political plight against Leftist thinking. This is because most libertarians understand that the major tenets of traditional morality, which have stood the test of time, serve an important role in society.

Leftists, or now the so-called “Progressives”, believe that the collective rights of a group supersede those of the individual. This is simply known as collectivism. Progressives ultimately see the family unit as an impediment to controlling the individual. Unfortunately over the years, conservatives in the Republican Party have used collectivist tactics to protect traditionalist morality, instead of allowing competing social ideas to emerge. I purport that many conservatives have used the power of the state to compel virtues on society. Conservatives contend that they are protecting “freedom” when justifying their need to protect traditionalist ideas of morality. Freedom is a vague term and is often used when justifying the actions of the state. For example, many things have been defended in the “name of freedom” that many libertarians reject, such as redistribution of wealth (“freedom of want”), an interventionist foreign policy (to help advance the “freedom from fear” of oppressed peoples throughout the globe), or public education (to maximize “freedom of ignorance”).

With the intervention of government in family lives through public education, and in churches via funding of “faith based initiatives”, it is no wonder why conservatives have tried to “fight fire with fire”. Unfortunately, conservatives have failed to realize that their very use of wrong-headed collectivist tactics hinders the freedom and liberty which they seek. After all, settlers from Europe were seeking refuge from religious persecution to freely worship as they saw fit. Mistakenly, conservatives have brought today’s battle for moral righteousness back in the hands of the government and run the risk of unionizing Church and State. Historically, the union of Church and State has been in many instances a mutually reinforcing coalition for tyranny. This is in essence a “moral socialism”. I fear that this is what has turned the Republican Party into a statist reflection of the Democratic Party. Conservatives now take the position of “taming” Big Government instead of “slaying” it due to misguided tactics.

Finally, libertarians advocate decentralization, the idea that power should be as widely dispersed throughout society as possible. Libertarianism is simple and proceeds from a single concept: the primacy of individual liberty that, in turn, infuses notions of free markets, limited government and the importance of property rights.

EDITOR’S NOTE: With the formation of a Libertarian Party in Southeast Georgia and Camden County, this article is the first of a series of articles on the Libertarian Party and its platform and principals. The views of the party and its members do not necessarily represent those of the editor or any of the staff. However, we do encourage the presentation of all views. Our masthead reads: THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes.

SAVANNAH’S ERIC JOHNSON MAKES PLANS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR

2009-06-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Republican state senator and former President pro tem of that body, Eric Johnson, has announced his candidacy for the office of Governor of Georgia. Johnson had been running for lieutenant governor; however, he decided to switch races after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle withdrew from the governor's contest citing health problems. Cagle, who was considered a leading contender for the Republican nomination for governor in the party’s primary, said he would seek re-election to his current position.

Johnson said his campaign would focus on jobs, education and ethics. Johnson indicated, “As I traveled the state campaigning and visiting with Georgians from all walks of life, I was thrilled to see the support and encouragement we received in every corner of this state. Georgians recognize that we need a steady, tested, and experienced leader to address the challenges we face as a state and to build on the progress we’ve made under Republican leadership.”

Eric Johnson was the Republican Caucus Leader for 10 years and was a long time advocate of the need of a viable two party system in Georgia. Many Clarion Issue readers will remember the Senator’s “Legislative Session Wrap Ups” we ran during the years he was President pro tem of the Georgia Senate. This year Senator Johnson pushed unsuccessfully to make Georgia the first state in the nation to offer universal school vouchers.

During his tenure in office Senator Johnson represented District 1, a district that at one time included most of costal Georgia from Savannah to Glynn County and parts of Camden County. Today the district includes parts of Chatham, Liberty, and all of Bryan Counties.

Senator Johnson’s campaign web site is www.JohnsonForGeorgians.com.
Johnson joins three Republicans already in the race for the Republican nomination for governor: Secretary of State Karen Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, and State Representative Austin Scott.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF CAMDEN COUNTY MEETS: WATCHDOG SPEAKS

2009-06-13T12:23:00.001-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Libertarian Party of Camden County and Southeastern Georgia met on May 16, 2009, at the Silver Star Steakhouse at 219 Osborne Street in downtown St. Marys. The guest speaker for the event was Winston Barlow, President of the Camden Watchdog Committee, a group of citizens concerned about the recent attempt to raise property assessments in Camden County. As event organizer Anne Orr pointed out, “The Watchdog Committee is a non-partisan organization; however, it shares many common interests with the Libertarians, especially exactly where our tax dollars are going.”

Mr. Barlow spoke on the short history of the Watchdog Committee and read the mission statement of the group. He then noted the extreme interest in the community at the time the original inflated assessed values appeared and how the community responded with large turnouts at Watchdog and county government hearings. He warned that now that the county government seemed to have backed down, public apathy might set in and indicated there needed to be several ‘watchdogs’ at every governmental meeting in the county, be it county or municipal to keep an eye on attempts to raise taxes and to check on wasteful governmental spending. Mr. Barlow also indicated he expected a raise in the millage rate this year. He closed by handing out several brochures on property taxes and assessments.

The Camden County Watchdog Committee has a web site at www.camdenwatchdog.com where interested citizens can obtain information on their meetings and activities.

After the meeting, which lasted about an hour, the attendees who wished stayed and enjoyed a nice lunch at the Silver Star Steakhouse and discussed political and major news topics for about an hour. The staff of the Silver Star Steakhouse did a great job on the food and service as usual.

At this time the Camden County Division of the Southeast Georgia Affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Georgia is awaiting final approval by the state headquarters for its official status. The next meeting is planned for the latter part of August. For information on the time and place of the next meeting of the Libertarian Party of Camden County keep an eye on the Clarion Issue blog at www.clarionissue.blogspot.com or contact Anne Orr at anneorr@mindspring.com .

LIBERTARIAN PARTY TO MEET ON MAY 16 AT SILVER STAR STEAKHOUSE

2009-05-02T04:26:00.001-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The next meeting of the Libertarian Party of Camden County and South Eastern Georgia will be held on May 16, 2009, at 10:00 AM at the Silver Star Steakhouse located in the Sterling's Building at 219 Osborne Street. The meeting is expected to last about an hour. Attendees who want to discuss matters further are invited to stay for lunch at their own expense.

Libertarians, or those who have some interest in learning about the Libertarian Party, who are from outside Camden County are invited to attend the meeting. Eventually the party hopes to expand to form a Southeast Georgia Affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Georgia.

To reach the Silver Star Steakhouse, take exit 3 from I-95. Turn towards St. Marys on Ga 40, and continue straight east. GA 40 turns into Osborne Street, which dead-ends at the river. The Silver Star is two blocks before the river, in a green building on the corner. If you pass it, make a U-turn at the river. There is plenty of free parking on the side street in front of the Baptist Church

For more information on the Libertarian Party of Camden County contact Anne Orr at anneorr@mindspring.com .

2009 SENATORIAL APPOINTMENTS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

2009-04-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The election of two U.S. Senators to the executive branch after this last election cycle and the appointment and possible appointment of others to cabinet posts within the new administration highlighted another flaw in America’s political system, the system of appointing interim Senators to fill vacancies. During the weeks following the November election America was bombarded with a series of scandals and media fed frenzies over the possibilities of replacements for the vacant seats especially in New York and Illinois. This article will look at the good, the bad, and the ugly points of these appointments, what the Constitution says, and how America could do a better job of filling these vacancies in the future.

The section of the Constitution dealing with the appointment of Senators who have resigned in order to take a position in a new administration is the XVII AMENDMENT proposed by Congress in May 1912 and ratified by the states on April 8, 1913. The amendment also established the direct election of U. S. Senators by the voters of the states. The amendment reads:

“The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.”

The problem with recent appointments and the events leading up to these appointments was the total role local, state, party, and national politics played in the choice of at least two of the candidates.

The bad: The jockeying to fill the Senate seat vacated by New York’s Hillary R. Clinton as she left to become Secretary of State was an example of a badly written script played out by a second rate actor in a shabby, off Broadway theater. For several weeks Caroline Kennedy, the princess of Camelot and niece of the former holder of the seat Robert (Bobby) Kennedy, toured the state, meeting with the who’s who of New York politics, openly running for the appointment, while denying she was openly running for the appointment. The New York governor, David Paterson, would have liked to have had Caroline Kennedy on the next ballot despite her inexpierance; her name recognition would help raise money state wide for the Democratic Party and Patterson should he decide to run for governor or another office. However, Patterson was going to have to make a “Sophie’s choice” between Kennedy and State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a one time Kennedy in-law, for the Senate seat. Just before the appointment Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name for “personal reasons” and Gov. Patterson appointed Kirsten E. Gillibrand from New York’s 20th Congressional District to the Senate post. Patterson left Cuomo to oppose Gillibrand or himself in the next election.

The ugly: ‘Want’a buy a duck?’ How about a Senate seat? In his attempt to make the most out of President Barack Obama’s 2008 election, Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was taped by the FBI making statements to the effect he intended to sell the vacated senate seat to the individual who could do him the most political favors, raise the most money, or pay the most cash. As the Illinois legislature was holding hearings and initiating impeachment charges against “Blago” he appointed former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to fill the seat in open defiance of the legislature. Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois Senate on January 9, 2009, and then convicted and removed from office on January 29, 2009. The Burris appointment is in question now by the Illinois legislature due to the way Burris answered questions about contact with Blagojevich during the appointment process. It also appears Congressman Jessie Jackson, Jr. may be implicated in the “Blago” net.

The good: When Vice President elect Joe Biden vacated his Senate seat, Delaware Governor Jack Markell filled the seat by appointing a care taker to the post. Markell appointed Ted Kauffman, a longtime member of Biden’s, staff to fill the seat for the two years until the next election. Many political watchers expect Beau Biden, Joe’s son and the State’s Attorney General now serving in Iraq, to run for the seat. If he does, he will have to do it without a leg up as being the incumbent, but he will not have the taint of an questionable appointment process. Beau will also have no political payoffs to answer for.

The unique thing in all states is the Senators will have to run again in 2010 to fill their seats, and ultimately the voters will decide who will be their Senators. It is a shame the American political process, especially processes such as appointing Senators, has now gotten to the point of “Who can help me or the party?” rather than “Who is right for the state and the people?” We keep hearing about parties and politicians, but now people are starting to ask, “Where are the statesmen?” That make be the question American voters really need to ask.

