You can complain about bank shifts

I have been seeing both Bennett's cartoons and editorials on The Times side talking about the new charges that banks are beginning to make on us all. With this in mind, I would like to add my two cents in the foray.

Earlier, my bank started charging a fee for my checking account that I opened several years ago as a "free checking account." I considered this a breach of contract by them and contacted the feds about it and made a complaint with the Office of the Controller of Currency (O.C.C.).

If you consider these charges illegal or unfounded or even a breach of contract, then maybe you should make a complaint as well. Of course, you can't talk to a real person; however you can use their website to make the complaint. The web address is www.helpwithmybank.gov

This is the Treasury Department website.

DAVID M. SMITH

Wrong person testifies about deer

Having Ben Layton, TWRA biologist, testify about the need to "kill off" some deer is like asking the fox to guard the hen house!

What do you think ole Ben would say? TWRA pays him a salary! Of course he would go along with his employer's desire. TWRA provides his uniform and his vehicle!

How many deer are in the park? Of course he doesn't know; that would require effort. You can't get that by riding around in a green truck and wearing a pretty uniform (green too).

DOUG GEREN

Cleveland, Tenn.

Voter photo ID law outrageous

Many Tennesseans who refuse to acknowledge the nefarious potential of the state's new voter photo- identification requirement need look no further than Chattanooga's own 96-year-old Dorothy Cooper.

For those unfamiliar with Ms. Cooper, she has voted for decades both here and in Nashville using a valid voter registration card. Because she had never driven, she had no need for a driver's license, but the new requirement requires some type of photo identification from the state. She took various types of identification, including birth certificate and said voter registration card, but was merely advised that she could always vote absentee.

When one considers how few vehicle registration facilities are available statewide and the fact that they will probably diminish because of budget cuts, the outrageousness of the law becomes even more egregious.

Those using terms like "voter fraud or purity of the ballot" are merely adopting a subterfuge long perpetuated by the core of the Republican Party.

SAM JONES

Statue purchase a wasteful expense

If our government exercised due diligence as stewards of taxpayer dollars, spending as if it were their money, there would no doubt be more balanced budgets.

Last year, Mayor Ron Littlefield expressed urgency with regard to the passage of a 64-cent property tax increase. If not approved, we would face catastrophic consequences including parks closing, libraries closing, etc.

Ultimately, a 37-cent property tax increase was approved. To add insult to injury, this came upon the heels of our customary four-year property reassessment. Notwithstanding the decline of housing prices, many assessments were increased. Even though state law requires equalization of taxes collected to offset changes due to reassessment, the new property tax rate clearly increased our personal yearly tax bills.

Accompanied by the economic downturn, our government must be even more vigilant in its accountability of our tax dollars. City government is only a symptom of a greater problem and bears resemblance to the unrestrained and wasteful spending of our federal government.

Hence, an unavoidable factor is that the $32,000 for a "blue rhino" statue doesn't pass the litmus test.

PHYLLIS PARKER

The future is already here

I listened to the (presidential candidates') debate Tuesday night, and a point was made that whatever health care we have, the candidates don't want to come between you and your doctor.

Wake up! We are already there. It's called your insurance company. They tell you if you qualify for heart surgery, and they can overrule your doctor.

Sorry, but the one bad thing about ObamaCare is that it forces you to buy from insurance companies.

FLORIO GIOLLI

Signal Mountain

Eligibility issue has wide implications

I don't live on Signal Mountain, and I could care less about high school football.

However, I'm horrified by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association decision regarding the eligibility of a hardship student to play sports.

There are many reasons for granting hardship transfers. Most of them are private for good reason. Common reasons hardships are granted are to serve students with special education needs (example: gifted students, learning disabled, students with ADHD, hearing impaired), or those suffering complex family and social needs, including the need to escape from abuse. Sometimes these needs are simply better met in some schools in the area than by others and thus hardships exist so all students may be educated in the best facility for them.

The clear implication of the TSSAA decision is that those students, including the disabled ones, should be excluded from participation in sports at the school which they attend. I'm certain this is in violation of disability laws, but in the meantime, how many children are going to be kicked off school soccer teams for being deaf, or out of basketball because they're learning disabled, or off football teams for being gifted, or out of volleyball for having been abused? Is this who the TSSAA is?

SOPHIA GROSS

Turn attention to real criminals

Amnesty International's call for the arrest of George W. Bush is ludicrous.

The self-righteous leaders of Amnesty International calling for the arrest of former President George W. Bush need to reconsider their accusations and realize that this world is not perfect. In fact, I have an even better idea. Alex Neve, head of Amnesty International's Canadian Branch, said, "Under both international and national law, Canadian authorities must launch a criminal investigation against the former president, arrest him ... and commence a prosecution against him." I suggest Mr. Neve head over to Iraq or Saudi Arabia and try his best to arrest remaining Al-Qaeda leaders for their various breaches of human rights. Or maybe head over to North Korea and see how well "please" works when dealing with corrupt, tyrannical enemies of freedom. Maybe then he will realize that things don't get done in wartime situations by saying please. Maybe then he will turn his attention to real criminals -- not former President George W. Bush.

Indubitably, though, such ignorance will continue to plague modern society. At least until another disaster unites us all, and we once again approve of the "any means necessary" morale.

AUSTIN MORRIS

Hixson

UTC must address scooter parking

To commute to school at UTC, I drive a scooter. It is a small bicycle with an engine. According to the state of Tennessee, my scooter is considered just that, nothing more, nothing less.

I have parked next to bike racks on campus with no vexation for over six weeks. These parking spots are unobtrusive to any person or aesthetic area on campus. Recently, I was "graciously awarded" two parking tickets, both for not acquiring a parking pass through the university. I am outraged at this and find it illogical.

There is no way my scooter went unnoticed to parking services for 44 days. Unless something changed in parking rules, for campus police to take action out of the blue is unprofessional.

The reason I bought a scooter is because they are convenient and I thought I would avoid these types of situations. With parking on campus being beyond limited and irritating, I think it is only logical that I would be able to park next to a bike rack. As for the designated motorcycle parking spots -- leave those for the big boys, the actual motorcycles. My scooter and I are not here to impress.

BLAKE PORTER