I agree with the comment that says, Why should the Tea Partiers get nonprofit status like they are a charitable group? They are nothing more than a political group. People who are screaming loudly that the country is going broke needs to congratulate the IRS for denying non profit status to any political group whether Democrat, Republican, or zyx.
Nancy Seagraves

I have just finished a book study group at my church titled: WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE by Phillip Yancey. This book talks about the UNGRACE that is found in many churches and among many "Christians" in our society. Jesus' message was one of love and caring for our neighbor no matter the color, political affiliation, nationality, religion or lack of religion, or sexual orientation. Many people have dismissed whole cultures, or groups of people with bitter hatred because said people are different. I do recommend this book. Phillip Yancey is editor-at-large for CHRISTIANITY TODAY magazine. I do recommend this book.
Nancy Seagraves

Having taught over thirty-thee wonderful years in the Clarke County School District, I am continually thrilled at all of the great things going on in the schools. The emphasis on good, solid teachers, increased parent involvement, and hard working students makes for exciting times!
Nancy Seagraves

Dink, you should be a graduation speaker at UGA! What a great life lesson you have just told. This is one of my favorite columns that you have written!
Nancy Seagraves

[quote][b]tdurden[/b] - @loveUSA: uh, classic response genius. Take a look at the country, Obama and his policies have saved this country. Look at unemployment, stock market, and manufacturing, our industries are roaring!
What ever you are about to say is invalid, p.s. saying the country is in the toilet compared to 8 years ago when Bush left office is plain ignorant and foolish.
[/quote]

You really spoke truth to lies here. Thank you again for your post.
Nancy Seagraves

[quote][b]tdurden[/b] - Fighting for their own goals, against the country and it's people, like the repubs have been doing, will only ensure democrats in the White House for at least the next 2 terms. Hatred and down right treasonous actions towards the President and this country. Despicable!!
[/quote]

I agree with you completely! Thanks for posting this.
Nancy Seagraves

Allan West completely lied about what Democratic values and thinking is. Democrats believe that the key to success is education, education, education! Also family values are just as strong in a Democrat's home as a Republican's home. Democrats believe in helping the working poor have a pathway to get out of the ghetto and into middle class society. Early childhood education, support for public education, affordable healthcare that IS Obamacare, and low interest loans and grants for college students are just a few of the great ideals of the Democratic Party. The reason Allan West was defeated in Florida is that he spouted the same old tired ideas that Republicans have. The Republican Party can once again be a great party but not the way they are going. They look DOWN on people who are struggling, and that doesn't work with people who are struggling. They need a hand up not a hand out. I used to vote Republican until I saw their dirty fighting and mean spirited and bigoted ways.
Nancy Seagraves

I do not feel that my tax money should support any political organization, whether it is Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, Libertarian or pro Israel group which is probably a lobbying organization for political purposes. I'm ok with charities that help animals or people in need.
The IRS should be congratulated for pointing out what Congress has failed to do: outlaw tax breaks for any political organization. Are these congress people nuts?
Nancy Seagraves

The Republicans in Congress seem to have completely lost their way. To spend our taxpayer money on talking points in emails is ridiculous . They are trying to make a mountain out of a tragedy which is mostly their own doing by not providing proper security for the Embassy in Libya and other places that are hot spots around the world. If there should be hearings, it should be about the obstructionists Republicans who put countless brave American lives of embassy staff in mortal danger by cutting money for security.

The tax exempt status of many organizations should be investigated, both Democrat and Republican, Libertarian and the Tea Party. One reason our country has a deficit is that too many non profits are being formed solely for political purposes. I say tax them all.
Nancy Seagraves

I agreed with Richard Zimdars column on Monday. I also agree to his response from the ridiculous letter printed yesterday. The United States leads the world in gun deaths in every country not having a shooting war like Syria. Everything about a gun is violent. Our country would be a much happier place, a much quieter and calmer place with out the noise of shooting.

Apart from the violence of person against person by guns, I hate hunting season
( from Labor Day until the early months of winter) because the gunshots destroy the sounds of nature, they scare my horses and pets, and upset my grandchildren as well as myself. While I know that certain animals like deer need to have population control, I do not allow any shooting on my property. My neighbor also doesn't allow any hunting on his property.