OBAMANOMICS: DEBT YOU CAN BELIEVE IN

2009-04-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

By D. E. Lovett

After eight years of incessant carping by the Democrats about the “Bush deficits,” we finally find out what was bad about them: they were nowhere near massive enough! It took Bush and the Republicans three years to add one trillion dollars to the public debt; Obama and the Democrats did it in only three weeks!

In January 1996, then-President Clinton famously proclaimed “the end of the era of big government.” This absurd claim was based on his reducing the total Federal employment by stripping the military, while at the same time actually increasing the size and cost of government. Since then, Presidents and Congresses of both parties have worked overtime to further bloat the Federal government, and highlight one of the biggest (but hardly the only) of Clinton’s lies. The Republicans, practicing “Democrat light,” saddled the already bankrupt Medicare program with the infamous “doughnut-hole” prescription drug benefit. This transparent attempt to “buy” the senior vote was a miserable failure, condemned by conservatives as too expensive, and by liberals as too cheap. It also failed to swing many, if any, senior voters, used to dependence on the Federal government, who rightly perceived the Democrats, in the long term, would bring them the greatest largesse.

Fast forward to the current recession (or depression, if you like.) Its primary cause was government meddling in the mortgage industry. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) were so committed to “affordable housing” that they required (with the active cooperation of Congresses and administrations of both stripes) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lend money to the poorest of credit risks. In 2006, they managed to frustrate Republican efforts to rein in the patently unsustainable practices of the mortgage industry with assurances that all was well, and the bubble would continue to grow to everyone’s benefit. When the bubble inevitably burst, only a year later, the first (and completely foreseeable) reaction of Frank and Dodd was to blame the Republicans for inadequate regulation, and the second was to blame “unscrupulous lenders” for doing exactly what the government had required them to do!

Then comes the inevitable: the Government, having engineered the crisis, determines it is the best agent to “fix” it. Now Congress has the political cover to do what it does best, perhaps the only thing it does well: throw money at the problem, with little or no regard to whether or how this solution will help or hurt. Legislators, having been empowered to legislate, feel bound to do just that, in supreme confidence they will never be called to account (are Frank and Dodd in any real danger of losing their seats?)

Questioned about the massive deficits and their effect, President Obama manages to talk out of three sides of his mouth at the same time. First, he emphasizes he inherited the current huge deficit from his predecessor. Am I mistaken, or didn’t the Democrat controlled Congress pass the last two massive deficit budgets, and the current even more massive one? Second, he claims he will reduce the deficit by half in four years. After quadrupling the deficit in one year, to a staggering $1.7 trillion, reducing it to a mere $800 billion does not sound all that good. Third, he will reduce the deficit while maintaining current levels of spending, and granting tax relief to everyone but the “rich,” especially including those who don’t pay any income tax at all! Populist pandering, anyone?

The economic stimulus bill recently passed is advertised by the President as “timely, targeted, and temporary.” It is none of these. Most of the expenditures will be in 2010 and beyond; the beneficiaries are the ideological favorites of liberals; and no one realistically expects that the programs started by the “stimulus” will magically disappear within our lifetimes. While the impact of the “stimulus” on employment is impossible to predict, its impact on the public debt is all too easy to figure. Obama claims the bill will “create or save” 3.5 million jobs, with the “or save” caveat providing plenty of political cover. Let’s see: if one trillion dollars creates 3.5 million jobs, each job is worth about $285, 314. Where do I sign up for one of them? But of course, then I would be among Obama’s “rich,” and subject to large tax penalties!

There is a prophesy, sometimes attributed to George Santayana, that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat it. It is beyond dispute that the tax rate cuts by Kennedy, Reagan and “W.” increased government revenue and spurred the economy, and tax rate increases by “H.W.” and Clinton cost the government and slowed the economy. We are about to see a repeat of history.

On balance, the current government tax, borrow and spend program will eviscerate the private economy, drastically curtail free enterprise, and empower the Federal government in ways that would make Franklin Roosevelt blush. And this doesn’t even begin to touch the upcoming Obama energy tax. Stay tuned, but don’t be very hopeful that “change” will be any better, just more expensive, and everyone will pay.

MUSIC REVIEWS

2009-04-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Van Morrison recently released a live CD Astral Weeks, Live At The Hollywood Bowl, an entire redocumentation of his cult classic album from his early years. The early release followed the hit “Brown Eyed Girl,” and Morrison was searching for a sound. Astral Weeks was a rock, fusion jazz, album which never caught on in the mainstream 60s music scene; however, it did become a major influential album which has resonated in the minds of many musicians and shaped the direction of rock music for 40 years since its appearance. Astral Weeks, Live At The Hollywood Bowl, is Morrison’s attempt to recreate the sound live and the CD does a fair job of doing that.

When the live and studio versions are played back to back, the live version has more musicians and of course the lyrics sometimes are not as clear as on the studio version. The lyrics can sometimes be a problem with any Van Morrison live CD (check out A Night In San Francisco). However, the live version is an adventure in itself. In several cuts Morrison ventures places where he did not go in 1968 in the studio, making the CD a real treasure for the true Van Morrison fan. The CD also contains two additional cuts, “Listen to the Lion” and “Common One.” Van Morrison fans should pick up a copy, and for the uninitiated Van Morrison listeners who need to hear the CD that altered the course of music a little in 1968, they need to pick up the original Astral Weeks.

Another new CD Blue Lights On The Runway by the Irish band Bell X 1 has hit the music stores and contains several great tunes on the CD. The opening cuts, “The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella,” and “How Your Heart is Wired” are wonderful songs and set the stage for great ballads to staggering rock’n roll knock downs. From the emotional “The Light Catches Your Face,” to “The Great Defector” and “A Better Band” this group is being compared to everything from the Talking Heads to Okkervil River. The major players in the band are Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Phillips. The band has been popular in Ireland for a while, and Blue Lights On The Runway is expected to put them on the worldwide grid.

Steve Winwood released a CD last year entitled Nine Lives. The CD contains nine new cuts including “Dirty City” and “Other Shore” which received airplay on some independent radio stations. (Winwood’s old Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton joins him as a guest guitarist on “Dirty City.”) Other interesting songs include “I’m Not Drowning,” “Fly,” “Raging Sea,” and “Secrets.” The album is very typical of Winwood’s style as the songs move from rock, to blues, to jazz with his unmistakable voice, haunting lyrics, and musical arrangements ever present on each composition. Of course the listener will hear the artists ever-present Hammond B3 organ all over the arrangements on this CD.

Local artist Karl Davis has made several national and world tours since fronting his first professional band in 1989. In 2000 Karl and his blues band were asked to audition for and awarded a spot in the French festival Rendez-vous de l’Erdre, Nantes. At this concert, held on a small island in the center of Nantes, Karl sang with and formed powerful friendships with many fine blues and soul musicians. As a direct result, the CD entitled Karl W. Davis and the Milkmen Tear It Up was recorded in 2005. In addition, Karl wrote and sang tracks on The Bad Mules (Nantes, FR) CD “Who Drank My Beer” in 2007. This international collaboration continues.

Karl is now an independent artist, which gives him the freedom to perform, tour, write and record with many musicians around the world. His web site is www.karlwdavisandfriends.com and he can also be found on Myspace. Several free downloads are offered on these sites.

Editor’s Note: Here is something you will never see in a Clarion Issue Music Review: This is strictly a pantagraphic hauntography of proto-mantic motherworlds. Mysteriograms of toposonic radiances are deconstructed and raptoluminal resonances at residual numinophillic nemeta sites are reiterated in the mycoboreal precints. (From a press release publicizing the music of the band Infernal Method.)

IS AMERICAN TOILET PAPER ENDANGERING OUR PLANET?

2009-04-11T10:54:00.001-07:00

By Thomas Kelly

Can it be true that the wonderful, infused with hand lotion, three-ply toilet paper is causing more environmental damage than the gas guzzling Hummer? Americans have an insatiable desire to use the softest, plushest toilet paper on our most delicate parts, and it may be flushing our pristine forest down the john.

Over 98% of the toilet paper sold in the United States comes from virgin wood, and most of it is from the boreal forest of northern Canada. Almost two-thirds of that nation’s 140,000 species of plants, animals and other organisms live in the forest and some are becoming endangered by the rapid deforestation of the area. In Europe only 40% of toilet paper is manufactured from virgin wood, which is wood that comes from trees just cut down. Almost 60% of European toilet tissue is from recycled paper and pulp compared to only 2% for the United States showing a huge disparity.

Greenpeace, the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), and other environmental groups are launching public relation initiatives to make Americans more aware of the impact toilet paper has on the environment. “Using toilet paper made from virgin wood is a lot worse than driving a large SUV in terms of global warming pollution.” states Allan Hershkowitz, a senior scientist with the NRDC. He goes on to say that “The production of toilet paper has a significant environmental impact, not only because of the amount of virgin wood used, but also from the quantity of toxic chemicals used in pulp manufacturing.”

Kimberly-Clark, the largest paper products manufacturer in the United States, reported a 40% rise in sales of their luxury brands toilet paper and the company spent over $80 million in advertising. Dave Dixon, a company spokesman, said “Toilet paper from recycled fiber has been on the market for years, but Americans are unwilling to buy them. They feel that recycled paper is too rough and not strong enough. When it comes to bath tissue, Americans like the softness and strength that virgin fibers provide. It’s the quality the consumers in America have come to expect.” Greenpeace is trying to change our consumer habits with the public relations blitz.

In recent newspaper articles for the New York Times and the Guardian Unlimited, a British paper, environmental reporters have written about the “tenderness of the American buttock” and the plight of the Canadian forest. Greenpeace has launched their Kleercut campaign to try to convince Kimberly-Clark and other major paper manufacturers to change from using virgin wood from old-growth logs to more recycled materials. Kleercut has shown it may be working. Many universities, including Harvard, the University of Florida and California-Berkeley, have changed from using Kimberly-Clark products to using Marcal toilet tissue, America’s oldest paper products manufacturer of recycled materials. For the first time, Marcal is investing in a $30 million dollar advertising campaign for eco-friendly toilet paper.

