4/27: Maintains overtime charges misrepresented by Bush team

(Editor's Note: The writer, now residing in Florida, has worked extensively in the automobile service business in Gwinnett County.-eeb)

Editor, the Forum:

The Bush Administration has said that only workers earning less than $23,660 a year would be guaranteed the right to overtime pay. Everybody earning more than that amount could be caught up in several other changes to eligibility rules that take away overtime pay. For nine months, the Administration has been fighting tooth and nail to kill legislation approved by both houses of Congress that would do nothing more than prohibit overtime cuts. The Senate and House already voted once last year to prohibit overtime cuts, but the White House strong-armed Congress to prevent that overtime protection from becoming law.

The Bush Administration has been loudly exaggerating the benefits of a helpful but woefully inadequate change that would expand overtime coverage for some workers. This group is extremely small because most workers who might be helped don't need the help. They are already guaranteed overtime pay through other criteria, based on their job responsibilities.

The Bush overtime cuts will hurt the economy. By taking away workers' overtime rights, President Bush is discouraging job creation. He is encouraging businesses to overwork their existing staff (for no extra pay) rather than hire new workers. The overtime statute was originally intended to encourage job creation.

The new Bush overtime regulation is a pay cut for American workers. When workers are stripped of their overtime rights, their employers can now force them to work overtime for no extra pay. Overtime pay makes up one-fourth of the weekly earnings of workers who earn overtime, an average of $161 per week.

Over the past year, Administration officials have repeatedly misrepresented their proposal and its effects on workers. The Department of Labor (DOL) routinely claimed that only 644,000 people would lose overtime protection, when its own economic analysis concluded that an additional 1.5 to 2.7 million people would be affected. We also know that DOL inflated the number of low-income workers who would benefit, and in fact DOL admits it has no way of knowing how many would benefit, if any.

I have joined with the over 250,000 people who have called for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Co. at www.VoteToImpeach.org. This campaign, initiated by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, has drafted articles of impeachment for introduction in Congress and is gaining great momentum around the U.S.

-- Steve Lott, Holiday, Fla.

4/27: Commission was thinking of health of Gwinnett citizens

Editor, the Forum:

Here's what the Gwinnett Commission was thinking about the smoking ban: that
smoking is unhealthy and that there are many people that are tired of the whining of people who think there is a constitutional right to smoke and endanger the health of all of us, including children who have no say in the matter. Just today the CDC reports that only 30 minutes of secondhand smoke is extremely dangerous to those with heart problems. I commend the commission for standing firm on this matter.

-- Jim Nelems, Norcross

4/23: Maintains duplicity still rules at the White House

Editor, the Forum:

Once again, duplicity rules at the Bush White House as the president plans to make millions of people ineligible for overtime pay. The Senate and House already voted to prohibit overtime cuts, but President Bush, getting pressure from corporate campaign contributors, strong-armed Congress to prevent that from becoming law.

Again, on April 20, Bush introduced plans to take AWAY overtime pay from workers earning more than $23,660 a year, resulting in huge pay cuts for millions of Americans. This would allow businesses to overwork existing staffs (for no extra pay) rather than hire new workers, squelching any new hiring.

As usual, the President's priorities are to protect the very rich at the expense of the working poor and middle class AND to expect the innocent workers who will suffer most to swallow his intentionally fraudulent spin. If he's this brazen now, what recourse will there be if Bush is re-elected----and answerable to no one!

-- M. Buckman, Lilburn

4/23: Wonders what Commissioner was thinking with vote

Editor, the Forum:

Congratulations. Your side won on the denial of exemption to the smoking ban for Wild Bill's. Chalk up another affront to property owner's rights in the name of the nanny state.

Any idea what Dunn was thinking...other than upping his political controversy? Rating?

-- Tony Rivera, Suwanee

(Mr. Rivera: My guess is that he was feeling the heat of the majority! -EEB)

4/20: What a young politician learned by taking the Census

Editor, the Forum:

In a recent speech broadcast on C-SPAN, former National Republican Committee head Haley Barbour (now governor of Mississippi) tells of an experience he had in Mississippi as a very young director of Census for the state. He says he visited a Northern Mississippi large farm owner that had had questions concerning a question on the census form.

