NOTE: This Observation Column was published March 17 in the Cherokee Tribune and I received two call that day from ex-service men who were serving in Japan at the same time, one on my base at Matsushima, Japan.
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
Anyone watching the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake, followed by many lesser earthquakes, and the 33 foot high tsunami that hit northern Japan last week had to … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
Option 1: Do nothing until there is a complete crisis requiring
Draconian measures that include either scrapping the program altogether
or dramatically raising taxes only to delay the next crisis. Of course,
this could easily describe Social Security in the United States. (The
actual name of the program is the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance [OASDI program]).
By J. Randolph Evans
Just 176,627 Georgians elected Justice David Nahmias to the Georgia Supreme Court for a full six-year term. The end result is not so surprising given that he was one of the most qualified candidates for the court in the history of Georgia. Indeed, most lawyers would agree that he is qualified for the United States Supreme Court. His credentials were so impressive that he appeared to … Read more...
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
Apparently I was born in the wrong generation because I find it hard to comprehend and fully use the internet technology (IT) available today. Yes, I have a computer, and yes, I use the internet, but when my computer goes down, as they all do, I have to turn to a younger generation to restore my computer.
My difficulties today with today’s IT technology, I … Read more...
Madison Forum
Advocating Constitutional Government
Michael S. Opitz, President
mopitz@mindspring.com
March 7, 2011
US House of Representatives:
Congressman Phil Gingrey
Congressman Tom Price
US Senate:
Senator Saxby Chambliss
Senator Johnny Isakson
Senator Rand Paul
Re: Government Cost Reduction
The Madison Forum convened its monthly breakfast meeting on Saturday, February 26, 2011 in Marietta, Georgia. Forty people were in attendance.
The primary topic on our agenda was “Government Cost Reduction”. During … Read more...
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
Civility in politics is possible – but not very likely! Politics is the means whereby free people express themselves and choose candidates for public office whose views of government are most closely in tune with their own views of government. In recent days I have been told by many that they refuse to watch the TV or read the paper because they are ‘turned off’ … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
From the news coverage, some viewers and readers might think that
networks and cable news had never covered a Presidential campaign. So
far, there has been little more than mass confusion about exactly how
Presidential campaigns work in the modern age of complicated federal
election laws. So, here is a basic tutorial for readers (and for those
in the news media interested in what is happening … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
What is the difference between former Georgia Attorney General Thurbert
Baker and President Barack Obama? This is not a trick question. The
answer actually signals a troublesome trend for democracy in America.
Both men were elected to perform very important jobs in the scheme of a
representative democracy. After all, democracies depend on faithful
public servants to fully perform their jobs to the best of their… Read more...
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
Last week I paid my tribute to Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th president. Today I will pay tribute to Georgia Washington, America’s 1st president – and whose 279th birthday anniversary will be next Tuesday, February 22. He was born in 1732 in Virginia.
The accolades I could use for George Washington are far too many for my limited space so I will reflect only on the … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
The Egyptian military has suspended Egypt’s constitution, dissolved its parliament and assumed control of the country. Basically, the Egyptian Armed forces, consisting of approximately 450,000 armed personnel, now control the lives of 85 million Egyptians.
No one should kid themselves about the place in which Egyptians find themselves. This is not the U. S. military where 200 years of history has ingrained the subservient role of … Read more...
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
The threat of a federal law suit by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State against the Cherokee County School system, as I understand it, is to keep the school system from using the Woodstock First Baptist Church as it graduation venue because the church has a large Cross sitting on top of its building. This has generated heated discussion throughout the … Read more...
Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey
This past week we who live in North Georgia witnessed firsthand the unbendable “Laws of Nature’s God” in action. Georgia’s snow and ice storm hit everyone equally – no forgiveness for friends or relatives caught in the ravages of this storm. Those prepared were able to ride out the storm; those caught unprepared paid a price. That is God’s law – everyone is treated … Read more...