Gwinnett.talk

By lane filler

December 9, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

Anyone interested in a very different story (and analysis) on illegal immigration should try: http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/14/theillegalimmigrantnextdoor

By Michael H. Smith

December 9, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

There is really nothing very different in your story, or the analysis you used on illegal immigration Mr. Lane Filler.

But, since you seem to have a very low threshold of agitation on anyone’s answer other than your own, it does appear rather foolhardy to persist in asking a question like this:

So again I ask, why would I care about a Texan I’d never met more than a Mexican I’d never met?

To any American who honestly comes to terms with what they are actually saying when they’re pledging allegiance to the flag the United States of America, then, the answer to your question becomes very easy to obtain. That sworn allegiance is not only to the Republic but to the very people that Republic represents. That, Mr. Lane Filler, is why I not only should, but in very point of fact do, care a great deal more about a Texan I’d never met, more than a Mexican I’d never met.

So I ask you, Mr. Lane Filler, using my analysis if we may now: Why should I care about the woman I am married to, more than the women I’ll never marry?

Oaths, Mr. Filler, should never be entered into lightly or treated trivially.

Immigration, Mr. Filler, is a problem simple enough that not only picking out the liars is easy, but as well, it is even easier finding out the ones who are disloyal and disrespectful of their own country and countrymen.

They’re the ones who would have us believe there are no answers; other than betrayal, of law, of land and of “We the People”.

By Bib

December 10, 2007 7:09 AM | Link to this

This plan is a loser which contains the double whammy of increased taxes and higher prices. I have reviewed the draft Solid Waste Management Plan, and have found much good in it. I am particularly pleased with the increased emphasis on recycling, and on parts of the efforts to reduce traffic and to establish standards that require all homeowners and business to subscribe to a collection service.

I do not agree, however, with the full intervention of the County Government into the program and the complete elimination of private competition to obtain the best value. What I really see is a growth in the size of the county government (which will cost more, hence my taxes go up) to manage a program that can be better managed by competitive private enterprise. In fact, under this proposal, I see both an increase in the cost of my service and an increase in my taxes — a double-edged sword that I do not think is in our best interests. Here are a couple of points to consider:

— While I applaud the larger districts, the lack of competition within each district will really lead to higher prices and worse service. Higher prices are perhaps inevitable (especially with escalating fuel costs), but they should be determined by a free marketplace and not by a system that limits competition. I understand the annual competitive bid process, but that will also increase prices due to the administration the service providers will have to account for in order to make the bids annually. Frankly, there are better ways to skin this cat than to limit competition among businesses. Our neighborhood is an excellent example of one that has done some competitive bidding, with the result that we do get better service, but I do not see that happening by assigning only one company to a larger area and having it managed by the County government.

— I am strongly opposed to any growth in the County government’s size other than to provide police, life safety, clean water, sewer, and a reasonable zoning process. How many people will this initiative add to the County staff to administer the bids, respond to customer service calls, process payments, and provide management oversight of the system? I believe the amounts stated in Section 8 (Implementation Plan) are understated, especially for the long term. I just do not believe that the County staff can do this better than the private sector can. Additional County staff costs come directly out of my pocketbook in the form of increased taxes, and are likely to offset any savings that might accrue to me from potentially (but not likely) lower monthly service fees.

The Commissioners should consider alternatives to this flawed plan to find ways to set standards, retain competition while still reducing traffic and achieving most of the other goals, and keeping the County staff out of the business (thereby keeping our taxes lower). Competition in the waste collection business has worked well since 1990 — why not fine tune it instead of throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water and increasing the size of our government?