Keep writing great columns like you did this past Monday, Richard. There are many of us who appreciate the useful facts and thoughtful reasoning.
Nancy Seagraves

This opinion just shows the complete disfunction of the Republican led government. Governor Nathan Deal and the the Republican led Senate and House of Representatives in Atlanta.

If you go to healthcare.org and click on the state of Georgia you can see how these politicians have blocked healthcare for most of the citizens who are without insurance. Nathan Deal wouldn't allow health exchanges to be organized in the state, and he also rejected allowing the Federal Government to give 600,000 working poor Georgians to be put on Medicaid rolls. If these people could get this insurance, which is at 0 cost for the state for 3 years and only 10% of the cost thereafter, what a boon for the health of these citizens which Deal turned down. The hospitals of the state need to collectively get some backbone and fight Gov. Deal on this injustice to its poorest citizens. Healthy people are more productive, and businesses will come into a healthier state.

At healthcare .org you can compare the 50 states as to options open to uninsured citizens to see how thoroughly the citizens of Georgia have been neglected by the Republican's incompetent leadership.
Nancy Seagraves

I love the fact that the fifth grade teachers, students, parents, and interested supporters worked all year to have this wonderful trip for the students. I hope that they can stay down there for several days to learn and have loads of fun! I am thankful to God that the children and teacher were saved from a tragedy.
Nancy Seagraves

This Affordable Healthcare Law is a great law, and many of us have been seeing its benefits since October of 2010. Those of us who already have health insurance ( myself included) have just seen our healthcare greatly improved. Every year I get an annual physical with all of medical test covered with no copay. My insurance company picks up the tab. The law states that out of the premiums I pay every year my insurance company must spend 80% on my healthcare. I have a deductible and a major medical deductible for sickness during the year. But after my deductbles are met, my healthcare is paid at 100% by my insurance with no lifetime limits.

Senator Baccus needs to completely do his homework. I feel like he is up for election and is trying to run from the bill. This is so ridiculous. Republicans in Comgress and Republicans in the state legislature and Governor Deal are also trying to sabotage the bill. I am proud of the many states who have set up the heath exchanges to be ready this coming October when people who don't have insurance can pick their insurance plans at group rates like I have. If your family is part of the working poor you will be able to get on Medicaid IF Gov. Deal allows the state to accept Federal funds at 100% for the first 3 years and then 90% after that. This is a great financial deal for the state of Georgia! Even Jan Brewer, the Governor of Arizona and the governor of Florida, Rick Scott, have also accepted it. Hospitals in every state are becoming educated about the law and will be able to finally get paid for the services they perform for the sick people coming into their doors. The really good news is that almost everyone will be insured. Most average income Americans will get a huge tax break to help pay for their health insurance.
Nancy Seagraves

Hank, I have read your columns for years with great feeling of kinship on most issues,( but not all) that you have written about. I am so glad that you are in a healthy and happy place this GLORIUS EASTER!

I pray, in most HOLY NAME OF JESUS, that you are healed!

I pray over my grandchildren, (first and foremost) my precious children, my friends, and my cherished horses, dogs and cats, every day!
In fact, many times a day. I keep you and your family in my prayers.
Nancy Seagraves

Barbara Walters is a great journalist and will always have a prominent place among journalists, men or women!
Nancy Seagraves

Hooray for Pope Frances. I really love the Jesus example he is setting.
Nancy Seagraves

[quote][b]Logical[/b] - I watched my "good" company insurance subsidized plans deteriorate over the past 26 years until the costs became ridiculous and the coverage shrank each year. I have known many middle class people who had good insurance lose it because of a job loss or change, and in too many cases, because one or the other of the spouses had an illness that would not be covered by insurance--for any price. These people, in their fifties, were years away from Medicare. I voted for Obama based on his original plan-- a single payer plan that removed the expensive layer of the Aetnas and Humanas from the equation. But, as a recent Time article explained, we not on,y need to get rid of the for profit insurance companies, but figure out why out healthcare costs are triple what France's, Germany's, Canada's and Japan's are. Unless you are in the healthcare system yourself, and even then, you cannot help but appreciate President Obama' attempt to get this monkey off our back. Eventually, we will get to an acceptable plan, if the Republicans would get out of the way. They talk out of both sides of their mouths, denigrating Obamacare, saying that the right to affordable care is not a right, then out of the other side of their lying mouths say that anyone in this country can walk into a hospital without insurance and get the care they need. If you need dialysis or ongoing care for cancer or chronic illness, that is a lie. A bold face lie. If you are bleeding to death a place like Grady might stabilize you, but they end up eating the losses as the Republicans refuse to raise the taxes to let these facilities remain in business. As a matter of fact, they cut the subsidies to these facilities. You can't have it both ways, Repugs. Get out of the way!
[/quote]