Changing from using toilet paper manufactured from virgin wood to tissue using recycled paper products will take time. So will the toughening up of our delicate private parts by using slightly rougher (European strength) paper. Maybe changing our use to a more eco-friendly toilet paper will allow us to drive our mammoth, gas hog SUV’s with a little less guilt and help save the planet by using less forest land.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY IN SOUTH EASTERN GEORGIA A POSSIBILITY

2009-04-04T08:05:00.001-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The Libertarian Party of Camden County met on March 28 at the Silver Star Steakhouse in downtown St. Marys, Georgia, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the possible establishment of a local party affiliated with the Georgia Libertarian Party. By the conclusion of the meeting it looked as if the Libertarian Party would have a small but vocal presence in the area.

The meeting began when Anne Orr presented a leaked Missouri State Patrol Training Document taken off the internet showing how Libertarian and other third party members were being identified and profiled by the use of bumper stickers and were being treated or at least profiled as terrorist by the Missouri State Patrol. Another individual handed out flyers to a Tax Day Tea Party protest in Savannah on April 15, 2009, to be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event is at the Rousakis Plaza on River Street and is for individuals of all political persuasions. The individuals attending the meeting were given a copy of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence if they wanted one, were given the opportunity to take a short political test, and were given an application to join the State Libertarian Party.

As usual new attendees were given the chance to state why they were interested in the Libertarian Party. One individual in attendance was already a Libertarian originally from Kentucky but recently from Ohio. Others cited big government, out of control government spending, and the need for statesmen not politicians.

The meeting lasted an hour after which most people stayed and enjoyed a nice lunch at the Steakhouse. The owner, David Joiner, and his staff did an excellent job hosting the event. It was noted the meeting was originally scheduled for a time when no other political meetings were scheduled; however, the Republican bits and grits breakfast was quickly put on the calendar for the same day as the Libertarian Meeting and on very short notice. One Republican who showed up late indicated there was a poor turn out at the Republican breakfast and the featured speaker was a “no show.”

For more information on the Libertarian Party of Camden County and the time and place of the next meeting contact Anne Orr at anneorr@mindspring.com .

You can also check here at the Clarion Issue blog for any updates to the Libertarian Party of Camden County’s meetings and plans. We will post all information we receive from them, like we post the information from the Republican Party’s Bits and Grits Breakfast program and news releases from the Democratic Party as we receive them.

KU KLUX KLAN RECRUITING IN FLORIDA

2009-02-28T04:13:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

Residents of the Pinetree Gardens apartment complex in Titusville, Florida, awoke on the morning of February 3, 2009, to find Ku Klux Klan flyers, business cards, and other literature on their property. The Klan recruitment information had been placed on the homes and cars in the complex overnight.

Police have launched an investigation into the handouts which had a Bushnell address. The literature said, “Join the KKK and fight for race and nation!”

Emotions of residents at the complex ranged from fear to shock to anger. “We’re not interested in joining their group. We’re very happy for what we are and proud of what we are,” said a woman who did not want to be identified. Another woman said, “It’s very alarming. It's strange.”

Titusville police have stepped up patrols in the area.

Titusville is on the east coast of Florida near Orlando. City legend indicates the community’s name, formerly Sand Point, was decided upon during a dominoes match between Confederate Col. Henry T. Titus and a Capt. Clark Rice to determine which player got to rename the town in 1873. Col. Titus won the game, and the town now carries his name.

Another Florida community saw Klan activity during the same week. On February 7, Fruitland Park Police Chief Mark Isom indicated James Elkins, a 28-year old police officer on this force, had resigned in January. The department had launched an internal investigation following reports that Elkins was distributing fliers promoting the Ku Klux Klan. The police chief said Elkins’ involvement with the Klan occurred while he was on leave after he was in a car wreck while on duty. Fruitland Park is a Central Florida community south of Ocala in Lake County.

Law enforcement indicated they have possession of photos of Elkins in Klan attire and are trying to identify the other members of the group. Elkins admits he is in the photos, but he is the only law enforcement officer in the pictures. He indicated to one on-camera interview, “In regards to that picture, the only thing I will say about it, regards to the particular group that I was involved in, I am not the only law enforcement who is or was involved in it.” Elkins also insists he has disassociated himself from the Ku Klux Klan.

Police Chief Isom said the department didn’t find any indications that Elkins was racially profiling motorists.

At the same time the Ku Klux Klan was recruiting in the Sunshine State, a former Klansman was apologizing for an attack some 48 years ago in Rock Hill South Carolina.

Elwin Wilson was an unabashed racist and klansman who joined a gang of thugs at the Rock Hill bus station during a protest in 1961. He helped attacked John Lewis, a young civil rights leader, who was severely injured and left bloodied on the ground. On February 6, Wilson apologized to Lewis, now a congressman from Atlanta, Georgia, on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The two men were interviewed on several newscasts later in the week.

After the traditional, Wilson to Lewis, “I am so sorry,” and the “I forgive you,” Lewis to Wilson, the interview went on to the event in 1961 and the place of racism in America then and today. Wilson said, “If just one person comes forward and gets the hate out of their heart, it's all worth it. But I hope there will be a bunch of people. Life's short and we all go to the same place when we die.” He also indicated, “I never dreamed that a man that I had assaulted, that he would ever be a congressman and that I’d ever see him again. He and everybody up there in his office, they were just good people, treated you right and all.”

Lewis and Wilson said they hoped Wilson’s quest for redemption will inspire others who took part in civil rights-era violence to come forward and help heal wounds from the struggle over integration.

Meanwhile, halfway around the world, the Ku Klux Klan is looking to make inroads in New Zealand.

Johnny Lee Clary, a former imperial wizard, the highest-ranked member of the Ku Klux Klan, now fights against the Klan as a born-again Christian. Clary has told New Zealand news media his internal Klan contacts have informed him that Klan recruitment literature and paraphernalia is being distributed in Auckland to recruit young members. He also indicates there is a Ku Klux Klan leader in Auckland.

Clary warned the organization was targeting young people from poor socioeconomic backgrounds indicating, “They don't go where people are happy with money in their pocket. They pick on the poor, the miserable, the down and out.” He said the global financial crisis was causing problems all around the globe.

Clary also pointed out the American financial crisis and political change, such as the election of President Obama, were fuelling Klan membership in the United States for the first time in decades.

At one recent rally in Alabama, more than 300 people signed up, a number he said was “unprecedented.” Online registrations had also increased, largely triggered by President Obama’s election, according to Clary and his sources.

Editor's Note: Rev. Johnny Lee Clary, now 49, left the Ku Klux Klan 20 years ago and now travels the world to speak publicly against racism. At one time he was a body guard to David Duke. He says, “I will spend the rest of my life chipping away at that wall of hate.” His website is www.johnnyleeclary.com .

CAN THE OBAMA TEAM FIX AMERICA?

2009-02-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

On January 8, 2009, Barack Obama was officially elected president of the Unites States with 365 Electoral College votes for Obama and Joe Biden and 173 votes for John McCain and Sarah Palin. The official election confirmed the November 2008 popular election. He was inaugurated on January 20, and took office in a time when the economy of America was the worst it has been in decades, when America is fighting two wars, and America’s international status is at a low ebb in many areas around the world. Furthermore, many Americans expect the new president to fix everything from the economy to the NCAA division one college football championship controversy by the fall, a tall order for any team. What does the Obama team have to do in the first one hundred days and beyond to get on the right track and stay there for four years?

There is no doubt the Obama Administration must move on the economic front at once. President Obama named Timothy Geithner, the New York Federal Reserve president, as his treasury secretary. Geithner will team up with Lawrence Summers, a treasury secretary under former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard University president, who will take over the National Economic Council. Christina Romer will serve as director of the Council of Economic Advisers. Romer is a U.C. Berkeley professor of economics, and co-director of monetary economics at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Melody Barnes was named as director of the Domestic Policy Council. She was co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama transition team, and also served as the senior domestic policy advisor to Obama during the campaign. Barnes previously worked at the Center for American Progress and as chief counsel to Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The Obama administration plans a two-pronged attack on the nation’s ailing economy. The Congress has already released the second half of a $700 billion financial bailout package formally known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) devised under the Bush administration. The Obama plan is to use at least $100 billion of this money in saving small banks and to rescue homes from foreclosure. They also plan to buy up bad paper debt from the mortgage debacle as was originally planed in the TARP legislation plan. This should give the Obama team about $350 billion to help the banking/mortgage end of the economy.

President Obama and Democratic lawmakers have also unveiled a massive $825 billion financial package to jolt America’s economy from the recession. Formally known as the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan,” the plan includes $275 billion in tax cuts and $550 billion in investments. The investments include spending on building and repairing the nation’s infrastructure, boosting energy production from renewable sources, expanding and improving medical care for low-income individuals and preventing cutbacks in school and college budgets and programs. The investment angle was the Democratic version of the bill and the Republicans added the tax cut making the bill truly bi-partisan. American workers will receive a refundable $500 tax credit. With the TARP funds and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan funds, the Obama team will have well over a trillion dollars to address the various aspects of the American financial crisis.

President Obama took the oath of office with America engaged in two wars in the Middle East, both basically insurrectionist in nature. The new president has opted to keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates, an appointee of President Bush, in order to assure continuity as the war plans call for a wind down in Iraq and an escalation in Afghanistan. The problem here is can the U. S. exit Iraq while stabilizing the Afghan population and countryside with the worn out forces it now has? There is no doubt the war weary American public is wanting these wars to end. Another monkey wrench in the Afghan mix is the state of our allies. Many of the national forces in this coalition refuse to allow their forces to engage in combat and many are considering ending their nation’s Afghanistan mission within the year. America may find itself with dwindling allies and larger bills to pay in Afghanistan much like we did in Iraq.

Foreign policy in the Obama administration will be led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton will inherit a host of problems around the world especially the recent Israel-Gaza Palestinian dust up. In order to settle the problems of the area she will have to convince the Palestinians and Arabs she and the U.S. are honest brokers and not out to sell the Palestinians short at the negotiating table. It now seems like there is a war in the area every two years where some pseudo-terrorist/governmental Islamic group picks a war with Israel, gets the hell bombed out of its civilian population where it insists on fighting the war, and then the world, especially the U.S. has to come in with billions of dollars and repair the homes and infrastructure of the poor oppressed Moslem people. At the same time the insecurity in the region brought on by these conflicts helps to drive up the price America and the world pays for oil. This nonsense needs to end, and if Hamas and Hezbollah are not willing to talk, the world and Middle East need to move on without them, making it clear they and the prople they represent are on their own.

