FRIDAY'S PAPER RUINED my day. Sales tax increase, seniors may lose school tax exemption, Fort Hood shooting, it was all there. Soured the whole day. Too bad Mr. Kolb didn't take Fred Russell with him to Kansas, or wherever he went, since he was the one who brought Russell to Augusta and left him here. If all those tax increases are approved, Columbia County better get ready for an invasion.

THANKS TO THE MEN who helped me get my car out of the road on Peach Orchard Road during rush hour.

WHEN ASKED HOW Ted Kennedy stacked up to his older brothers when faced with a critical situation, I replied, John walked on water and made things happen, Robert drank water and watched things happen, and poor Teddy passed water and asked, "What happened?"

DON'T WASTE TIME calling Rep. John Barrow's office about stopping Obama's Marxist "health care" bill, or about anything else. Barrow doesn't hire clerks to take messages; he hires debaters to make you miserable.

OPINION HEADLINE: "Off-year elections spell trouble for both parties." Best news in years.

I HOPE ARMY Maj. Nidal Hasan gets the death penalty, but I know the Obama administration will not allow that to happen. After all, he will not want to offend the Muslim world.

WOODY MERRY NEEDS help. His behavior is truly bizarre, and, if he is left unchecked, he will undoubtedly soon escalate into serious violence.

A RANT TO ALL who silently watch our government gain more control over our rights as Americans. In 1948, Norman Thomas, an unsuccessful six-time candidate for president of the U.S., said, "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." It's time to "wake up"!

I DON'T EVEN LIVE in Richmond County, but I shop there. I'd be delighted to pay one cent more in sales tax if all the money could be spent on safety, police protection and the sheriff's office.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND Georgia drivers. They will run red lights, they won't use their turn signals, and when making a left-hand turn they don't get out in the intersection and would rather wait for the next light.

NOW THAT A WOMAN has been elected mayor of Blythe, will she stand up for the police or get rid of them? I think we should keep them and stand beside them.