Columbus Independence Day Tea Party

It's been a while since I reported serious news. That was a lifetime ago as a small-town radio reporter. But, I decided to sign up as a Citizen Reporter for PJTV. I mean, why not?

Anyway I decided to cover the Tea Party in Columbus today, and filed this report:



Transcript:

Columbus, Georgia’s third largest city, didn’t have the problems Atlanta had when it came to scheduling its Independence Day Tea Party. Although Atlanta’s was canceled, the Tea Party in Columbus went off as scheduled on July 4th.

The local event did not get a lot of publicity. Only one reporter from the local TV media, covering for the Fox and ABC affiliates, was seen covering the event.

Still, between 250 and 300 people, most from Columbus, but some from across the river in Alabama, braved the hot Georgia sun and temperatures in the 90s, and showed up in front of the Government Center from 4:00 to 6:00 PM to protest taxes and government spending, particularly focusing on health care, but also taking shots at cap and trade legislation.

Local pastor Dan Gates used his platform to call for continuance of the things that made this country great.

The spirit of Liberty that has burned in America for 233 years. In liberty's true meaning, we see no reason for change! ... Bless the strength of America's people unpon which a nation unparalleled has been built. In those Americans, who echo the cry of free men, duty, and honor and country, we see no reason for change.

Speaker Josh McKoon, a Columbus attorney who is running for the Georgia State Senate, issued a warning to the Congress that the people have had enough regulation and taxes.

If you continue to allow more regulations and more taxes, then, by God, the people of this country are going to rise up in the elections that are coming next year and take this country back!

The two-hour event concluded with a march around the Government Center.

The Columbus Tax Party is planning a protest on the 17th of July at the office of Democratic 2nd District Congressman Sanford Bishop, who represents Columbus and voted for the Cap and Trade legislation.

Afterwards, Columbus Tea Party organizer Sandy Toth said she became involved in a political cause for the first time, protesting the spending of former president George W. Bush’s administration.

Going back to where the bailouts started last fall, under Bush, I was protesting all the spending, you know, and nobody's listening. ... After we had the change of administration, I continued to protest. And what really got me upset was that they, when they rammed the stimulus bill through, there was a bunch of health care provisions nobody discussed, nobody knew about.

Toth said that, besides the larger events, her organization is planning many small events around the area, trying to raise awareness.

We're having mini-protests on street corners. Because for a rally like this, we have to get a police permit and everything, but if we just have a few of us on a street corner, we don't need a permit, so we're thinking about going out two days a week on a street corner with our signs. ... We're doing everything we can to try to spread the word to people to start learning the issues and fighting back.

Why I'm glad I got a car with On*Star

This week, in Columbus, a couple was car-jacked. Okay, I realize this goes on it big cities all the time. Or, at least, that's the impression I get. But when it happens in Columbus, Georgia, it's news. The bad news is: an elderly couple, 82-year-old Henry White and 79-year-old Betty White, was forced out of their car at gunpoint, and their car taken. The good news: It had On*Star. Yep, a bunch of thugs ... teenage punks ... stole a car from an old couple. But technology got them.

When the two teens sped out of sight, Henry White ran to his friend's front door and started pounding. He first called 911 first then OnStar, an auto safety and security system available in GM vehicles. Within minutes, OnStar had determined the location and direction of travel of the stolen car

Heh. Bunch of ill-raised, bone-headed thugs stole a car with On*Star. And On*Star found them. And, according to the report, the police found all three of the criminals. Now, this shows that On*Star won't stop your car from being stolen. But they can help you find it. I wouldn't want my car stolen. It's not a Cadillac, like Mr. White's car, but it's still my car. But, if someone does take my car, it's nice to know that On*Star can help me find it. If only On*Star service included sending somebody down to beat the little punks with a 2x4. Then, the service would really rock.

If Expedia rates go up, thank Columbus, Georgia

Expedia.com lost a lawsuit in Columbus this week.

And it might impact you.

You see, Expedia gets rooms at a wholesale rate from hotels. It turns around and sells the rooms to consumers online, charging a higher rate, but a rate that's still lower than, say, you would if you walked up to Mr. Patel and plopped down your VISA card.

Expedia adds on "taxes and fees" that cover the sales tax due on the hotel room. Expedia pays the hotel the tax based on the wholesale rate it paid the hotel (that's the "taxes" part), and pockets the rest (the "fees" part).

But Superior Court Judge Doug Pullen ruled that's not right.

His ruling says Expedia must pay the hotel (which, in turn, pays the city) the taxes based on the rate it sells to the consumer.

Which means less money for Expedia.

How has Expedia responded?

Well, after the lawsuit was filed back in 2006, they quit booking rooms in Columbus. You can get a room in Phenix City, Alabama, just across the river from Columbus. But not in Columbus. From Expedia, that is.

So, how does this impact you?

Maybe not at all.

But then, again, what if other cities find out? And decide they want a piece of the pie?

Well, if Expedia has to start paying ALL cities the taxes based on the final sale price, rather than the wholesale price they pay, then Expedia will charge more.

If companies pay higher taxes, they'll recoup those by charging more to the consumer.

Raise taxes on oil companies, and gas will cost you more.

Raise taxes on corporate profits, and products and services will cost more.

If a company has to pay more tax money for your booking a hotel, that extra cost will be passed along to you. It won't simply go into someone else's pocket; it'll come out of your pocket.

The world intrudes

Photo: Joe Paull, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

You hear about somebody going crazy and shooting up a place. Like a McDonald's in Texas. Or a high school in Colorado.

But it's always somewhere else.

Well, it's not always somewhere else.

Sometimes, it's less than a mile away.

I was at work today when word got around that a man walked into Doctor's Hospital in Columbus and shot and killed three people.

What shocked me the most was how much I wasn't really shocked by it.

My reaction was more along the line of "Huh. So it's happened here." Almost like I expected it.

Not that I expected this. But the world is full of crazy asses who do things like this.

Why did Charles Johnston do this? Reports say he was upset at the care his mother received at the hospital before she died. He killed one of the nurses who had treated his mom. And an administrative assistant. And a man in the parking lot.

Police showed up while Johnston was still in the parking lot, and reports indicate that three officers fired at him, but only one hit him.

Johnston is being treated at the Medical Center. That's the hospital next door to Doctor's Hospital.

I expect they'll fix him up and that he'll be able to stand trial for murder.

So he'll get better.

Probably better than he deserves.