The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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July 4, 1776 Remembrance & Celebration....
Sometimes overlooked and often unsung, Alabama’s community and technical colleges are on a roll. It is time they get the recognition they deserve as workhorses for the state’s economy. There are 24 community and technical colleges in the state, located on 50 different campuses with over 130 service locations. This means every Alabamian reading these words is close to incredible education and training opportunities. The colleges offer over 300 degrees and certifications, and award more than 30,...
Adam Smith, the anchor of that group of inquisitive Scotsmen who spawned the Scottish Enlightenment and significantly changed the world, was born 300 years ago this month. The era of his birth was still primarily agrarian with superstition superseding science. He would alter this status by observing his community, pursuing the life of a scholar, and questioning his experiences in the world around him. And...... he wrote his thoughts down. Scotland was ready to nurture the likes of Smith. With...
Four years ago, I wrote the first part of this Robservation. It doesn’t seem that long ago but it was. Not surprisingly, things have not even come close to changing. You might even say that things under the new administration are far worse. Why? Because they are. But I felt compelled to reiterate the first part of this and to add a couple of more items. The lie is still in force and like the Wizard of Oz, the alphabet networks are hellbent on not letting us look at the man behind the curtain. H...
After each census (last census in 2020), each state reconsiders its Federal Congressional voting districts. Alabama, by population has seven districts which will not change in at least the near future. Alabama at one time had as many as ten districts. The Voting Rights Act §2 was the focus of a Congressional bipartisan compromise wherein an effects test resulted but on the same hand it was determined that such section did not guarantee population proportional representation. Nineteen...
What does Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union), Adolf Hitler (Nazi), Mao Tse-tung (Communist Chinese Marxist) and Joe Biden have in common? They all have their opposition arrested, grossly abusing the power of government for political purposes. Trump’s record as President, earned him the respect and unbreakable loyalty among the masses. He has become a global threat on so many fronts to enumerate, why is this? President Trump, at every turn was stumbling across sacred cash cows, discovering c...
On June 8, 2023 SCotUS affirmed the federal District Court [Allen v. Milligan] finding Alabama's Congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. I applaud this inferior decision, polluted by a century of unconstitutional mappings... driven by the arbitrary 435 limit concentrating power to HoR members. Sadly, SCotUS shows little resolve to follow the Constitution and make our House representative again, so I submit strong caveats on how to proceed with elections after redistricting for...
Strong Republican conservative Kenneth Paschal introduced and shepherded through the 2023 Alabama legislative session a very important bill that is sorely needed in today’s world dominated by far left leaning institutions. This bill which is now law does one thing. It protects parental rights. Every State needs to adopt a similar law if it has not. As we navigate the complex landscape of modern society, one fundamental principle remains unwavering: the significance and importance of parental r...
Those who think of something more than hotdogs or fireworks on the 4th of July, generally honor the day as a patriotic holiday, the birth of American independence. But if we believe the Bible to be the Word of God, we must ask whether the Declaration and the War for Independence which followed were consistent with the Bible. If not, can we truly celebrate Independence Day? Romans 13:1 commands, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers," and I Peter 2:13 enjoins us to "Submit yourselves...
Following the suggestion of a fellow Alabama Gazette columnist, I read through “Let’s celebrate the real history of Jefferson Davis”, by Josh Moon. No surprise—it is just more “Righteous Cause” blather. The sub-title claims the South fought to “protect” slavery, yet the institution was constitutionally legal and Abe Lincoln and the Republicans stated ad nauseum that they had no intention or authority to interfere with slavery where it existed. A central reason for Republican opposition to s...
A debt ceiling crisis is a phenomenon that occurs on a regular basis in our crazy spendthrift Congress. Since its members are spending other people's money, the great majority of them relentlessly throw it around without any consideration about the consequences imposed upon our country's economy. Then later, when the bills come due, and they discover that they have already spent beyond their Constitutional limit, they plead for another increase in our national debt ceiling. And if they don't...
