November 19, 2006

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Social Issues: Where Are We Now?

There is an overwhelming urge, if not a sense of obligation, to utilize this web page to address most of the wide range of social issues confronting Georgians. However, to do so would defeat the purpose of my decision to seek the governorship of Georgia. One of my primary commitments to Georgians is "focus" on the big problems and remain focused.

We have some serious problems in Georgia. If you have already visited the section "Education: Where Are We Now", you fully understand the depth and seriousness of the problems confronting us in our public education system. The same rings true for our economy and problems with the way we are governed. You also understand that my focus has been identifying problems as they inter-relate- always searching for "root cause" problems.

This page addresses a few social issues. Primarily, I focused on those that have the most serious and far-reaching impact on Georgia- now and in the future. Most are "root cause" issues. However, before I begin the presentation on those few, but serious social issues, I decided to insert the following so as to alert you to a grave pitfall of a candidate's typical use of social issues in the course of campaigning. I refuse to employ that tactic. Georgia's problems are few, but they are complex and serious. I chose to focus on them in order to build a stronger Georgia for all of our citizens. After you read the following cautionary piece, be prepared to focus on some serious matters.

Highly charged emotional issues decided the last two statewide elections. In '02 the state flag issue and the education community's dissatisfaction with Governor Barnes were the issues that defeated him in his bid for re-election. In '04, two highly charged emotional issues (gay marriage and abortion) gave Republicans control of the legislature. Three of the four issues are "Social Issues". There is also a social basis for many of the problems in education and in our economy.

Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that emotionally charged social issues will determine the outcome of the '06 elections, too. Already, there is one such topic that will undoubtedly escalate to the status of a highly charged emotional issue in the '06 election. It is photo ID legislation passed by the Republicans during the '05 legislative session. Perhaps another one may surround the issue of illegal immigrants. These are social issues and, undoubtedly, there will be more.

Although these highly charged emotional issues receive a lot of media coverage and attention from candidates, the basis nor the overall importance of the issue is the reason for the attention. They are part of a much broader strategy employed to "get out the vote" by dividing the electorate. The process is simple. The issue is raised. One party takes a position. The other party takes the opposite position and the "bickering" begins. Both parties equip all members with an arsenal of one-liners and spend millions of dollars in the media, direct mail and telemarketing indoctrinating voters with them. Platitudes on these issues are all voters see, read, hear about and talk about prior to the election. When they go to the voting polls, their votes reflect their opinions on these issues. In other words, this is the mechanism the candidates and their political parties employ to control voters and the process. And, they do. The party that is most successful gaining the moral high ground on the single most important social issue prevails in the election.

That's too bad. No, it is tragic. Why? Because the candidates get a free pass on the serious matters of business confronting the daily lives of average Georgians. True "root cause" problems that have the greatest impact on Georgia's economy, Georgia's schools, Georgia's ability to compete, Georgia's financial viability, Georgia's security in schools and communities, and Georgian's quality of life are half-heartedly addressed while matters important to Special Interests and divisive, highly charged emotional issues receive all of their attention. But, my supporters aren't going to be victimized by that political trap. My supporters have been forewarned and are most interested in finding long-lasting solutions to the problems the other candidates will duck.

Let's begin.

Poverty

One of those issues at the root of many of the problems we discuss in the sections "Education", "The Economy" and "How We Are Governed" is poverty- the greatest problem confronting Georgia. Why? Let's review some of the problems I address in those sections and you decide how greatly you are affected by the impoverished:

• Do you have concerns that your children are receiving the quality of education you believe you are paying for? If not, have you heard any educator say, "we'd like to do more and do better, but our budget is stretched"? At issue: Why the need?
• Do you think your tax burden is heavy enough, or do you have concerns that we may be entering a cycle of never-ending tax increases every couple of years? At issue: Why the need?
• Are you concerned about the safety and security of your children in your home, your neighborhood, your community, and their schools? At issue: who causes our fear?
• Are you concerned that you will not be able to insulate your children from exposure, temptation and access to illegal drugs in your neighborhood or in their schools? Who is at the root of this?
• Do you have concerns regarding your job security or how rooted your employer is in Georgia? Why are good paying jobs in decline?

