Letters to the Editor

March 16, 2010

To the Editor:

Energize with Nuclear Power

Oil is a diminishing and expensive source of energy, and coal is dirty.

Alternative energy sources, including solar and wind power, can only provide 10% to 20% of our energy requirements.

President Obama has increased government loan guaranties for new nuclear power plants from $18.5 billion to $54.5 billion, which should give impetus to the nuclear power industry.

There are 20 nuclear plants undergoing decommissioning, and we could construct new 2,000 megawatt units at these sites for a reduced investment by using the existing infrastructure. Nuclear plants have provided clean, cheap and safe power from 104 units. The only accident was at Three Mile Island, where almost all of the radiation was contained in the containment building. Subsequently, the NRC made changes in how it regulates nuclear power plants, and this has significantly reduced any risk to public safety.

We have to address the problem of leaking radioactive wastewater from underground pipes. The solution might be using higher quality pipes or moving the pipes above ground where they can be easily monitored.

Another problem is the disposal of nuclear waste, which has been collecting on plant sites. The solution is to neutralize and recycle the waste. France has perfected a process to recycle nuclear waste, and it is able to generate 80% of its energy requirements from nuclear power.

We need more nuclear power plants to counter the effects of global warming, eliminate foreign oil purchases, and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH 

February 18, 2010

To the Editor:

Create and Keep Jobs in U.S. 

President Obama is promoting a new $300 billion economic stimulus program. When he took office in January 2009 he said the $787 billion stimulus program will CREATE 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 and unemployment will remain below 8.0%. Unemployment is hovering around 10.0%, and the jobs promised by Obama might hit 1.5 million by the end of 2010, but during the last 13 months we lost 5 million jobs.

The stimulus saved the jobs of municipal workers, and provided additional unemployment benefits, but it has not provided jobs in the private sector. The money went to government agencies, colleges, non-profit organizations and entitlement programs. These programs will generate annual deficits of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion for years to come. Our government has squandered our financial resources on failed economic programs, and the American work force continues to suffer.

The domestic priority should be creating millions of new jobs, and other domestic initiatives, including health care reform, should wait until the economy improves.

The Administration and Congress have to reduce the size of government; cut business taxes; and give U.S. companies incentives to operate in this country, and disincentives to move operations and jobs overseas. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

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January 21, 2010

To the Editor:

Less Safe on Obama’s Watch 

As a former naval intelligence officer on a high level staff (Top Secret Cryptographic clearance), I agree with President Obama that the breach of security associated with the Detroit-bound airliner is “totally unacceptable”. The warning signs were there, but the intelligence community failed to recognize, analyze and disseminate the information. This is the same type of failure which led to the 9/11 attacks and the Ft. Hood massacre.

Although only a small percentage of Middle East inhabitants are terrorists, almost all of the terrorists emanate from Middle East countries. We have to pay much more attention to travelers to this country from the Middle East and a few other countries, and our Department of Homeland Security has to work with foreign airports to beef up their security operations. We need many more intelligence officials who are proficient in Arabic and who can penetrate al Qaida networks in various countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration transferred a number of Yemini terrorists from Guantanamo Bay back to Yemen, and at least one of them was involved in the planning for the attack on the Detroit-bound airliner. President Obama wants to close down Guantanamo and transfer the terrorists to the U.S. mainland for prosecution. Will these terrorists be convicted of their crimes? Will they be executed? If not, how long will they stay in prison? Will they be eligible for parole? Will they spread their hate for the U.S. to other inmates? Why take a chance with these hard core terrorists? Keet them in Guantanamo. 

We need President Obama to stop appeasing the leaders of countries that sponsor terrorism including Iran, Syria, and Somalia; and he has to cease bowing to leaders of the world, and appearing subservient to them. These actions are construed by terrorists as signs of weakness, which give the terrorists inspiration to attack us.

President Obama weakened the CIA operations, and the intelligence agencies in general, when he criticized the CIA for its interrogation techniques. Although some of these techniques might be unacceptable to the world community, we have to be able to somehow access information from captured terrorists. I believe the recent failures of our intelligence agencies to provide warnings of potential terrorist activities can be partially attributable to some apathy and lack of initiative within the intelligence community, and President Obama bears some responsibility for the climate of distrust among intelligence officials.

Janet Napolitano is not qualified to fill the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. We need a professional intelligence/security person in this critical position. Unfortunately most high level federal positions, including cabinet positions, go to unqualified politicians for payback for supporting the President during the campaign.

Note: The President was deeply involved and approved the people for these positions.

The U.S. is less safe on Obama’s watch, and we could be susceptible to on-going terrorist attacks due to an appeasing and apologetic President, incompetent Secretary of Homeland Security, and weakened intelligence agencies.

P.S. Bring on the body scanners. At my age it could be exciting. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

* * *

January 15, 2010

To the Editor:

New Coal, Not Needed

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal proves that two new coal plants are not needed in Georgia. Appearing on January 14^th , “Turmoil in Power Sector” describes a significant drop in demand for energy across the US. Due to a weak economy, better conservation efforts and a mild summer, the nation’s energy production dropped by 4.7% over the last two years. This is the biggest drop since 1938. The article goes on to state that this reduction in demand has postponed many infrastructure projects and has utilities rethinking new energy generation. Energy industry consultants Black & Veatch also stated that that even with an economic rebound, electricity demand would only grow by just over 1% for the foreseeable future. Given the state of our energy industry, it is a mystery that here in Georgia, two new coal plants are being proposed. The proposing company, Power4Georgians has cited 5% growth annually as the reason for the need. Clearly their data is inflated and outdated. The current numbers don’t lie; we don’t need new coal for Georgia.

Emily Thomas
Energy Associate
Environment Georgia
Atlanta

* * *

December 26, 2009

To the Editor:

Make safe speed your New Year's resolution: 
New 'Super Speeder" fines begin January 1st

New Year’s tradition requires that every 365 days we should make resolutions for self improvement to kick-start our lives for the next year. So as the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we’ll make our annual commitments to make change. It’s never too late to kick bad habits, learn new skills, or polish up the old ones.

Unfortunately, some of our most common resolutions are among the hardest to keep: to stop smoking, lose weight, manage debt or save money all come to mind. But this year there’s a commitment all Georgians should make to become better, safer drivers. And it’s a resolution we can actually keep by simply making a conscious effort to slow down as we drive. 

And unlike those other resolutions we list each year and promptly forget, observing safe speeds is a good driving habit we can renew each time we’re behind the wheel. It’s a self-improvement we can practice every day on the way to work, to church, and the supermarket. 

And there’s something else about your commitment to reduce speed that will make it different from all those same old New Year’s resolutions.. It saves lives. Three Hundred and eighty-four Georgians were killed in speed-related crashes here in 2007. That’s more than a speeding death a day. 

That makes speeding a habitual disaster just waiting to happen. But it’s one of life’s bad habits that can and should be kicked. Because nearly a quarter of Georgia crash fatalities involve motorists who continue to drive at deadly excessive speeds. These ‘Super Speeders’ who think they cause no harm aren’t just wrong, they’re dead wrong! 

