If libraries & especially the Newton County Library system's 3 locations are "irrelevant" and soon to be replaced by the Internet (where "everything is true because you can't lie on the Internet") then why are there people filling our libraries? Because there are so many more things in libraries in addition to books: CDs (audio books) DVDs, all sorts of printed material and many programs aimed at the needs of young and old.
I know some don't want to hear this but people can use the services of the library to discover the facts and check up on what government and businesses are up to. In tough economic times the library is the only place many people can go to apply for jobs as well as self-educate in order to get a better or different job.
The ability to vote for our elected officials is the cornerstone of our democratic repulic. Earl;y voting provides that opportunity for working people who might not be able to vote in the usual first-Tuesday-in-November election.
Its too bad for us that we cannot verify our actual vote and have to accept the results reported by the corporation that supplies the computers.
The real question is can we trust the Romney-Ryan & company to do what they have stated they will do? Start a war with Iran, end Midicare & Medicaid, Turn social Security over to Wall Street & the gambler-bankers, get workers to be thasnkful to work for a $1 a day. If your income is less than $250,000/year (middle income according to Mr. Romney), watch you taxes go up. If it is in the millions watch them go down.
I'm not making this up. These are the action items the R&R team have both stated and written that they plan to accomplish. Enjoy.
The real shame is that we have 47% who work in jobs that pay so little that they are exempt from income tax.
The real fact is the EVERYONE PAYS TAXES: sales taxes, FICA and so on.
The irony is that a man who's income is so great that he uses tax loop-holes to pay no income tax is complaing about others who make so little that they are exempt.
There are two competing issues tied up in the voter-ID issue: the right to cast a vote in an election and the necessary requirement that only registered citizens have that right to cast a vote. The Patriot Act of 2002 eliminated several of the rights U.S. citizens once had and has put us well down the road toward a police state. One of the requirements of the act is that we must all show proof that we are U.S. Citizens, born in the U.S. or naturalized to get a government issued ID. As a result we now are required to present our papers to authorities on demand. This is wasn’t the case before 9/11 and the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
When it comes to elections the real question is what are the problems? Is voter fraud a real problem? The G.W. Bush Justice department studied the matter and found fewer than 100 instances of illegal voting across the entire U.S. and the majority of such votes were for voting in the wrong polling place. The study ignored the fact that where voting is computerized, there is no way to verify that the numbers in the computer match up to real votes.
On top of all of this is the history in the south of denying the vote to anyone not deemed to be worthy of voting such as too poor, illiterate, or the wrong skin color. This denial was part of state laws and enforced by terroristic actions. Today the Voter-ID law will effectively eliminate those who cannot afford to collect the required papers and then spend the time and expense to travel to the government office to get the mandatory ID.
The real issue is should we deny the right to vote in U.S. elections to millions of citizens in order to try to stop 100 illegal votes.
No, What this means is that we underfund public education to the extent that the two groups most effected, parents/gaurdians and teachers must make up the difference. This is eth same as asking the heavy equipment operator to provide the fuel for his/her machines.
Face it head-on folks. We get the schools we pay for. A first class private school charges from $20,000 to $50,000 per year per student and still has a fund-raising department. Newton County Schools spend almost $8,000 each year per student which is more than the average expendature for the state of Georgia. When you buy cheap goods, you really shouldn't expect top quality. NCSS gives us more than we pay for. If you want to see where the porblem lies, go look in a mirror.
It turns out that if you want to look for a replacement or a 2nd or 3rd job, you can find an Internet commected computer to use for free at the library. It turns out that the resaon there isn't a full-time reference position at either library is that people are using Internet searches so they cut that position to adjust to changes in techology. It also turns out that as the economy goes down, the number of people using the library goes up.
The bottom line is that since the founding of our nation (Ben Frankin started a library for the public) libraries have been an essential resource for all our people, no matter what their income. The reason that we, you and I don't have more services and resources at our libraries is that our county and city elected officials don't believe that the library is important enough to fully fund, as comparied to the other demands on the county
We don't have anyone to blame but ourselves because we are in the process of electing our public servants right now.
Neither Turner, Johnson nor Perry blamed parents for "all of the problems with the schools system". They did say that the home environment was a key factor in the likelihood for success for any student. It turns out that parental involvement; along with class size are the ONLY two factors that reliably predict student outcomes.
The question was "how the school system will help children whose parents aren't involved to succeed" which is in essence asking that the school system take the place of the parent. I don’t recall that replacing the parent was part of the county school’s charter.
jjhayden3rd 1 month, 1 week ago on Library in need of repairs
Library in need of repairs
If libraries & especially the Newton County Library system's 3 locations are "irrelevant" and soon to be replaced by the Internet (where "everything is true because you can't lie on the Internet") then why are there people filling our libraries? Because there are so many more things in libraries in addition to books: CDs (audio books) DVDs, all sorts of printed material and many programs aimed at the needs of young and old.
I know some don't want to hear this but people can use the services of the library to discover the facts and check up on what government and businesses are up to. In tough economic times the library is the only place many people can go to apply for jobs as well as self-educate in order to get a better or different job.