These are legitimate concerns because they obviously affect your financial security, the education of your children and your quality of life in your neighborhood and community. But, are you affected similarly by other issues in ways that are not so obvious? Yes, you are affected by:

• The education level of the population called the Adult Literacy problem.
• High school drop-outs.
• Expanding prison populations.
• Juvenile delinquency.
• Unmanageable growth in demands for social assistance programs that already consume a very large percentage of the state budget.
• Job growth overwhelmingly weighted in low paying jobs without benefits.
• Job retention problems: actual and anticipated losses of too many good paying jobs.
• Failures recruiting new businesses to Georgia.

At Issue: What does poverty have to do with any of your concerns or this long list of problems? Let's take a little closer look and see.

Poverty's Impact on Education

• Far too much of the education budget is needed to address special needs of children from socio-economically depressed households. Tens of millions of dollars are found in the education budget for programs specifically targeting problems associated with "the poor". They are for social workers, intervention specialists, counselors, remedial classes, discipline problems, absenteeism, truancy, test preparations, etc.
• And, teachers divert far too much time to the special needs of "at risk" children, which is time taken away from the education of your children.
• Until two years ago, more of the proceeds from Georgia's lottery funded pre-k programs than HOPE Scholarships. Now, HOPE scholarships receive slightly more than pre-k programs. (Pre-k is a program created solely to combat the drop-out problem.) As a result, many deserving students' HOPE scholarships are threatened. (See section on "Education".) Your child's scholarship money is at risk!
• Children from socio-economically depressed households typically receive little, if any, help from home. Therefore, these children tend to be ill-prepared for classroom work and cause the teacher to cover less material than other students are prepared to cover. Too many ill-prepared children in a class pose the threat of holding the entire class back, including your child.
• Remedial classes. Children that fail portions of mandated tests administered at the end of each school year must take remedial classes in the summer and retake the tests. Children who receive little assistance from parents most often fall into this category, which is an expensive process. These are children from socio-economically depressed environments. You pay the bill!
• Over 1 ½ million of Georgia's adult population do not have a high school diploma. They consume a big chunk of taxes you pay.
• Over 30,000 high school students quit school before obtaining a diploma and become part of the "drop-out" statistic. Prior to dropping out, they develop tardiness and absenteeism problems and frequently become disruptive in the classroom. They affect your child's education and cost you big bucks. (See "Education: Drop-outs")

Poverty's Impact on Quality of Life Issues: Crime, Drugs and Gangs

• At 50,000 adult prisoners, Georgia's prison population is the 6th largest in country and has led the nation in growth of prison population the last 3 years. Combined with 25,000 parolees and 136,000 probationers, Georgia's total convicted criminal population is the highest in the country.
• According to Commissioner James Donald on GPB's "Georgia, Week in Review" 4 Feb 05, Georgia is in need of six more prisons.
• Governor Miller's "7 deadly sin program- lock 'em up and throw away the key", mandated 10 year sentences without the possibility of parole, nor his "boot camp" program have succeeded in reducing Georgia's criminal element.
• 89% of Georgia's adult prison population are former juvenile offenders.
• 80% of the adult prison population are high school drop-outs. The average education level of a state prisoner is 6th grade in reading, English, and math. There is a 30% recidivism rate. "A bus ticket and $20 bucks in their pocket" returns state prisoners back to our communities without much of a future to become productive citizens.
• Most of the adult and juvenile prison population are a product of "fractured families"- female unwed or single divorced heads of household.
• 70% of juveniles and adult prison population are convicted of drug or drug related crimes.
• Incarceration of a state prisoner costs $18,000/yr.
• There are 24,000 juveniles incarcerated in juvenile detention faciliities. They cost Georgians $11,000/yr.
• Cost to educate a child in k-12 public schools is $7,500/yr.
• The ratio of corrections staff/school teachers to prisoners/juveniles/k-12 students are: prisoners is 3:1, juveniles is 4:1, k-12 is 16:1.
• Governor Perdue says "the meth epidemic is growing like kudzu".
• Dalton DA says North Georgia is the epicenter of the meth problem nationwide!
• Dalton and Gainseville requested assistance from FBI to combat gangs and drugs.
• This is what the governor and the legislature did to solve the "epidemic that is growing like kudzu": legislation passed on giving DA's equal jury "strikes", antihistamine's must go behind the counter and gang members can be charged with conspiracy. That's it! That should show the "drugees" how tough and resolved we are!

Poverty's Impact on Georgia's Economy

Jobs, good paying jobs with benefits, are the engine that drives Georgia's economy. Georgia has lost and continues to lose many good paying jobs. Additionally, Georgia no longer leads Southern states as the state of choice for businesses relocating in the South. Why? There are several reasons, but two of the major reasons are associated with the education level of the population and quality of life issues. One of the major sources of both of these issues is poverty! (See the "Economy".)

