Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The hyperbole of a "turnover free-for-all" in a Times page editorial recently is exactly why Democratic and Republican voters are turning to the tea party. Ignored was the fact that the (people) overturned by constitutional right what is considered an immoral and fiscally irresponsible ordinance in a very short period of time I might add.
Using the cost of my insurance under the (un)Affordable Care Act, the estimate of $163,000 a year only covers 309 people, and let's not overlook the fact that there will absolutely be cost overruns.
When the editorial scolded Mr. Wysong and Mr. West for the very limited role they have played in Mr. Anderson's recall, conveniently omitted was any mention of the assistance he has received from out-of-town homosexual groups.
The voters in Chattanooga can read, and what they see are half truths from elected leaders who are spending taxpayer dollars to assuage their own guilt of stingy charitable donations. Our news personnel need to step up to the plate and become journalists again for the people.
RON RAY
Recently as I read the morning newspaper with my coffee, I was graced with the best belly-laugh that I have had in quite some time. And, more interestingly, I had not yet made it to the comic section.
I was reading the first section, page A7 to be exact. What tickled my funny-bone was the headline over an article written by an AP writer, "Congress may do little before November elections." Congress has not done anything in 5-plus years except extort a salary from the American people, but now they are going to achieve "nothing."
I have not yet determined how they can do less than nothing, but, frighteningly enough, given the incompetence of this group, they might be able to achieve doing less than nothing.
DENNIS WESTMEIER, Red Bank
The Tennessee Department of Transportation's new exit for Signal Mountain is a total disaster. There is nothing that can be done to fix this massive mistake. The stop light does nothing other than create backup traffic on Interstate 27 for over a mile.
I came home late Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the backup was still unbearable. I ended up going on to the next exit and came home on back roads. There is nothing that TDOT can do to fix this problem. What we need is to go back to the previous "temporary" exit that they created which provided for a free flow of traffic back to Signal Mountain.
PLEASE, TDOT, tear down your bridge and give us back the previous exit.
PETE GAMMON, Signal Mountain
In pre-Civil War times, most Americans, North and South, agreed blacks were intellectually inferior to whites. But Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, an early abolitionist leader, observed while in Paris in 1838 that black university students from Africa performed as capably as white students when given the opportunity.
While speaking before the Senate in opposition to slavery in 1856, Sumner was savagely beaten with a cane by Sen. Preston Brooks of South Carolina. This cruel, cowardly attack was commemorated for decades by certain Southern senators with a "Golden Cane Award."
This belief in black inferiority still persists among certain elements in the white community. During the civil rights struggles, this group defended racial segregation with basically the same arguments their forefathers used to defend slavery. But today the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.
In world history, what other ethnic group has advanced so far, so fast as African-Americans? In 149 short years, they have risen from slavery to a conspicuous presence in sports, entertainment and the professions, a military chief of staff, six CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, a U.N. delegate, two secretaries of state and the presidency of their country. Comparable historical precedents? There are none.
GEORGE B. REED JR., Rossville
I enjoyed reading David Cook's column titled "The Bad News About the Good News." I must say I agree with him on several points. But I want to emphasize one point in particular: That is, "lay down your swords."
Today guns are the weapons of choice. Since most of us are not likely to own a sword, I feel it is safe to say that if Jesus were alive today he would say, "Put down your guns."
How many responsible gun owners are also Christians? Do you follow Jesus and the Bible's teachings to the letter?
Given that Chattanooga was just declared the most Bible-minded city in America by the American Bible Society, I imagine there are several folks here who will declare that they lead Christian lives. Of those Christians, those of you who own guns have a bit of a conundrum. Can you choose between owning a gun and laying down your gun as Jesus asked?
For me, it's a no-brainer. I choose to do what Jesus would do and not own a gun. For me, it's the only Christian thing to do.
MARY C. CALIANDRO, Ooltewah