So with the start of the New Year, Georgia’s new ‘Super Speeder’ Law punishes high-risk drivers with additional $200.00 state fines designed to reform their high-risk behavior behind the wheel. Governor Sonny Perdue’s ‘Super Speeder’ measure will now help us save precious lives and reduce serious injury on Georgia roadways. 

HB 160 will target the worst of Georgia’s Super Speeders -- Drivers who rocket along at 75 mph or more on your hometown two-lane rural roads like a tragedy looking for a place to happen.. Or those dangerous drivers convicted of treating any road like a race track at speeds of 85 mph or more.

January 1st, 2010 is a date Georgia drivers should mark on their calendars and write on a sticky note next to their keys. It’s the day the new state ‘Super Speeder’ Law goes into effect. And any high-risk drivers who make a habit of ignoring posted speed limits will be the first to feel the pinch of higher state fines on their wallets.

So this New Year’s, resolve to become a better, safer driver. The difference may save a life. At the very least it will save you a $200.00 state fine and an official ‘Super Speeder’ label on your license.

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

* * * 

December 24, 2009

Letter to the Editor: 

White House Immersed In Pork Barrel 

When President Obama was campaigning for President he made a solemn pledge he would eliminate or reduce earmarks. He broke that promise during the push to implement the new healthcare program.

The White House cut backroom deals with a number of senators to secure their votes for the bill. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska received $100 million in federal funds for a rip off which exempted his state from paying for new Medicaid patients. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got a kickback of $300 million in extra federal spending for her state.

The healthcare bill will add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, and the Medicare system will suffer cuts of $500 billion. Approximately 30 million people will be added to the healthcare system. This will place a severe strain on hospitals and doctors who will not be able to handle the huge influx of new patients. The end result will be long waiting periods and lower quality service for all. 

A particular concern is the impact of the program on small businesses, which will be forced to provide health insurance to their employees. This program could force many small businesses to raise prices and/or reduce costs (primarily labor costs), and some businesses will be forced to close their doors. It should be noted small businesses account for about 70% of the jobs in this country.

It is unfortunate the White House had to resort to pork barrel chicanery to get a highly flawed healthcare bill passed. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

* * * 

December 16, 2009

To the Editor:

Yet another study about school dropouts? Yawn. That much-analyzed and lamented subject has definite MEGO (“My eyes glaze over”) potential. However, the report you presented in your news article was way more powerful than the normal fare on this subject. (“Study Says Georgia Dropouts Cost Almost $5 Billion,” Dec. 15.) 

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice researcher brought Georgia-specific information to light that shows in painful detail the public costs of schools' becoming dropout factories. Of course, the harmful impact on individual lives (with the notable exceptions of some dropouts who beat the odds and succeed) is paramount. But a calculation of all the societal costs -- such as lost income and tax revenues, increased rates of imprisonment, and many forms of public assistance – gives an idea of the immense impact on taxpayers (about $95 million per year for each new “class” of Georgia dropouts).

With regard to the study’s argument that expanding school choice could raise Georgia’s graduation rate and save taxpayers millions of dollars, cynics will note that the authors are parental-choice advocates. However, that fact does not negate the evidence they present from Milwaukee and elsewhere that choice creates a healthy competition that not only helps students who opt for private schools but motivates public schools to improve so that higher percentages of their students stay and graduate. The powerful data and arguments advanced in this study ought to be useful as Georgia considers building on its recent initiatives to expand school choice.

Robert Holland
Senior Fellow for Education Policy
The Heartland Institute
Chicago

December 14, 2009

To the Editor,

Don't land on Santa's naughty list
Drive Sober this holiday season

While December brings holiday cheer for most, the holiday season will unfortunately bring highway tragedy for some! The Christmas travel period can be deadly both here in Georgia and across the country. Our Federal and state crash data shows the travel period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the most dangerous times on our roads. 

Impaired driving is the reason-- It’s one of America’s deadliest crimes. In 2008, 11,733 Americans died in highway crashes involving drivers with illegal blood alcohol concentrations of .08 or higher. Equally disturbing is the revelation that nearly one-in-four female drivers killed in crashes in 2008 also had an illegal BAC.

That’s why the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is joining with hundreds of highway safety partners across the state for this year’s Operation Zero Tolerance holiday enforcement campaign. During this high-visibility program of sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols, drivers detected Over the Limit will be placed Under Arrest.

Right here in Georgia, 24 people died during the 2008 Christmas travel period. The sad fact is one-out-of-three of our fatal highway crashes each year is caused by impaired drivers. Make no mistake. Our message is simple: No matter who you are or what you drive, if you’re caught driving impaired, you will be arrested. No warning tickets. No exceptions. No excuses.

Overall, Georgia experienced 7,814 alcohol-involved crashes in 2008! At GOHS, we’re hoping this Operation Zero Tolerance holiday enforcement campaign will help keep those numbers from increasing in this final month of 2009.

Too many drivers don’t realize the risks involved with driving impaired. During the holidays celebrations abound, spirits are high and travel increases across America. Unfortunately, drunk driving is usually on the rise as well. Last year, 888 people were killed in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or above. That math is just too deadly to ignore.

How can we stop these needless deaths? 2009 marks the fourth consecutive Christmas season that Georgia has mobilized literally thousands of traffic enforcement officers around the state under the new “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” national DUI enforcement campaign. Many officers are working double-shifts during this holiday travel period to help save more lives.

Georgia’s statewide Operation Zero Tolerance holiday enforcement crackdown begins Friday, December 18 and runs through Sunday, January 3, 2010. And just so you know it’s not about revenue and it’s not about writing more tickets. We’re telling motorists when to watch out for more flashing blue lights in their rearview mirror because this campaign is truly about saving lives.

When we count our blessings this holiday season, we know we can count on our dedicated enforcement partners to run their concentrated patrols and sobriety checkpoints to protect the millions of innocent motorists who will take to the roads to visit families and friends this month. Georgia’s high visibility enforcement efforts are crucial to reduce impaired driving crashes and DUI-deaths.

For more about Operation Zero Tolerance, visit the GOHS website at www.gahighwaysafety.org .  

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

* * * 

December 9, 2009

To the Editor: 

Win Afghanistan War 

President Obama and many of his followers have dwelled on the past and attempted to blame George Bush for the country’s ills. The Obama Administration has been in charge for almost a year and should have made more progress towards solving our problems, especially with a Democratic controlled Congress since 2006. It is the easy way out to blame others for problems. Bush could have blamed Clinton for decimating our military, but he didn’t.

Bush was castigated for the Iraq war, but it was Rumsfeld who promoted the “shock and awe” war of taking Iraq with 125,000 troops (Rumsfeld originally requested 75,000 troops) when General Shinseki, the Army Chief of staff, said we needed 250,000 troops to subdue the Iraqi military and the countryside. The General was correct and the result was the military mess in Iraq. General Petraeus finally got enough troops into Iraq to do the job.

