As of Friday, December 28, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
The Citizen Poll is a weekly compilation of reader comments on subjects of local interest. The Citizen publishes as many comments as space allows. Comments, which may be edited for space or content, are published anonymously on Sunday. To submit a comment, call 770-483-7108, ext. 402, email: poll@rockdalecitizen.com or complete the online form.----"I know a few people who are recently divorced who look to be jumping right back into another mess with someone new. It seems so stupid to me to start a relationship soon after a divorce. Something is obviously wrong with the way you picked your last spouse or the way you handled the marriage. Your lesson has not been learned in three weeks or a month or even a year in most cases. Lives get ruined every time you obey the stupid impulses that get you into these messes. Slow down. Put this newest relationship on hold. You can be by yourself for a while. The longer you are alone, the better you can see your own faults and not make any more huge mistakes. Especially if you have children. You know I'm right."----"Did you guys do a Citizen Poll for Dec. 23? I didn't see it and can't find it in the normal spot on the website."Editor's note: The posting has been corrected. Thanks.
"Thank you Wilson's Body Shop for the beautiful Christmas ad in the Citizen ... Lovely to see the Nativity! What Christmas is all about!"----"In 2003 laws were passed to arm airline pilots. Airline pilots were trained and armed under the federal flight deck officer program. Some airlines have up to 50 percent of their pilots armed at any given time. The program has been hailed as an efficient, effective and extremely inexpensive national defense measure. There have been very very few problems with the program. How many hijacked airplanes have we had since? How do you protect valuable people or materials? Armed guards or employees trained to carry and use weapons. Private schools (where your congressperson's kids go to school) have armed guards. We need to think about putting another obstacle for the crazies besides some new law that will not really help anything. I know this is a controversial issue, but let's all keep open minds and use common sense. Weapons are widely available, and it's likely they will be widely available in the future. A ban on new things sold is not likely to make a huge difference."----"Drivers entering Rockdale County on Highway 212 from DeKalb County encounter a passing lane at the county line and immediately pull into the left lane, hugging the yellow line. These drivers are either ignorant and can't read the sign that says 'Slower Drivers Keep Right' or arrogant and don't believe that sign pertains to them. It creates a dangerous situation when we have to pass on the right, hence the sign. Also about 90 percent of the drivers using Ga. Highway 20 from Honey Creek to I-20 interchange use the left lane no matter how fast they are traveling and creating the same unsafe condition."----"I just wanted to say thank you again to the sweet lady in Publix on Thursday who helped me with my son after he fell out of the buggy. She went to get a cool rag and ice for my 2-year-old son's head as everyone else stood and stared. She also offered to help with my grocery shopping. Thanks so much for your help. You calmed me and both my kids down as well."----"Lawmakers should be tougher on criminals and defense lawyers who get them off on technicalities. It's too easy to take protection away from law-abiding citizens just to say you tried something. Go after the criminals and quit being so weak about them. I am also OK with longer waiting periods and mandatory training but would like to see tougher penalties and I do not understand why liberals can't see that they are too soft on crime."----"I would hope that Mr. Obama would have more on his mind than his political agenda of gun control, and try and work something out for me on my taxes; as so many Americans now wish for .... as our government will support me for the next four years ... you know food stamps, welfare, free meals, Medicaid ... etc."----"Escorting my granddaughter to the gate at the Atlanta Airport (for she was traveling alone), she carried her laptop and book. We ate lunch and then she proceeded to open her laptop for we had some time. She asked me to hold her book for her. Being a smart child, I thought that she would be working on some smart math problem. Being from the old school of mind, I glanced at the program to see what she was working on, or should I say playing, Mind you my granddaughter is only 9 years old. It consisted of plant life figures shooting zombies with their guts flying all over the place. As I observed her skills, I thought of the children 6 and 7 that will miss Christmas this year. The foundations we as a society accept as laptop instruction for school-age children really don't appeal to me. The bottom line is attitude ... What we accept as educational games or material are nothing more than teaching our children violence. Control and regulations in my opinion should start with these types of games."----"Heritage needs a new wrestling coach. Time for that program to be taken to the next level with a coach that is passionate about the sport."----"One of the things I learned from Occupy Wall Street is that people will go completely nuts if we were to have a serious economic collapse like the Great Depression. If the extreme ones are willing to camp out and protest against the government because they cannot find a job, what would they do and who would they blame if everything tanked? Self-reliance in most city and suburban people is pretty much non-existent. I am not a doomsday prepper but I think firearms are necessary protections against people who will go wild. Many people are already immoral and don't mind cheating and stealing. That behavior will increase exponentially if they are desperate."
