By: J. Randolph Evans
In Georgia, Republican lawyers have always been a small and inconsequential lot. One hundred and fifty years of Democratic rule meant that as a practical matter their opinions were not worth much.
The fate of Republican lawyers started to change some as Republican Presidents came along with Presidential appointments to the federal bench and U.S. Attorneys’ offices. Even then, their influence was pretty weak because the … Read more...
By: J. Randolph Evans
Thankfully, the war in Iraq has come to an end. Thankfully, America’s troops have come home from Iraq for Christmas. Yet, many more continue to serve in Afghanistan and other dangerous places around the world. No one can thank these young women and men enough for their dedicated service to our country. Yet, the two most underused words in the world are “thank you.” So often, … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
Governor Nathan Deal has changed the face of state government in Georgia. Most folks see a different picture (Governor Deal in the place of Governor Sonny Perdue) hanging in government buildings around Georgia and think that is the new face. Yet, some of the most significant changes involve new faces in key government positions throughout state government.
Interestingly, unlike some of his predecessors, Governor Deal has … Read more...
By Les Dunaway
I want to refer you to a well written, upbeat-but-not-rose-colored-glasses piece in todays WSJ “The Future Still Belongs to America“. I want to highlight one paragraph which is, I believe, is key to the conclusion
New ideas disturb the peace of once-stable cultures. Young people grasp the possibilities of change and revolt at the conservatism of their elders. Sacred taboos and ancient hierarchies totter; women … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
On May 16, 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court by a 4-3 margin struck down
as unconstitutional the law that allows a state commission to supplement
local schools with charter schools. For students in charter schools –
like the Ivy Prep School, an all girls school that ‘provides rigorous,
college preparatory program for young women’ (68% African-American and
40% from low income families), the court’s decision dampens … Read more...
By Les Dunaway
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Meredith Whitney looks at the state of the states. With the end of stimulus money and the end of QE2 (quantitative easing) just weeks away, this is timely. In January we talked about the states “The States – America’s PIIGS?” in relation the EU countries.
Several states have used stimulus money to put off dealing with systemic problems – … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
Option 1: Do nothing until there is a complete crisis requiring
Draconian measures that include either scrapping the program altogether
or dramatically raising taxes only to delay the next crisis. Of course,
this could easily describe Social Security in the United States. (The
actual name of the program is the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance [OASDI program]).