Nearing the end of another legislative session, we find our legislators playing games with trauma care funding, which is on life support and the plug is about to be pulled.

A year is approaching where roughly 700 more people in our state will lose their lives because legislators are playing politics and not working for them. Why should such important legislation be linked to other bills as a carrot in an attempt to get personal legislation passed?

Roughly $50 plus million from the general fund was put into the midyear budget last week. That money will certainly help, but it is a mere drop in the bucket of what is needed. To not have a bill passed that specifically earmarks the money for trauma every year gives a failing grade to all legislators.

I have been a member of the State of Georgia Trauma Committee through the Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma for the past eight years, and I see the critical need for this legislation to pass. We are in a crisis. Look at the issues surrounding Grady Memorial Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in our area, not to mention the issues affecting all the Level I, II, III and IV centers throughout the state. We have seen more trauma centers in the state drop their designation over the past several years and more are threatening to do so if funding is not secured. The 700 lives saved each year will become a larger number of deaths if these centers drop their designation.

Even if the legislation currently on the table in the House and Senate passed, it is not a guaranteed funding source, because each year it would have to be funded from the general fund. As we have seen many times when such bills are passed, those funds often get funneled elsewhere when our legislators have that option.

Trauma deaths in Georgia are much higher per capita than the national average. Our so-called leaders under the Gold Dome should keep the promise they made last year and start helping to save lives rather than jeopardize them more. It seems passing items such as Go Fish, seeking support for Georgia Bulldog car tags in neighboring states (and I am a huge Dawg fan) or taking back property from a neighboring state is more important than saving lives of Georgians and those who pass through our state.

Every day, one thing is guaranteed in our wonderful state: People will be injured and some will die from a traumatic incident. These injuries and deaths will increase as long as our elected leaders make decisions to pull the plug on funding trauma care and not work together to find a suitable bill that will save lives.

Our committee must ask the legislature each year to fund trauma, and each year the session comes and goes without the funding. Ask yourself: Will I, or someone in my family, be faced with a serious traumatic incident this year? If so, can you be assured the facility you are taken to will be able to treat the injuries you receive? Can you be assured you will even get to a facility that is capable of treating your injuries within the hour? The answer is no for the majority of Georgians.

Wake up, those of you under the Gold Dome, and work for the people rather than the party or yourselves.

Chad Black
paramedic, firefighter, Gainesville

My pastor talks about Jesus, not politics
I attend a medium size church in a small North Georgia city. My pastor only talks about Jesus.
My pastor has never mentioned race in any of his sermons. He has never mentioned a hate of America in any of his sermons nor has he mentioned that America deserved to be attacked on 9-11.

My pastor has never mentioned the names of Sens. Obama, McCain or Clinton in any of his sermons.
My pastor suggests we sing "God Bless America" and "Faith of our Fathers" on days when we honor our country and also on days we honor veterans.

My pastor has never used curse words to describe America nor ever used any curse words in any context.

If I had a pastor who demeaned any race of people, preached hate for the country that many are willing to give their lives to preserve or suggested exactly who to vote for, I would immediately leave the church and find one that worshiped Jesus.

In no way would I subject my family, especially my young children, to sit for years and be subjected to hate speech coming out of any pulpit. Frankly, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's enraged speech is no more than a diatribe of disgusting ravings of a man who is, in my mind, mentally disturbed.

We are asked to vote for a man for president who did allow his family to sit and listen to Wright for many years. His decision to subject his family to remain at that church makes me wonder about his capability to serve all the people, his ability to make the correct choices in time of peril and his true feelings for this country.

Think hard fellow Americans; we can't afford to make a mistake in this election, especially when there are those who wish to see this country demolished. We need a leader who is a patriot.

Jim Threlkeld
Clarkesville

Animal Control director a caring public servant
Bimbo Brewer said it best in his letter praising Officer Rick Phillips, Director of Animal Control on Tuesday. I have worked with Rick as a private citizen and as a former employee of the Humane Society of Hall County since 1984. The man truly does have a gift with animals and people, even the difficult ones.

Being the Director of Animal Control is not always the easiest job in the world. However, Rick always looked at it as a blessing and as a way to help animals and educate the public. He's one of the few that always sees the glass half full instead of half empty.

I have never met anyone so devoted to their job, the rules and regulations that go with it, and then on top of that, have such a powerful, compassionate heart for all of God's creatures. I've seen this big bear of a man fall to the floor and play with a dog or cat, convince a scared animal not to bite and nurse injured animals back to health. I've seen the tears of compassionate sadness.

Rick has worked very closely with the Humane Society. Helping employees with difficult or scared animals, even volunteering to be "Santa Paws," dressed in a hot Santa suit all weekend to raise money for the shelter. He also owns every T-shirt that the shelter has ever printed.

He has never referred to anyone other than "ma'am" or "sir" and has always been the complete professional. He never refused any call for help, whether to open a door, carry a box, fix a flat tire, meet you with that huge grin of his and deep laugh, or get down on the floor and speak to small children about animal safety.

I don't think that Rick was ever truly appreciated enough by the county. Rick never asked for praise; he just believed in his job and his duty to his community. I've always loved the way he would get that twinkle in his eye when he spoke of the love of his life, his wonderful wife, Sharron (who he lovingly refers to as "Momma") or of his two children.

Rick, you will be missed, although there will be others, you will never truly be replaced, you are a living legend to our community. Go ride your horses and Harleys and be with your family. You deserve it, my friend.

Teresa Biffle Duncan
Flowery Branch