August21,2010

I am a product of Georgia's educational systems. I graduated from Tallapoosa High School thanks to the Haralson County Board of Education. Thanks to the University System of Georgia I graduated from what is now the University of West Georgia. I am proud of my home state's educational opportunities it has given millions of us. I would like to issue a challenge to the two men running for our state's highest office. I challenge you to look for opportunities to help keep Georgia students in Georgia. We are loosing countless young people to other states because of educational and job opportunities. I would like to see the Hope Scholarship refined. 47% of recipients of the Hope Scholarship loose it in the first year of higher education studies. We are going to have to fine tune the program before it goes broke. I am of the opinion that the SAT scores should be tied into eligibility. As a college teacher I've heard more than once, "Professor Jones, if I get anything lower than an "A" in this class, I might loose my Hope Scholarship, please let me write a paper or get extra credit some how." They are told that grades are earned. To the men running for governor of our beloved state. I not only want you to come up with viable solutions to education but for jobs for our people. We've stood by while corporate America grew rich and then moved their work force overseas. We've seen jobs go to people in foreign countries. The people who profited from American work are taking those jobs away from the people who made them wealthy. Have you made an airline reservation or called a television satellite company lately? Your call probably went to India, the Phillipines, or another distant land. As a boy growing up in Tallapoosa, I remember when we had a textile plant, a prefabricated steel plant, two rubber plants, and other industries related to manufacturing. Those jobs are gone. It is happening from Rossville to Thomasville, to Waycross, to Clayton and every town in between. I am hoping that which ever candidate for governor wins in November that they will do something, anything to bring jobs back to Georgia. Georgians want to work. Georgians need the work. I am wondering what has happened the the American dream. It effects the Georgia dream. I want to see some leadership come January when the next governor takes office. I also am challenging local representation in the state legislature to get busy. Instead of passing some useless proclamation declaring Cordele the "Watermelon Capitol of Georgia", get your sleeves rolled up and get some things done that will bring some help to the average Georgian. It is time for some political accountability from the halls of Congress, the White House, the Gold Dome, the Governor's Mansion, to every city hall. We should be electing people that are going to get us results. Jobs, education, and public safety needs to be the top priorities. Readers in Alabama, I think you need to stay on the backs of those you elect to go to Montgomery. Today I'm serving for the 10th time as grand marshall of the Gwinnett Humane Society's "Hogs for Dogs" benefit motorcycle ride. Tonight, I hope to find a lawn chair and hear some good music at the Possum Pickin'. Lowell White does a great job emceeing this summer time monthly event and I've heard some good local talent the past few years. It is some family fun that is free. It is the one Saturday night a month I don't sit home to watch "Cops." I only watch "Cops" to check up on my relatives.