LETTERS
To the Editor:

I would urge the citizens of Union County to learn as much as they can about the candidates for local and national office. In some cases, the candidate is totally out of step with the beliefs and values of Southerners in general and native Georgians in particular. You've heard "be careful what you wish for?" In this case, be careful who you vote for.

Just Some of What Defines Barack Hussein Obama:

• He voted AGAINST banning "partial birth" abortion, a barbaric procedure in which a living fetus is killed after it has been partially delivered.

• He voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. Big brother government knows best how to raise & care for your children.

• SUPPORTS affirmative action in Colleges and Government, judging on skin color regardless of ability.

• In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing.

• Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as "minimum wage affair."

• Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college, explaining the previous 2 statements.

• His religious convictions are very murky. His church's website has a link to Louis Farrakhan.

• He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sworn enemies of America and not to be trusted.

• Has said one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations. We cannot afford to support them all.

• OPPOSED the Patriot Act, putting America in harms way from terrorist attack.

• First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.

• Voted NO on prohibiting law suits against gun manufacturers. A supposed first step in gun control.

• SUPPORTS universal health-care, which would bankrupt our country and lower our standards of medical care. Government interference again.

• Voted YES on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.

• SUPPORTS granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

• SUPPORTS extending welfare to illegal immigrants.

• Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. Another AMNESTY bill.

• Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security, a gov't. program near bankruptcy.

• Wants to make the minimum wage a "living wage," resulting in loss of jobs in small businesses not able to afford to pay workers more.

• Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes. So much for bi-partisanship.

• Is a big supporter of the separation of church and state, a liberal Supreme Court decision not based on the Constitution. Read the document.

• Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports INCREASING the amount of tax paid. More and higher taxes seems to be his mantra.

• He voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax, which would have put excessive burden on retirees living on their investments.

• He voted NO on repealing the "Death" Tax, insuring families would pay the government a huge tax just to inherit family property.

• He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax. Increased taxes don't hurt the corporations, they just pass them on to the consumer. YOU pay them. Sell property for more than you paid for it? You pay capital gains taxes.

• Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded, even though evidence shows it has.

• HE IS RANKED AS THE MOST LIBERAL SENATOR IN THE SENATE TODAYAND THAT TAKES SOME DOING.

If you are a little to the left of pure socialism, you are probably delighted with this candidate.

Dorothy McIntosh To the Editor:

I have no wish to pillory Hillary; she's to be admired for presenting herself as the first female candidate for the nomination for the presidency of the United States. I'm not prepared now to say whether she can win the Democratic nomination, but were she to win I don't think she'd be far from husband Bill's political philosophy; and this nation did indeed survive his randy dandy administration. While I'm not fully prepared for another round of 'Billory Clinton' fun in the Left Wing of the Whitehouse, I'm less afraid of the prospect of the dynamic Demo duo's 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. reign than what I perceive as a star-crossed, far left-leaning socialist philosophy of an Obama unleashed on the world.

Presidentially ensconced, Hillary would, I'm sure, fall into line with the realities of a worldwide Islamic extremist jihad, bent on toppling democracy in favor of ad 7th Century 'uncivilization.' Were Hillary to be elected to the U.S. presidency, I take it she would bring a strongly liberal congress with her. How much damage a liberal Whitehouse and Congress would bring about may raise a realistic awareness in the minds of Americans of the folly if liberalism in an Islamic world seeking the demise of the American way of life, as we know it. I'm afraid, however, that our nation, in the grip of Barrack and liberal extremist and politically aggressive wife Michelle may lead to irreversible damage to the interests of our nation. So there it is. I've said it. I, the life long [moderately conservative] Republican, support the candidacy of Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. Well, sort of but not exactly.

Actually, I feel American fortunes are safer in the hands of Senator John McCain, both in dealing with the deadly threat of Islamic Jihadism and the interests of fiscal responsibility at home. While a national Republican, however, I cannot, in good conscience, abide the 'Thunder River' approach to Republican politics in some counties of North Georgia; counties that too frequently are found patently in league with dross gathering fundamentalism that uses fabricated superstition to press its Kool-Aid flavored religious beliefs on an unreceptive community of differing religious convictions. That's why here at home I'm not tied to any political party, and reserve the option to vote for office seekers of Democratic, Republican or Independent persuasion. As the November election here approaches, I'll be scrutinizing candidates closely to learn who panders to special interests while ignoring those of the majority.

Tom McKevitt To the Editor:

Who killed the Golden Goose?

I grew up in Towns County when the Rhinehart place and two Corn family houses were the only residences in the Young Harris Valley which was widely considered to be the most beautiful view in the state. In much of North Georgia and Western North Carolina, the natural beauty of unspoiled mountains was enhanced by lakes, especially in spring and early summer when water lines met tree lines. The peaceful, uncrowded beauty of the area and friendly local people made it a natural magnet for visitors and recreation/tourism became a cornerstone of the local economy. Now I see many signs that recent economic prosperity and unregulated development are destroying the very characteristics of this place that once made it so attractive.

This demise can be illustrated by a recent visit to a newly constructed home. A big luxurious house which must have cost at least three million dollars had been built on a lakefront lot. On the side facing the lake was a 75 foot strip of red clay, then a shallow body of water (remains of drought depleted Lake Chatuge) and another strip of clay on the opposite shore. In the distance stood a beautiful mountain. As we observed the tranquil view from the spacious kitchen, I noticed a bulldozer creeping slowly up the mountain side to a clearing on top where a building site was already being prepared. Although I have not returned to confirm, I expect the owners can now sit on their patio and enjoy a view of additional red mud (where a full lake once was) as well as five or six houses on the mountain side that until very recently formed the peaceful, alpine scene for which they paid their millions.

As uncontrolled development continues to mar the beauty of North Georgia's mountains and lakes, I wonder how long it will be before people decide that Towns and Union counties have become too expensive, too ugly and too crowded to visit or live here. When every ridge line and mountain top is adorned with a bare banked access road leading to a painfully conspicuous white house with its red roof, will visitors still consider the area beautiful and appealing? Remember that many jobs depend on a continuous influx of visitors and new residents. Also, tax revenues are closely tied to the movement of people into the area, whether for temporary visits or permanent residence. Besides increased revenue from new construction and higher appraisals of existing homes, the special purpose local option sales tax has been championed by politicians for years as a way to allow visitors to help pay our taxes. When visitors and new residents quit coming, who will pay? Government spending, whether federal, state or local only increases, it never decreases.

Can development be controlled so that it does not ruin North Georgia's future? The answer is definitely, "Yes." I have driven many times across Virginia along a 300 mile stretch of I-81 between the Tennessee border and I-66. In only one place (Exit 118A) can a ridge line or mountain top development be seen. Apparently the people of Virginia have learned how to prevent developers from spoiling their state. Even in fast growing areas like Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico developers are not being permitted to literally destroy the environment, as they are here. Unless our state and county governments can muster both the will and skill to gain control of development with far-sighted practices that preserve the natural beauty of the area, places like Hiawassee and Blairsville may become ghost towns in the none-too-distant future and historically low unemployment rates and mortgage foreclosures, both of which are currently rising, may quickly grow to historic levels.

Wm. Ronald Gibson