I read the whole Times Magazine article. It took up the whole magazine that week. I agree with this blogger that Obamacare isn't totally perfect, but really a good next step. We need to go back and make drug companies negotiate their prices with Congress. Same with equipment companies. Also the PAYMASTER in hospitals needs to be done away with.
Nancy Seagraves

The fact thatPaul BROUN thinks it's a great idea to kill African wildlife, especially lions disgusts me! His views on science show a illiteracy that astounds me. He needs to be defeated in his next election, and I hope the people of Georgia join me at polling places and get him back into private life at the next election.
Nancy Seagraves

Fantastic! This is an event I wish I had attended. Do more of these events! Advertise them in the paper and on WUGA 91.7.
Nancy Seagraves

[quote][b]avenger[/b] - The following information is a more realistic outlook on Obamacare:
The Average American will most likely see a reduction in their insurance premiums and 30 of the 44 million without insurance will gain access coverage via the "ObamaCare" exchanges, Medicare or Medicaid.
ObamaCare offers a number of protections and benefits that range from chipping away at preexisting conditions to expanding health services. Overall the quality of health care is increased, while the cost, in theory, will be reduced. Middle income Americans and employees will be able to use tax credits and subsidies on the exchanges to save up to 60% of the current cost of premiums making insurance affordable to up to 23 million Americans.
One of the cons of ObamaCare is that since many Americans work for larger employers, some employees may have the new costs involved with insuring their workforce passed onto them. Other workers will see a decrease in quality of plans offered by employers, to avoid the employer paying a excise tax on high-end health insurance plans. These cons will affect less than 1% of businesses, and only a small fraction will deal with the new challenges by cutting worker hours, benefits or not hiring new workers.
When it comes to women ObamaCare offers many pros and few cons, 47 million women will gain access to women's health services, including preventive and wellness services. Many of ObamaCare's new benefits for women are required by law to have no out of pocket payments. There aren't many cons for women beyond those of the Average American, however there is the issue of contraception and it's availability, something ObamaCare expands, which is a hot button issue.
Low-income Americans will enjoy more ObamaCare pros than cons. Since ObamaCare works on a sliding scale most low income Americans, especially those without insurance, will see nothing but benefits. Medicaid expansion will cover over 15 million low-income individuals.
The cons of ObamaCare for low-income Americans are that some states will have the option of opting out of coverage for their poorest, despite 100% federal funding for the first year and 90% there after. This move isn't just to save money (it's arguable whether it saves or makes money for the State, studies have show both outcomes, however it's all projection at this point), it's actually a politically driven move to "break" ObamaCare. The opt-out is projected to leave 2 to 3 million low-income Americans without coverage.
ObamaCare's pros and cons for Seniors include unprecedented reforms to Medicare, including closing the "donut hole" and expanding benefits and coverage options. Millions of Seniors have already saved money or taken advantage of the no out of pocket costs for wellness and preventive visits.
Some of the reforms to Medicare include reductions to Medicare Advantage, home health care payments and Medicare hospital payments. Some of these have had or may have negative impacts on seniors and doctors who work with patients on Medicare. An oversight committee is in charge of making sure that Medicare reform doesn't hurt seniors.
Small Businesses will only see the pros of ObamaCare while firms who don't already provide insurance and their employees will face readjustment. However only .2% of firms with over 50 employees don't already provide insurance to their full-time employees. A big pro of ObamaCare is that it provides millions in tax credits to small businesses with under 25 employees to help offset the cost of buying health insurance for their employees. Small business has historically struggled to provide benefits to workers and half of Americans uninsured are small business owners, workers or dependents.
ObamaCare is projected to cost $1.1 trillion over the next ten years, and in order for the program to work as intended this is going to include funding from the tax payers and from the States. However, the end result of Obamacares spending is a $200 billion dollar reduction of the deficit over the next decade, states also receive between 90 - 100% of funding for most ObamaCare related programs they set up. A few states including Nevada and Michigan have done studies that show how the States can save billions with ObamaCare. Health Insurance companies stand to make billions, despite a loss on profit per plan, since they will be insuring millions of new Americans.
Sure, there are some aspects of Obamacare that needs fixing, but it's better than the status-quo. Go to: http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-pros-and-cons.php for a more comprehensive overview of Obamacare. [/quote]