The farmer stated that Question Number 8 on the survey asked "How many employees he had, broken down by sex?' The farmer told Mr. Barbour that he thinks his answer should none, although he states that he is certain that several had been ruined by drinking alcohol!

-- Randy Stephens, Duluth

4/20: Says immigrants can find English lessons far cheaper

Editor, the Forum:

I take great issue with the fact that now, if we're to do business effectively, we should learn Spanish ("Chamber, Latin Association team to offer Spanish courses"). The Spanish speakers should learn English since this IS an English-speaking country. It is they, not us, who should assimilate to the culture and language of the country they've come to. We do NOT need to become a two-language country. What a mess that would be.

English classes are provided to anyone who wants them -- FREE of charge -- through the Adult Education Dept. of Gwinnett Tech. They're held in the English Language Institute across the street from the main campus of Gwinnett Tech on Sugarloaf Parkway.

Additionally, if anyone wants to learn Spanish, they can do so much cheaper than the five-week course for $335 offered by the Chamber and the Latin Association. The Gwinnett Community School classes in our county high schools offer several levels of Spanish instruction and those classes are always less than $100, usually for eight weeks, and are offered in the evenings.

Anyone with Spanish-speaking employees or neighbors should encourage them to register for the ESL classes at Gwinnett Tech. This is regarded as one of the best ESL programs in the state. Students are tested after they register and are put into one of 12 class levels based on their test. There are four quarters a year, each one being 10 weeks. Gwinnett Tech's phone number is 770-962-7580.

-- Louise Stewart, Norcross

4/16: Register says log cabin in Norcross is an "intrusion"

Editor, the Forum:

Just thought I might inform you and your readers that the Log Cabin in Norcross is listed as an "Intrusion" on the National Register of Historic Places.

Page 4, third paragraph reads as follows." Intrusions in the Norcross Historic District consist of residential and commercial properties that are generally less than 50 years old and that are incompatible in terms of overall arrangement, materials, details, and setting with the architecturally and historically significant properties in the district. A relocated and rebuilt log cabin northwest of the downtown athletic fields is also classified as an intrusion."

This is becoming an issue and the people need to know the facts. I would love to move the log cabin if possible and affordable but the truth is that it was built as a short term project and the timbers were not treated. It's over 70 years old and almost beyond repair.

I would ask all interested in saving the log cabin to please look at it and forward you ideas to me. Thanks.

-- David Mcleroy, Norcross

(Editor's Note: Mr. Mcleroy is a Norcross city councilman. We are indebted to him to learn this information about the way the National Register of Historic Places looks upon this and other newer structures in the historic district.-eeb)

4/16: Feels Census data not as solid as what region produces

Editor, the Forum:

With your arithmetic, I can't argue. But I can argue with your data source. The attached workbook shows ARC's population estimates for April 1 (not July 1 as are the Census estimates), 2003 and historical data. You will note that the ARC estimates for Fulton and DeKalb are higher than the Census estimates while estimates for Gwinnett, and other counties are lower.

The Census estimates are based on federal income tax returns. Returns, and the people filing them, are assigned to counties based on Zip Codes. This is an easy, but somewhat inaccurate technique since Zip Codes can straddle county lines, but the Census process associates a whole Zip Code with a single county. This technique produces fine estimates for MSA's, but has some biases at the county and city level.

I don't fully understand how Census decides in which county to count the people when a Zip straddles a county line, but it appears that their process favors outlying counties at the expense of central counties. This pattern of their estimates being lower for the two central counties and higher for the rest of the Region's counties was evident throughout the 1990s.

ARC bases its estimates on a housing inventory derived from the previous census counts and updated based on building and demolition permits. We think we do a better job of maintaining locations within counties than do the Census estimates.