Now, President Obama has added 30,000 troops in Afghanistan to try to decimate the Taliban and al Qaeda. We are in Afghanistan and have to win the war or we risk the emboldenment and potential attacks of terrorists throughout the world.

I am pleased President Obama is showing some leadership. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Former AG2 & LT, U.S. Navy
Londonderry, NH

* * * 

November 10, 2009

To the Editor:

Security Requires Nuclear Deterrent 

President Obama naively suggests the world can be free of nuclear weapons if the U.S. and Russia commit to arms reduction.

Obama is negotiating a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia in December 2009 which could reduce the U.S. and Russian operational nuclear warhead arsenals from over 2,500 to 1,500 warheads each. The treaty assumes we can verify the Russians destroyed their 1,000 warheads. The treaty will also reduce the number of long range missiles.

The reduction in U.S. nuclear/missile capabilities jeopardizes our national security because a number of other countries maintain nuclear weapons, including China, Pakistan and North Korea. Iran is currently developing nuclear weapons and Syria desires to have a nuclear capability.

The world will never be free of nuclear weapons because countries like North Korea and Iran are lead by dictators who lust for the threatening power of nuclear weapons and the capability to use their nuclear arsenal against perceived enemies.

President Obama’s lofty rhetoric sounds wonderful to himself and the Nobel Peace (In Weakness) Prize Committee, but I doubt he will satisfy his appetite for appeasement and get the leaders of the nuclear armed countries around a camp fire to toast the elimination of nuclear weapons and merrily sing Kumbaya. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

October 30, 2009

To the Editor:

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2009/October/29/census_workers.html

I noticed your posting on this website about the Census and I can tell you much of this information is inaccurate. The first paragraph states that the first phase in under way but the reality is, this first phase was completed in July 2009. That is the only time the Census Bureau planned to use the handheld computers.....your 3rd paragraph states that the works will have a handheld computer. 

Craig Best
Assistant Regional Census Manager
Kansas City Regional Census Center

****

October 23, 2009

To the Editor,

Don’t Make Halloween a Nightmare on DUI Street!
October No Treat for Drunk Drivers 

Unless you party responsibly, Halloween can quickly become the most devilish of times on our roadways. Crash stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently show Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. Last year, a frightening 58-percent of all highway fatalities across the country involved a driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In Georgia, one-in-three fatalities on Halloween night was alcohol related.

It’s a party that’s just not worth dying for. That’s why we’re joining our statewide highway safety partners again this Halloween to stop impaired drivers before they can kill. Because in recent years, Georgians who drive drunk have transformed Halloween into one of the state’s most deadly holidays. In 2005, five people died and 22 were seriously injured in 1,005 Georgia Halloween crashes. In 2006, three people died and 10 were seriously injured. And in 2007, Halloween crashes claimed the lives of seven Georgians and 15 others were seriously injured.

These numbers are frightening. Drinking and driving on Halloween can turn a night of festivities into something scarier than any horror movie. But unlike the assorted ghouls who frequent TV fright nights on October 31st, real people don’t walk away when they’re hit by a drunk driver. Luckily, there are a few simple precautions partygoers can take to keep Halloween from turning into a real-life nightmare: Designate a sober driver before drinking, plan a safe way home before festivities begin, call a taxi or a sober friend if you’re too impaired to drive, and don’t hesitate to call your local law enforcement if you suspect another motorist is driving impaired.

One foolish decision can turn Halloween in a real-life horror story. Most people think it’s all about candy, fun costumes and adult beverages. But NHTSA says more than half of all fatal Halloween crashes are now alcohol-related. So this holiday isn’t all fun and games. It’s also an occasion to watch for impaired drivers and for young trick-or-treaters who might dart into the roadway in search of their next treats. Many local law enforcement agencies will be stepping-up high visibility patrols on Halloween weekend to promote increased pedestrian safety.

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we want to make sure Georgia revelers aren’t taking the party to our roadways, or putting young trick-or-treaters or responsible motorists at risk. From now through Halloween, highway safety officers throughout Georgia will be out in force, sending drunk drivers straight to jail.

Even motorists who aren’t planning on indulging Halloween night need to keep the following few safety tips in mind: be extra alert when pulling out of driveways; drive below the speed limit; watch for darting children, especially between parked cars; don’t use cell phones when driving through residential areas; and don’t pass other vehicles stopped in the roadway…they could be dropping off children.

For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org and for more information about Halloween traffic safety, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Bob Dallas
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

***

October 2, 2009

To the Editor:

Last week, our state witnessed a series of severe storms that resulted in flooding across much of north Georgia and the metro Atlanta area. As a result, Gov. Sonny Perdue requested a federal disaster declaration from President Obama to assist the affected areas. 

On September 24, 2009, President Obama issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Georgia, triggering the release of federal funds to help individuals recover from the severe storms and flooding that began September 18, 2009, and continuing. Currently, the counties of Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker have been designated for Individual Assistance, and all counties are eligible to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Individual Assistance can include temporary housing assistance for eligible applicants such as rental assistance and repair assistance. If you sustained damage during these storms and live in one of the designated counties, I encourage you to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY (800) 462-7585 for individuals with speech or hearing disabilities. If you have Internet access, you may apply for disaster assistance online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov . 
In addition, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, Paulding, Stephens and Walker counties are also now eligible for Public Assistance. This assistance provides funding on a cost-sharing basis to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for the repair or replacement of damaged roads, dams, bridges, water treatment facilities, publicly-owned utilities and other types of infrastructure.

I have been in communication with state emergency officials as well as local government officials in counties affected by this severe weather and flooding. Last week, I toured some of the damaged areas with Vice President Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate. I believe it was very important for the administration to see firsthand the destruction that has taken place, and I hope it helps them understand the urgency of getting help to all of Georgia's affected communities. 

I have compiled the latest information on disaster response and recovery activities on my website. Please visit http://www.isakson.senate.gov/flooding.html   for more information, including a list of local disaster relief centers.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson
United States Senator

September 24, 2009

To the Editor,

Texting while driving is a death sentence

Let's face it, Americans are driven to distraction. Whether it's screaming kids, bigger billboards or other erratic drivers, we must safely negotiate busier roadways without being overwhelmed by these unavoidable distractions. 

But what about avoidable distractions; the ones drivers create for themselves? We have all seen these high risk drivers in the next lane: eating or drinking, multitasking and calling, among other distractions. While these distractions by all accounts are diversions to safe driving performance, at least they are not designed to take the driver's eyes off the road...and keep them there.

But one avoidable distraction is unique: texting. Like reading a book, texting is designed to take and keep a driver's eyes off the road. Add to that the pervasive texting by our younger and future drivers and it's easy to foresee how this popular trend could become our next deadly highway trend. It's a problem so pervasive some traffic enforcement officers have labeled it "DWI: Driving While Intexticated." 

That is why Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is to be commended for raising the issue in his upcoming national Distracted Driving Summit. Too often, traffic safety policy is established only after thousands die and many times that are severely injured. By addressing the issue before more lives are lost, Secretary LaHood will save immeasurable misery caused to friends and families of loved ones. This is in addition to saving health care costs we as a nation cannot afford. 

