I considered trying to come up with some sort of really off-the-wall column, telling you only at the conclusion that it was an April Fool joke, but thought better of it. I was afraid there might be someone out there who would take my joking comments too seriously. After all, there are those in our area, even a couple of elected representatives, who accepted much of our governor’s education bill at face value. Shame. Well, at least now we are going to get a chance to see who was right. Those of us that are truly dedicated to serving up the best education possible for Georgia’s children must do everything possible to insure the coming changes work to the best advantage for these kids, regardless of how we feel about the bill. It wouldn’t surprise me though, to see some major modifications made to this year’s bill in the 2001 General Assembly. Who knows, we might even see some new faces under the golden dome?

Politics is often a strange and wonderful thing. Too often perhaps though, the question is just who is wonderful and who is strange… Our two major political parties have become so polarized on major issues that it gives thinking voters a very difficult choice. An example: The Republicans seem, at least to me, to view our First Amendment with a certain amount of disdain, while holding the Second Amendment to be bulletproof. Where is the consistency here?

Speaking of our Constitution, one of our major considerations in the upcoming presidential election should be just who is going to be appointing the next few Supreme Court Justices. Remember these people are appointed for life! Their opinions and decisions will be with us much much longer than a four or eight-year president will! Even though congressional confirmation is required, most appointees have generally followed the thinking of the party of the president who appointed them.

It’s so easy to decide who to vote against, and so difficult to determine who to vote for! Too often the concept of "voting for the lesser of two evils" seems to ring true. I’d sure feel better if there was someone I could wholeheartedly support! At least there is seven months or so to dwell on these decisions.

Well, back to April Fool thoughts… I recently received the following poem in my e-mail titled "The Spell Checker." Enjoy.

Eye halve a spelling chequer

It came with my pea sea

It plainly marques four my revue

Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the error rite

Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it

I am shore your pleased two no

Its letter perfect awl the weigh

My chequer tolled me sew.

Until next thyme. tomiswho@mindspring.com