Stop dumping on middle class
Shame on the Republicans for walking out on debt talks. Their inflexibility is unpatriotic.
And I find it so extremely distasteful that they call closing loopholes - a tax hike.
Ending tax loopholes for companies and individuals who make billions of dollars could add more than $40 billion to our coffers in one year. But they needn't worry. It's a Republican Congress.
I can see where this is going. You're going to make us pay that $14 trillion debt that started with Mr. Bush.
Well, we, the middle class, can't take much more. We pay our taxes. We pay for our health care and education (25 percent of our kids already live in poverty - how embarrassing). We've lost our jobs and our homes. Many are underemployed and make next to nothing. They've allowed higher gas and food prices, an additional burden.
We, the middle class, are the fuel that makes this engine run. Keep dumping on us and you will see this economy break in half and come to a halt.
KERRY LANSFORD
Signal Mountain
Driving classes for fall are open
Regarding Yolanda Putman's informative article about Chattanooga's innovative new driver's education program for city residents ages 15-22.
We are not waiting until Christmas to offer our next series of classes. Currently our summer classes are under way, and each one is full.
Until that Christmas schedule is finalized, we are accepting applications for the fall classes. All three courses begin in October, and the locations include the Parks and Recreation Administration Building on South Watkins Street, the Tyner/East Brainerd Recreation Center on Ty Hi Drive, and the Hixson Community Center (the old Hixson Middle School on School Drive).
Each course consists of 30 hours of classroom training with state certified driving instructors followed by six hours of individual behind-the-wheel sessions.
The professional defensive driving curriculum is enriched through presentations given by guest speakers who are specialists in traffic safety and law enforcement. And of course, strong emphasis is placed on teaching these young drivers to always wear their seat belts and never use a cell phone when driving.
CAROLINE JOHNSON
City of Chattanooga Drivers Education Coordinator