Living in Fayette County gives me many reasons to be thankful this [holiday season]. Sales tax revenues are increasing and home values have begun inching their way back up. Additionally, the county’s finances are in order and infrastructure maintenance issues are being addressed.
Our crime rate is low and our quality of life remains high.
Fayette County has an incredibly deep pool of human capital which is what keeps us at the top of heap, something that makes every elected official in the county thankful.
The most important things in my personal life I picked up after age 30.
Personally, I am grateful to have learned to appreciate my experiences and my relationships more than my possessions. I am truly thankful for continuing to crave knowledge, pursuing areas of interest even after failing and being more patient and willing to let go of things.
How fortunate we are to live in a country where we have the freedom to worship, freedom of speech and freedom to elect our leaders rather than live under some form of authoritarian rule.
I deeply worry that our descendants will not have the freedoms previous generations enjoyed as the federal government, from the National Security Administration and FBI to the IRS, now has the ability, without warrant, to peer deep into our individual lives. We are being asked to give away our future freedoms in the name of security.
The future might be one where your thoughts and beliefs could be held against you. Ben Franklin was right, “People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.”
I am indebted to those who taught me to never allow anyone to define who I am, that struggles have value and that dreaming is a good thing.
I take great joy from my appreciation of human life, family and the acceptance of people who are not like me.
Here is wishing every man, woman and child in Fayette County a happy Thanksgiving Day along with the prayer for your continued success and prosperity.
Steve Brown
Peachtree City, Ga.