I agree with everything this writer has said. Obamacare is a life saver for millions of Americans. I am very pleased with my experiences with the law. I have insurance and it hasn't gone up. With preventable healthcare piece, I have saved money.
Nancy Seagraves
Nancy Seagraves

Your letter is a breath of fresh air, Martha. I agree with you on every single thing you said. I am also considered a liberal, but what I really label myself is a grateful American. I am a retired teacher and own a farm. I have worked very hard in both careers. Now since I have retired my farm business, I still get up at the crack of dawn to feed and brush horses, work in my garden and stay an active member of my church and community. Please keep writing your letters. Many people in the Athens area agree with what you so eloquently have written.
Nancy Seagraves

I agree completely with you, Myra. Much if not all of the bills the Republicans are putting forth are ridiculous. They seem to get their bill writing play book from the state of Florida. One of the crazy things that has passed the Florida and Gov. Scott led legislature is value added evaluations. In the March 18 Washington Post there is an article about value added evaluations. You may have read it. if not I recommend it.
Nancy Seagraves

Andrew,
I applaud you for writing a well thought out letter to the editor of the Athens Banner Herald. I think that is wonderful for you to be thinking of ways to make America as great as she can be.

I agree with you on one minor point. There has been reported on all of the mainstream news channels Chinese citizens who do flout the 14th Amendment by booking hotel rooms and apartments in the US for the sole purpose of coming to the US to have their babies so that the babies can become full American citizens. I agree with you that this is a loophole in the 14th amendment that needs to be addressed.

I want for you to go back starting at the end of the 19th century and progressing to the mid 20th century to educate yourself on the way the US Congress allowed major corporations to bring over Eastern and Southern Europeans to work in the steel mills and other major industries of the United States. America needed the cheap labor and these illegal immigrants needed jobs. They brought their families and had children. The children were full American citizens. In the mid to late 20th century Hispanics came to work in the agricultural industry in America because they were hard workers, compliant with US laws, and did a great job for the huge farming industry . In Athens, poultry plants hired Hispanics because they would do the jobs that Americans felt unwilling to do. They brought their families and had children. The children were full American citizens. I agree with the 14th Amendment except as with the Chinese moms who exploit the law by coming solely to have babies and then returning to a repressive China to raise them, the when the children get ready for high school or college, back they come with their citizenship papers. These Chinese parents have sweated no blood or tears for the United States. They have exploited a loophole. That needs to be stopped.

Andrew, I hope that you keep writing letters, but also keep learning. Get a degree from UGA or any college, and I think you could really enjoy learning American History. You already know a lot, but you will enjoy the process of becoming an expert. I am more proud of you than you will ever know!
Nancy Seagraves

@RightWingExtremist: Your grandmother was and still is a true SAINT in my book. I still fondly remember her persistence in coming to the school to support your education. You are very fortunate to have had her in your corner. I hope that she is well and that you care for her as she has always done for you. Give her my thanks again for being such a wonderful "parent" for you.
Nancy Seagraves

Education is the path out of poverty. Teachers and administrators who are so persistent and relentless that they work with children of poverty AND their parent or parents will make a difference. Also, no matter how poor you are in America, you can get a free, public education. You are more likely to succeed if your parent actually parents you, gives you no excuss for failure, works with your teachers instead of ignoring or working against them. You can also go to the Athens Regional Library and check out books, use the computers, enjoy free programs, and get individual help when needed. Sports programs abound in our public middle and high schools. Also, the art and music programs are fantastic. Clubs that may interest you are free in public schools. There is no excuse for anyone to remain in poverty in America.
Nancy Seagraves