ARC's estimate for 2003 shows Gwinnett having an annual average population increase, 2000-2003 that is 14,773 larger than the average annual increase in DeKalb. DeKalb's 2003 estimate is 33,100 persons higher than Gwinnett which translates in 2.2 years for Gwinnett to catch up. Of course, that assumes that we really are coming out of the recession. If job creation does not accelerate soon, it would take longer.

The 2004 estimate from Census is virtually sure to show Gwinnett larger. Of course, neither one of these estimates is perfect.

In the long run, I cannot argue with your conclusion. Gwinnett is catching up with DeKalb, but, I believe it will be a couple of more years before there is clear evidence that Gwinnett is bigger than DeKalb.

-- Bart B. Lewis, Chief, Research Division, Atlanta Regional Commission

4/13: Pet peeve is government not halting entry of illegal aliens

Editor, the Forum:

My pet peeve is that 2,000 illegal aliens pour across our borders every day and our elected representatives do nothing, absolutely nothing, to stop them. And then they take my tax dollars and reward these lawbreakers with Medicaid, Social Security benefits, free health care, and driver's licenses. Guest workers my foot! These people are bankrupting our hospitals, overcrowding our schools, and giving our children TB and leprosy, diseases that were once eradicated but now brought back due to unscreened illegal aliens. They should be deported, every last one of them.

-- Kelly Stone, Lawrenceville

4/13: Feels president needs to be on the job much more often

Editor, the Forum:

After being told that Osama planned to attack the United States, President Bush took off for the entire month of August 2001. He insists that the country is at war - why is he not now at the White House? Forty-five marines have died for him this week, thousands of Iraqis are on the march, and he's giving interviews to the Ladies Home Journal! Iraq is going up in flames, and George W. Nero is not only fiddling, he's not even around to watch!

-- Jim Stillwell, Los Angeles, CA

4/9: Upset over portrayal of "Jesus and Paul" television program

Editor, the Forum:

I am profoundly disappointed in the bias of ABC reporting in "Jesus and Paul." Understanding that this is a viewpoint of ABC and many non-believers.

I am equally saddened that ABC would allow this type of ridicule and demeaning of the Christian faith as simply a "Jesus movement." I suppose that for being a movement that has lasted well over 2000 years.

This special was another example of ABC's, disrespect for the Christian faith.

-- Charles Lorentz, Loganville

Editor's Note: Perhaps Forum readers who watched this show could give Mr. Lorentz their views.-eeb)

4/9: Takes contrary view about ban on exemption on smoking

Editor, the Forum:

I couldn't disagree more with your view on the proposed smoking ban exemption.

Your point that Georgia, as with the country, only has about 22-23 percent of the population that smoke. With Gwinnett county at approximately 600,000 people, that means there are about 138,000 people who are negatively impacted by the smoking ban. That would be a pretty decent demographic that needs to be serviced.

I'm also not certain that other non-smokers were overly concerned about a smoking ban. There was never any war in the streets over this issue. The push for the smoking ban was from a highly concentrated and well-financed propaganda campaign (financed with the extorted funds from the tobacco companies). The compromise of the smoking/non-smoking sections had worked successfully for years. They were plenty of non-smoking establishments before the ban.

I'm a non-smoker, but the smoking ban was ram-rodded through without debate or consideration for business-owners rights. The business owners are bearing the brunt. The fallacy of making it a county-wide ban is really more about restricting freedom of choice than creating a level playing field.

The lack of compromise on this issue is crippling us. "Will Bill's" went above and beyond what was required with their ventilation system. The owner invested considerable funds and turned a vacant store into a thriving business. He has every right to do whatever he can to protect it. The only ones hurt by an exemption will be those that support the "nanny-state."

This crucial matter should have been given to a vote of the people, not the commissioners. Chairman Hill and Commissioner Nasuti made their votes clear long before there were any meetings. I will be in contact with my district commissioner on this matter.

