Does it make a difference that the Department of Justice in Washington has collected private phone information from some members of the media? Recently, in a conversation with someone, they asked me several questions concerning all the events we are hearing about that is coming out of the Obama administration. “Why should I care that DOJ is listening to a phone conversation of media people?” was another question I was asked. While trying to think how I could respond without overreacting to the questions, I realized many people could be like the person asking me these questions. They could be …

Do we know our neighbor? Do we know what is happening behind closed doors in our neighborhood? These are some of the questions often being asked since the revelation of what happened for 10 years in a house in Cleveland, Ohio. Several years ago, I became aware of a report presented by a company known as “BrainReserve.” Faith Popcorn is the Chairman of BrainReserve, an organization that studies trends in our culture, makes predictions about our culture, and informs us how to future fit our lives to respond to the changes in cultural behavior. She is an internationally known speaker in coming …

For once, I agree with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, when in a press conference last week he said: “The investments we’ve made in counterterrorism operations, technology, and intelligence help reduce the possibility of a successful terrorist strike, but they certainly do not eliminate it. Nothing can do that. We don’t know if we would have been able to stop the terrorists, had they arrived here from Boston, we’re just thankful we didn’t have to find out that answer.” The news conference that Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner, Kelley were holding was to inform the people of New …

We have learned enough to know all politics is considered to be local. Can we also conclude that given the widespread media outlets with the addition of social media and citizen journalists, all news is local? Granted, there are certain events and issues to be seen as only local in scope. With what has taken place in Boston this week with the bombings, loss of lives, and manhunt, each of us feel for the victims of this heinous plot to destroy human lives. Added to the bombings in Boston, the explosion of the chemical plant in the city of West, Texas, and the loss of lives there, we also …

As a parent, we have said to our children: “Are you listening to me?” In the sales world, listening is described as an art. The person who is the best at listening is the top sales person and the most successful in life. I often joke about men developing selective hearing when it comes to responding to what we have heard our wife say. Selective hearing might be the best way to describe what is taking place in the political world. As I talk with lawmakers, I receive the impression they are looking at me and want me to think they are listening, yet when the time comes for them to vote on an …

Reporters waited outside the Fulton County Jail to give a chronicle as each person surrendered to law enforcement officers.  These people were indicted (a total of 35) by a special grand jury regarding the Atlanta Public Schools cheating episode. There is interest in exposing all named in the indictments. I fully believe in a basic principle of our rule of law, that being, “a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” This column is not to address guilt or innocence in this issue. The issue first came into public view when a group of reporters began noticing the scores in the …

Staying until the last gavel falls has become a tradition under the Gold Dome. The last hours of the last day of the 40-day session always means interesting “people watching.” Because of fatigue, I always regret having stayed up so late into the night (or early morning) the day after Sine Die. Our lawmakers must be drained, and as some refer to their feelings when tired and exhausted, as being brain dead. Some people, while hearing about many of the decisions made by the members of the General Assembly, would paint with a broad brush, feeling certain they were watching the activity of brain …

Mark Twain is reported to have said; “Everybody talks about the weather but no body does anything about it.” This is my 10th year at the Capitol in Atlanta and from the first day until now, the talk has been about bringing ethics reform. One of my goals, along with many others, is to see real genuine ethics reform brought under the Dome. Changing the culture of a political system is not easy, nor is it done overnight. That truth has never been truer than watching the pushing match between the House and Senate. Many years ago, Will Rogers, the famous comedian and public speaker, would often …

My faith expression is Baptist and not Catholic, but I was very interested in the media as they reported the traditions being followed in the selection of the new Pope. The most intriguing part of the process was the fact that, for so many of the media assigned to the story, they were shocked that the selection of the Pope was not influenced by pop culture or political correctness. There was evidence that the selection process followed the traditional process that has served the Catholic Church for centuries. Watching the events as they unfolded on this issue led me to believe the depth of …

In the political world, it has come down to the issue, person, or event able to grab the most headlines. We no longer seem to be moving in the direction of conviction or ideology when dealing with the issues of the day, but vying for the sound bite and the interview by a celebrity news person. The evidence for this opinion was seen last week when Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky took to the Senate floor in Washington and filibustered for more than 13 hours.  Since the long marathon on the Senate floor, Paul was called almost every name in the book, and mostly by those who claim the same party …

