Pay TVA CEO in pennies
According to the TVA board, its CEO received compensation of only $113,461 per week in fiscal 2013. Of course, for that kind of money the guy must have worked 16-hour days, seven days a week, a rate of $1,000 per hour. With no free time, he certainly cannot enjoy his income; it might not even seem real to him. One solution might be to pay him in pennies. Each hour, a strong person capable of managing the 5,500 pounds of weight could deliver 2 cubic feet of pennies in a wheelbarrow. He would see the tangible rewards of his labor, and at a cost of 1.8 cents to mint each penny he'd find added joy. Not only that, but managing all those pennies arriving each and every hour would require lots of effort. Perhaps, he could recruit help from the 2,000 workers TVA recently laid off, making him a real jobs creator. Things could get even better as the TVA board considers a 17 percent increase in his compensation: "got to stay competitive to keep top talent." Let's all pay our electric bills in pennies to help out.
JOHN A LYNCH, Georgetown, Tenn.
Those with 'breaks' paying lots of tax
As I read "Pam's Points" editorial Saturday, I couldn't help thinking how awry her points were, economically speaking. It was the part regarding her statements on the Keystone Pipeline. Just look at what she said: "The pipeline, if it happens, will come, in part, on our dime." She links "on our dime" to what she considers "tax breaks" to refineries of up to "$1.8 billion." She ends the thoughtless rendering with, "So much for free market principles." Excuse me, but isn't it the tax itself -- not its escaping -- that is in violation of "free market principles"? Surely she can see that, can't she? If not, then my argument is mute as to her but hopefully informing to others. For your information, for the years 2007-2012, the oil and gas industry paid taxes at an effective rate of 45 percent. And the top two taxpayers in the country were Exxon and Chevron! As further enlightenment, the average profit margin of the industry was 7.3 percent. That profit margin is but a fraction of the returns enjoyed by other industries. Sorry to be so critical, but I find Pam's omissions more informing than her pointed commissions.
JOHN BROWN, Ooltewah
John 3:16 keeps it simple for us
I keep saying, "Not going to say anything." There are so many personal opinions about Christianity that distort the Good News. It seems when man puts his two cents worth into the interpretation, things go crazy! A friend of mine reminded me that all that matters is John 3:16. Many contend after that we must do all kinds of things to secure our eternal security. If that is true, why didn't God add things to the original offer? The Holy Spirit and the process of sanctification take care of the "after" following John 3:16. That same friend told me to "keep it simple." God did not send Christ to Earth to design an impossible, college-level process in order to secure our eternity. He pursues the unsaved and doesn't make it an impossible declaration with which to comply. He even gives us the Holy Spirit to help us once we accept him. It's not left for us to complete the sanctification. That's the Holy Spirit's job. His desire is that all do this as he pursues those who haven't accepted him.
MIKE CARTER