-- Anthony Rivera, Suwanee

(Editor's note: Dear Anthony: We have representative government. Every time the people's representatives take a stand which some in the minority oppose, they always yell "Let the people vote." See such issues as the flag, gay marriage, etc. Not only that, but allowing the people to vote on matters usually confuses the issues even more. Be happy that representative government works so beautifully, and all you have to do is decide who is your representative. And by the way you mention 138,000 Gwinnett smokers....well, over 500,000 in Gwinnett, based on the 670,000 estimated population today, are non-smokers, itself a pretty big figure.-eeb)

4/6: Another person who can't wait until next election

Editor, the Forum:

I smoke. I don't frequent Wild Bill's. If the $750,000 ventilation system, which according to what I read, does work, why not give that a try? At least Bill Gentry hasn't dictated that all who enter his club will be required to smoke, the opposite of what the commission has voted. Yeah, I can't wait until re-election either, but for an opposite reason than you. To expand your hypothesis in the other direction, what next will the commission dictate to ban?

-- Howard N. Williams, Jr., Snellville

4/6: Pretzel logic being applied to HOPE Scholarship argument

Editor, the Forum:

Someone's using pretzel logic on their view of the HOPE Scholarship...again.

In recent years, we've witnessed the Board of Regents imposing double-digit tuition increases for attending Georgia's premier public colleges. Why? Because they know HOPE will pay for it and they're taking advantage of their opportunity.

For the very same reason, books and fees should remain within the scope of the HOPE program. If books and fees were the responsibility of HOPE Scholars, and a freeze was put on tuition as Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor wishes, the Board of Regents could pass their insatiable appetite for funds on to the HOPE Scholars! Not only that, but books and fees serve as a primary initiative, along with the scholarship, for kids who could not otherwise afford an advanced education.

Last but not least, the HOPE Scholarship was designed to be earned, not as a government entitlement. Changing from a B to a 3.0 still leaves scholarship eligibility in the hands of the classroom teacher pressured by the parents of HOPEful students. A challenging SAT score, not 900, and not even Georgia's 50th place average of 984, is a reasonable target to strive for. A national average (1026 in 2002) is a much more reasonable goal from which to earn a free ride. Take your shots at the SAT if you must, but it is, and will remain a national benchmark for many years to come.

In the words of HOPE creator, then Georgia Governor Zell Miller, "My dream was for it not to have anything to do with means but everything to do with merit."
Let's keep it that way!

-- Brian Luders, Duluth

4/2: Better if we called a technical foul, on both sides of game

Editor, the Forum:

Watching NCAA basketball last weekend, I thought, "It's too bad we don't have'instant replay' in politics. Four different views from four different cameras, some zoomed in, some giving the panoramic view, each displaying for public perusal what happened.

We used to have an instant replay of sorts, a more-often-than-not objective press that spent more time examining the plays themselves instead of filming and reporting verbatim the daily protestations of innocence and blame. We used to have radio and television shows for whom "balance" had nothing to do with opinions, shows that defined balance less as a volatile tug of war and more as a tightrope walker would. We used to enjoy watching the sheer talent, the charisma of the players, the well-oiled machinations of a good debate, the certitude of graceful sportsmanship. Today we see nothing but trash talk.

The President was AWOL 40 years ago. Richard Clarke and Paul O'Neill are just disgruntled employees. It's not our fault -- the British gave us bad intelligence. If Bush the Elder had gone the distance, we wouldn't be here. Clinton's the one who dropped the ball...he should've taken the handoff from the Sudanese. Bush Jr. stole the election. Don't listen to Hillary, she's an evil liberal. If you don't support the President, you're a traitor. My brand of marriage is better than your brand, and yours should be banned. Trash talk, nothing but trash talk.

Halftime was over, and the game started again, and my attention was once again drawn to the thrill of March Madness and basketball. After the game, as I listened to the self-effacing, excited kids who'd won but knew how much they still have to learn, I had a second thought.

We don't need instant replay in politics...Leading America isn't a game, and our votes are not trophies. We are the referees of our lives, and we, at least, some of us, are grown up enough to take responsibility for ourselves. It's that other madness that has to stop. It's time we called a technical foul..on both sides...and ejected a few players the next time we have the chance.

-- Vally Sharp, Duluth