While some will argue the challenges in enforcing texting laws are too large to overcome, the same arguments were made for other highway safety measures we now take for granted. For example, no longer is it acceptable to drive impaired, or ride without wearing a safety belt, and teens ease into driving with graduated licensing laws. By bringing together safety experts and stakeholders, the Summit will produce life saving enforcement strategies which states may consider adopting to reduce crashes due to texting. 

What's the alternative? Hu RU kidN? Mor crs wl crsh! 

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

September 22, 2009

To the Editor: 

Reckless Health Care Changes 

President Obama continues to pitch his reckless and unrealistic health care initiative to the public. “Big Brother“ Obama wants Congress to pass a bill quickly before Congress and the public understand the plan.

A proposed government imposed health care program will cost U.S. taxpayers about $1 trillion over 10 years, and the Medicare system will suffer cuts of $500 billion.

Thirteen million illegal aliens will access Obama’s health care system because many of them have drivers licenses and forged social security cards, and Obama’s health care package does not include verification of citizenship.

Obama says he will have to live with his program, but it is the American people who will have to endure the harmful impact on our health care system. About 80% of the American people are satisfied with the best health care system in the world.

Any changes will be implemented in 2013, well after the 2012 election. Is this timetable designed to give Obama the opportunity to be reelected before a failed health care program is implemented?

Some European countries and Canada embarked on Socialized health care and they have endured long waiting times for services and reductions in the quality of care due to inadequate numbers of doctors, nurses and hospitals. We could suffer the same fate. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

September 10, 2009

To the Editor: 

Obama Attempts School Intrusion 

President Obama continues to hover over us like “Big Brother”. Tuesday, September 8, 2009 his targeted audience was our impressionable school children.

Obama beamed a speech into our schools all across the country. Although the speech was marketed as non-political and encouraged students to do well in school, it set a current precedent for future speeches by Obama to our students. It can be construed as unduly influencing our educational system with more government interference in our daily lives and should be considered an invasion of privacy.

The original lesson plans that were supposed to accompany the speech recommended students “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President.” This was designed as a program for Obama to have direct contact with our youths across the country, and therein bypassing parents. Obama might be trying to impact our youth with his philosophy, and build his constituency with millions of high school students who will be eligible to vote in 2012.

Thankfully, many school districts refused to air the speech in an attempt to keep government intrusion out of our educational system.

Note: President George H. W. Bush and President Reagan intruded in the schools when they spoke to students. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

September 1, 2009

To the Editor: 

Massachusetts Political Shenanigans 

In 2004, Senator Edward Kennedy asked the Massachusetts political leadership to change the law that allowed the governor to appoint an interim Senator, because Governor Romney would have appointed a Republican if Senator Kerry won the Presidency. The politicians changed the law to require a special election within five months of a vacancy.

Fast forward to 2009 and the Massachusetts legislature and the governor are currently evaluating a recent request from Senator Kennedy to again change the law of succession for a senate seat. The current law requires an election be held 145 days to 160 days after the death of Senator Kennedy. Massachusetts is considering changing the law to allow Governor Patrick, a Democrat, to appoint an interim senator.

The move is designed to keep the number of Democratic senators at 60, which is the number needed to cut off debate and stop a filibuster. It is possible the passage of health care reform legislation might hinge on just one vote. Hopefully it will be defeated to save this country from Socialized health care, which will cost the U.S. an additional $1 trillion, and $500 billion will come from cuts in Medicare. Approximately 50 million new patients will be immediately added to the currently stretched system, including 13 million illegal aliens. 

Kennedy served his country well, but Massachusetts should not change the law to satisfy partisan politics and contribute to the Socialization of this country. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

August 21, 2009

To the Editor,

Police in 5 states join Georgia Drunk Driving Campaign
18th "Hands Across the Border" DUI enforcement

This Labor Day, drunk drivers who try to run from police in Georgia, will be frustrated to find even more police waiting for them at every Georgia state line -- It’s Georgia’s annual Hands Across The Border intra-state highway safety crackdown. This Labor Day law enforcement tradition is now in its eighteenth year of making roads throughout the southeast safer from drunk drivers. 

This campaign serves as an annual reminder that Georgia and its neighbor states won’t tolerate any form of impaired driving as summer revelers hit the road for their last vacation of the season. Whether you’re coming to see Georgia’s beautiful coast, travelling to Tennessee’s majestic mountains, or visiting any great southeastern vacation destination, our message is clear: If you drive drunk, your itinerary will also include a memorable trip to a Georgia jail.

For six days leading up to the Labor Day weekend, police, sheriff’s deputies and State Troopers throughout Georgia will rendezvous at state Welcome Centers for interviews with news media and photo-ops with handshakes and helicopters to promote highway safety education. But it’s not just about local TV, radio and newspaper coverage -- Georgia’s peace officers will join their traffic enforcement partners from five bordering states in a major mobilization effort coordinated by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to crack down on impaired drivers. 

Motorists heading toward any of the five state lines that Georgia shares should expect to see a high concentration of law enforcement on our interstates and roadways. Day and night and on both sides of the state line, our highway safety partners will be conducting sobriety checks to get the summer’s most dangerous drivers off the road. From Aug. 30th through Sept. 4th, the flashing red and blue lights of our Hands Across the Border teams will blanket the state as a colorful reminder that drunk driving will not be tolerated now or ever.

Each year this campaign creates an outstanding opportunity for law enforcement officers from neighboring Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina to renew their commitment to cooperate in their lifesaving mission. For eighteen years the highlight of these media events at Georgia Welcome Centers has been the traditional handshake between traffic enforcement officers from both sides of the state lines as they make their annual Hands Across The Border Pledge to work together all year long to reduce crashes, fatalities and serious injuries on our highways. After the speeches and media coverage, officers convoy in blue-light motorcades to the adjoining states’ visitor centers to repeat their lifesaving pledge. 

This year, the Hands Across The Border campaign runs concurrent with the nationwide Labor Day impaired driving mobilization. In Georgia, it’s Operation Zero Tolerance.. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. GOHS is also coordinating the “100 Days Of Summer HEAT” initiative this Labor Day to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of speed, aggressive driving, and failure to use safety belts and child restraints. For more information about Operation Zero Tolerance, Hands Across The Border, and the “100 Days Of Summer HEAT”, visit the GOHS website at www.gahighwaysafety.org   . 

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

August 12, 2009

To the Editor: 

Presidency In Disarray 

President Obama is in disarray and heading in many directions, thereby diluting our efforts, our energies, and our resources needed to move this country forward.

It seems like President Obama is continuously hovering over us on TV, radio and the internet in campaign mode to promote his agenda of large scale social programs, big government, government control of domestic programs, and the appeasement and enabling of our adversaries.

Obama’s concurrent policies and programs include the following:

--A stimulus plan that has created on the order of a few hundred thousand jobs, because the recovery plan was poorly designed and concentrated on social welfare programs. Obama predicted the creation of 3.5 million new jobs by the end of 2010. We will be lucky if 1 to 1.5 million new jobs are created by December 2010.