On the same day Mrs. Clinton formally took over at the State Department, President Obama designated former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell, who negotiated the settlement to the conflict in Northern Ireland, as a special envoy for the Middle East and announced former U.N. ambassador Richard Holbrooke would serve as a special adviser on Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Obama administration has made it clear to the world it intends to make positive moves in its diplomatic efforts in the Islamic world.

If there is a perceived weakness in the Obama team it is in his choices for his intelligence team. President Obama has tapped Leon Panetta, a former Clinton White House chief of staff with no direct intelligence experience, to head the CIA. He also chose retired Admiral Dennis Blair to serve as director of national intelligence, the top of the U.S. intelligence hierarchy. Adm. Blair is a former head of the U.S. Pacific Command who won high marks for countering terrorism in Southeast Asia after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Blair was a national security aide to Pres. Clinton. The choice of Panetta and Blair seem to indicate the Obama administration is willing to take a different road from the Bush administration on issues such as the use of torture, and detention in the “war on terror.” The choice of Panetta drew fire from intelligence professionals and some members of Congress because Panetta has no direct intelligence experience. However, Obama insists Panetta will be a good CIA head because he is a good manager, was involved in high-level national security decisions and was privy to daily intelligence briefings while working for Pres. Clinton and will have the advice of Deputy Director Steve Kappes who will be staying on at the CIA.

While the economy, the wars, foreign policy and adjusting the national intelligence team are major issues for the Obama administration; the team must also tackle other major issues. For one, the Veterans Administration, being now run by General Eric Shinseki, must take care of thousands of wounded and psychologically wounded veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while addressing many of the veteran’s cases from other wars the VA was allowed to slough off in the past. The growing number of Americans without healthcare insurance and inadequate healthcare insurance is another problem President Obama must address; it was a cornerstone of his campaign. The Agriculture bill needs to include real help for farmers who need help, but to cut out subsidies for those who do not. And the list goes on of real problems the Obama Administration must tackle to really fix America.

Of course to do so President Obama will need the help of the 111th Congress. For its part, Congress is chafing at the bit to reassert its power after being seen as a rubber stamp for the Bush Administration for six of the last eight years and then sold a bill of goods in the hollow promises of the TARP legislation in the final days of the Bush term. Democratic Congressmen and Senators threatened to hold up the second $350 billion TARP funds over the lack of accountability, transparency and focus on the travails of ordinary Americans. The then President-elect Obama had to hint at an early administration veto of any bill obstructing the use of the funds and promising up to $100 billion of the remaining funds would be spent on tackling the US home mortgage crisis. The Democrats in Congress need to realize that their star is now hitched to the Obama Administration and they sink or swim with his program. There is an election in two years and they need to make it work.

As for the Republicans, they cannot be seen as obstructionists, at least not at this point. While Obama received 53% of the popular vote, he won overwhelmingly in the electoral vote and took the youth vote at an amazingly high percentage. This is a real message for the future of the Republican Party. President Obama, due to his good middle of the road choices for his administration, goes into office with a high approval rate and the best wishes of the nation. A lot of people want him to succeed. If Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (America’s new Dr. No), House Minority Leader John Boehner and a few radical Republican leaders want to try and obstruct the Obama plan, and use antiquated Senate rules such as filibusters to stop the new administration’s emergency plans for America, they may find themselves in a lesser role two years from now than they are today. Their best plan would be to work across the aisle, work to rebuild America and people’s confidence in government, and help rebuild their party in a moderate, less divisive fashion.

The American people are tired of divisive politics. Congress is a Latin word meaning “come together” and the American people are expecting the Congress and President to come together and work to help America get on the right course. Perhaps the Obama team can work across the aisle, assemble the best minds from the right and left, and make America work again. But to do so, all Americans, especially our politicians, need to lower their voices and listen and work together. America hopes this team can pull it off.

GA. GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE LOOKING TO AX SCHOOL NURSE PROGRAM

2009-01-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

Georgia’s Governor Sonny Perdue has presented proposals for the 2009 and 2010 budgets that will affect the budget of Georgia’s schools in a dramatic fashion. One of the most drastic cuts is the proposed eliminating of the state funding for the school nurse program. While wealthy school systems may elect to fund school nurses through local funds, poorer systems, including many wealthier systems feeling the pinch of economic stress due to the current recession, will be forced to discontinue the program. This will set school health care back decades in the Peach State.

Today school children across America and Georgia come to school with a host of medical issues and problems that require professional help and monitoring throughout the school day. Students utilize school nurses to monitor conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, and many other medical issues requiring the constant attention of a trained medical professional. Moreover, in some cases, the school nurse may be the only, or the major contact a child may have with a health care professional.

School nurses also dispense important medications to students during the day. Many students check in with the nurse to take medicine for Attention Deficit (ADD or ADHD), insulin, and other medications including temporary medications for colds and other illnesses prescribed by their attending physicians. They keep insulin and needles, blood sugar monitoring machines, and store medications that need refrigeration. They also treat numerous twists and sprains, and the cuts and scrapes, which may occur during the day during PE or on the playground.

While a teacher may hand out a occasional BAND-AID for a hangnail or a scab a student has picked at, teachers are ill equipped to deal with real emergency cases and need to send the child to the school nurse or call the nurse. Students have had seizures at school, serious asthma attacks, and other major problems where the immediate medical attention provided by the school nurse helped the child’s case stay contained to the immediate problem and not become compounded by waiting for a parent to be contacted or waiting on the EMTs. This year a child in my class began to complain about being hot, having trouble breathing, and his throat ‘feeling funny.’ It was immediately after lunch so I asked if he was allergic to anything, and he said peanuts. I realized he was having an allergic reaction to peanut butter or some other food item after eating in the school lunchroom, sent him to the nurse for treatment, and he was able to return to class after she contacted his parents and found out what to do in his case.

School nurses also treat and give advise to the adult staff at the school where they work. They monitor blood pressure, diabetes, store needles and insulin, and often run fitness programs for the school staff. The school nurse at the school where I teach was on hand when one principal had what appeared to be a heart attack and was there until the EMTs took him to the hospital in the ambulance. She was also recognized another teacher was having stroke-like symptoms and got the teacher to the hospital. School nurses treat more than the children of our schools.

School nurses are an important part of a school program. They could make more money in the private sector but work in the schools as a labor of love for the health and well-being of the students they serve. Will school nurses come back when Georgia realizes it has made a mistake? Who knows, but Georgia should not take that chance.

The Clarion Issue encourages its Georgia readers to look at the entire education budget proposed by Gov. Perdue and contact your respective State Senator and Representative on the various issues in the budget. This writer would remind the reader the teachers of Georgia, the backbone of education in any education system, have not received a substantial raise in several years, and the budget cuts affect many other areas of Georgia’s education programs including class sizes. However, while this may or may not be a major concern to many of you, the situation regarding school nurses is a paramount issue in maintaining the health and well being of Georgia’s school age children. Georgia needs to keep the school nurse program. Contact your State Senator and Representative and let them know how you feel about this important issue. Camden County readers can contact their State representatives Senator Jeff Chapman, email jeffchapman@senate.ga.us (Atlanta phone: 404-656-0045) and Rep. Cecily Hill, email cecily@cecilyhill.com
(Atl. phone: 404-656-0177). Gov. Perdue can be reached by email by going to www.ga.gov , look under at your service and click on Gov. Sonny Perdue, click on constituent resources, then click on contact us. He can always by reached by snail mail, phone, and even telegram at the capital in Atlanta.

Editor's note: R. A. Pearson, the editor of the Clarion Issue, is a 32 year teacher of Social Studies at Camden County Middle School in the Camden County Ga. School System.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY TO START CAMDEN CO. AFFILIATE

2009-01-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

The Libertarian Party of Georgia is interested in starting a Southeast Georgia Affiliate. The party plans to start with Camden County and will go from there as interest develops in the surrounding counties. The first organizational meeting will be Saturday, January 24, 2009, at 9 a.m. at Shoney's on Highway 40 on at the intersection of Interstate 95 (exit 3). Please feel free to take a look at the state platform at the web site LPGeorgia.com and at the national web site lp.org .

MUSIC REVIEWS JAMES TAYLOR'S COVERS

2009-01-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

By R. A. Pearson

James Taylor released a CD of covers in the fall of 2008 appropriately entitled Covers. In his press release he notes, ‘I’ve done covers of other people’s songs since the beginning. Looking over the various collections of my tunes a fair-sized portion of my “hits” have been covers: “You've Got a Friend,” “How Sweet it Is,” “Up On the Roof,” and “Handyman” were all covers so this is not uncharted water for me.’ Taylor also notes these were all songs he had done in concert many times over the years but never recorded.

The songs on Covers represent a major swath of American music from the folk sounds of Leonard Cohen’s emotional “Suzanne” to the pop country hit “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson. Taylor’s unique voice and musical interpretations of the music help the listener hear the songs in a new way. Taylor covers two of my personal favorites on this CD, the “Wichita Lineman” by Jimmy Web and made famous by Glenn Campbell and “On Broadway” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, made famous by George Benson. The collection also contains Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart’s “Summertime Blues” covered by the Who and several other bands through the rock era. Other artists covered on the 12-song Covers song list include the Dixie Chicks, The Temptations, Buddy Holly, and county music legend George Jones.

James Taylor’s Band for this CD includes Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Luis Conte on precussion, Michael Landau on guitars, Lou Marini and Walt Fowler on woodwinds and horns, Andrea Zonn on Violin and Larry Goldings on keyboards. Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Kate Markowitz, perform backup vocals on the CD. Yo Yo Ma made a guest appearance on the cello on “Suzanne.” The album was produced by James Taylor and Dave O’Donnell. Covers has been nominated for a 2009 Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Album and “Wichita Lineman” has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Male Pop Vocal category.

James Taylor fans will want this CD, and the casual J.T./Pop Vocal aficionados may wish to listen to Covers and download a few tunes for their computer or Ipod.