1st Sergeant Gerald May: Age: 75 1st Sergeant Gerald May served 24 years in the U.S. Army. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) included: Air Traffic Control, Supply Specialist, Linguist, Interrogator, Personnel Specialist, Fighter, Door Gunner, and Rifleman. He received the following medals, awards, and decorations: Bronze Star Medal w/Combat Distinguished Device “V”, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ Combat Distinguished Device “V...
Lieutenant Commander James Malcolm Levy: Age 75 Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) James Malcolm Levy served 20 years in the U.S. Navy. His designation after commissioning was as a Naval Aviator. During his service he had many administrative duties including flight instructor, Operations Officer and Executive Officer. He received the following medals, decorations and awards: Navy Expedition Medal (three awards), Navy Unit Commendation (two awards), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three awards), Navy...
Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation’s independence. For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people. We have useful online tools like the Social Security Statement (Statement) and our benefits estimator tool that help people not yet receiving benefits. The Statement shows the benefits that you and your family may be entitled to includes personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation. The b...
Over the years, I have witnessed hundreds of people fall away from God and the church. Many of these were avid believers that faithfully followed Jesus, passionately worshipped every Sunday and boldly witnessed to their faith. And they simply walked away from it all. What happened to them? Why did they simply walk away from God and their faith in Christ? Some may ask, “Why and how did they backslide?” I am convinced that the major reason people fall away from God and the church is not bec...
Where does the time go? I am barely over Christmas and now we are past the mid mark of the year. The Fourth of July should be a time to demonstrate patriotism, honoring our founding fathers and all who have made America great. Red, white and blue bunting adorn porches, smaller flags peek out of flower pots and gardens, and I saw at one store red, white and blue solar string lights. Using white vinca, red begonias, and blue ageratum in the flower beds complete the theme. I chose to plant a...
Let’s talk about doubt. We all have it. We all use it. Even in the most certain areas, doubt is always present. I can have a trail cam picture of a certain buck that shows up at a certain time of the day, and set up there on the following day, and still have doubt the buck will show up. I can catch fish for five straight days off one point, and can show up the next day, and doubt will still rear its head to play with my head about the possibility of a sixth straight day. Pure doubt itself is a...
It’s been a season of hard-charging faith documentaries, including “The Secrets of Hillsong” and “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets." Both saddened me. I never watched any of the Duggar series on TLC, though I was aware of the basic plot through word-of-mouth. The “Shiny” documentary intertwines with the ministry of Bill Gothard, the Duggar’s mentor, with whom I’m more familiar. Gothard was popular in the faith community of the 80s and 90s. A pastor friend encouraged us, his pulpit broth...
It all started with a simple question. I asked her what kind of toys she had played with when she was a kid growing up in Wilcox County. At least it seemed a simple question. The only reason it was on my mind at all was because…well, I am having a bit of the empty nest thing going on and in redoing bedrooms, one of them is decorated with vintage toys. I had shown her the room and some of the things I have recently added – a Gunsmoke puzzle, a Little Lulu tea set, and a Whitman version of Old...
What if I told you that you are probably missing a very important lesson from one of the most famous stories on the Bible? We have all know the story of Noah, who God told to build an ark to save the world from a global flood. “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch.” Genesis 6:14 But do you know how long it took Noah to build the ark? It wasn’t a few days, weeks, months, or even a few years. Most biblical historians estimate that it to...
What did the people of the newly formed United States eat while celebrating the Fourth of July? Did they just decide to eat something different from their usual menu? When and where did the idea of a menu just for the Four of July start? Legend has it that on July 4, 1776, John Adams and his wife celebrated the country's independence with a meal of turtle soup, poached salmon with an egg sauce, green peas, boiled potatoes, and a desert of Indian pudding or apple Pandowdy. Turtle soup was a very...