Ask readers about comics and other letters to the editors

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Ask readers about comics

With all the serious problems we face today, the loss of a comic strip is a very minor issue, but people still have the right to express their opinions.

In my opinion, in her Nov. 10 column, Alison Gerber gave a stupid reason for the newspaper removing "Judge Parker" and replacing it with the very stupid "WuMo."

Why doesn't the features editor take a poll and see what the subscribers think about this decision?

In my opinion, your newspaper continues to go "down hill" just like our government, and many times the only thing worth reading are the comics pages.

JOE ROBERTS, Ooltewah


Break the cycle of violence

When a dollar figure is attached to a problem, it draws special attention. That's one of the many important results accomplished by the Tennessee Economic Council on Women with its recently released report, "The Economic Impact of Violence Against Women in Tennessee." The report, based on statewide surveys, nine public hearings throughout Tennessee -- including in Chattanooga -- and available crime data, puts the cost of domestic and sexual violence and human sex trafficking targeting women at $866 million each year, paid for largely through tax dollars, health care premiums, charity and lost productivity in fields like law enforcement, medical care, social services, and private enterprise. What this tells us is that domestic and sexual violence, while they may occur behind closed doors, affect everyone. Prevention is one of the keys to breaking the cycle of violence that is passed from parent to child by abuse experienced or witnessed. Educating the next generation to value and respect each other is the best hope for a violence-free home and safer world. This is a sobering but important report, produced under the direction of TECW Chair Yvonne Wood and TECW Executive Director Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, and it serves as an inspiration for other states to address the scourge of violence against women. Vision 2020 is fortunate to have Wood and Qualls-Brooks as well as Marcy Eason of Chattanooga serving as delegates.

MARY FLANNERY, Director of Communications Drexel University College of Medicine


Alexander too liberal for Tennesseans

Sen. Alexander, who has served two terms as Tennessee's governor, is now running for his third term as Senator, will have served 12 years at the end of his current term, and it is time for a change. Tennessee has suffered enough at the hands of career politicians like Alexander, whose compromising positions have left him out of touch with the state he represents. Alexander has voted in the past for key bills on immigration, which would grant amnesty to all illegals in the state, and refused to fight against Obamacare in the recent government shutdown debate -- which has gained him the title "the most liberal Republican in Tennessee." The senator has left enough unhappy people to take serious notice. In retaliation for his liberal voting record, the Tennessee tea party has mounted a campaign called "Beat Lamar," hand-picking its own candidate to run against the senator in the upcoming primary. That candidate, Joe Carr, was selected for his traditional Tennessee values on topics such as immigration and government spending. As Tennesseans, we should stay informed on those who represent us. It's time to demand a change by voting in this election, and make sure no Tennessean is overlooked.

ETHAN GREENE


Political stunt by Obama

The U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 7, states "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills." It doesn't specify that revenue bills be submitted singly nor as a package. The House submitted spending bills as specified. The Senate didn't consider them. The Senate Majority Leader would not let it take any action. The Constitution also sets up three equal branches of government; executive, legislative, and judicial. The House is controlled by slightly over half Republicans, 231 to 200. They control only slightly over one half of one third, or one sixth, of the government. How can one sixth of the government shut down the other five sixths? Money flows into the government on a constant basis through various taxes and fees. The Administration can shuffle funds from one pot to another; all bills and interest payments can be paid. Obama chose not to do this, letting war casualty families not receive death benefits, and shutting war veterans out of the war memorials. This was a petty political stunt between Obama and his lap dog Harry Reid, aka the Senate Majority Leader.

HORTON HERRIN, Dalton, Ga.


The problem with Obamacare

Buying a new very adequate basic car costs about $20,000. The same model loaded with all the features costs over $40,000. Suppose Obama passed legislation that only full-featured cars could be manufactured. Isn't that pretty much what Obamacare has done to the insurance industry? Not everyone needs all the coverages that greatly increase the cost of a policy, such as preexisting conditions and maternity care. Covering all preexisting conditions. is perhaps the main reason why insurance rates must skyrocket for insurance companies to stay in business. Rates are based on the likelihood of the covered sicknesses occurring. When forcing them to insure preexisting conditions they must include cases with 100 percent probability. Subsidies are the proposed solution for the chosen few. But they not only further burden tax payers, but also entrench politicians who favor subsidies. Few will be able to afford the greatly increased premiums without them, so they will not vote for anyone who threatens these now necessary subsidies.

DR. TOM HERZOG


Let teachers do their jobs

When it comes to good paying jobs, it pays to have an educated and well trained workforce. A recent study by a global group called the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development placed Americans near the bottom in the critical areas of literacy, math and problem solving skills. The gap between what employers want and what workers have to offer grows wider every day in this country. The solution to this problem begins with public education, and that begins with taking the politicians out of the equation. Let educators and teachers do their job and tell the politicians to behave or get sent to reform school! An education is a mesmerizing experience, not a memorizing one.

DAVID CLARK, Tullahoma, Tenn.