--A $2 trillion deficit in FY 2010 and annual deficits of $1 trillion for many years thereafter. Our national debt will go from $11.5 trillion now to $24 trillion by 2019.

--Government involvement in private industry with huge bailouts of the automobile manufacturers, AIG, and major banks.

--A government run healthcare program with more government interference and control. It could cost $1 trillion, and to help pay for it Obama proposes to significantly raise taxes on successful individuals and small businesses. The crushing costs could force many small businesses into bankruptcy. And Obama’s healthcare opponents are being labeled by the Administration as right wing extremists.

--A $12 billion program for community colleges.

--A cap and trade policy which will hurt the U.S. economy.

--Alternative energy programs which will only provide 10% to 20% of our energy requirements. We need domestic oil and natural gas production and nuclear power plants.

--Financial regulatory reforms generating government control of private industry, and some economically unsound programs. Example: The Administration wants the net asset value of money market funds to float up and down from $1 in response to economic conditions. This will kill money market funds and the safe havens investors seek in times of financial uncertainty.

--Completely exiting Iraq by 2010. This could lead to civil war and more instability in the Middle East.

--Significantly ramping up the war in Afghanistan. We will probably have 100,000 troops there within a few years, which will continue a drain on our economy and military. This is Obama’s war.

--A very timid response to the Iranian government crackdown on demonstrators, and a lackluster response to the development of Iranian nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems.

--A weak response to North Korean belligerence and its development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and long range missiles.

--A proposed new nuclear arms treaty with Russia which will significantly reduce the availability of nuclear weapons/missile delivery systems. This program is being promoted by the Obama Administration in the face of increased availability of nuclear missiles by Communist China, Communist North Korea, and Fascist Iran.

--Cozying up to and appeasing the dictators of the world. Barack Obama could be the Neville Chamberlain of the 21st century.

President Obama has his fingers in many pies. He has to start prioritizing his policies and programs, and concentrate on focused and rational domestic and global initiatives most crucial to our economy and security. He has to extricate himself from all the gooey pies, overcome his reckless arrogance, and start being a chief executive. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

August 10, 2009

To the Editor,

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS

As reluctant as most students are to accept the end of summer vacation, for most Georgia counties the arrival of August signals it’s time to go back to school. This means motorists must once again be aware of precious cargo commuting to school on our roadways. It’s time to share the road with big yellow school buses and watch for shorter pedestrians crossing crowded intersections. It’s time to “Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm.”

While there is plenty of Back-to-School safety advice to keep in mind, some of the most important tips tell us how to travel safely near school buses when they’re picking up or dropping off students. This is so important that Georgia law tells us what to do when a school bus activates its swing-arm stop sign and red flashing lights. 

If there’s a median between the traffic travelling in opposite directions, only vehicles travelling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop when the bus stops. But if no median is present between traffic lanes heading in opposite directions, drivers on both sides of the roadway must stop when a school bus activates its swing-arm stop sign and red flashing lights to load or unload passengers. Passing is also prohibited on either side of a school bus during passenger pick-up or drop-off.

Buses are an extremely safe way to get our kids to and from school. Every motorist needs to realize that no matter how late we’re running or how much we want to grab that cup of coffee on the way to work, we must obey the law and stop for school buses. Failing to stop can result in a preventable tragedy.

As a motorist, being aware of your surroundings is always advised, but here are more helpful Back-to-School Safety Tips for the motoring public to prepare for Back-to-School traffic:

· When a school bus prepares to stop to load or unload children, the bus driver will activate flashing yellow lights. When other motorists see these lights, all vehicles approaching the bus should slow down and be prepared to stop.

· Pay close attention to children who may be walking along the road, crossing the road or waiting alongside it.

· Once stopped, motorists should remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or deactivates its warning signal AND all passengers have cleared the roadway.

· Motorists should be prepared to react to unexpected movements of students waiting for their bus.. Children don’t always follow standard pedestrian safety rules. Slow Down. Save a Life!

· Resist distractions in school zones and near bus stops.. Driving is your most important job behind the wheel. Pay attention.

· When approaching railroad tracks behind a school bus, wait until the bus is completely across the tracks and there’s room on the other side for another vehicle to safely clear the tracks before proceeding.

Though court fees may vary by jurisdiction for the unlawful passing of a school bus, other fines and penalties apply statewide. A conviction for unlawful passing of a school bus carries six (6) driver’s license points for all motorists. However, drivers under age 21 receive an automatic six-month license suspension if found guilty of any traffic offense that incurs four (4) or more points.

We all must pay the utmost attention to the road whether we’re heading to work, heading to school, or just dropping by the grocery store or post office. Paying attention to our surroundings is that much more important now that the new school year is upon us. And remember to Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm. 

For more information on traffic laws about school bus safety, visit the Georgia Department of Driver Services website at www.dds.ga.gov to access the 2009 Driver’s Manual. For more information on school bus safety, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov or the National Association for Pupil Transportation at www.napt.org .

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

July 27, 2009

To the Editor: 

Obama “Shoots From the Hip” 

President Obama has confirmed my fear of having a president with terrible judgment.

His recent accusation that the Cambridge, MA police “acted stupidly” in the arrest of a black college professor shows Obama makes decisions without gathering all the facts and analyzing the situation. He automatically took the side of a fellow black, and berated the police, without any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the event. He should not be commenting on local police matters. This only weakens the office of President of the United States.

President Obama has trouble thinking correctly and makes poor decisions when he is away from his aides, is not reading from a prepared speech and does not have a teleprompter in front of him. Also, he has exhibited a tendency to “shoot from the hip”. Do you trust him to take the 3AM call? I don’t. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

July 9, 2009

To the Editor: 

Obama Enables Adversaries 

President Obama damaged the CIA when he released memos describing the “enhanced interrogation techniques” used on high level terrorists. He weakened the CIA when he said he would release photographs showing abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, but then under pressure he decided not to release the photos.

This is typical flip flop behavior by the Administration – Hold a press conference, berate and expose people for political purposes, profess it is about change and transparency, and then back off and shift positions when called to task for inept decisions that hurt the country.

The weakening of the CIA will have serious adverse consequences for the gathering, analysis and dissemination of intelligence. CIA officers will be looking over their shoulders at blabbermouth Administration officials and Congress, will not trust them, and will be more concerned with covering themselves than doing their jobs. Plus rogue countries and terrorist organizations have gained valuable information from the release of the memos.

President Obama’s lack of national security experience, poor judgment, and appeasement philosophy are hurting us. He is undermining our intelligence apparatus and enabling our adversaries, and our country is less safe under his watch. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

July 8, 2009

To the Editor:

Small kids in hot cars = 
big risk in Georgia summer temps

Anyone who lives in Georgia knows our Summer heat can sometimes seem unbearable. But when Georgians want to help the kids beat the heat this summer by heading to the lake or just to the toy store for new water guns, there’s a special warning I want them to keep in mind: Kids And Hot Cars Are A Deadly Combination!