Folk artist Joan Baez also released a cover CD in 2008 entitled Day After Tomorrow. This 10 cut CD contains covers from artists from Steve Earle and Patty Griffin to Tom Waits. The use of acoustic instrumentation on the album helps put the songs and Baez’s voice in perspective. As one would expect from a Joan Baez CD, there is political content and social commentary in some of the songs chosen for the collection.

Interesting songs on the Day After Tomorrow include: “Requiem” by Eliza Gilkyson, the title cut, “Day After Tomorrow,” by Tom Waits and Katherine Brennan, “Rose of Sharon” by Eliza Gilkyson and three songs by Steve Earle, “God is God,” “I Am A Wanderer,” and “Jericho Road.”

It was great to see Joan Baez out with a New CD. Day After Tomorrow is a timely and relevant work, almost a throw back to Baez’s early years, and hopefully the music world will hear from her again soon.

The estate of Frank Zappa has released Imaginary Diseases, a CD recorded live in 1972. It was edited, mixed, and mastered by F.Z. then stored away instead of being released. The album shows Zappa as a creative jazz artist very much like the albums Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. While the world remembers Frank Zappa more for his comedy music and social commentaries, he was a noted rock/fusion jazz player. Imaginary Diseases may be Zappa’s best live jazz album, and it shows Zappa could run with the big boys like Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and John Coltrane.

The Frank Zappa estate, especially his son Dweezil Zappa, is doing a great job in handeling the F.Z. vault. It is sure to be full, but the decision on what to release and when is very important. Speaking of Dweezil Zappa, he has his own band and is on tour now. Good luck D.Z.

At last the first two John Kay solo albums, Forgotten Songs And Unsung Heroes and My Sportin’ Life have been re-released in their entirety. While an abbreviated 10 song CD was released under the title Lone Steppenwolf the collection carried only half of this excellent two-album song list. Now BGO Records has released all twenty songs, many of them covers, done by John Kay shortly after the demise of the original Steppenwolf in the early 1970s. The double release CD contains John Kay doing songs like “You Win Again” by Hank Williams, Steely Dan’s “Giles Of The River,” “Drift Away” by Mentor Williams and made popular by Dobie Gray, and many of Kay’s originals to boot. If you were missing this great collection it is now available at the online music stores.

JACK KINGSTON CANCELS TWO DEBATES

2008-10-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

By R.A. Pearson

Jack Kingston, the eight term Congressman from Georgia’s First District who originally ran on term limits, has canceled the two remaining debates he had scheduled with his Democratic opponent Bill Gillespie. The debates were due to be held on October 17th and 26th. Georgia’s First Congressional District runs along the coast of Georgia from Chatham County to Camden County and includes Glynn County.

After a rather poor showing in the first debate held on October 9th held on the Brunswick News Channel, Kingston canceled the next two debates due to be held at Savannah State University and The Atlanta Press Club. The Atlanta Press Club debate was to be broadcast on Georgia Public Television.

The Gillespie campaign indicated in a press release, “This (canceling the debates) is so unfortunate given our national, state and district issues. Where is the leadership? Kingston "the 16 year incumbent," owes his constituents answers. This is totally unacceptable. We will try every major news outlet to rectify this cheapening of our democracy. I am willing to address the issues any time and any place. We need this prior to November 4th.”

Here at the Clarion Issue we would have liked to have seen Mr. Kingston and Lt. Col. Gillespie together to answer tough questions on the economy, the Wall St. bailout, the national deficit, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, foreign policy, and other issues facing our nation. Mr. Kingston had time to make a few chippy political commercials but bailing on debates after being taken to the woodshed during round one is like throwing in the towel after a bad first round during a boxing match or forfeiting the World Series because you lost seven to one in the first game. No one does that unless ‘they ain’t got no game.’ Kingston must feel real safe in this ‘safe’ First District in costal Georgia.

However, Americans are getting tired of the Republican Party hiding from the real people they are supposed to answer to and represent. The days of the eight-second sound bites and the easy “foxtrots” on the FOX propaganda network with Sean Hanity style softball questions are over as Americans see home values crumbling, their savings cut in half, and our young soldiers nation building and dying in parts of the world where Jeffersonian democracy remains a dream of individuals who believe they can export democracy to parts of the world reluctant to accept it.

Lt. Col. Gillespie’s platform and biography can be found a few article entries down in this blog. Please read it then visit his web site; especially since we can’t see any more Kingston v Gillespie debates.

His web site can be found at www.BillForGeorgia.com .

Editorial Addendum: Jack Kingston did finnaly attend the October 26th debate broadcast on Ga. Public Television and Radio; however, this was after the fact he had announced he would not show up had been printed in various newspapers and internet sources around the state. The number of costal Georgians who missed the debate due to Kingston’s actions will never be known.

I’M SICK AND TIRED AND I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE

2008-10-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

Many of you Clarion Issue readers may remember this paraphrase from the 1976 movie Network starring Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, William Holden, and Robert Duvall, where the newscaster calls on the entire city to open its windows and shout “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” This is how I feel just a few days before I will walk into the polls on November 4 and vote in this election. I’m mad, and I know who I’m going to blame from the top office in the land down to the county dogcatcher.

I will preface this article by saying no one really has experience in the job of being president unless he is running as the incumbent; therefore, any claims to experience a candidate may offer is purely hypothetical and arbitrary in this race. While time served in various offices may broaden a candidate’s knowledge of important national and international information, shape their political and economic philosophies, and influence his world prospective, it in no way really prepares him to be president “on day one.”

What concerns this writer most about this election is today I am not better off than I was four years ago, or better yet ten years ago. My salary has gone up yet my buying power has gone down. My health insurance pays less and costs more, and I am lucky to be one of the Americans to still have health insurance coverage provided through my employer. My daughter and son-in-law, both of whom own local business and are the ‘backbone of the economy’ according to both Republicans and Democrats, pay over $400 a month for a private health care policy. They have an outrageous deductible and the cost of having my second granddaughter was not even covered under their plan. For eight years we have had Pres. Bush’s ‘compassionate conservatism’ yet there has been no move on fixing health care, and today 45 million Americans now go without healthcare while millions more are underinsured. Two years of Democratic control of Congress has also done little to move America forward on this vital issue.

I also recall Pres. Bush ‘compassionate conservative’ fix to Social Security; private investment accounts on Wall Street. If that had taken place the bail out may be near a trillion dollars instead of just $700 billion. (Remember Senator McCain has or had a similar plan for Social Security.) However, it is not my intention to discuss Social Security here but what Wall St. and the banks have done to the American people. By lowering interest rates to nothing the banks have forced Americans into the stock market at a higher rate than many would prefer. What interest rate do you get on your savings account? Your CDs? Your money markets? I would like to see higher interest rates and more responsibility placed on who the banks loan money to. I remember when Cluny, my dog who writes a column in the Clarion Issue most of the time, got an offer for a home improvement loan in his email. The banks have been irresponsible, and when Pres. Bush promised on Sept.16 the tax payers would get their money back from this massive bail out, it reminded me of Paul Wolfowitz’s promise the Iraq war would be paid for by Iraqi oil money. The housing crisis, the bank failures, and the Wall St. crisis happened on the Bush watch, and the architect of the banking deregulation was Phil Graham, who became an economic advisor to McCain until he called America ‘a nation of whiners.’ McCain admits he doesn’t understand the economy. Even the day after AIG threw in the towel, McCain said the fundamentals of the American economy were sound. Finally a piece of granite from a bank ceiling must have hit him on the head, and he finally admitted we have a problem, ‘suspended his campaign’ to help return to Washington to fix the problem, and threatened to postpone the first presidential debate which had been planned since spring. Wall St. has been bailed out with your tax money. However, if America believes this problem is fixed, I’ve got a bridge in Alaska I’ll sell you.

On taxes, I have a problem with tax cuts here and tax breaks there. Tax cuts and tax breaks are like quack-quacks on old McDonald’s farm; some are here, some are there, they are everywhere but where you need one. On taxes, the Tax Policy Center concluded that Senator Obama’s plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about five percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. Senator McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by three percent. However, all of this is smoke and mirrors, voodoo tax policy. It depends on tax breaks for childcare, business loans, hiring the handicapped or teenage worker, and other tax cuts for houses, businesses, children, medical needs, and other plans, or tax cuts for business that meet this requirement or spend on that program, or if your money is made via a salary or by capital gains, or whatever. Here is a real way to cut taxes. Lower the tax threshold: if a person paid 28% in Federal Income taxes lower it to 25%. That is a real tax cut! My house is paid off. My children are raised, and I’m a grandparent with no deductions. This is the only way I’ll ever get my taxes lowered. Neither Obama nor McCain are really listening to America. I’m mad as hell!

The situation with gas prices continues to cripple the American economy and the pocket book of the American consumer. The inflation in food and consumer prices is directly related to the cost of fuel both to ship and produce the basic products Americans buy weekly as necessities for their families. The failure of the Bush-Cheney administration over the last eight years to produce a true comprehensive energy policy has cost this country precious years in the race for green technology to offset the high cost of petrol energy. The McCain policy of ‘drill baby drill’ is equivalent to people chanting ‘IBM Selectric typewriters’ on the eve of the personal computer revolution of the late 1980s. Inflation and the fall of the stock market, the housing crisis, and massive bank failures across the country mark hard times for America. Once again, it happened on the Republican watch.

In Iraq, McCain refuses to realize the surge has only worked to put a heavier lid on a boiling pot and has not guaranteed victory. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and his Shiite led government, have placed arrest warrants on many of the leaders of the Sunni Awakening leaders in al-Anbar and other providences while trying to stop their participation in provisional elections that have been postponed for years. The real winner in Iraq is Iran, a Shiite nation that has expanded and will continue to expand its influence over Iraq and the Hezbollah areas of Palestine and Lebanon. The worldview of the Republicans continues to be ‘big stick’ diplomacy. As America’s military is pressed around the world, Gen. David McKiernan (not Sarah Palin’s Gen. McClellan) has called for three more divisions in Afghanistan while our British allies admitted on October 5, “The war could not be won militarily.” Yet we continue to spend billions to rebuild in Iraq where much of Baghdad does not have but two hours of electricity a day and very little water and sewer service! Plus we spend billions of dollars in Afghanistan who is the major producer of opium in the world! I’m mad as hell; why aren’t you?

