Towns County Democrats hear from AG candidate Bailey

Trial attorney and former Fulton County prosecutor Charlie Bailey was guest speaker when the Towns County Democrats gathered April 8 at Mayor’s Park in Young Harris for their monthly meeting. His brief address to the group focused on values he said Georgians share: respect, fairness, protection of civil and voting rights, affordable health care, and safety.

Charlie Bailey

Bailey noted the lack of both a civil rights division and an organized crime division in the Georgia attorney general’s office, which he said he believes should serve as the people’s lawyer and advocate for the citizens of Georgia against such practices as predatory debt collection, corporate pollution, and pharmaceutical price-fixing. With a civil rights division, the AG office could focus on unfairness in housing and rogue police departments, he said, and an organized crime division could focus on more than just gangs and instead go after the leaders of crime syndicates. Bailey said he agrees with the nation’s FBI director that domestic terrorism is the greatest threat today to public safety.

Bailey speaking in YH

In coming months, Towns County Democrats will focus on the impact of the state election bill recently signed into law by the governor, said county Chair Charlotte Sleczkowski. She noted several areas of emphasis that the voting public will need to understand prior to 2022 statewide elections, including changes in identification requirements, out-of-precinct voting, early voting hours, absentee voting, ballot drop boxes, and others. 

Towns County Democrats meet the second Thursday of each month. Time and location of the May 13 meeting will be announced. 

2021 Executive Board Elected

Towns County Democrats have elected a new executive board for 2021. They are, pictured from left, Liza Strub of Hiawassee, treasurer; Laura Anderson of Hiawassee, second vice chair; Charlotte Sleczkowski of Hiawassee, chair; and TerryLynne Marshall of Hiawassee, secretary. Not pictured is Albert Jones of Young Harris, first vice chair. Also pictured at right is Loretta Youngblood of Hiawassee who was re-elected to another term on the Towns County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.

Give To Hope (Use Your Stimulus Check to Help Others)

Published in the Towns County Herald January 6, 2021

 Dear Editor,

                Without regard to whether the stimulus check each of us will receive is $600 or $2,000, those of us who do not need the money can make a choice about how to use it and thereby correct a flaw in the program’s design.  Instead of spending the money on some frivolous thing or activity consider donating it to a local charity or food bank.

                I understand the rationale for stimulus is to encourage spending that will boost the economy.  In the early days of the pandemic that was a sound goal.  However now I find myself agreeing with Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) who was recently interviewed about his opposition to the President’s demand for increasing the stimulus to $2,000.  Too many people who will receive checks are doing well and therefore are already able to spend on their needs and wants.  Handing them free money does not guarantee they will spend it in a way that alleviates existing weaknesses in our economy.  It is equally likely these people will save the money rather than spend it, meaning it will not directly benefit the economy at all.  Meanwhile, the checks drawn from an already overextended Treasury will drain federal resources from critical health and public safety programs.

                The stimulus checks should have been targeted to people working in depressed areas of the economy such as restaurant and hotel workers.  They are suffering during the pandemic because of reduced income from shorter hours or no income due to being laid off.  These workers are some of the lowest paid in our economy to begin with and often do not have savings to fall back on.  They nonetheless have rent to pay, heating bills due, and children to feed and clothe.

                The problem of an indiscriminate distribution of funds without regard to need or effect does not have to result in the funds wastefully going to frivolous spending or worse into savings that would have no immediate impact on people suffering in weak areas of our economy.

                The Scriptures tell us that when we meet the needs of suffering people, we are serving God.  For my household, our stimulus money will go to Hope House in Union County.  Hope House meets the needs of people faced with the crisis of eviction, loss of heat, or other financial troubles when events such as sickness, job loss, or unexpected bills conspire to overwhelm them.  It was formed when churches in Union County came together to pool and better administer resources for showing Christ’s love to the neediest members of their community.

                For those who have enough, I hope you will also consider contributing your stimulus check to one of the many organizations – your church, a local charity, or a food bank – which are meeting the needs of the disadvantaged for housing, warmth, and food this winter.

David Plunkett

U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock visits North Georgia

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock speaks to North Georgia Democrats as he closes out his re-election campaign.  Warnock visited North Georgia Sunday, Dec. 4, greeting an enthusiastic audience of Georgia voters in Gainesville.  Picture by Charlotte Sleczkowski, Chair of Towns County Democrats.

Republican Party Replaced by Trumpican Cult Will be Missed

October 22, 2020

Dear Editor,

                I remember when there was a Republican Party that stood for something.  In place of a legacy of great men – Lincoln, Roosevelt and Eisenhower – has arisen a political horror: the Trumpican Party.  With its cult-like adoration of a failed businessman who tramples on all the principles that once guided Republicans, the Trumpican Party exist only to demand blind loyalty to its autocratic leader.  Compare the Republican Party Platform of 2012, the last time it was led by a Republican nominee, to the Trumpican Party Resolution of 2020.

                FREE MARKETS:

“Republicans will pursue free market policies that are the surest way to boost employment and create job growth and economic prosperity for all.”  Republican Platform 2012.

“The RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump…”  Trumpican Party Resolution 2020.  (Trump has urged a boycott of Goodyear, demanded unjustified mailing rates on Amazon, and blasted Nordstrom over its decision to drop Ivanka’s fashion brand.)

                FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

“Backed by a Republican Senate and House, our next President will propose immediate reductions in federal spending, as a down payment on the much larger task of long-range fiscal control.”  Republican Platform 2012

“The RNC enthusiastically supports President Trump…” Trumpican Party Resolution 2020.  (Annual deficits have risen in every year of the Trump Presidency and this year exploded to over $3 TRILLION.)

                SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE:

“The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society.”  Republican Platform 2012.

“Most people know that Melania Trump isn’t Donald Trump’s first wife. With a reputation for …being unfaithful to his spouses, Trump isn’t well-known for staying committed to just one woman.” Showbiz CheatSheet March 17, 2019.

                CONSTITUTIONAL FIDELITY:

“[Republican] adherence to the Constitution stands in stark contrast to the antipathy toward the Constitution demonstrated by the current Administration… by appointing "czars" to evade the confirmation process, …using executive orders to bypass the separation of powers…, encouraging illegal actions by regulatory agencies…, openly and notoriously displaying contempt for Congress, the Judiciary, and the Constitutional prerogatives of the individual States, [and] refusing to defend the nation's laws in federal courts…”  Republican Party Platform 2012.

Evading the confirmation process:  "I like 'acting [agency heads]' because I can move so quickly," President Trump, Face the Nation Feb. 2019.

Using Executive Orders to bypass separation of powers:  “…Republicans roundly criticized President Obama’s famous assertion of using his ‘pen and phone’ in the face of congressional intransigence, but President Trump has hardly been reticent in issuing such orders himself” American Action Forum Aug. 6, 2020.

Encouraging illegal actions by agencies:  The courts have overturned 112 of 132 agency actions taken by the Trump administration.  Institute for Policy Integrity, NYU School of Law Sept. 11, 2020.

Displaying contempt for Congress, the Judiciary and Constitutional prerogatives of the states:

·         “[T]he Trump administration has blocked or refused to comply with 82 House Committee requests for testimony and/or documents.”  Forensic News Oct. 28, 2019.

·         “Donald Trump has displayed a troubling pattern of attacking judges and the courts for rulings he disagrees with…” Brennan Center for Justice” Feb. 14, 2020.

·         “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has tweeted requests for states to reopen various activities, which he lacks the authority to compel as a federal official.”  Business Insider July 8, 2020.

Refusing to defend the nation’s laws:  “[T]he Justice Department declined to do its job – that is to defend the laws of the United States when attacked in court.”  The Washington Post June 8, 2018.

                I may not have agreed with many of the policies supported by the Republican Party but I enjoyed the opportunity to debate and search for common ground.  That is what we should miss because Republicans and Democrats working together for a better America is the only way our country can emerge from the ugly and cultish reign of Trumpicanism.

Sincerely,

David Plunkett

Draft Dodger Don

Published October 14, 2020

Dear Editor,

                “America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.”  Donald Trump 2017 in a speech critiquing President Obama for “telegraphing” when the United States might withdraw troops.

                “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas.”  Donald Trump 2020 in an announcement Thursday which earned praise from the Taliban.

                Once again we see Draft-Dodger Don playing politics with our national security, showing he has no core values or beliefs when it comes to protecting America from its enemies.  We probably should expect this of a rich kid who played dress-up soldier at a preppy academy and now believes he is smarter than the generals who actually served.  Consider how he used and then demeaned our military leaders: Generals Mattis (“overrated general”), Kelly (“he was way over his head”), McChrystal (“big, dumb mouth”), and many others.  I understand that Americans are free to criticize their military leaders.  My father-in-law hated “Dougout” Doug.  But he earned the right to do that by putting on a Marine uniform and serving on Guadalcanal.  President Bone Spurs never earned the right.

                Trump repeatedly demonstrates he is not fit to lead.  A commander accepts responsibility for those he sends into battle.  President Truman kept a sign on his desk reminding him “The Buck Stops Here.”  Trump believes his job is to pass the buck.  When Navy SEAL Ryan Owens died during a mission personally authorized by Trump, Trump said this: “[the Generals] lost Ryan.”  Where is the shame in this person who refuses to take responsibility for the life of one who followed his orders, calls our service men and women suckers and losers, stands at the grave of our war dead and questions their sacrifice, seeks to hide those who bear the scars of combat, and praises a dictator who put a bounty on our soldiers’ heads?

                No Trump – not his draft-dodging grandfather, his stay-at-home dad, Donald, nor his adult sons – served a day in the military.  We have a name for such people.  Military service, of course, is not a prerequisite to being President, unless as President you are pretending to be a military genius even as you contradict your own strategy and insult those who actually served and sacrificed to defend our nation.

David Plunkett

Fully Sympathetic (Election Workers Need to be Protected from COVID)

Published in the Towns County Herald October 12, 2020

Dear Editor,

                The editor’s note appended to the letter from Dave and Denise Phillips (Government Leadership) in the July 29, 2020, edition was incorrect in asserting that the Governor’s order on COVID-19 prohibits local election officials from mandating that election workers wear masks during the August 11 runoff election.  It does not.

                Election workers are “Critical Infrastructure” workers under the order.  The provision on Critical Infrastructure states “measures may include, but shall not be limited to the following” (emphasis added).  Because the order does not represent the limits of what may be required, election officials would not be inconsistent with it by requiring workers to wear face masks.  In fact, later in the order, a provision on Critical Infrastructure specifically states that “Providing Personal Protective Equipment as available and appropriate to the function and location of the Worker” should be implemented.  It is hard to picture a function and location more conducive to the spread of a dangerous virus than a crowded polling place if workers and the public are not masked.  Just to emphasize this point, the Governor’s order specifically mandates certain workers, such as restaurant wait staff, wear face masks when they interact with the public.

                As a former member of the Election Board, I was deeply troubled by the Phillips’ letter.  I fully sympathize with them and regret the loss of two civic-minded volunteers at a time when the county is struggling to fully staff its polling places.

                The decision not to require protective measures was improperly premised on an incorrect interpretation of the Governor’s order.  The Towns County Herald should correct its editor’s note.

Jim Powell