The math involved when you leave a child unattended in a hot car is no lesson for our youngsters to learn the hard way. Any child left in a vehicle under extreme heat conditions is left in a potentially deadly situation. Depending on humidity levels, a life-threatening condition called heat stroke can occur during temperatures as low as 80 degrees. Body temperatures higher than 105 degrees can cause permanent brain damage and even death, especially among children! With those figures in mind, most parents are shocked to learn that temperatures in your vehicle can spike to 160 degrees in a matter of minutes during Georgia’s hottest summer days!

The tragic fact is that from 1998 to 2007, approximately 365 children, most of them ages three and younger, died from heat stroke after being trapped inside cars. On days when the temperature exceeds 86 degrees, the internal temperature of your vehicle quickly climbs between 134 and 154 degrees.

So why is being left in a car on a hot day more dangerous for children than adults? Because heat is physiologically much more detrimental to our children than it is to us. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase three to five times faster than that of an adult.

According to research conducted by San Francisco State University (SFSU), even with temperatures as seemingly cool as 70 degrees, the inside of a car can reach a dangerous temperature in just minutes. The same research found that more than a third of the children who died under such conditions were accidentally left behind in a closed, parked car by a parent or caregiver while another third were trapped while playing in an unattended vehicle. The most tragic statistic of them all: One-in-five child heat fatalities were intentionally left in vehicles by adults.

If there is a silver lining to this trend, it’s that the number of these child ‘hyperthermia’ deaths in cars does appear to be on the decline. SFSU statistics show that across the country, 42 children died in hot cars in 2008, while 8 have died in similar situations so far this year.

To help prevent such senseless tragedies, our partners at Safe Kids Georgia offer several safety tips when it comes to children, cars, and Georgia’s legendary summer heat:

Teach children not to play in, on, or around vehicles.
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows slightly open for ventilation.

Always lock car doors and trunks, especially at home; keep keys out of children’s reach.

Check to make sure all children enter and leave the vehicle when heading to and from a destination.

Be especially careful if dropping-off infants or children at daycare is not part of your normal routine.

Place something you’ll need at your next stop (i.e. purse, lunch, gym bag, or briefcase) on the floor of the backseat where the child is sitting. This simple act could help prevent you from accidentally forgetting a child.

If you see an unattended child in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.

Parents need to know these potentially life saving tips to avoid a fatal outcome that can happen in the blink of an eye. Though these preventable deaths are down across the country, the heartbreak still happens all too often. For more information about keeping your child safe this Summer, please visit www.safekidsgeorgia.org .

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

June 28, 2009

To the Editor: 

Gas For The U.S. 

The information in this letter was taken from the June 12, 2009 SitNews, Ketchikan, AK article entitled “Historic Agreement Moves Alaska Gasline Forward”.

I want to commend Governor Palin and her fellow Alaskans for passing The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA), which set the stage for Trans Canada and ExxonMobil to enter into an agreement for the construction of a natural gas pipeline. 

The pipeline will carry natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope through Alaska and Canada and down to the lower 48 states. Eventually it will supply 8% of the U.S. annual natural gas requirements.

This clean energy project will create thousands of jobs and large revenues for Alaska; and will help the U.S. continue to decrease its dependence on foreign oil and it will make a positive impact on the environment.

Government officials in the lower 48 states should emulate the Alaskan example and pursue increased domestic energy production, including the development of offshore oil reserves.

Congratulations Governor Palin for your hard work and perseverance to get the job done. 

P.S. Alaska is a beautiful state. My wife and I visited Alaska in May and June 2008. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

June 10, 2009

To the Editor:

Declare your independence from impaired driving this July 4th

This July 4th weekend, Georgians will leave home behind and pack the kids in the family car headed for their favorite summer vacation destinations. It’s time for sun-soaked holiday reunions where friends gather with barbecue, boating, beaches, and cold beer on their minds. But it’s also time for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to remind all motorists to plan ahead wherever they plan to party this summer. And that means planning for a designated driver is Priority-One before any July 4th festivities begin. 

Unfortunately July 4th has joined the growing list of America’s heavy-drinking holidays like Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Super Bowl Sunday and New Year’s Eve. Every motorist should be aware that one-out-of-five traffic fatalities in Georgia are now alcohol-related. Statistics show drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher are eleven times more likely to die in a crash than if involved in that same crash with no alcohol in their system at all.

“There’s nothing wrong with adults socializing with adult beverages, but add car keys to the mix and drinking-and- driving makes a deadly cocktail,” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. “Some drivers just won’t leave their “Margaritaville vacation mentality” behind. They carelessly climb behind the wheel while impaired and that’s when the trouble starts.”

And that’s why highway safety advocates across the country call the July 4th travel period one of this nation’s most dangerous times on our roadways due to DUI’s. The history of this all-American travel holiday tells the tale. About a third of all fatal crashes on our nation’s roads during the July 4th weekend involve at least one driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In Georgia, nearly half the state’s fourteen July 4th traffic deaths involved at least one drunk driver in 2007. 

So every July 4th holiday the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety coordinates more than 500 Georgia police departments, sheriff’s offices and state patrol posts statewide to run concentrated patrols on our interstates and to set up sobriety checkpoints on our roadways. Safe drivers go on their way, but impaired drivers go to jail.

“So while everyone else is watching the sky for colorful lights during July Fourth fireworks, anyone who drives drunk should watch for blue lights in their rearview mirror instead,” says GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “The Operation Zero Tolerance message is simple: No warning tickets. No exceptions. Drunk drivers go to jail.”

“If you plan to party this July 4th, remember there are so many simple ways to prevent tragedy,” says GOHS Director Dallas. “Arrange for a sober driver, store taxi cab company numbers in your cell phone, or take mass transit. If you’re the designated driver, you too can help by reminding passengers about open container laws and not allowing alcohol to be consumed in your car, by obeying all traffic laws, and by making sure everyone always buckles-up.” 

“Remember, impaired driving is no accident or victimless crime,” says Director Dallas. “Know your limits, be responsible and be prepared to call 9-1-1 if you see an impaired driver endangering other lives on the road. Don’t let the Fourth of July blow up in your face. Take a stand and declare your independence from drunk driving this July 4th.”

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

June 8, 2009

To the Editor: 

Create Jobs for Americans 

A while ago I read that Bill Gates and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were planning on donating a total of $500 million to reduce the incidence of smoking in developing countries, especially China. I haven’t seen any recent information on this subject, but I believe they made a commitment to this ridiculous project. 

Why are they concerned with the habits of the Chinese people? Do the Chinese worry about our health when they send all of those tainted products to the U.S.? Do the Chinese concern themselves with our economy when they flood our country with their products and eliminate U.S. jobs?

It is admirable for Bill and Mike to give back to society some of the many millions they have earned, but they should concern themselves with the plight of all the Americans who have lost their jobs because of the cheap goods manufactured in China and exported to the U.S. With U.S. unemployment projected to approach 10% in 2009, they should be investing the $500 million in the U.S. to create jobs for Americans, the same American workers who made them wealthy. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

May 28, 2009

To the Editor: 

Cars Coming from China  

General Motors (GM) received $20 billion in U.S. government loans and might need another $50 billion to survive.