I also cast a weary eye toward Senator McCain’s ‘shoot from the hip’ responses to national and world events. When Russia invaded Georgia he labeled Russia the aggressor and said, “Today we are all Georgians.” McCain made his statements despite the fact the Bush administration was calling for restraint from the presidential candidates and the fact, admitted to by Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice, Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili initiated the conflict. When you kick a schoolyard bully in the shin, you need to be willing to back up the action. When the American banks began to drop like flies in mid-September, McCain said he would fire SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) chairman Christopher Cox and create a special trust to help strengthen weak institutions of Wall St. First, Cox is maybe one of the two Republicans in the Bush administration who may have an idea what is going on and how to fix it. Second, a president cannot fire the chair of an independent regulatory commission like the SEC. While the president nominates and the Senate confirms the SEC chair, a commissioner of an independent regulatory commission cannot be removed by the president. From time to time, presidents have attempted to remove commissioners who have proven “uncooperative.” However, the courts have general upheld the independence of commissioners. The president may ask for the SEC chairman to resign, but he cannot fire him. I think McCain is a hot head. He never vetted Sarah Palin, his suspension of his campaign and threat not to attend the first debate was an attempt to gain headlines, and he does not know U. S. Constitutional law.

In Georgia, the Clarion Issue worked and lobbied for a two party state; however, today it is a one party state dominated by the Republican Party. With very little checks on his power, Governor Sonny Perdue is working to get access to the teacher retirement fund while denying retired teachers cost of living increases. The same Republican government is cutting funding to schools and school programs all over the state. Teachers and other state employees have not received decent or even cost of living raises in over five years. At the same time other state budgets are being cut while the state marches ahead with tax cuts. Voters can easily look south at Florida and its revenue woes from tax cuts. Look at what the tax cuts have done to California, in the middle of the national seven-hundred-billion-dollar bail out of Wall St. America will be called on to issue the Bear Flag state a ten billion dollar transfusion of its own. The reason: tax cuts. Tax cuts are nice, but when the ambulance or fire truck takes 27 minutes to show up at your door instead of seven, was the tax cut really worth it? When you child or grandchild is in the eighth grade and reads on a forth grade level, was the tax cut worth it?

In summing up the presidential race, America suffered 159,000 job losses in September alone. The total job loss for 2008 is estimated at 760,000 jobs across the nation. Many good jobs have gone overseas during the last eight years, and American workers have been forced to train their foreign replacements and even disassemble the plants where they were employed for shipment overseas or to Latin America. By now you have seen your latest 401K or 403B statements and wondered what happened to the money you had ten months ago. The massive loss of jobs and the plunging economy have occured as the Bush Administration insisted the economy was sound, a sentiment echoed time and again by Senator McCain during the primaries and for months until mid-September. In the midst of rising inflation, rising energy costs, rising health care costs, rising individual bankruptcies, and the housing crisis, the Republican Party got it wrong. America is now in the midst of two costly and probably unwinnable wars, both of which Senator McCain insists he knows how to win. McCain insists on continued tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans while the trillion-dollar Iraq War, the unknown cost of the War in Afghanistan, and the virtual trillion dollar Wall St. bail out have gone on the tax payers credit card. I’m mad as hell and see no where else to lay the blame but at the feet of Pres. Bush, the Republicans in Congress who supported his policies and ran up these debts, and John McCain, who for the most part was part of that Republican majority.

I feel the same way about the Republicans in Georgia. There may be a few local Republicans I may vote for but not many.

Will the Democrats do any better? Probably not; however, if the ship has not totally gone down maybe a change of crew can help. Maybe one day there will be a third party that really cares about the American worker and middle class. Maybe by 2012 there will be real leaders with real plans supported by real Americans, but for now I guess I’ll vote for the other party. If the guard does change in Washington or Georgia, rest assured the Clarion Issue will be as hard on the new crew as it has been on the old crew. But for now, I’m raising my window and shouting, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore!”

GEN. WESLEY CLARK ENDORSES DEMOCRAT BILL GILESPIE IN GEORGIA’S FIRST DISTRICT ELECTION

2008-09-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

Former NATO Commander and 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate indicates Congress needs Gillespie's military experience and economic ideas.

In September, Gen. Wesley Clark and his political action committee, WesPAC-Securing America’s Future, endorsed Democrat Bill Gillespie in Georgia’s First Congressional District election.

Gillespie served 23 years in the Army, working in various leadership positions while stationed in places such as Korea, Germany and the Middle East. He served in Iraq as Senior Logistician for the Third Infantry Division, earning a Bronze Star. Gillespie retired last year as a Lt. Colonel and disabled veteran.

Clark said, “I am proud to endorse Lt. Col. (ret.) Bill Gillespie for Congress. America has reached a critical point, and we need strong leaders in Washington with the courage, knowledge and integrity to overcome our many challenges at home and abroad. Bill’s ideas to develop alternative energy, lower taxes for families and small businesses and recruit manufacturing back to America are just what the ailing economy needs. I also support Bill because he’ll fight hard to increase healthcare, education and other benefits for our brave veterans. Bill represents a hope for change in southeast Georgia - a change to government that represents the people not just special interests with lots of money.”

Clark, who was a 2004 candidate for President, spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving many military decorations. He commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his term as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1997 to 2000.

Gillespie said, “I am honored by the endorsement of Gen. Wesley Clark, one of our country’s finest military and political leaders. We share many goals, especially making sure our country honors the sacrifices of our troops and their families by taking good care of them when they return home. Last year the Democratic-majority in Congress passed the largest ever funding increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans’ Administration. It is still not enough. The toll of the War on Terror on our military has been large, and I will seek even more increases in funding for veterans benefits.”

Gillespie, who has also proposed that all veterans get a healthcare card that allows them to seek care outside the VA system at whatever facility they prefer, says his career as an Army leader and soldier has prepared him well to be a Congressman who can defend America from terrorism and lead the United States toward winning the peace in Iraq.

His top domestic issue is creating the South Georgia Alternative Energy Alliance, making the region the center of American research and production of agri-fuel, solar, wind, methane and other alternative energies.

Gillespie’s other top issues include: improving benefits for veterans, lowering taxes for families and small businesses, saving Social Security from privatization, stopping illegal immigration, reforming the healthcare and insurance industries, repealing the No Child Left Behind Act, balancing the federal budget, protecting South Georgia’s natural resources and promoting ‘sustainable development.’

BILL GILLESPIE’S BIOGRAPHY

Bill Gillespie of Chatham County served 23 years in the U.S. Army, retiring last year as a Lt. Colonel and a disabled veteran. In 2003, he served in Iraq as Senior Logistician for the Third Infantry Division, earning a Bronze Star.

Other positions held in the military include Inspector General, West Point professor, Chief of Staff for the Third Infantry Division Rear Command Post, Operations Director of the Army Ordnance Center and Chief of Leadership and Tactics of the Army Ordnance Center. Gillespie has traveled to six continents and been stationed overseas in Kuwait, Korea and Germany. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Combat Action Badge, Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, Master Instructor Award, and three NCAA Championships as coach of the West Point Orienteering Team.

Most recently, Gillespie worked as southeast Georgia’s Army ROTC Program Director, charged with supervising ROTC programs at Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah College of Art & Design and St. Leo University. He also ran all of southeast Georgia’s Army Junior ROTC Programs.

Gillespie has earned B.S. and M.A. degrees in Environmental Science from Towson University, and a PH.D (ABD) in Immigration Studies and Cultural Geography from the University of Maryland. Gillespie has taught classes on Geography, Military History and Leadership at West Point, Georgia Southern, Armstrong Atlantic State and Maryland. He is also a published author on subjects such as Education, Geography and History.

He currently teaches a course to veterans at Fort Stewart in Hinesville designed to help them learn the skills necessary to transition into civilian life and gain employment.

Gillespie has been active in community organizations such as the American Red Cross, Farm Bureau, Kiwanis, Rotary, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Historic Savannah Foundation, Savannah Downtown Community Association, Chatham County Democratic Committee, and Georgia Southern University’s Science & Technology Board and Irish Studies Board.

This information was provided to the Clarion Issue by the Bill Gillespie campaign. The web site is http://www.billforgeorgia.com .

Editor’s note: Bill Gillespie is running for Congress against Republican Jack Kingston, the eight term congressman form Georgia’s First Congressional District. The Clarion Issue remembers when Kingston ran on term limits!

ISLAMIC CLERIC ISSUES FATWAH AGAINST MICKEY MOUSE

2008-09-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

On September 19, 2008, a Saudi Arabian Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Munajid, declared a fatwah (death sentence) on Mickey Mouse claming the cartoon icon is, “One of Satan’s solders and makes everything it touches impure.” The cleric, a former diplomat at the Saudi embassy in Washington DC, said that under Sharia law, Arab tribal law used as Islamic Holy Law, both household mice and their cartoon counterparts must be killed. Of course, this is the same Saudi Arabia that president George Bush was seen holding hands with its princes and sword dancing in their palaces while they jacked up the price of oil during our national energy emergencies.

The Fatwah came in an interview with Al-Majd Television. The sheikh condemned all cartoons that endear rodents to their viewers (including Tom and Jerry) warning the depictions of these creatures in cartoons had taught children that the creatures were loveable. He went on to condemn many of the popular Turkish soap operas popular on the Muslim TV cable networks.

The Clarion Issue is happy to report the Disney charters are taking the fatwah seriously. Donald Duck and his nephews Huey, Louie, and Dewey are in hiding in New Jersey with the mob under the protection of the Soprano family, while Goofy is at an undisclosed location with Vice President Cheney. The Vice President has checked his shotgun and promised not to use Goofy as a quail dog this hunting season. However, Mickey and Minnie Mouse refused protection and will stay in Disneyland under the protection of the Alaskan National Guard, commanded by Generalissimo Sarah Palin, to help build up her National Security credentials.

In an unrelated story, on the same day a group calling itself ‘Group XP’ hacked into the website of Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and placed a video of comedian Bill Maher making fun of the Ayatollah and his advice to the Shiite faithful, as well as posting messages on the site.