Yes, all of these problems have affect on your life and the lives of your family. And, they aren't going away. They are growing bigger. Why? Because we, the voters of Georgia, have given our leaders free passes. We have not held them accountable. We have permitted them to "manage" the problems instead of demanding them to solve the problems.

But, what is the tie-in of all these problems I've mentioned with poverty? Poverty is a self-perpetuating cycle of uninterrupted family generations of poverty. One of the leading contributing factors is "fractured families".

Fractured Families

The United States currently has more fatherless families than anywhere in the world. Over half of all children born today will spend time in a mother only family before reaching 18. About 45% of all white children will do so, and about 85% of all African American children will as well. Right now, about 25% of all children live in a mother only home. In terms of out of wedlock births, that number has tripled since 1970 and today one third of all births are to unmarried mothers. Do you think this is a generality that does not apply to Georgia? Think, again.

• Of 130,000 births in Georgia last year, 40,000 (30%) were born to unwed mothers.
• There are 285,000 single female heads of households and 174,000 grandparents providing households for children under the age of 18. That is 37% of all households in Georgia with children under the age of 18. A son born out of wedlock may never have known his father nor ever had a male role model.
• There are 2,675,000 adult Georgians (30% of the total population) that are in a category of "never been married", "separated", or "divorced".
• A son raised in a home without a father is under-socialized, does not know how to deal with aggression and is most susceptible to delinquent influences, which lead to a life of crime.
• Children raised in a home without a father have a weak attachment bond, are unsupervised and tend to quit school.
• There are approximately 1½ million Georgians lacking a high school education and 30,0000 more join their ranks every year.
• 70% of incarcerated juveniles did not live with two birth parents during their formative years.
• The most unfortunate fact regarding children of unwed mothers is the great likelihood that the mother was once a child in the same circumstance. In that regard, the mother had no model, either. These mothers lack social skills, have low self-esteem and not many successes in life. They have little, if any, parenting skills and are typically uneducated and, therefore, uncomfortable in the presence of "educated" people. The mother is withdrawn. For all of these reasons and more, the mother is unable and, for the most part, incapable of helping their own children succeed in school or in life.
• For unwed mothers who are better equipped with skills necessary to raise a child, the necessity to work (often nights and weekends), diminishes her ability to dedicate time to parenting. The net result is the same. The child is neglected and eventually becomes the next generation of the same cycle.

Yes folks, Georgia has had far too many female heads of households raising children by themselves for decades. These are the households that produce the drop-outs (who later become part of the under-educated adult population). And, they are the source of juvenile delinquents (who, later become the adult prison population). They account for out-of-wedlock births, troubled pregnancies, malnourished, socially unadjusted, and "labeled" children. They are also the households where most of the child abuse occurs, generate the need for DFACS, foster homes, case workers, juvenile courts, jails, prisons, drug treatment programs, etc, etc, etc. Generation after generation, it is a vicious cycle of uninterrupted poverty.

What is the True Extent of Poverty in Georgia?