GM plans to close a number of U.S. plants and lay off thousands of workers. The UAW has agreed to eliminate or reduce employee benefits to drop the average wage, including benefits, from around $75 per hour to near $45 per hour, which is the average wage of U.S. auto workers at foreign plants in the U.S. Hopefully, GM will cut management staff and reduce executive salaries. These actions should make GM cost competitive and save thousands of American jobs.

However, to my astonishment, GM plans to increase imports from Mexico, South Korea, Japan and China from 15% in 2009 to 23% by 2014. Approximately 50,000 cars will be imported from Communist China by 2014.

Evidently the U.S. taxpayers are loaning GM $20-$50 billion to stay alive so it can close U.S. plants, lay off U.S. workers, transfer some production to foreign countries like Communist China and import inferior cars to the U.S. so more U.S. workers can be laid off. And our insurance rates and health care costs will increase from accidents as the wheels falls off the Chinese made vehicles.

We don’t need imported cars. We need fuel efficient, reasonably priced cars manufactured in the U.S. 

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH 

May 22, 2209

To the Taxpayers of Gwinnett County: 

As Mayor of Suwanee, Georgia, I can attest firsthand that local governments are profoundly impacted by these challenging economic times. I can also promise that the Suwanee City Council is doing everything in our power to hold the line on taxes. 

People are hurting. Many have lost jobs or taken pay cuts. Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. Non-profits are trying to survive. Everyone seems to be doing whatever they can keep costs down. Well, not everyone. 

Earlier this week, our Gwinnett County Commissioners announced their plan to raise your property taxes by more than 25% (30% if you live in a city) so that they can expand their ‘09 budget by about 10% over their ‘08 budget. We don’t have the exact figures because they still won’t publish the budget they adopted on March 3. You see, even though we’re nearly halfway into the fiscal year, without their budget document, the public is being kept in the dark. Our Commissioners are ballooning County government in the worst economy anyone can remember.

$43 million of this enormous $87 million property tax increase isn’t even planned to be spent in 2009- they’re socking it away in something called “working capital reserve”. Our Commissioners have decided it’s better to overtax you and hoard those dollars than for you to pay your mortgage, healthcare or for your kids’ education.

Under the guise of public safety, our Commissioners have hatched a curious plan to hire 170 more officers to start patrolling inside cities that are already policed effectively by the cities. This wasteful and dangerous duplication will require another $17-20 million of your money in new taxes… can’t know for certain without the budget. Sheriff Butch Conway calls their scheme a “terrible mistake.” 

Growing the size of government in these economic times is exactly the wrong thing for any elected body. It’s quite obvious that our Commissioners are oblivious to the reality that the rest of us face. We’re cutting back, yet they’re expanding their County largesse and sending us the bill. And it’s going to be a whopper.

State law requires our Commissioners hold three public hearings at GJAC before they set these new tax rates. Two are scheduled for May 26, the day after Memorial Day. The third is June 2, after which the County will vote on the new tax rate. I plan to attend all of them, and hope you will too.

Have we learned anything from the County’s recent “trash plan” episode? This time, will we make our voices heard to our elected Commissioners BEFORE they take action on this outrageous tax hike? If not, brace yourself for a doozie of a county tax bill.

Dave Williams, Mayor
City of Suwanee, Georgia

May 20, 2009

To the Editor,

Buckle-Up: A crash-course in Road-Reality
Click It Or Ticket!

It’s Click It Or Ticket time in Georgia and anyone who complains about getting a ticket for not buckling-up deserves a crash-course in road-reality even though the numbers often seem surreal. Across the country, more than 14-thousand passenger vehicle occupants weren’t wearing their seatbelts when they were killed in crashes in 2007. It’s tragic because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates seatbelts saved as many as 15,147 lives that same year. And yet, One-in-five Americans still fails to buckle-up regularly!

While all this can sometimes just sound like statistics, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our law enforcement partners know from personal experience that behind those numbers are actual faces of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children and friends from right here in Georgia. Too many families talk to us about the losses that could have been prevented if loved ones only wore their safetybelts.

Now we’re only days away from Memorial Day and that signals the unofficial start of Summer. In Georgia, Memorial Day isn’t just about backyard barbecues and swimming pools. It’s about holiday travel too. And even though Georgia has an 89-percent safetybelt use rate -- the highest in the Southeast -- too many of our traffic fatalities in Georgia are the ones that are still unbelted. During the 2007 Memorial Day travel period, nine-of-the-eleven crash fatality victims were not wearing seatbelts. 

Truth is, some people in Georgia are still convinced they don’t need seatbelts. What’s worse is those people who choose to disobey the law are taking a chance not only with their lives, but with the emotional and financial health of their families, friends, and the state we call home. Death may be the ultimate consequence for not wearing a seatbelt, but even for those who escape a fatal crash, the economic cost of injuries that might have been prevented by a properly buckled seatbelt can be staggering. We all share in the tragic consequences and bear the burden of the catastrophic costs of needless injuries from traffic crashes. Every year, vehicles crashes cost the equivalent of sending an $800-invoice to every person in this country!

This goes to the heart of our mission to protect the public. It’s why we join every year with hundreds of our state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners to step-up high-visibility safetybelt enforcement on Georgia roads. Traffic enforcement officers will be out in force this May to show their dedication to solving this problem. We want 100-percent of Georgia drivers and passengers to buckle-up. Buckling up costs you nothing, but the costs of NOT buckling up may be a ticket or worse…your life. Treat this as a tough and potentially life-saving reminder: Click It or Ticket! Because in Georgia, if you don’t click it, expect a ticket!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It’s not about writing tickets. It’s about saving lives. And I’ll keep saying it until we stop seeing needless deaths on our roads because drivers and passengers won’t invest the three seconds it takes to buckle-up.

Don’t let your Memorial Day weekend end with a memorial service for someone you love.

Click It or Ticket!

Bob Dallas
Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

May 14, 2009

To the Editor:

Appeasement Jeopardizes National Security

President Obama is making mistakes impacting our foreign policy.

The Administration tried appeasement when it declared Chavez’s president-for-life referendum was “for the most part…..a process that was fully consistent with a democratic process”.

The Administration looked the other way when Russia pressured Kyrgyestan to shut down a valuable U.S. air base.

In Turkey Obama said “The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam”, which is true, but he should have stated the U.S. will pursue Islamic terrorists.

The President warned North Korea it would suffer “consequences” if it went ahead with the launch of a long range missile, but North Korea snubbed the U.S. and launched the missile on a 2000 mile run. Also, North Korea recently restarted its nuclear weapons development program.

President Obama attempted to charm Iran, but Iran’s parliament speaker rebuked our President and told him the U.S. has to acknowledge 60 years of crimes against Iran, change our policies, and abandon Israel.

Obama is making reconciliation overtures to Cuba, but Cuba is negotiating to allow Russian warships and aircraft to refuel at Cuban bases; and Russia might be allowed to reopen an electronic intelligence gathering operation in Lourdes.

