Kudos to Mayor Berke for fiscal leadership
Mayor Berke is proving to be an exemplary leader of Chattanooga right out of the gates. In particular, his responsible fiscal leadership and stewarding of resources of our city is refreshing and encouraging.
Together we can continue to use well the fiscal, natural and community resources of Chattanooga to make it a leading city in the United States -- an exceptional place to live, work, play, visit, treasure and share.
JASON MITCHELL
Don't equate gay marriage, rights
The Free Press' Drew's Views entry of June 14 draws equivalence between the civil rights movement of the '60s and those seeking to codify gay marriage. Drew Johnson suggests that anyone opposing this perversion (gay marriage) will surely be held in contempt and disgust.
Johnson brings to mind the old saying about "The blind leading the blind." Any reader of this newspaper who actually takes this man seriously is deeply in trouble. For there is no equivalence in our fellow Americans, who happened to be black and sought equal rights under the Constitution, and those who now demand that society approve their desire to engage in the perversion of gay marriage.
Matthew 16:26 says, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, only to lose their own soul?"
God the Father has spoken his opinion on this matter, which is that all the sexually immoral will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1st Corinthians 6).
THOMAS LILE
Register, become an organ donor
After reading Robin Smith's column on organ donation, all I can say is, "Amen!" Every point she made is accurate.
Sadly, the need for organs far exceeds the supply. And, also sadly, many people will take an organ, if needed; but will never register to donate when they no longer need them.
As a surgery nurse of over 44 years, I helped with many organ retrievals, but I never thought I'd ever need one.
I'm now 31/2 years post-liver transplant. Not only am I alive because of the generosity of an organ donor and her family, I'm also the recipient of a miracle!
I ask and encourage everyone to please, please register to be an organ donor. And, be sure to tell your family what you wish done with your organs.
To register, go to www.donatelife.org. Each state donor registry can be reached from this site.
For more information on organ donation, go to www.unos.org.
LENORA BARBER
Take spotlight off Cee Lo
Repeating the Riverbend story and mentioning Cee Lo Green over and over just magnifies him and gives him more publicity than what he deserves -- which I'm sure is his intention. And by the way, how can you complain about him when you booked a group whose name The Pimps of Joyland is an insult to decent people?
MICHELE MAHOOD, Blairsville, Ga.
Unpaid internship a valuable tool
Last Friday, Manhattan Federal Judge William H. Pauley III ruled that Fox Searchlight Studios had broken federal minimum wage laws by failing to pay two interns. Judge Pauley has set legal precedent for unpaid interns to sue their employers and get paid. This precedent could deter organizations from agreeing to hire unpaid interns in the first place, which could cause massive scarcity of internships.
In researching this ruling, I was shocked to find the responses of some Chattanooga residents to be that "they should get something" and that unpaid internships are virtually "slavery."
I'm an intern. I don't get paid -- in money, that is.
I get something far more valuable than an hourly wage. I get paid in training and knowledge that comes from being in the office I'm working in. I get paid in networking opportunities. I get paid in life skills.
You get all this in a paid internship, too, but unpaid internships allow many more companies to take on many more people, and provide the experience needed to get started -- need I mention that real-world experience is invaluable in finding a job in the current economy?
Unpaid internships are not "slavery" but a valuable opportunity for the inexperienced worker.
VIVIAN HUGHBANKS, Signal Mountain
American dream now a pipe dream
You keep hearing on the news that the housing market is recovering. More people are buying. That is a myth perpetuated by the government and Realtors.
Right now it is almost impossible to buy a house if you are financing it. I have been going through the process for six weeks now and haven't even gotten to the underwriters yet. That alone will take another two to six weeks. Do not be fooled by pre-approval letters. All that means is you qualify for a loan. It has nothing to do with whether or not you actually get it. One hundred percent financing does not mean no money out of pocket. You still have to have earnest money, assessors fees, find your own insurance broker, and surveyor fees. All that adds up to several thousand dollars.
What used to be the American dream now is a pipe dream. Houses are not selling. Fewer than 50 percent of the homes that are under contract actually make it to the closing table. Pay attention to how many homes that vanish from the newspaper ads or online as " Under contract" that are back for sale within 30-60 days.
Good luck, folks. I'm walking away.
GLANDA WIDGER
Nicest people live in Rhea, Meigs
A recent letter writer asked if anyone knew the justification for the existence of either Meigs or Rhea county, since both were so "tiny"? I can only speak with assurance about the reason for the existence of Rhea County, although I suspect that Meigs County is the same: It was established so that the very nicest people in southeast Tennessee would have a place to live. 'Nuff said.
PEGGY DENTON, Dayton, Tenn.
Let constituents think for themselves
I do not care one way or another if a distillery plans to distill whiskey in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County. What I do care about is the fact that Chester Bankston said "I think I pretty much know how my constituents would vote (on allowing distilleries)." I, along with a multitude of others, would rather be asked what I thought than be told what I think. To my knowledge, in my district, there have been no surveys taken in order to gauge public opinion. At least, no one has asked me what I thought, and I am one of his constituents. I wrote him a letter about another matter a year ago and received no response to date.
Should a distiller wish to construct a distillery on Mahan Gap Road or Birchwood Pike, it would increase the tax base and allow, for instance, the Circuit Court Clerk's office to continue to expand.
If, as some Hamilton County commissioners suggest, they are aware of their consituents' feelings against distilleries, then why would they "opt out" and force a referendum, as Jim Fields suggests. According to them, there would be no referendum, because they already know how we think.
GLENN G. BUTLER, Ooltewah
Obama election fraudulently won
When a horse race is won by a horse that was doped, he is disqualified, and the horse which finished second is declared the winner.
When it is discovered that a football team had won a championship by cheating, the NCAA strips them of their title, the coach is fired, and all games that year are forfeited.
If an employee receives a bonus, and then it is learned that he has committed gross and illegal actions, he is let go immediately.
So when a U. S. presidential election is fraudulently won because of apparent numerous cover-ups by the incumbent, stern action is required. For example, the IRS was used by Obama to suppress as much opposition as possible. The NSA tracked millions of Americans to learn their political leanings. And worst of all, the State Department quashed an appeal for help, which resulted in the assassination of a U.S. ambassador and the murder of three other Americans.
The 2012 presidential election should be overturned, and the reason is clear: This is a blatant case of "high crimes and misdemeanors," and Mitt Romney should be sworn in as president as soon as possible. But don't hold your breath.
JOHN BERGEN