Talk of the Town

By Dick

July 1, 2005 07:25 AM | Link to this

We taxpayers in Georgia are being ripped off. We spend money for our elected officials to meet. What do they come up with. A green tree frog is more important than the increase we have seen in illegal immigrants coming to our state. Being able to noodle is more important than protecting our young children from sex offenders and drug pushers. Once our elected officials have done something about the immigrants, drugs, abuse of our medicaid and medicare programs, they can then waste time on noodling and tree frogs. I do not know of any elected officials from the local level to the federal level I would vote for tomorrow. I am sick and tired of my tax dollars (local/state/federal) being wasted so the parties involved (republican,democratic,independent) can bicker about who sponsored what bill. They tell us the whites must get along with the blacks, the blacks with mexicans, foreigners with americans, and they cannot even get along. Talk about callng kettle black.

By Ronald

July 1, 2005 07:28 AM | Link to this

Georgia lawmakers pass a law banning smoking in most public places, but will wait up to three months before enforcing it. Georgia officials approve a smoking surcharge for state employees health plan and make it retroactive for the last 12 months. Yes, that’s really fair.

By EARL MCLAIN

July 1, 2005 08:08 AM | Link to this

I DO NOT SMOKE—BUT FIND IT VERY HARD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT A HAND FULL OF PEOPLE CAN TELL PEOPLE WHO OWN A BUSINESS THAT THEY CANNOT LET PEOPLE SMOKE IN THEIR BUILDING—-SOUNDS WAY TOO MUCH LIKE A DICTATORSHIP—IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO TO AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT PERMITS SMOKING——-DON’T GO —-A NO BRAINER

By norman

July 1, 2005 08:42 AM | Link to this

We need a law prohibiting the sale of tea before 9 am on weekdays and not at all on Sundays. Beer should be sold at all hours of the day, everyday. It doesn’t matter how long a driver’s license is good for, since our population cannot drive anyway.

By Maery

July 1, 2005 08:57 AM | Link to this

I agree with everything Dick said. It’s frightening to me that the “Good ‘Ole Boy” network is still alive and well here. Slip your rep a little and cash and your frog is protected. My husband and I did not vote in the last election, but we are both registered now and ready to vote for someone who has our interest, and not the Good ‘Ole Boys, at heart.

By Jo

July 1, 2005 09:00 AM | Link to this

I agree with the smoking bans and the limits on sale of certain cold medicines. The smoking ban because I watched my mother die on a respirator from smoking. The limits on cold medicines I support because I have a dear friend whose family has been utterly destroyed by the manufacturing of crystal meth. I smoked for 30 years and I quit. If I can do it, anyone can and I have no sympathy for those who continue.

By Bill

July 1, 2005 09:39 AM | Link to this

Don’t like the extra weight being allowed. These type of vehicles are not normally kept up as well as others. Just what we need, an extra 4000 lbs hitting us?

By Dick

July 1, 2005 09:43 AM | Link to this

Let me also add if our elected officials (and I use the word official loosely)can stop smoking in certain areas, shouldn’t they also stop what is know as “distillers day” on the State Capital grounds? YThis is a day in which all alcoholic companis are allowed to share their spirits with reps and senators. Isn’t drinking just as bad and more dangerous than smoking?

By Chris

July 1, 2005 09:50 AM | Link to this

I agree that smoking in our country is a problem. The cost of the medical coverage to cover the soaring medical claims caused by smoking will increase as the effects of years of smoking stay the same. I have been smoke free for some time now but that still does not free me from the dangers. This is my problem. Our society is allowing our government more control over the last twenty years than it has had since it was formed. We want our government to tell us what to do and how to do it. If things do not change I fear that in twenty years there will be no freedom in this country…..When will we get fed up with our governments view of controlling our lives.

By James

July 1, 2005 10:13 AM | Link to this

As a conservative, I was a long time supporter of the “war on drugs” that our federal and local governments spend billions on annually. However, I have come to realize that these efforts are futile and our money is better spent in other ways. Every time a drug-supply is choked by our war on drugs, another drug, often worse, comes along. The reason crystal meth is on the rise in the first place is that cocaine, crack and heroine are harder to get and more expensive (because of the “war on drugs”)

The restriction of Sudafed to “behind-the-counter-sales” will do two things: (1) it will inconvenience honest people who have allergies and colds, (2) it will increase crime: It will force meth makers to become more sophisticated (organized crime) and to go to criminal lengths to obtain pseudoephedrine. The street price of meth will also increase accordingly. This is all simple economics. As long as drug addicts will pay, drug makers will make the drug. Coming soon: a sharp increase in robberies of drug stores and drug-delivery trucks. Let’s thank our legislature for this great piece of legislation.

