Morning Reads for MLK Day, Monday January 18th, 2016
The AJC’s Kristina Torres presents a recap of the first week of the legislative session–Charlie and I do the same kind of thing here. However, we understand that SoS Brian Kemp will make his budget presentation in person tomorrow rather than sending a surrogate.
Watching the AJC’s James Salzer try to explain common sense legislation immediately brought to mind this Kevin Williamson piece from 2010 where he breaks down a new legislator’s desire “to apply common sense in Washington, to fix what’s broken in order to serve the public interest and the common good.” There are at least three new phrases for Salzer to explain in future episodes. You’re welcome.
The rest of the reads are below the fold.
Today is the day we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King highlighted by the memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church featuring Dr. William Barber, President of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. There are many ways to celebrate the day, including in Snellville, where everybody may be somebody, but political division means there will be two separate parades to mark the holiday.
Dr. King grew up and lived in Atlanta, and more than 45 years after his passing, his driver, Tom Houck, continues to provide tours of King’s Auburn Avenue neighborhood. You can catch a video preview of the tour here.
GOP Presidential candidate Ted Cruz stirred things up with his accusation that Donald Trump has “New York values,” beginning at Thursday’s GOP debate, and continuing over the weekend. Some called it a masterful way to ding Trump. Others, not so much.
Democratic presidential candidates debated last night, although many people might not have known the debate was on.
Last week brought the annual State of the Union address. Here’s the State of the Millennial. It’s not as glowing as what the president presented Tuesday night.
What’s the best way to evaluate teacher performance? That’s an important component in the discussion over the merit pay issue that Governor Deal punted to next year. Maureen Downey in the AJC points out potential horrors in the way evaluations are conducted now, while this op-ed says that the way we measure teacher–and doctor–performance misses the point.
Leadership of an Athens church will be replaced as the congregation struggles with its denomination’s theology.
Is the America of today just a repeat of the way the country was in the 1920s, or is this just a repeat of the 1870s?
Denver tops Pittsburgh and will meet New England for the AFC championship, while Carolina downed Seattle and the Cardinals defeated Green Bay to set up the battle for the NFC Super Bowl slot.
Enjoy your MLK Day. Don’t believe everything you see online about King. And remember, the man who advocated judging people by the content of their character had a sense of humor, too.
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Jon Richards
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I’ve never been a big Cam fan but he did lead the Da Marauding Mayors to a fantasy title this year so he can dab on. #nopackers
No Packers…? Could you explain/expand on that please?
A dislike for Green Bay really needs no explanation.
There are at least two bills floating about the legislature that would reduce the state income tax. I am very curious to see if either make it out of committee.
My column (which will post tomorrow rather than today because of the holiday) will give some insight as to why you probably shouldn’t expect it this year. Revenues are up, but we’re not exactly a state sponsored money tree. So those looking for a tax cut are generally not looking at state spending data.
Then there are the plans that are “revenue neutral”. The political premise of these do intrigue me. Those that want this seem to believe they will get a cut, someone else will pay, and that some sort of economic nirvana will occur where prosperity makes it possible for everyone to pay less.
The problem with the nirvana scenario is that the state must balance its budget every year, and thus there is no extra spending or investing under a revenue neutral plan to change anything. For every person that pays less in taxes there’s someone that pays more.
Then the political reality sets in of who exactly will pay more. When people start seeing that they’re going to pay taxes on groceries, retirees get taxed on incomes they previously had exempt, same retirees are now paying taxes on groceries and services they didn’t pay….all of the sudden the same folks demanding these reforms become the ones railing against it.
So…no. I don’t expect either to come out of committee this year.
Glen Frey. RIP.
Dang, only 67 too. Tommy Chong is the youngin’ in my dead pool list for this year at 77.
I’ve got a ticket stub around here somewhere for the Eagles at Alexander Coliseum. $5 General Admission back when they had Meisner, Leadon, and Felder. Saw them a couple of years later at the Omni after the changeover to Joe Walsh with Fleetwood Mac as the “warm up” band. I actually preferred them in the earlier country/rock config and Joe Walsh fronting his own band but they didn’t do too bad so what do I know. Like it or not Frey was El Jefe and Henley was The Voice.
Damn…..RIP…and……Take it Easy……
Listening to the Very Best of Eagles, disk one…Bad Asses, one and all! Number two album of all time behind Thriller. Regarding Will’s Dead Pool, kinda morbid but also funny! I gotta think about who I think should be on the list!