Too bad libraries are "becoming obsolete".
jjhayden3rd 5 months, 4 weeks ago on Scenic route
Scenic route
I hope the cyclist figured out how to stay on his side of the road rather than riding down the stripes in the middle.
jjhayden3rd 7 months ago on Early voting proves popular
Early voting proves popular
The ability to vote for our elected officials is the cornerstone of our democratic repulic. Earl;y voting provides that opportunity for working people who might not be able to vote in the usual first-Tuesday-in-November election.
Its too bad for us that we cannot verify our actual vote and have to accept the results reported by the corporation that supplies the computers.
jjhayden3rd 8 months ago on Jack Simpson: Are we willing to gamble on another term for Obama?
Jack Simpson: Are we willing to gamble on another term for Obama?
The real question is can we trust the Romney-Ryan & company to do what they have stated they will do? Start a war with Iran, end Midicare & Medicaid, Turn social Security over to Wall Street & the gambler-bankers, get workers to be thasnkful to work for a $1 a day. If your income is less than $250,000/year (middle income according to Mr. Romney), watch you taxes go up. If it is in the millions watch them go down. I'm not making this up. These are the action items the R&R team have both stated and written that they plan to accomplish. Enjoy.
jjhayden3rd 8 months ago on Darrell Huckaby: In presidential politics, the truth hurts
Darrell Huckaby: In presidential politics, the truth hurts
The real shame is that we have 47% who work in jobs that pay so little that they are exempt from income tax. The real fact is the EVERYONE PAYS TAXES: sales taxes, FICA and so on. The irony is that a man who's income is so great that he uses tax loop-holes to pay no income tax is complaing about others who make so little that they are exempt.
jjhayden3rd 8 months, 3 weeks ago on Letter: 'It doesn't matter'
Letter: 'It doesn't matter'
There are two competing issues tied up in the voter-ID issue: the right to cast a vote in an election and the necessary requirement that only registered citizens have that right to cast a vote. The Patriot Act of 2002 eliminated several of the rights U.S. citizens once had and has put us well down the road toward a police state. One of the requirements of the act is that we must all show proof that we are U.S. Citizens, born in the U.S. or naturalized to get a government issued ID. As a result we now are required to present our papers to authorities on demand. This is wasn’t the case before 9/11 and the U.S.A. Patriot Act. When it comes to elections the real question is what are the problems? Is voter fraud a real problem? The G.W. Bush Justice department studied the matter and found fewer than 100 instances of illegal voting across the entire U.S. and the majority of such votes were for voting in the wrong polling place. The study ignored the fact that where voting is computerized, there is no way to verify that the numbers in the computer match up to real votes. On top of all of this is the history in the south of denying the vote to anyone not deemed to be worthy of voting such as too poor, illiterate, or the wrong skin color. This denial was part of state laws and enforced by terroristic actions. Today the Voter-ID law will effectively eliminate those who cannot afford to collect the required papers and then spend the time and expense to travel to the government office to get the mandatory ID. The real issue is should we deny the right to vote in U.S. elections to millions of citizens in order to try to stop 100 illegal votes.
jjhayden3rd 8 months, 3 weeks ago on Rob Jenkins: Another new school year, another lesson in basic Socialism
Rob Jenkins: Another new school year, another lesson in basic Socialism
No, What this means is that we underfund public education to the extent that the two groups most effected, parents/gaurdians and teachers must make up the difference. This is eth same as asking the heavy equipment operator to provide the fuel for his/her machines.
jjhayden3rd 8 months, 3 weeks ago on Newton Citizen Poll for Aug. 26, 2012
Newton Citizen Poll for Aug. 26, 2012
Face it head-on folks. We get the schools we pay for. A first class private school charges from $20,000 to $50,000 per year per student and still has a fund-raising department. Newton County Schools spend almost $8,000 each year per student which is more than the average expendature for the state of Georgia. When you buy cheap goods, you really shouldn't expect top quality. NCSS gives us more than we pay for. If you want to see where the porblem lies, go look in a mirror.
jjhayden3rd 9 months, 2 weeks ago on Library facing staffing shortage in wake of budget cuts
Library facing staffing shortage in wake of budget cuts
It turns out that if you want to look for a replacement or a 2nd or 3rd job, you can find an Internet commected computer to use for free at the library. It turns out that the resaon there isn't a full-time reference position at either library is that people are using Internet searches so they cut that position to adjust to changes in techology. It also turns out that as the economy goes down, the number of people using the library goes up. The bottom line is that since the founding of our nation (Ben Frankin started a library for the public) libraries have been an essential resource for all our people, no matter what their income. The reason that we, you and I don't have more services and resources at our libraries is that our county and city elected officials don't believe that the library is important enough to fully fund, as comparied to the other demands on the county We don't have anyone to blame but ourselves because we are in the process of electing our public servants right now.
jjhayden3rd 10 months, 1 week ago on BOE Dems go head to head
BOE Dems go head to head
Neither Turner, Johnson nor Perry blamed parents for "all of the problems with the schools system". They did say that the home environment was a key factor in the likelihood for success for any student. It turns out that parental involvement; along with class size are the ONLY two factors that reliably predict student outcomes.
The question was "how the school system will help children whose parents aren't involved to succeed" which is in essence asking that the school system take the place of the parent. I don’t recall that replacing the parent was part of the county school’s charter.