Letters to the Editor

Friday, January 1, 1904

It's time to bring Northpoint 'to code'

I totally agree with Larry Harper's letter (Aug. 27) regarding the poor condition of Northpoint Boulevard between Hixson Pike and Highway 153. It's awful and has been for years!

We contacted our City Council representative (not in her district) and Mayor Littlefield in December 2009 regarding this issue. The response from the mayor's office was that the original developer did not bring the road "up to code" for a "public" road. It's considered a "private" road like any shopping center road.

It's obvious the haphazard patches haven't been a good fix and it should be an embarrassment to the businesses and the city! Maybe a joint arrangement for a complete resurfacing "to code" could be done and then it would be considered a "public" road and future resurfacing and repairs would be done accordingly.

The intersection with Hixson Pike also needs to "squeeze" a right turn lane onto Hixson Pike going south. (I believe this section falls under the "public" portion.) There's usually a real traffic backup at that spot.

Maybe citizens can get this problem resolved, since it appears that the businesses and/or developer don't seem to have an interest in making this improvement, as long as their businesses do not suffer!

PUGGY EUBANKS

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GOP becoming an embarrassment

As the Republican primary races unfold, it seems that tea party Republicans are intent on nominating a circus attraction for the presidency, instead of a thoughtful, well-educated and competent leader for the whole nation.

By appealing to the ignorant and gullible -- with candidates like Perry and Bachmann who repeatedly lie (or just don't know better) -- the GOP has disgraced and marginalized itself.

That once-reputable party has become an embarrassment to those who care about good government, national unity, and effective civil discourse.

KATHERINE ZAMMIT, Sewanee, Tenn.

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Options available to cut property tax

To seniors who are concerned with property tax increases:

Once a year you are allowed to have your property reassessed.

Mine was $20,000 too high last time. I submitted proof and got it down, thus lowering the tax bill.

I got a 31-page report from my Realtor showing closed sales of similar properties and submitted it to the equalization board. You can also order a new appraisal and use that.

An appraiser does not use foreclosure sales or distress sales, so don't be concerned about that.

CAROL WILLIAMS, Ooltewah

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Evangelicals have strange alliance

I find it difficult to understand why evangelicals ally themselves with the tea party and corporate America.

I mean the tea party is funded by the Koch brothers, whose only reason for being is to buy politicians to get rid of unions and make war on the working people.

Second, the tea party libertarians from the old Lyndon LaRouche crowd don't want to pay any taxes and they hate government.

Third, I believe there is a crowd apparently who can't accept the fact of a black man as president.

Still, it seems that a majority of tea partiers receive Social Security checks and Medicare.

They also want to enforce their brand of religion on the masses who are of other faiths.

This is a recipe for disaster. I say: Go ahead, have your beliefs, but have some compassion for your fellow man.

MIKE C. BODINE

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Participants make movies successful

Thank you, Chattanooga, for making First Things First's Movies in the Park a great success!

Nearly 15,000 movie-goers joined us for our ninth summer of providing a great family-friendly event at Coolidge Park.

We appreciate the way everyone pitched in to clean up their area each night; this just reinforces the civic pride our attendees have in this event.

Your efforts allowed us to leave Coolidge Park in beautiful shape after each movie.

We would especially like to thank several of our key partners: Don Lewis and his staff from Chattanooga Parks and Recreation who went above and beyond their normal duties. Randy Carpenter and Family Concessions provided great festival food.

In addition, Sgt. David Gibb and his team of officers helped to ensure that things ran smoothly throughout the entire month.

And Movies in the Park would not be possible without our sponsors: Hamico, Children's Hospital at Erlanger, Comcast, Sunny 92.3, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Geico- A local office, Chattanooga Parks and Recreation, Chick-fil-A, Lifeguard Ambulance Service and Family Concessions LLC.

Thanks again for a great year at Movies in the Park!

JULIE BAUMGARDNER, Executive Director, First Things First

ANDREA LYONS, Director of Marketing and Operations, First Things First

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GOP right seeks to dumb down U.S.

The new Republican right has brought anti-intellectualism center stage.

They cherry-pick the science that suits them. They have intellectual scientists to thank for the technology they enjoy.

I wish the media would challenge them on this nonsense. Are they against evolution? Is it anti-intellectual prejudice? Is it about teaching creationism?

Fine ... teach it, although it would only be taught from a Christian perspective. The lesson would amount to an hour of reading and discussion -- end of story.

They want to dumb down America by taking away access to education for all, and what education remains, they would select what is taught and who teaches it.

They would allow your job to be sent overseas. The jobs that remain here, well, they would restrict your ability to improve your situation.

They would restrict access to health care. God will take care of it all.

I cannot disprove that point, but it sure is a heck of a way to run a pluralistic society. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

They will expect and get quality education for themselves and their children. They will expect healthy tax-funded salaries and benefits for themselves. They are so un-Christian, so unbelievable.

If moderate Republicans are duped by these charlatans, it's truly scary.

JEFF CAMPBELL, Lookout Mountain

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Words from past to live by today

An interesting quote about tax rates and economic growth from a highly regarded former president:

"A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenue." -- John F. Kennedy -- Sept. 18, 1963.

Wow, what a concept. Lower tax rates equal higher government revenues!

Words of a crazy tea party terrorist who "can go straight to hell"? I guess it depends on who you ask.

Only the Blame-ocrats can answer that question.

WARREN DANIEL

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Good parenting still can work

There were enough kids in my neighborhood for a ball team. All of us would meet to play ball or ride our bikes until dinnertime.

When school started, we would meet at the community grocery store to catch the bus for school.

Not one of us ever thought about flash mobbing the store to steal or harm the owners. They were like family, and we were taught respect for other people and their property.

All of us knew where we would be at dinnertime, bedtime and Sunday morning and evening.

We dared not talk back or act up in school. Discipline was no stranger. Every morning, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and no one was afraid of offending someone. The Bible and prayer were the norm without question.

Our parents stayed together. The mom took care of the home and dad went to work every day until retirement.

Sad how parents have changed. Both have to work and times are harder, but that is no excuse for the young and teens to run wild and undisciplined.

Good parenting worked in the '50s. Why couldn't it work now?

ERNESTINE MEADOWS