Appeasing and apologizing (for nothing) to these totalitarian countries is interpreted as groveling weakness by the Administration, and it is jeopardizing our national security.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

May 8, 2009

To the Editor,

"Memorial Day, A Start To Summer "

May 25th, Memorial Day, what many consider the start of summer’s boating season. People from all over our state will be dusting off the boat seats, fueling up the wave runners and giving their favorite set of water skis a good coat of wax, but this year take along awareness of your choice in beverages before you hit the waves. In 2007, alcohol use was reported to be the number “1” contributing factor of casualties in boating accidents by the United States Coast Guard. Country wide, 157 people lost their life as a result of boating and alcohol use combined in some manner that year. Unfortunately, Georgia is not immune to this fact. From 2003 to 2007 Georgia has had 20 deaths that were directly associated with alcohol use listed as the leading cause of the boating fatality. A boat operator with BAC above 0.10 percent is estimated to be 10 times more likely to die in a boating accident than a sober operator. Make this summer’s outings on the water safe for you, your family and others – leave the driving to a sober skipper and opt for non-alcoholic beverages while out enjoying the water sports. Many operators are also blind to the fact that boater’s in Georgia are able to operate a boat at a more drunken condition that what our laws allow for driving on your state highways. Driving Under The Influence on a state highway is set at a 0.08 BAC or above while Boating Under The Influence on state controlled waterways is set at a 0.10 BAC or above. An attempt to correct this oversight, to bring harmony to the laws so that Georgia has one “per se” limit of 0.08 BAC, is being sought out via Georgia Senate Bill 71 by Senator Bill Heath of Bremen and Georgia House Bill 669 by Representative Mark Butler of Carrollton; sponsored by Representative Tom Rice. Yet, one common sense approach to safe boating that helps save lives in order to have a more safe time on Georgia public waters is to not drink while operating a boat. Appoint a designated skipper. Or, simply, save all alcohol drinking activities for when you are safely on land. 

Sincerely,

Andy M. Johnson
Constituent Author and Organizer of Grassroots Activist for Georgia Senate Bill 71 and Georgia House Bill 669
Georgia Hunter Safety Instructor
Tallapoosa, Ga. 

May 7, 2009

To the Editor,

Buckling down on unbuckled drivers on Georgia's rural roads

It’s hard to believe, but we’re nearly halfway through 2009 and summer vacation road trips are almost here. What’s also hard to believe is that vacationing drivers in the vast rural areas of our state face a much greater risk of being injured or killed in traffic crashes than drivers in more populated areas.

It’s scary but true and the problem is safety belt use is lower than it should be on our rural roadways so rural Georgia drivers face a very real danger out on country roads, especially around vacation time. In fact, of the 1,641 traffic fatalities in Georgia in 2007, 49 percent actually occurred in rural areas. 

Here at the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) we’re joining forces with local highway safety partners, especially in rural areas, in an effort to make Georgia’s roads safer around our rural communities. This May we’re getting ready to launch the second wave of our high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign on Georgia’s Rural Roads where fatal motor vehicle crashes account for half of all this state’s traffic fatalities.

We want everyone to know, whether you’re driving a passenger vehicle or a pick-up, Georgia Is Buckle-Up Country! Because it’s an urban legend that only city drivers face the risk of fatal crashes and serious injury here in Georgia. In 2007, 527 people died in traffic crashes in Georgia’s most rural counties. That compares with 342 traffic death in Metro Atlanta. 

Our country roads are designed as local, low-speed community connectors and narrow, two-lane highways. With no physical barriers to separate oncoming traffic or restrict access to merging vehicles, rural routes often pose deadly driving hazards. When unbuckled motorists drive too fast for conditions in the country, all too often our rural highways become roads to tragedy.

And it’s not just a problem here. Nationwide, more than half of America’s traffic deaths occur on country roads even though only a quarter of our population calls the country their home and travels there daily. Because of these factors, Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a far greater risk of being killed or injured in a traffic crash.

Unfortunately, pickup trucks are often at the root of this deadly problem. Many pickup truck drivers believe their ride is safer than any vehicle on the road. But the fact is pickup truck drivers and their passengers are the most likely motorists to die in rural road crashes. Why? Because pickup trucks have a higher center of gravity and they’re most likely to roll over in a crash. So unbuckled passengers in pickups are most likely to be ejected and killed. 

In Georgia, pickup truck seat belt usage is 17-percent less than other passenger vehicles. And nearly 75-percent of the pickup truck occupants killed each year in Georgia are not restrained. Failure to wear seat belts causes an estimated 5,670 additional pickup truck injuries and costs Georgians $346-million in related health care costs and economic losses.

Our special rural roadway enforcement emphasis will begin in conjunction with the State of Georgia’s annual May Click It or Ticket campaign. If we could just get all occupants of all vehicles to wear their seat belts, the senseless traffic deaths in Georgia’s rural counties could be prevented. We need to put the brakes on Georgia’s rural roads fatalities and now’s the time to do it.

The fact is seatbelts save lives, but too many Georgians, particularly those in rural counties, still need a tough reminder. So remember, nor more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you drive, be sure to click it if you don’t want to risk a ticket. Buckle Up Every Trip. Every Time.

Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety

April 30, 2009

To the Editor:

Iranian Nuclear Missile Threat

Iran tested the launch of a Scud missile from a ship in the Caspian Sea, which was designed to provide the capability of launching intermediate range missiles from cargo ships sitting off coastlines. Also, within a few years Iran will have long range missiles capable of striking North America.

Iran could have nuclear warheads available to mount on missiles in late 2009. The U.S. and other countries do not have missile defense systems to ward off an attack. Counter strikes could be launched against Iran, but this would not prevent Iran from launching an initial strike based on irrational thinking by Amadmanejad and his Iranian cohorts.

The Obama Administration is making conciliatory gestures towards Iran, but is not making any progress in curtailing Iran’s nuclear development program. According to Walid Phares, an expert on global terrorism and the Middle East, “the perception in Tehran is the Obama Administration will not use everything at its disposal to apply pressure on Iran."

Furthermore, Obama’s apparent bow to Saudi King Abdullah is perceived as an act of submission and weakness by the international community.

I fear Obama’s naive blunders will embolden Iran to pursue and possibly use its nuclear missile capabilities.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

April 16, 2009

To the Editor:

Combat Somali Pirates

The Somali pirates continue to wreak havoc on commercial shipping off the coast of Africa. There are about 20 ships with over 300 hundred hostages currently being held by the pirates for ransom.

Action has to be taken to combat the pirates. Shipping companies should place heavily armed professional guards on ships with shoot to kill orders. All countries with commercial ships traversing the African shipping lanes should provide naval warships to protect shipping and provide convoy escort duty just like they did during WWII. We need slow moving strafing aircraft located at sea or on land to be available to quickly search out and destroy the pirates in their boats.

If the preceding steps do not work, the impacted countries should sink the pirates mother ships and consider hitting the pirate havens along the coast of Somalia with aircraft and naval attacks.

Although diplomacy is preferable to military action, the Somali government is too weak to rein in the pirates, and therefore military activities will probably be needed to solve the problem.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH