In which Your Humble makes the front page of the local paper...though not the way he'd like

[thatcrazycajun]

Over the past couple of months, reporters from our local fish-wrapper major daily newspaper of record have been calling me periodically to solicit my views on issues surrounding unemployment in the metro Atlanta area and Georgia in general, a subject with which Your Humble has had far too much experience over the eight years he has lived in the Peach State. No idea how either of the two reporters who have called got my name, unless they're searching Facebook or LinkedIn for likely subjects, or read letters to the editor I've had printed in the past.

So far, none of these conversations has resulted in any attributed quotes actually seeing print...until now. Today, in fact. Right on the front page, above the fold. The web version is here.

While the story as printed actually conflates two sentences of mine into one (the actual statement was "They should not be balancing the budget on the backs of the unemployed in Georgia. And I would be saying that even if I didn't happen to be one of them"), and my own case would not be affected due to a grandfather clause (only new applicants would see a reduction in benefits), the general sentiment is still one I stand by. God and the Republican leaders of our state Lege know there are plenty of other ways to raise funds to repay the federal loan for UI benefits without doing this to those who can least afford it—including people who can afford it far less than YHC, who at least has a working roommate/fianceé to share expenses.

This and the recent spate of legislation in this and other statehouses around the country affecting matters of reproduction and sexual orientation have two main purposes, to my view: 1) to burnish the conservative credentials of GOP legislators who must face the voters this fall (and avoid a primary challenge from their state party's right), and 2) to bring more conservatives to the polls who support such measures to not only re-elect them, but also to crush President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress who also seek to stay in their jobs, as well as Democrat challengers to GOP incumbents.

One can only hope that these bills have the unintended consequence of galvanizing Democrat/liberal voters to likewise throng the voting booths and counteract any such rightist surge. I plan to help, if I can.

Comments

[patoadam]

Suggest you contact the newspaper and ask them to correct the misquote. The misquote suggests that if you weren't unemployed, you wouldn't care.

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Congrats on being on the front page. The article won't change anyone's mind, and the misquote, in the long run, probably makes little difference. Corrections tend to go unnoticed. Otherwise, I'd agree with Patoadam.

My opinion: The extreme right is taking the GOP down in flames. They are going to lose in 2012, and lose big, in federal, state and local levels. They are taking positions that will antagonize a majority of women and minorities, as well as independents, liberals, and almost anyone who isn't either stupid or brainwashed.

Sadly, you have a lot of those folks in your state. Happily, the GOP is doing their darndest to alienate even them.

My modest proposal on how the government can pay off debt and save money: start auctioning off all the stuff they don't need on eBay. And as for the insane republican legislators, the best use for them would be to sell their organs on the black market for transplants. Sure, their hearts are worthless, but maybe their livers and kidneys would be usable. (Any stupid republicans reading this, this is what is called "humor." In the vein of Jonathan Swift, who wrote some books you probably never read.)

[asg-qa-s7.livejournal.com]

Wow. After that "quote," you'll have to change your LJ handle to "thatselfishcajunbahstad". That probably won't give a prospective employer a good opinion of you, so I'd say go for the correction, on principle. Not sure how you could counteract the impression if that's why you're considered, but not interviewed.

BTW, anything back fron that all-day working interview?