• Georgia's population:
  • Estimated at 8,684,000, the 9th largest and 5th fastest growing population in the country
  • Increasing 150,000 per year the past several years as a result of:
• 100,000 per year net births over deaths
• 50,000 from US citizens born in other states, legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. (See "Illegal Immigrants" on page 9).
• The percentage of people living in poverty in all states is 12.4%, but it is 13.4% in Georgia.
• Many mistakenly believe poverty is mostly in the greater Atlanta area. Not so. 109 of 159 (68%) counties in Georgia have populations that exceed the federal average of those in poverty.
• By federal definition there are over 1 million Georgians and ½ million of Georgia's children living in poverty. However, that figure is misleading. The figure does not address "working poor". For example, my county (Whitfield) has a poverty rate of 10%. Our population is around 80,000. Therefore, 8,000 residents live in poverty. However, 65% of our school children are on the federal FRL program (Free and Reduced Lunch). The combined population of our two school systems is over 18,000 children. 65% of that is nearly 12,000. Add their parents to that number and the total population of "poor" and "working poor" may be more than 1/3 of the entire population of our community.
• 29% of Georgia's households earn less than $25,000 annually.
• There are approximately 1½ million adults in Georgia's population that are illiterate or do not possess a high school diploma. (23%)
• 25% of Georgia's budget for '06 (over $4 billion dollars) is dedicated to government assistance programs. Governor Perdue has already recognized the problem as having outgrown the state's ability to support it. He's made a couple attempts at reducing benefits and redefining qualifications for benefits, which in effect, would have eliminated people from badly needed assistance programs. He recanted on those efforts. However, in July '05 his budget director instructed the Commissioner of the Department of Community Health to reduce his budget request for next year by $200 million dollars. Including $300 million dollars of federal government matching Medicaid funds, that is a total reduction of $500 million dollars. As of this writing, the governor has not disclosed his motives or his plan.
• It takes 2 ½ taxpaying households to support every household on government assistance programs.
• The Department of Human Resources manages over 80 government assistance programs. The largest managed program is DFACS (Department of Family and Children Services).
• The Department of Community Health provides health services to over 2,000,000 Georgians. That is 23% of the population. Similar to the number of uneducated Georgians. Services are provided primarily through Medicaid (healthcare for the poor) and PeachCare for Kids (healthcare for the "working poor").
• Since July 02 the unemployment rate in Georgia declined. (5% to 4%) However, the number of those supported by Georgia's Medicaid and PeachCare programs increased by 300,000 people (800,000 to 1.1 million).
• Georgia's population is growing at the low end of the socio-economic spectrum. If you will recall, 40,000 are newborns to unwed mothers. Additionally, there are 30,000 high school drop-outs added to the population each year. Combined, this is 70,000 people per year added to the roles of some form of government assistance program. That's 70,000, or 46% of the 150,000 annual increase in the population of Georgia. That is twice the historical percentage of the population on government assistance programs! And, it represents 210,000 of the 310,000 (67%) increases of those enrolled in Medicaid and PeachCare for the past three years.

That's a lot of information to digest, isn't it? The question is: what kind of a reaction has it elicited? After all, "they" are the government's problem, or it doesn't affect me" may be your attitude? Therefore, you really don't care. Let me caution you. You should care! You foot the bill for "them":

• "They" have already max'd out your ability to support "them" based on what you already pay in taxes. (25% of the state's budget)
• "They" are growing in number. You are not!
• Even if "their" numbers weren't growing, inflation is driving up costs just as quickly as your own medical costs are growing. But their numbers are growing and costs are rising, too. That's a fairly good indication where budget requirements for government assistance programs are headed!
• "They" are your burden to bear now and in the immediate future.
• "They" are your children's burden to bear in the long-term. And, the growth rate of "your" children is not keeping pace with the growth rate of "their" children.

Does the realization that you must pay for them now and your children having to pay for them in the future disturb, or even anger you? It should. But, I caution you to properly direct your anger. Before your heart hardens toward these folks, realize this. "They" are not the enemy. "They" do not like being "they" and given a choice, "they" would be you. "They" are caught in a vicious web. "They" were born into it. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, on their own, "they" cannot remove themselves from that web. Why? They have been used as a political football for decades.

Therefore, direct your anger where it belongs- at our leaders. It is our leaders, not the impoverished, that make the laws, create and end the programs, set the priorities and decide where the money goes and how it is spent. What exactly have our leaders done to end poverty?

They've done plenty. They've created program upon program. They've created and generously staffed very sophisticated institutions. They have allocated billions of dollars to fund both. They have tinkered with the education system to the point that children not in poverty are short-changed. And what has all of the effort gotten us? The problem not only continues to exist, but it grows larger and more expensive every year. What's the bottom line? Georgia has squandered billions of dollars and gotten little return on the investment. Why? The right efforts have not been made.

Georgians, these folks don't need pity. Contempt for them will not end the negative impact they have on your life, either. They need a leader. They need a leader that will take ownership. They need a leader with a vision that includes "leading" them out of their circumstances. They need viable options, education, and job training, opportunity and availability of good paying jobs with benefits as their mechanisms to raise themselves out of poverty. Many of them may need a nudge. Let's call it "tough love". A strong, yet compassionate leader will give them both. Incidentally, it's not only "they" that need that leader and that vision, you need them, too! Otherwise, no one's circumstances, neither yours nor theirs, improves.

Folks, that ends my presentation on poverty. But, it doesn't end the topic I intended to address on this web page regarding social issues. The next one is another "they" issue: illegal immigrants.