More like this story
- Rockdale Poll - 07-17-10 ( July 16, 2010 )
- Sept. 23 Rockdale Citizen Poll ( September 21, 2012 )
- The Rockdale Citizen Poll for Nov. 25, 2012 ( November 23, 2012 )
- Rockdale Poll - 11-06-10 ( November 5, 2010 )
- Rockdale Poll - 10-02-10 ( October 1, 2010 )
Comments
johndoemo_ 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is a quote from the President. He wants us to give up our protection but he has plenty for his family. "I always talk about how one of the main incentives for running[for president] was continuing Secret Service protection so that there are men with guns around at all times [for my daughters when they start dating]." Barack Obama
LoveIt 4 months, 3 weeks ago
You do know that the above quote of the President was a joke in reference to what all fathers feel about protecting their daughters when they start to date? Don't you? Or are you looking so hard for something to criticize that you can't even hear what he is really saying? Please let's leave all this negativity behind and come together in the new year, This country and our community have much bigger things to fix and plan for in the future. We all have to come together to make it happen. It is the United States of America... Unite now and let us model ourselves on the community of Newtown, CT. We ALL have to help each other. Not pick, pick, pick.
johndoemo_ 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes I know he was joking. That doesnt change the fact that he has different rules for us and them. The elected officials want 2 worlds. one for them with great private schools, armed protection for their families, and high salaries that they are in charge of setting. The other world is for us. And they want to take away our only means of protecting ourselves in the streets that they cant keep safe because they keep letting criminals off too easy.
rdipzinski 4 months, 3 weeks ago
To the person that thinks Heritage needs a new wrestling coach... You cannot find anyone more passionate about wrestling than Coach Hooley. He genuinely cares about his wrestlers and students. The wrestling team does not get much support (money) from the school or help from the administration. HHS has a young team this year. Instead of criticizing, try supporting the team and the coach.
INJUSTICE_FOR_ALL 4 months, 3 weeks ago
You don't have to look hard,Obama is a joke. Most are to blind or stupid to realize.
Clark 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I'd prefer a good joke with a recovering economy to a bad joke like Romney and digging ourselves in deeper any day.
johnq123 4 months, 3 weeks ago
The JOKE beat the BLOKE... IT IS FINISHED....
Clark 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Ok, it's been four days. WHEN is this jumbled mess going to be separated so it's readable!?
1ayk 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy socialism while you can. It has never and will never work in the long run. The rich have the means to run, or hide their assests. Then where will our President get his piggy bank to buy your vote?
Clark 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Socialism? HA! Talking about jokes... This country is about as far from socialism as possible. Even if it wasn't, why is it so bad? If you can't provide a real argument other than "it's bad" then you're simply the tail wagging the dog repeating more conservative talking points without bothering to put some brainpower behind it.
1ayk 4 months, 2 weeks ago
You did not answer my question. You failed to see the point, he will get tax money from whomever he can until he can't anymore. This type of government will not survive and you know it. Where will he get the money when the rich move or run out of means? Answer that before you accuse me of not providing a real argument.
Clark 4 months, 2 weeks ago
He didn't buy my vote with money. He earned it with his sound fiscal policy unlike Romney's plan to get us out of the deficit by cutting revenue and increasing spending (failed elementary school arithmetic?). Obama and the Democrats aren't going to tax the rich out of the country, or even come close to it. Most of the rich people actually realize that a slight tax increase on them, won't hurt them any, but will have an overall large benefit to the country.
superman 4 months, 2 weeks ago
The overall benefit is just a mere 8 days... The way Obama is spending tax increases on the middle class is coming. Hate to say it, but he middle class is a dying breed... Who in their right mind says they will work with Congress on a plan that helps everyone. But yet, refuses to accept any spending cuts. I ask, if your income gets cut what's the first thing you do? You stop spending. It doesn't matter if you're talking about $50,000 or $50 trilion. We borrow more than 40% of what we spend- I ask again... How long do you think you can live when borrowing 40% of your spending? It pains me to say, but we need some tax increase (which we will see the 2% increase) and a lot of controlled spending! Obama needs to live by a budget like most Americans. 1,405 days until we pick his replacement... Until then put as much cash under your mattress because Obama will come for it...
