Readers respond online to The News' letters to the editor, "Independent Thought" originally published Jan. 7:

AJK: Excellent letter Sharon, and I couldn't agree more. I have marked my calendar for February 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. to be at the Johnson Park Art Room.

Brianljenkins: Wow!
This compilation by Ms. Sharon Pharr depicts my experience as a Conservative Democrat in Rockdale County almost to the letter.

I am amazingly flabbergasted as to why some find it so difficult to grasp the importance of county and not the importance of political party. It's almost as if we're all involved in this major conquest to defeat one another politically, while our county is spiraling downward.

It is the health and financial stability of Rockdale County that must always be at the forefront of the political argument.

I applaud the foresight of both Josie Dean and Sharon Pharr for their collaboration of a vehicle that in my opinion is so desperately needed here in Rockdale County.

It is my sincere hope, that the creators of this "Think Tank" will not allow others to bog down and or taint them with a mindset of ephemeral thinking. These efforts take time and energy to achieve the necessary goals. May God bless you both for your untiring love of community.

1BOWNIE: The two previous comments of this letter's proposal are a Libertarian & a Democrat. Rockdale, get ready for a victory for Oden & Nesbit to maintain their strangle hold on our county, due to this group splitting the vote from conservative candidates.

Be sure to remember to send a thank you note to this new group.

ectracey: From the founding we were founded on Christian Morals. That was the reason for Independence. You can't say freedom in America is separated from morality. Samuel Adams, the great American patriot and supposed founder of the American Revolution, accused by King George III of being the chief rabble rouser of American Independence, wrote the following in a letter to James Warren, the President of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, in 1779.

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. How necessary then is it for those who are determined to transmit the blessings of liberty as a fair inheritance to posterity, to associate on public principles in support of public virtue... Bottom line is denying the moral authority of government is why our country is losing its freedoms. Just because the Bible convicts us of our sin doesn't mean we should ignore it or change it. When in fact we need to change to become unified with God and allow him to once again bless our land.