Illegal Immigrants

What's your definition of the distinction between an "issue" and a "problem"? Is it "perception"? Let me say this very clearly: the thought of illegal immigrants having the same rights and benefits that legal citizens have is unacceptable to me. If "illegals" are responsible for runaway costs of social assistance programs, organized drugs and gangs in our communities, it is unacceptable. Period! However, what is the difference between reality and perception? Sometimes it's explained as simply as predisposed "attitude". For example, we are inundated with daily accounts of "illegals" in every source of media outlet we access. Constant media exposure makes "illegals" everyday "kitchen table talk" whenever and wherever people gather. But, does that make it true? I really don't know if it is true, or not. What I know and what I am certain about is "illegals" are an issue, a serious issue, and the extent of any problems associated with them needs to be clearly defined. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find an authoritative resource. Much is available discussing the "problem" in very harsh and convincing terms, but also in very vague and general terms. Here's what I can share with you that is definitive regarding "illegals", and other non-native Georgians:

• According to the US Census estimate for 2003, Georgia has approximately 530,000 Hispanics in our population. Half are estimated to be illegal. I believe these numbers are greatly understated. However, the only way that I know to identify a more accurate number would be a demographic study generated within the PeachCare for Kids and Medicaid programs (healthcare for the poor and working poor.) Hispanics, whether they are fluent in English or not, seem to be extremely well aware of every type and form of social benefit available to them and their families. And, they use them! Nonetheless, let's look at data I succeeded in obtaining that may prove of interest and dispel some of the preconceived notions many of us may have regarding the population composition of Georgia.
• Of the 8.6 million residents of Georgia, 4.9 million (57%) are native Georgians. (I seem to recall a fact from the late '70's: Georgia's population back then was 92% native Georgians.)
• Non-native Georgian population composition:
  • Born in other states: 2,800,000 (33%)
  • Born of Hispanic origin: 530,000 (6%)
  • Born in Asia: 169,000 (2%)
  • Born in Europe: 75,000 (.8%)
  • Born in Africa or Canada: 58,000 (.6%)
• I personally know and have worked with many Hispanics. My personal experience and observations lend me to conclude that the overwhelming majority of Hispanics are good family people that want nothing more than an opportunity to better their lives through hard work. However, like all cultures or ethnic population groups, there is a minority component that is undesirable. That component receives far more attention through their negative impact (organized gangs and drugs) on communities than does the component that positively impacts their communities.
• The federal government has jurisdiction and is ambivalent in prosecuting their responsibilities. This poses a major obstacle in determining a course of action.
• Further complicating the situation is the number of children born in this country, who are citizens of the United States, but are born to illegal immigrants. Can you, or should you, deport illegal immigrant parents of these children? Can you deport US citizen children who are born to illegal immigrant parents?
• Another issue surrounding "illegals" that is not given much attention and makes many Georgians complicit are the number of "illegals" employed by Georgia's entrepreneurs in the "job black market". Presumably there are many Georgians involved in landscaping, construction and other informally organized entrepreneurial enterprises that employ "illegals" on a cash basis. How large is this population? How much unreported income is involved? How much does the unreported income equate to lost revenue to the state in personal income taxes, employer/employee payroll taxes, etc.
• The biggest question, aside from knowledge of the shear size in population, is the economic impact. How much do they contribute to Georgia's economy, as opposed to how much does Georgia spend providing for them through government assistance programs? Unfortunately, valid conclusions can only be drawn from complete access to all of the information. As a private citizen, I do not have that access. If our leaders have chosen to share it, I have been unable to locate it.
• One such issue is the education level of adult "illegals". I can only assume that, even in their native tongue, it is low. This seems to be the basis for making bi-lingual signage, instructions, government forms, etc. I do not believe accommodation to that extent motivates Spanish speaking only Hispanics to learn the English language as have all culturally different generations of immigrants in our country's history.
• There are many tough questions and equally tough issues surrounding this very complex situation.
• For all of the above reasons, there are more questions than there are answers. Nonetheless, I commit to do three things: comply with existing laws, sponsor legislation that represents the best interests of Georgia and through all of that, do what is morally the right thing to do. (See "John's Vision")

