Letters to the Editor

Rep. Floyd's facts questioned

Most politicians shield ignorance, but state Rep. Richard Floyd lacks this ability. Proof: Andy Sher's Nov. 14 article.

I'm appalled at the uninformed positions and erroneous propaganda he spreads from a chain of friends' e-mails, especially one claiming "SB2099" requires owners "to report all guns on their IRS tax forms."

Not true! the NRA Institute stated, "it was Internet rumor" ... recycling an old alert not accurate when it was new." Confronted, Floyd pleaded: "I didn't research back far enough." Truth is, no research. He believed what he received.

Floyd's mistaken impression is that we own the "auto manufacturers," "banks" and "are trying to own the health care system." He said, "We are so close to socialism it's not funny."

For Richard's information, we do not own the auto industry and the banks have not been nationalized. He's dead wrong and needs to stop listening to just FOX and Rush.

He's not for all Americans getting health care coverage. That's not Christian! For his edification, my Christ of the New Testament practiced socialized medicine and all who came before him received equal treatment. Read the gospels.

It's a shame, but by their deeds ye shall know them and Rep. Richard Floyd is a fear mongering race baiter.

WELDON R. MARKHAM

Member

State Democratic

Executive Committee

America needs equal health care

Friday's commentary by William McCartney was an excellent summary of the moral imperative of health care reform. I can only assume that those who are opposed to universal health care have no contact with any of the millions who have inadequate insurance.

Before my wife became disabled due to multiple sclerosis, she coordinated services for families of children with special needs. While most of us go about our daily routines, these, mostly middle class, hard-working Americans are busy with doctor's appointments, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, tube feedings, tracheotomy care, wheel chair fittings, and health care emergencies.

In stolen moments, and often long into the night, they craft letters of appeal and agonize over insurance denials and unpaid medical bills. Their grief and stress is compounded by a daily struggle to pay for their children's health care.

Whenever I see a collection jar with a heartbreaking photo attached, I'm troubled that so many people must depend on charity for a basic human right. Those jars don't exist in other advanced countries. Please encourage your legislators, on both sides of the aisle, to enact universal health care now.

LEWIS ADDISON

School program value questioned

The essay "International Baccalaureate" by Regina Hickl-Szabo, Sunday Perspective (Nov. 15), hyping Signal Mountain Middle-High School's adoption of the International Baccalaureate Programme does not tell the whole story about this relatively obscure, expensive, and extremely controversial curriculum.

Obscure? Of the 133,000 K-12 schools in the U.S., 0.007 have adopted the program. Expensive? One school board estimated it costs taxpayers $200,000 extra per school per year, twice the cost of AP without measurable proof of superiority.

Controversial? The program, created with funding from the United Nations, has been dumped by several school boards. Critics say it is anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-free enterprise, pro one-world government, pro radical environmentalism, and pro moral relativism.

Parents who wish to do their own research on the IB program might start by reading "A Curriculum Framework for Peace Education" published by the IBE, the 2005 speech by former IB Director Walker, and the EdWatch commentary at these Web sites:

www.ibe.unesco.org/publications/Innovation/inno100e.pdf

http://www.wpaag.org/IB%20-%20Excerpts%20from%20Director%20Walker%20Himself.htm

http://www.edwatch.org/updates07/031707-IB.htm

DAVID L. MOSS

Signal Mountain

Seniors tax freeze needs attention

I find it unconscionable that our so-called enlightened county commissioners see little interest or "too much complexity" in following through on a voter-approved seniors' tax freeze. Twenty-two other counties in our state evidently had no problem in implementing it.

As for the argument there have been no tax increases in recent years I believe my tax bill went up in 2008 due to commission approved increase, according to my neighbor who is a real estate agent.

Do the commissioners not realize with the recent reassessment of property values, which all went up, (regardless of the current market) our taxes on the higher-valued property would also be raised? Duh! As for being unfair to seniors who are not property owners -- please explain that one to me.

With city property being taxed at a higher rate than any surrounding suburb and little interest in giving seniors a break on county taxes, I guess the idea is to take over our property if we can't keep up with our taxes, throw us out, and sell our property for a county profit.

Personally, I consider this home-grown terrorism!

MARIANNE DOUGLAS

Ticket Wilcox Blvd. speeders

In February 2005, I moved to Eastwood Manor at 3831 Wilcox Blvd. The traffic is bad with speeders from 3:30 till 6:30 p.m. every day, but the run from Shallowford and Moore to Tunnel Boulevard is like Darlington Raceway -- all day every day.

The elderly patrons at Eastwood Manor have to wait sometimes five minutes to get out onto Wilcox Boulevard. If an unmarked car would back up in the end of Talley Road with a radar detector and police wrote tickets in the big church parking lot up on the hill, some of it might stop.

NORMAN FRANTZ

Annexation adds bigger problems

The new spin on the annexation saga is "parity," which is defined as residents/businesses on the outskirts of the city limits have the same benefits as those inside city limits without paying for them.

Assuming this is true (I know that it is not -- I paid thousands for sewage), it seems to me the only way to limit the "parity" issue is to stop annexing. If the proposed annexation goes through, then the perimeter of the city limits will be much larger thus creating an even larger "parity" issue. So by design, annexation creates an ever-growing "parity" issue.

GREG WATSON

Volunteers make better students

In order for a school to be named a magnet school, the parents of the students are required to give a certain number of hours to benefit the school.

In a non-magnet school, there is no such requirement.

It is a proven fact that when parents are interested and involved in their children's school, the children perform much better than do children whose parents are not involved.

Need I say more?

I'm a retired teacher.

JUNE B. CORNELISON

Remember Wamp health care vote

Of course Rep. Zach Wamp voted against health care reform. I just hope everyone remembers this when you vote in the governor's race, especially those without health care.

CARL GATLIN

Cleveland, Tenn.