1ayk 4 months, 2 weeks ago
You are kidding right? Romney wanted to cut revenue, and spend? You meant Obama right? Taxes on the rich have no effect other than making the so called unfortunate feel better for their inablility or drive to do better. I am so sick of the give me society created by the liberals and those who support it. Cuts in spending and lower taxes will improve the nation not the path this socialist is trying to take us. And, it is unbelieveable how many of you sheep think he can bring us to the promise land (like he really and truly cares for you).
Clark 4 months, 2 weeks ago
No, Romney. He proposed over a trillion more in military spending than the military even asked for! That while not pledging to end two wars that were fought on borrowed money that pushed us deeper into debt. Then he said he is going to include even more tax cuts. How exactly is that a sane economic plan?
Obama is NOT a socialist, nor are most Liberals. True socialism would have tax rates about 70% or higher, to the point where there is no profit and goods are only produced for public good. That not what ANYONE is seriously proposing for this country. Since it's impossible for anyone or any company to survive without use of public resources, we simply want everyone to pay their fair share. Imagine if Wal-Mart had to pay to pave every road to each of their stores instead of simply using the shared infrastructure, and paying for it through taxes. Or if instead of police forces, everyone had to pay for their own private security? Yes, there are some "Liberals" that see the ideology as a way of being lazy while still sucking in money, but most don't.
Incidentally, the only ones believing anything about this "promised land" nonsense are a handfull of loudmouths, that by virtue of their wild claims, happen to get talked about more in the media that just loves overhyping...well, everything.
1ayk 4 months, 2 weeks ago
If private companies were able to build the roads I am sure they would be better than what we have now. What is fair share? Give me a number. By the way Obama is trying and would accept higher tax rates of 70% or more if he could. Thank God, for now, we have checks and balances.
Clark 4 months, 2 weeks ago
They started out building roads, ever hear of turnpikes? It's a free market, they would build them if it was economical to do so, nothing's stopping anyone from buying property, then paving a strip of asphalt down it. But it's not profitable, otherwise, it would be done.
The only reason most businesses are even possible, and profitable, are because someone else built the infrastructure with tax money, that's used to bring in customers, and transport goods, and supply water, and fight crime, and, and and... It'd be impossible to truly calculate a fair share. There are a tremendous number of factors just for one person or business, which rely on all the other people and businesses. If two businesses equally use one road, the fair share would be 50%, if one uses it twice as much as the other, then the greater user would pay 66.66...%, now add a third business, and a fourth, now three roads, with multiple paths that are taken on different days...see how quickly the complexity raises? Imagine doing that for all 300 million people, and 8 million businesses, over all 4 million miles of roads. Perhaps one day computers will allow us to compute that, but not for many many many years short of a breakthrough, but we can't sit around waiting for one.
Having a progressive tax rate, that imposes greater taxes on those with higher revenues is the best way we have right now, and it usually works out that way. Higher revenue intake usually correlates to greater use of public infrastructure and services in order to generate those higher revenues. A small business with one truck delivery a month has much smaller impact than a large business sending out twenty trucks per hour. A business that moves a lot of merchandise is a far more attractive target to lawbreakers than one that only moves a small hand full of merchandise. If you take a statistical survey of higher-income people, they are more likely to go more places (infrastructure), buy more things (law enforcement/infrastructure), and own bigger houses (infrastructure/water), than people with less income. When the revenues can't cover the expenses, something has to give. A small tax increase on everyone, likely will generate far more revenue, than a spending cut will.
To put some numbers to my last example, let's use the median household income rounded to $50,000. A tax increase from 25% to 26% for 115 million households would generate $57 BILLION dollars in revenue (1.5% of Federal Budget) while adding an extra $500 (1%) to the households' yearly expenses. Other than defense, medicare, and social security, I dare you to find a spending cut that has that kind of impact with negligible impact on important services.
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