Having the chance to write about public policy is one of the great blessings of life for me. I have always been interested in events taking place in the political world and how decisions are made that touch the lives of all the citizens. Many years ago, I began writing for my personal enjoyment, and then doors began to open allowing me to express my personal viewpoint regarding events taking place in the political world. It is my observation that those who serve us in public office have accountability to us for the way they conduct their office and how they make decisions. In the world of …

In today’s column, we pretend we are a fly on the wall down at GDOT when they are trying to figure another way to stick it to the taxpayers. With a recorder going, we hear one of the people say: “I know, we will tell them that by building another lane all the way to the ocean, congestion will be relieved on the Gwinnett Interstate.” Another says, “Oh, no, they would not believe that.” Someone else adds, “I know, let us tell them we will be able to make $100 million by adding a user fee to the lane we build.” Someone asked rather shyly, “Will we really make that much money?” “Of course not, …

As this column is being prepared, news is reporting a meteorite has fallen in Russia with more than 1,000 people being injured. For many days, we have been hearing about an asteroid the size of a cruise ship heading through space passing within close range of the earth. For centuries, people have been predicting a time when the earth will be hit with space junk, an asteroid, or a meteor shower that will impact us as never before. Predictions range from total destruction to the killing of millions of people and altering the size of our global sphere when this unknown disaster strikes. Some …

Following the announcement by the Boy Scouts of America that they were considering changing the policy regarding those who could serve as leaders of scout troops, people responded negatively in such great numbers the leaders decided to delay the decision. It was announced the decision will now be made in May. In another example of delayed decision-making, Congress is once again faced with a decision regarding the debt limit. The Senate and House of Representatives in Washington are still waiting after four plus years to receive a budget proposal from the White House. Under the Gold Dome, I …

I oppose violence of any kind toward any of God’s creation. Abuse of the environment or of any of God’s creatures should never be allowed. Forty years ago this week, the United States Supreme Court decided that taking a life in the womb was allowed under our Constitution. Believing that life begins at conception, I see this as the taking of a life. The arguments used to determine the allowance of abortion always rests upon human choice. The most vulnerable and innocent among us are not allowed to have their choice known when someone else determines their life will end. Former President Ronald…

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution says: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” That is a clear statement regarding the freedom for the citizens to own a gun. At a time when the nation is in mourning as a result of the heinous crimes in the multiple murders of innocent children in Connecticut, the big government crowd, wanting to never let a crisis go to waste, sees this as the time to disarm law abiding citizens. The vast number of laws broken by the person killing…

As the 113th Congress convenes for the next two years in a nation thriving on popular opinion, they face very low popular opinion ratings from the American people. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the majority of the people polled have a strong feeling that we just saw in the 112th Congress a true, “do nothing,” spirit. Certain individuals would argue the 112th Congress did the best it could under the leadership it had. As we look at our government, there should be little doubt that we are divided.  We have watched as the President and the Senate refused to act on issues, except …

As we turn the calendar to 2013, we leave behind a year of successes and failures. It is easy to begin listing the failures, but I refuse to invest my time in being negative. Rather than dealing in the past, let us look forward into the future in our state of Georgia. On the second Monday of January, the Georgia General Assembly will open for the 40-day legislative session. There are some new people in places of leadership under the Gold Dome. It is felt by some people this will be positive in terms of moving legislation that is needed to help make our state stronger in ethics reform and care…

I do not know who said this: “Every person is a kid at Christmas.” The quote speaks to the excitement seen in the faces of little children at Christmas. Each of us can remember those days when it would seem like Christmas would never arrive and then, all of a sudden, it was gone. At my age, it seems like the years fly by and Christmas comes around faster than it ever did when I was a child. Today, children will have awakened early, long before parents, to make sure Santa did not miss them this year and that they received exactly what was on their list. I confess I am like a kid at Christmas. …

Is it embarrassing moments or something they have always wanted to do? Recently, the news is filled with people high on drugs of some form or another doing things that if sober, they would never be caught dead doing. Exposing one's naked body to the public or to total strangers is something we are taught from the earliest years is just not done. Decent people with respect for societal moral values rarely ever dip so low that they find a thrill in exposing their nakedness to others. I know, immediately the freedom of speech folks will cry out they have the right to freedom of expression, and …