Author Archive

By Michael Opitz

Let’s start with the basics in several educational disciplines. First let’s look at Civics.  The separation of church and state is not found in the U.S. Constitution.  It is, however, found in the Constitution of the former Soviet Union.  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has publicly lobbied the point that because the U.S. is part of the world community; they (members of the Supreme Court) must use other constitutions and international laws as input to arrive at their decisions.  There are other justices on the Supreme Court, and judges throughout the entire federal judiciary who support this expanded view of merging our laws and their rulings into the world community.

Congress would not confirm Federal Court Judges and Supreme Court Justices who subscribe to this world perspective if the judicial nominee had proclaimed that point of view during confirmation before the U.S. Senate.  Therefore, those who support this view are not qualified to sit on the Federal bench now, and congress bears the responsibility of removing them. This is basic Civics, and this subject is embedded in our nation’s history. It is solid subject matter in middle and high school, and the classroom civics discussion yields excellent education. Read the rest of this entry »

Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey

Educational issues cause political controversy – always have and always will. Some educational issues, like the current school board Ed-SPLOSH renewal issue, can even lead to political fire storms. But this current issue is only a candle compared to the school board issue that was created in the late 1990s.

During the 1990s Cherokee County was in the middle of its transformation from being primarily an agricultural community to becoming a bed-room and retirement community for Atlanta following the building of I-575 through the heart of the county. The county school superintendent was then an elected position and the county school board found itself without the expertise to make the transition from a static school population to a rapidly growing school population and was on the verge of losing its accreditation. That issue created a huge fire storm. Read the rest of this entry »

By J. Randolph Evans

As the 2012 elections approach, voters are starting to pay attention.
Everyone agrees that cable news and the internet (including Twitter and
Facebook) have changed the world – especially the way voters get their
information. Both cable news and the internet give them what they want
when they want it. Yet, local media coverage remains an influential
part of the voter decision-making process.

Every Georgia officeholder, candidate, and political party knows who the
bad reporters are. But, there are some very good local media sources. Read the rest of this entry »

Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey

Will the great congressional compromise of 2011, over the national debt ceiling, soon be forgotten? Maybe! And maybe not! What happens following this ‘great compromise’ will depend on how the parties to the compromise honor their commitments or if either party, or both, reneges on their commitments. History tells us that the actions of congressional leaders have not always been ‘trustworthy.’ No wonder Americans have so little trust in their Congress.

The proof of the pudding for this compromise will be determined by members of Congress, whether or not they will get a handle on the debt and bring spending under control. If they don’t America as it has existed for the past 225 years will vanish, over time, from history, as have many other nations who have ignored the principles of governing laid down by Jefferson’s ‘Creator’ via the Founding Fathers. Read the rest of this entry »

By J. Randolph Evans

Even WSB talk show host Erick Erickson could not resist. What was the topic? GOP Presidential candidate Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann eating a corndog at the Iowa State Fair!

What did this have to do with joblessness, taxes, spending, the federal deficit, or the war in Afghanistan? Nothing. Yet, the photograph of Congresswoman Bachmann eating a corndog made the rounds over the internet, cable news and talk radio. The commentary was full of innuendo and double entendre. Read the rest of this entry »