opinions
Getting Old
Not much room for a column in this week’s Ledger so I’ll, by necessity, be brief. Where has the time gone? At Friday night’s graduation, I saw some kids receiving diplomas that are the grandchildren of people I watched get a diploma when I first came to Hazlehurst to run this newspaper. I wasn’t surprised,…
Read MoreThe Protected vs. The Unprotected
Time magazine had an interesting article in this week’s edition concerning the sorry state our country is in today. The author was Steven Brill, who it turns out is about my age, and its title surprised me: “My Generation Was Supposed To Level America’s Playing Field. Instead, We Rigged It For Ourselves.” The article was…
Read MoreBaseball Playoff Venues Were Inadequate
So far this year in the baseball playoffs, the Yellow Jackets have played in four ball parks. By far, the Jackets’ home stadium is the best. It seems little thought was given to parking arrangements at Westside High School. Not only was the walk to and from the field from the small parking area long,…
Read MoreThe Price Of Paradise — John Reed
The Price Of Paradise From everything I’ve heard, Hawaii is a paradise. Lush scenery, warm climate, breathtaking mountains…if you don’t count the typhoons and volcanoes. As the current eruption of Kilauea burns through neighborhoods, my feelings are split between sympathy and disbelief: who would build their house on top of an active volcano? Many of…
Read MoreFinally, He Can Tell The Truth
“The Jolt: Now he tells us? Tom Price says killing Obamacare mandate will hike costs.” That’s the lead-in to a recent column I read. Indeed, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price did, in his first major public speech since he was fired by President Donald Trump, said the GOP’s decision to…
Read MoreIf Wishes Were Fishes — By John Reed
If Wishes Were Fishes Last week I mentioned the inability of Democrat-run cities to improve the lot of their poorest people, despite claiming to be the party that cares the most for them. Apparently, good intentions aren’t enough. The same could be said for those who claim to care the most about clean air and…
Read MoreWhich is more valuable – rural Georgia or principled opposition to Obamacare?
Jim Galloway of the AJC recently wrote a column about a choice that will face gubernatorial candidates this election season. A choice between reality and ideological purity. If Jeff Davis County and other rural counties in Georgia are going to have successful economies in the future, a working health care system is critical. No business…
Read MoreA Road Paved With Good Intentions – John Reed
A Road Paved With Good Intentions Regular readers will note that I’ve been rather harsh on the economic model supported by Democrats, or the Left, or liberals, however you want to label them. Turns out I’m not alone. In a recent USA Today article, they listed the top 20 American cities where “extreme poverty” has…
Read MoreResearch Clearly Shows Roundabouts Are Safer
While viewing the video of the April 19, meeting of the Hazlehurst City Council, I was surprised to hear School Board member John Girtman say that the roundabouts, which the city council has been working on for the past two years, had never been brought up at a school board meeting and were never discussed…
Read MoreJohn Reed – Primary Election Choices
On May 22, the State of Georgia will hold a primary election, where statewide offices as well as local slots will be narrowed down. Democrats, Republicans, and independents will be on the ballot; many names will be new to locals. Most candidates are running similar campaigns, basically following liberal or conservative platforms depending on which…
Read More