By J. Randolph Evans
The recently averted federal government shutdown has increased the focus on the federal budget crisis. Politicians (and talking heads) throw around words like ‘federal deficit’ and ‘federal debt’ as if they were interchangeable. Yet, these words actually mean very different things. In today’s world of spend, spend, spend, understanding these words and their implications has never been more important.
‘Federal Deficit.’ First, and importantly, the federal … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
The moment finally came.
No one can credibly blame President George W. Bush. No matter how hard they try, or how convoluted their logic, there is simply no way to blame President Bush for the earthquake in Japan, the tsunami that followed, or the bombings in Libya.
By J. Randolph Evans
What is this all about – really? That has to be the question that many Americans are asking after the United States led military strikes into Libya in a civil war. No one, especially those in the Obama Administration, seems to have a credible answer to that question. Here is the scorecard so far.
Is it about weapons of mass destruction? Nope. There is not even … 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
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 – Column No. 1053 (1/28/11)
Well, it is that time. The announcements by potential 2012 Presidential candidates have started and will continue at a much faster and more furious pace. There will be three kinds of announcements.
First, there will be the “I am not running” announcements. The best example of this category is Congressman Mike Pence from Indiana. In recent years, Congressman Pence has often … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
Governor Nathan Deal has started downsizing the size of government in Georgia, kicking off the process in his proposed state budget with the de-authorization of thousands of government jobs that are currently unfilled.
Next, Governor Deal plans a steady re-organization of state government with an eye toward eliminating redundancy, streamlining services, and applying technology to move Georgia into the 21st Century. These are the necessary fundamentals … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans Column No. 1051 (1/14/11)
Governing Georgia will be a lot tougher than it looks over the next couple of years. Georgia Republicans will now have to deliver without excuses on some of the toughest problems in the history of the State.
It is the price of success. With complete control of every Constitutional office and both chambers in the Georgia General Assembly, Georgians have given Republicans … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans – Why do folks read this column? Based on the letters to the editors, there are a few reasons (some not so good, some downright funny). One good reason is that readers get a pretty good preview of things to come long before they happen. As political insider Matt Towery often notes, prognosticating is a lot of fun at the time, but can be a little … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans – The two most underused words in the world are “thank you.” So often, in the whirl of current events and the frantic pace of nonstop lifestyles, there never seems to be enough time to stop and recognize the truly priceless gifts from the few. Yet, they ask so little and give so much.
Thank you Marine Pfc. Jason H. Estopinal who died while serving his … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans – Every year about this time, folks – young and old – think about all the things that they wish for. Politicians wish for more power. Presidents wish for better approval ratings. Companies wish for more customers. And people wish for more jobs. Amidst it all, there is often a brutal reminder that puts everything back into perspective. While most people wish for many things, people … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans – As Georgians consider their new governor, here are a few thoughts on the current governor. No governor in Georgia history has changed Georgia’s landscape more than its 81st governor – Governor Sonny Perdue (and Georgia has been the home to some rather flamboyant and colorful governors).
For most folks, it is difficult to imagine the Georgia that existed before Governor Perdue. To fully appreciate it, … Read more...