The hackers said they are upset at the sexual nature of the advice given to faithful by al-Sistani through a spokesperson. Those who have studied the attack believe that the Maher video (taken off youtube) is meant to illustrate how such advice promotes mockery of Islam. The communications said it was hacking this and other sites giving a "bad name" to Sunnis upset over fatwas, or edicts, issued on the site. News reports link the hackers or Group XP to Wahhabis, fundamentalist Sunnis, who are a major sect in Saudi Arabia.

Sources indicate Christian sites that insult Islam and sexually oriented sites run by Arab Christians out of Israel were also hacked on the same day.

"Appeal For Redress" Founder to Headline Local Peace Celebration In Glynn Co.

2008-09-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

GlynnPeace Press Release

Navy Petty Officer Jonathan W. Hutto, Sr., will be among the speakers at a community celebration of the International Day of Peace, hosted by GlynnPeace on Sunday, September 21st. The event will be held at the Farmers' Market pavilion at Mary Ross Waterfront Park A community meal will be served.

Hutto is a native of Atlanta and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 2004. Two years later, with a small group of fellow servicemen and women, he began Appeal for Redress (www.appealforredress.org), which provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional representative and senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. Hutto, currently stationed in Norfolk, VA, speaks often of the little-understood ability of active duty military personnel to exercise their citizenship rights.

Joining Hutto will be Iraq War veterans Maggie Martin, Jason Hurd, and Doug Ament. Maggie Martin spent five years and two months in the Army, 14 months of which was under "stop loss" (involuntarily extended). During that five years she was deployed for eight months to Kuwait for Operation Desert Spring, another eight months between Kuwait and Iraq with the initial 2003 invasion of Iraq, and finally for a year in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom III. She is currently a student at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah and has been a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War for a year.

Jason Hurd is also living in Savannah now. He completed 10 years of honorable service in the U.S. Army and the Tennessee Army National Guard. From November 2004 to November 2005 Hurd served in central Baghdad as a medic for Bristol, Tennessee's Troop F 2/278th Regimental Combat Team. He graduated in May 2007 from East Tennessee State University.

Douglas Ament joined the military in 1988, worked for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, and helped the United Nations run the 2005 Iraqi elections. He is now a graduate student at Emory University in Atlanta.

The United Nations established the International Day of Peace in 1981 and in 2001 declared the annual date as September 21st for a worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observation of peace, nonviolence, and global ceasefire. Building peace one day at a time is the vision behind the United Nations resolution. Events marking the day are observed worldwide, including a minute of silence at Noon.

The local community celebration of the International Day of Peace is co-sponsored by GlynnPeace: Citizens To End The War In Iraq and the Social Justice Team of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Coastal Georgia. Following morning observances during church worship services, a community gathering will take place at the Farmers' Market pavilion in Mary Ross Waterfront Park, on Bay Street in downtown Brunswick, beginning with the Noon minute of silence. Participants are encouraged to bring an international dish to share, but some food and drinks will be provided by the sponsors. Music will be provided by local musician Bill Owens. There will be special activities for children, literature tables, an opportunity to register to vote, and lots of food and fellowship. The time together will include brief presentations from Hutto, Hurd, Martin, and Ament, ending at 3:00 PM.

"Recognizing that churches let out at different times," says organizer Robert Randall, "we wanted to keep the schedule fluid. Folk can come anytime after church, put their dish on the serving table, dig in and eat, and just enjoy the time together with other neighbors. Kids can join in the activities for them. Listen to Bill. Talk with our guests. It's a time to put aside violence and live in peace."

Organizers plan to have the pavilion well decorated with signs, banners, and flags of many nations. "It's an international celebration, emphasizing that we're all in this together and we all want peace," stated Cathy Browning, another organizer of the event.

The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information call 262-1274 or 996-6523 or visit www.glynnpeace.org.

THE MOUNTAINS THEY MUST CLIMB: WHAT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES MUST OVERCOME TO WIN IN NOVEMBER

2008-09-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

By R. A. Pearson

The summer campaign season and party conventions are over, and now Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama must take their message to the voters of America in what appears to be a toss up election. Both candidates are well financed and the 527 groups are loaded for bear. However, both candidates have certain obstacles, even within their own parties, they must overcome if they hope to win in November. As the campaign season begins in earnest, as the political ads start to roll, as the polls that matter start to come in, we should take a look at the candidates and see what each candidate needs to overcome in order to win in November.

For John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the obvious first obstacle for the candidate is his age, 72. There have been times when Senator McCain has seemed addled on events, such as the time he got confused on the religious affiliates of the various parties in the Iraq conflict, confusing Sunni and Shiite factions, and the time he referred to Czechoslovakia, a state which no longer exists. Recently he mispronounced the name of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili several times while claiming to have personal contacts with the Georgian President.

The recent gain of McCain in the polls can be traced to his ability to finally unite his party. He seems to have brought in the Tom Tancredo anti-immigration wing although he supported a rather liberal comprehensive immigration package which angered the anti immigration faction in the Republican Party. With the addition of Gov. Palin to the ticket he also seems to be winning the majority of the evangelical Christian vote, although how much and how enthusiastically has yet to be seen. McCain’s stance on Supreme Court and other judges and his anti-abortion feelings will also hurt his chances as he tries to pick up any Democratic women voters still upset over the defeat of Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Presidential nomination contest.

At times during the summer McCain’s campaign looked disorganized, off message, and mismanaged. When Obama was in Germany making his speech to some 200,000 Germans, McCain was in Columbus, Ohio, at Schmidt’s Fudge Haus buying a box of truffles and dining at a German Restaurant on German Sausages. Later the Senator was in New Orleans for a tour of oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to prove they were safe and efficient, but the plans had to be scrapped due to Hurricane Dolly which closed down the oil rigs. Almost simultaneously a massive oil spill in the Mississippi River occurred when a tugboat collided with an oil tanker spilling almost 450,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the Mississippi River. New management has brought the McCain campaign more in line and on message; however, McCain has a tendency to get off message and onto more comfortable ground, especially in his easily orchestrated, softball pitching, “preaching to the choir” town hall meetings.

In terms of the economy McCain has two problems. The first is he has admitted he does not have a firm handle on economic issues, an honest strait talk admission of weakness on his part but one that may hurt him in the weakened economy. The other is he is a free trade Republican, a stand that may hurt his chances to pick up the votes of those lunch box blue collar and other middle class Reagan Democrats he will need to carry the all important battleground states such as Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and several others that will be in play in this election. Polls show voters prefer Obama 50% to 30% to McCain when it comes to the economy.

The McCain energy program, at least when it comes to off shore drilling, seems to be playing well with voters. Over 65% of American voters want off shore drilling to lower gas prices; however, most of these voters are in the heartland where off shore drilling would have little affect on their economy or environment. Where McCain’s energy meets resistance in the heartland is with his nuclear energy policy. While Cleveland, Ohio, voters may see no problem with an oil well off the coast of California, they do not want to see a nuclear power plant one mile away from the Cleveland Wal-Mart. McCain indicated he would have returned Congress to Washington over the summer break to pass important energy legislation; however, in 2007 McCain missed 11 energy related votes on topics such as automobile fuel economy, offshore Virginia drilling, refinery construction, renewable electricity mandates, energy efficiency, support for biofuels, and other energy issues. He also failed to point out at the same time he was calling for Congress to return, Pres. Bush was in Bejing hobnobing with the corporate Communists at the Olympic games or on vacation at his Texas ranch.

On Iraq McCain contends America can “win the war” by staying. Here most Americans want to leave Iraq and the Bush administration and Iraqi government are agreeing to “time horizons” sometime at the end of 2010. This is almost a stab in the back for the McCain position. The Arizona Senator may have another problem with his Iraq policy. The Center for Responsive Politics reports the troops on the battlefield are giving money six to one to Obama over McCain. While it is hard to read the tea leaves on this one, America has to realize the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been fought by .05% of the American population, many of whom have now served three or four tours in the war zones. It is also a fact the Army has seen a sharp increase in the number of younger officers resigning their commissions. Whether this money is coming from the officers, the enlisted personnel, or the military as a whole, it could spell trouble for the Republicans if they loose the military vote.

McCain’s recent ‘house gaffe’ really hurt him with the American people. Most Americans know how many houses they own. To not know he owned seven homes showed him a little out of touch with the typical American struggling with real ‘kitchen table’ issues in today’s economy.

However, McCain’s worst enemy is the unpopularity of the current president, George Bush. In what has been billed as the “New Misery Index” (remembering Ronald Regan’s “Misery Index” of 1980) if you add those who believe the country is going the wrong way to those who dislike the job President Bush is doing the “New Misery Index” equals about 160%. This lands squarely on the back of the Republican standard bearer. Republican Representative Tom Davis of Virginia quipped, “The Republican brand is in the trash can. I've often observed that if we were a dog food, they would take us off the shelf.” McCain may be a maverick, but if the Democrats can weld him to the Republicans in general and Pres. Bush in particular, it will be a long campaign for McCain.

Nation wide polls show the Hispanic vote, other than the Cuban vote in Florida, breaking for Obama, putting Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico in play. This could not bode well for McCain. Another factor, the purchase of Budweiser by the Belgian Company InBev may include the American distribution of the Cuban beers Bucanero and Cristal beer by Budweiser and InBev, a move which could cost McCain the Cuban vote in Florida, a state seen by many to be already in play.

To win McCain must get out of the town halls and address real non-committed voters, not just the converted. He needs to sharpen his economic message. He must also hold the Bush states of 2004. He needs to end his gaffes, stay on the message of the day, and put as much distance between himself and Pres. Bush as possible.

For Barack Obama, and his running mate, Joseph Biden of Delaware, there are also a host of mountains to climb to win the electoral votes needed to win in November. Obama’s obvious weakness is his lack of experience in politics; however, many Americans consider this a positive. He has also been forced to spend a lot of time attempting to unite a divided party, had his patriotism questioned, and must convince the American people he is a fit commander-in-chief of our nation’s armed forces. His hills are just as high as his Republican rival’s.

For Obama the major hurdle is his inexperience. During the last Presidential election he was in the Illinois Senate with his eyes on a U.S. Senate seat. One of the best things to happen to Obama was the cartoon cover of the New Yorker showing him and his wife because the cover caused such a stir if kept people from reading the article inside. The article by Ryan Lizza indicated Obama had moved up in Chicago politics very quickly and never really became proficient in any elected position. He never held leadership roles in the State Legislature and his bid for the presidency after only two years in the U.S. Senate is seen as premature. Lizza indicates people who knew, worked with and liked Obama felt he was over ambitious, never really settling into a job and learning it, passing real positive legislation, and working with legislators on tough bills especially with those across the aisle. Lizza concludes Obama was always trading up and the fact he is accused of a lack of experience is justified for those who wish to point to that fact.

