I strongly urged him not to. I suggested instead that if he wanted to get into politics, he consider the state Legislature. “If you are a county commissioner, your constituents will call you every time a streetlight goes out, there is a pothole in the road or their garbage isn’t picked up promptly,” I told him. “If you are in the Legislature, nobody will know or care.” I … [Read more...] about Jan. 14, 2002: A friend once asked my advice about running for a seat on his county commission.
Jan. 7, 2002: I Usually Leave Economics Lessons to the Professors
but I feel compelled to state an untold truth about the deregulatory environment in our country: Deregulation isn’t necessarily in your interest. Deregulating industries and markets is in the interest of the corporations, their largest customers and people who own the company’s stock. (Everybody who wanted natural gas deregulated, please raise your hand.) In the early days … [Read more...] about Jan. 7, 2002: I Usually Leave Economics Lessons to the Professors
January 1, 2002: Annual Letter To My Grandsons:
As we begin this new year, I wish your great-grandmother were around to put things into proper perspective for us. She always found something good in everything and everybody -- although I imagine network television news and Osama bin Laden would be a stretch even for her. If Granny were here, no doubt she would say that despite the unprovoked attacks of Sept. 11, we … [Read more...] about January 1, 2002: Annual Letter To My Grandsons:
Dec. 24, 2001: I Don’t Know About You, But I Am Plumb Tuckered Out
The year 2001 grabbed my psyche and shook it like a dishrag. I thought my days with the Olympics produced some extraordinary highs and lows, but this year made those times look like a walk in the park. I can think of no better way to recuperate than to make a beeline to the exquisite little Georgia Sea Grill on St. Simons Island and gorge myself on corn-fried shrimp. The … [Read more...] about Dec. 24, 2001: I Don’t Know About You, But I Am Plumb Tuckered Out
Dec. 17, 2001: Over the past month, I have made a number of speeches around the state.
The endeavor was time-intensive but well worth the effort. Nothing beats face-to-face communications. I am not a demographer so my research may be statistically flawed, but I am satisfied that the people I have spoken to over the past few weeks represent a good cross section of rank-and-file Americans. My audiences were young and old, black and white, male and female. … [Read more...] about Dec. 17, 2001: Over the past month, I have made a number of speeches around the state.