By John

July 1, 2005 10:18 AM | Link to this

The new non-smoking law is good but officials must move immediately to vigorously enforce it. One restaurant owner said on the radio this morning that many restaurants are just going to ignore it. Any official who delays enforcement or refuses to enforce the law should be fired on the spot. One other thing—the AJC says smoking can be allowed by restaurants with a separate ventilation system. The law actually says they can allow smoking in an enclosed private room with a separate ventilation system. I don’t think this applies to restaurant customers.

By MrLiberty

July 1, 2005 11:45 AM | Link to this

Prohibition was a failure in the 20’s and 30’s, and it continues to be a failure today. Making sudafed difficult to buy will just encourage the developement of other possibly more dangerous drugs from other things that are available on the market. With a decent chemistry background, almost anything can be converted into anything.

What the failed war on drugs has done is make the profits so high that these kind of experiments are worth the risk and the cost. Meth made by a reputable company would only cost a few dollars a gram versus the 100+ it costs on the street. Further, its production would go on in safe labs versus in backyard trailers in neighborhoods.

Our government makes too much money off the illegal sale of drugs. Whether in assest forfeiture, illegal payoffs, additional funding for police, or whatever, to ever promote the only answer that will ever work - COMPLETE LEGALIZATION OF ALL DRUGS.

Addiction is a medical problem, not a criminal problem. Drugs are more available in prison than on the street.

So long as you let the criminals in our government continue to lie to you about how well the war in being won, you will continue to demonize the intelligent lawmakers out there that have come to their senses are are trying to end this 80+ year failure.

By Abigail

July 1, 2005 02:57 PM | Link to this

I didn’t know I had to wait for some politician to ORDER me to get along with whites, blacks, Mexicans, and Foreigners. Darn, I’m sorry. I’ll stop getting along now. By the way, Mexicans aren’t Foreigners? Good, then what’s the fuss about them taking all the day labor jobs?

By DONNA

July 1, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with Mr Liberty about the legalization of drugs. I also don’t understand how SPAM can be considered a felony. I mean a fine maybe..but a felony? You could serve up to 5 years in jail for being on the computer passing emails. What is this world coming to. No wonder they are building new jails everywhere…because they are mostly filled with people who have done practically nothing. I was born and raised in Atlanta and at this rate..I am ready to relocate

By Ms Harris

July 1, 2005 03:57 PM | Link to this

Jo, while I’m sorry to hear that your Mother passed away but I must ask, but anyone hold a gun to her head?? Did anyone physically make you start or get subsequently addicted to smoking? No, you did under your own reserve. Maybe you should learn the meaning of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. What a concept.

By James

July 1, 2005 03:57 PM | Link to this

Thank you Mr. Liberty. Well stated.

By Benin Dakar

July 1, 2005 06:03 PM | Link to this

Smoking Law Is a Desirable Public Health Measure

I think that the anti-smoking law is a great public health policy.

I do not think that non-smokers should have to have their nostrils and lungs assaulted with second hand smoke.

I think that adults should have the right to smoke, but that right should not mean that the stench of tobacco impedes on my dining or cocktail experience.

Moreover, I should not have my health impeded because of someone else’s right to enjoy a smoke.

However, I can see how eliminating smoking may interfere with the clientele at certain adult oriented establishments. But most people will make the adjustment and business will rebound.

Sudafed: I Do Not Mind Going To a Pharmacy Clerk for Cold Medicine

As for the selling of Sudafed: No big deal. I remember years ago, people having to sign for certain codeine based cough syrups and for other substances that could be abused.

If this small measure can have some impact on reducing methamphetamine labs and eliminate some of the human destruction that methamphetamine use causes, then it is worth the extra time and inconvenience to go to the pharmacy window to get my cold medicine.

By Sue Stone

July 1, 2005 06:41 PM | Link to this

When I have to remove tint from my car’s window, which has been on for 10 years, that is pretty s….y. Our lawmakers should take care of more important things such as finding a way of stopping the futile war on drugs.” LEGALIZE IT.” Let adults buy what they want. Pass laws that will protect our senior citizens. Do something useful. It’s a shame we have no freedom. our police act like the KGB.

By Jeff

July 5, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this

benin - you say “I do not think that non-smokers should have to have their nostrils and lungs assaulted with second hand smoke. “

I say you never HAVE had to….you could choose to go somewhere that voluntarily chose not to allow smoking, or you could stay at home…Or you could sit in the non-smokin section of a restaurant.