Obama has also had his patriotism questioned. The criticism for his refusal to wear a flag pin on his lapel was a little over the top promulgated by the right wing talk show hosts who are predisposed to eat the elephant crap off the street; however, at one point he did not put his hand over his heart during the national anthem at a major event. This is not unpatriotic, it is correct to simply stand at attention unless you are wearing a hat, them one removes the hat and holds it over their heart. Individuals express their patriotism in different ways. Let’s not let ‘can I borrow a hit of oxycodone’ Rush Limbaugh tell the nation how patriotism needs to be expressed.

In reference to Iraq, Obama plans to withdraw from the conflict with in two years of becoming president. This plan now seems in line with Iraqi wishes. A major problem with Obama’s Iraq policy could come in the form of American backlash from the 2006 elections when voters gave Democrats control of the House and Senate upon the promise the party would stop the war in Iraq. While there was weak posturing and maneuvering in both houses to end funding for the war, the leadership of both houses of Congress capitulated to the Bush administration and voted to fund the war when they could have not voted the funds. How much voters blame Obama for the Democratic failure on this issue remains to be seen.

On the issue of Commander-in-Chief, voters prefer McCain 50% to Obama 40% in a general average of the polls. Here Obama has climbed a little over the summer since his favorable trip overseas. McCain's team sought to highlight Obama's failure to visit wounded troops from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars at the Landstuhl US military hospital in Germany as a failure on Obama’s part and here the Democrat was between the proverbable rock and a hard place. If he went it was “political;” if he did not he was failing the troops. His decision not go to the hospital was probably the only real hiccup of the trip. However, Obama’s week off in August as the Georgia crisis unfolded in Asia let McCain and Republican 527 ads define Obama on certain issues with negative ads.

It seems the Democrats and Obama may be coming around on off shore drilling as long as the energy package is inclusive and includes all types of energy solutions to the energy problems. However, Americans must realize this is a complex problem and deserves a complicated solution. There is no easy solution to a problem America and its political and industrial leaders have ignored for 40 years.

Another major problem Obama must overcome is to unite the Democrats. He still faces a disunited party with Hillary PUMAS (Party Unity My Ass) angry about the way women have been treated within the party and the nation as a whole and angry lunch bucket blue-collar Democrats unsure of his ability to identify with their issues. Obama needs votes in the rust belt states of Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania to win in November.

Obama is also relying on a massive youth vote, especially on college campuses. Will these potential voters vote? In a day when college is more expensive, loans are harder to obtain, and students graduate with more debt than ever before, these young people have a lot at stake. This may be the year they vote in record numbers and the Obama forces are well organized on campuses all over America to help make it happen.

However, the elephant in the room, pardon the pun on party mascots, is the fact even Obama has alluded too, he is African-American. While the news media politely tap dances around this by calling his campaign “historic,” the question really is, “Will white Americans vote for an African-American.” If so why were so many lunch box Democrats unwilling to switch from Senator Clinton’s camp to Obama when their platforms were virtually the same? America may still hold strong racial feeling deep inside, and this election may expose them.

To win Obama must convince America what his idea of change is all about. He needs to flesh it out and discuss how he will pay for it. He needs to stay strong on Iraq. He must win over the PUMAS, the lunch box Democrats, and get out the youth vote. Finally he needs to wear a blue shirt now and then; this may help with many of the groups he needs to win over.

For both candidates the race to November 4 is less than 50 days away. Which candidate can climb the mountains and win the voters he needs to win will be watched and analyzed by America’s voters in the next month and a half.

15 MAJOR WAYS TO SAVE GAS

2008-09-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Editorial Staff

As oil and gas prices remain high, several newspaper articles and TV news networks have introduced ideas to help consumers save gas and money. The Clarion Issue has looked and listened to many of these, taken the best ideas, and added a few of our own to help you, our loyal readers, make it through these tough times.

GET ANY “CHECK ENGINE” LIGHT CHECKED OUT This could be a faulty oxygen sensor, a fairly common cause of those unexplained “check engine” lights and can actually cost you up to 40 percent of your engine’s performance. If the light's on, get it checked now. It could pay for itself very quickly.

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE This point is on all short lists on saving gas. According to some government estimates, the average driver could boost their fuel efficiency by 25 percent just by keeping their tires inflated.

CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER A clogged air filter can rob your engine of 10 percent of its efficiency. A new air filter can get that 10 percent back, usually for under $25. Check your lawnmower’s air filter too.

SLOW DOWN On the highway, stay close to the speed limit, and keep your speed as constant as traffic allows. Most cars reach optimal gas mileage at about 60 miles per hour. Speeding up increases wind resistance against the car, making the engine work harder and burn more gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each 5 mph over 60 that you drive decreases fuel efficiency by up to seven percent. In town avoid speeding up rapidly after stops at red lights and stop signs and coast to stops. The EPA estimates that accelerating rapidly and braking hard can reduce your car's fuel efficiency by as much as five percent, and that may be a low estimate. Look at it this way, are you willing to spend money to stop at a red light sooner?

REGULATE THE A/C USE Some air conditioners rob an engine up to five percent of its fuel economy. There is some controversy about this one, many newer cars are able to compensate for the energy used by the air conditioner and do not suffer the same penalty for keeping the car cool. However, there is no need to blow the cold air past you with the fan on high if there is no one in the back seat. Do not use the ‘Maximum A/C’ in the early morning, late evening, night, or when weather conditions make it unnecessary to do so. There is no need to freeze to be comfortable.

KEEP YOUR ENGINE IN TUNE Most people can boost their car’s mileage by four percent with a simple tune-up.

GET RID OF EXTRA WEIGHT IN AND ON THE CAR A driver can save 13 gallons a year for every 100 pounds removed from the car of truck. Think about things in your trunk or truck bed: the two sets of golf clubs, the three 50 lb bags of dog food, the cases of water you will “bring in later.” Government estimates say that an extra 100 pounds in your car can reduce fuel efficiency by up to two percent. That is just an average; the smaller the car, the more extra weight makes the engine work harder. Also look at items outside your car, which add weight and cut wind resistance. Do you have a roof rack? Wind resistance is the enemy of fuel efficiency. Every time you drive it is making your car fight wind resistance and burn fuel. Most of the time, that is money you are spending to carry an empty roof rack. You could get a two percent boost by taking the thing off. You can always put it on when you need it. How much other stuff do you have on your car adding weight and negative wind resistance that could come off 95% of the time?

DO NOT IDLE YOUR CAR AT THE QUICK STOP Many people believe it cost more to turn a car off and on than to run it for a few minuets. That may have been true 20 years ago but not now. It is cheaper and safer to turn off the car for a quick errand into a Quick Mart than to run a car for three of four minutes.

CHANGE YOUR OIL ON TIME Changing your oil and oil filter when your car manufacture’s guide recommends you to do so (usually after 3,000 miles) and using the recommended grade gives you back one percent of your car's mileage rating. It will also extend the life of your car’s engine. Check the oil in your lawn mower too.

CARPOOL IF YOU CAN In a day when many people live more than 25 miles from where they work, carpools are a good way to save on gas and the wear and tear on automobiles. Here are a few tips for a successful carpool. Do not overload the car. Five adults in a compact car is a little extreme. A good carpool is usually three people. Agree on the rules: who will drive and when, will we stop for coffee, when do we leave for work and after work. Also remember to be flexible, unscheduled meetings do pop up; however, if you know you have a meeting and may run late, drive that day unless the rest of the pool is willing to stay late and catch up on paperwork.

COMBINE TRIPS AND MAKE A LIST When running errands combine trips to the store, dry cleaner, pharmacy, school, and other stops so you are not covering the same distance between home and the business areas of town more than necessary. When picking up the children from school or play, after asking about their day ask do they need anything (pencils, pens, poster board) or do they have any projects due (you may need to stop at the library). Make a list of stores you need to stop at, what you need to do, and the items you need to purchase. Mark the items off it as you accomplish it or buy the items. It would be bad to get home with the vodka, dry Martini wine, and realize you forgot the olives even though they were on the list; you just did not notice the olives on the list while you were in the store. Make the list, check it twice and remember to take it with you!

LOOK FOR TRIPS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE AND CUT THEM OUT Do you have a left over post office box you have to check three times a week even though your mail is now delivered to your home? Is the PO box an absolute necessity or have you just not got around to doing all the change of address paperwork? How many things do we have hanging in our daily or weekly routines that are carryovers and could be altered to conserve fuel? At over $3.50 a gallon it may be worth trying out a new dry cleaner, dance school, closer to home or even a new church if you really drive a long distance for that special service.

KEEP STAPLES AND SUPPLIES HANDY This includes more than dog food, rice, macaroni and cheese, and those little packs of cheese crackers or potato chips that go in the kids lunches every day that go in the pantry. Think of what do I have to make a 6:00 run to the store once a week for that I could buy on my weekly trip to the shopping center and save money on both gas and the price of the item. Items such as school supplies: pencils, pens, paper, folders, and other items could be kept in a box near where your children do their homework and ready for home or school use. Don’t forget the ‘surprise’ “I need poster board for a project due tomorrow” refrain. Have poster board, markers, and project supplies handy also.

DO NOT WASTE GAS GOING HOME If you are taking a child to a dance or karate lesson, sports practice, or some other activity stay and read a book. If you have other children read to or with them or take a ball or toy and play with them. This could be good ‘our time’ for you and your children. If you have to cook, become a master of crock-pot cooking for those days when you may be late getting home. Crock-pot cooking is easy and even saves on the home energy bill.

USE A SPOUSE FOR QUICK STOP ITEMS Today with cell phones and other quick methods of communication, it is easy to communicate with anyone anytime. If you see you need a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread call your spouse and have them stop at the local quick stop and pick it up as they pass it on the way home. You can save a trip, time, and a gallon of gas by doing so.

These are just a few ideas we saw in the various sources on the web and a few the staff discussed. If you have any you would like to add feel free to do so.