Conclusions

• Part of the game of power politics is to use highly charged social issues to divide voters into "one issue" voting blocks. Certainly, these issues are important and should be part of every candidate's agenda. However, there are many serious and pressing problems in need of long-term solutions. I am encouraging voters, even pleading with them, to look beyond the highly charged emotional issues, become informed of the serious problems and support candidates who are most committed to solving those problems. I am further encouraging voters not to accept platitudes. Anyone can say, "it's about the children", "children are the future of Georgia", "education is the most important issue", "we need a new vision", " partisan politics must stop", etc. Each candidate should be equipped with an agenda that clearly states the problems as they see them and solutions that reflect a vision full of ideas of "what" and "how" to make their solutions happen.
• Education is the way out of poverty. However, confining the focus of our educational efforts to the children of the impoverished is a disservice to them, educators and all Georgians. Uneducated, impoverished people breed uninterrupted and successive generations of the same. To break the cycle, similar educational emphasis must be placed on uneducated parents as is placed on their children. Mechanisms must be created and leadership provided to succeed in that effort. If it is not done, the cycle will continue.
• Uneducated people, particularly single female heads of households and "fractured families" either don't know how to help their children or, don't have the time or resources to help them. As a result, their children do not receive parental reinforcement that teachers need to help these children succeed in the classroom. Children become "labeled", fall behind, loose interest, psychologically quit, and ultimately physically drop-out. Again, mechanisms can be created to end this cycle.
• Presently, 25% of our state budget (our taxes) go directly to support Georgians in need. Additionally, much of the costs associated with special programs to serve their needs are imbedded in the education budget. (50% of the state budget.)
• 80% of our juvenile delinquent and our adult prison population come from impoverished origins. (8% of our state budget)
• After 6% allowance for paying the interest on the state's debt burden, is there any wonder there is little left over (25%) for servicing all other needs of our citizens and business community, or for investing in the future of our state?
• The bottom line: Georgia has many problems associated with our economy, education system, and fiscal management of our state government. All must be solved. However, none can be solved unless the inseparable relationship between them and the social issues I've set forth on this web page are solved together and with equal effectiveness. Of course I am alluding to "root cause" social problems: adult literacy, drop-outs, "fractured families", gangs and illegal drugs. Once they are solved, problems that result from them will begin to disappear. Benefitting will be: k-12 education performance and better utilization of educational resources; reduced juvenile delinquent and adult prison populations; safer communities; reduction in poverty resulting in less demand for government assistance programs; and, more successes in creation, retention and recruitment of good paying jobs.
• However, the biggest "root cause" problem is our governance, our leaders. Years of pursuing a course of "fiscally managing our way through their needs", as opposed to "leading our way out of their impoverished existence" is what Georgia's leaders have been doing. It is an injustice to the impoverished. It is disrespectful to taxpaying citizens. And, it is an indictment of Georgia's leaders. That is what they have been doing, are doing and will continue to do until Georgians demand something different. While these very serious problems erode the very fabric of what Georgia is and who Georgians are, our leaders spend their time, effort and talent bickering over issues associated with gaining and maintaining power. (I strongly suggest you read what I have to say under the section, "How we are governed")
• FOCUS, GEORGIANS!!!!

Solutions

See the section "John's Vision" to the left.

That is not the end of the discussion on "social issues". There are many more social issues that concern Georgians and me. However, each of those issues require a position statement. I address several of them under the section "Positions". For example, you will find position statements on: abortion, faith based initiatives, prayer in schools, display of the ten commandments, gay marriage, etc.

Feedback

After reading my positions on the many social issues of the day, I would appreciate feedback from you. I would also like to hear your thoughts on any issue important to you that I have not addressed. To communicate your thoughts and ideas to me, click on the tab "contact the candidate". Time permitting, I will personally respond. Otherwise, if you suggest a matter that is of similar concern to many others, I will research it and take a position. My positions will be published in future up-dates of my web site. I will also address them in future speeches.

Help

I must mention one last thing before closing this segment. I am an independent candidate. I must obtain 40,000 valid signatures of registered voters on nomination petitions to get on the ballot for the general election in November '06.

If I have sparked an interest in you to support me, you must be aware that your vote, however appreciated, is not enough. I need volunteers to canvas places of business, sub-divisions, communities, colleges, malls and every other place that groups of people congregate. If you are interested in volunteering, press the yellow button to the left "volunteer". There are many levels of need. Choose one and may I personally welcome you aboard the Dashler for Governor campaign effort! Georgians, "Make it about you, not the few!"

I also need financial support. Even though I am not about raising millions of dollars and buying votes, rather I am about winning people's confidence and earning their votes, it is going to cost more than I can afford. If you can afford $10, $20, $50, or $100 or more, please click on the red button to the left "contribute". (I would be remiss if I failed to mention there is an upper limit of $5,000 for those of you able and willing to make such a significant investment in the future direction of our beloved state.)

John W. Dashler
Independent Candidate for Governor
"Georgians, make it about you, not the few!"