Web appeal for birth control raises awareness and othyer letters to the editors

Web appeal for birth control raises awareness

In Kevin Hardy's Oct. 7 article, Lauren Kramer took to the web to find someone who would help her pay $800 for birth control.

Even if she doesn't raise the money, she hoped to raise awareness of the high cost of birth control today. Her argument that having a baby is expensive, and birth control to prevent having a baby is expensive over time, is an important argument.

I know many people who complain about high birth control prices and even more people who are not informed about different methods of birth control.

There are many foundations that provide birth control at a low cost, or even free.

The lack of sex education and contraception awareness in our community is becoming a great problem.

Tennessee cannot just teach "abstinence only" anymore. We need to provide women with education and make them aware of the many options of birth control available to them.

Without this awareness, the numbers of unwanted pregnancies and abortions could rise to even higher numbers.

Kelsey Tompkins


GOP better be ready to govern

I read with interest a recent letter to the editor about class warfare and even though I struggled with the logic throughout, I totally lost it when I came to the part of a healthy middle class being lost to the communist party, i.e., Democrats. I would submit we would not have a middle class if not for the Democrats. Social Security (which lifted millions of elderly out of poverty) and Medicare (providing health-care security for seniors) were signed into law by Democratic presidents at a time when we had a functioning Congress. Although both these programs are extremely popular with the people, the same bunch that has spent their last six years on their hate-Obama campaign have these two programs in their cross-hairs, proposing privatizing Social Security and converting Medicare into a voucher plan. There is a silver lining to the Republican takeover of Congress - they now have to reveal their long-held secret health care plan. Their six-year reign of hating the Affordable Care Act with no alternative is over.

Vivian Ervin Lynchburg, Tenn.


Humaneness out window with vote

The masses have once again displayed ignorance by supporting at the polls those who could not care less about their welfare and needs and who would not hesitate to inflict severe hardships and pain on them for personal gain. Those who would enhance this country and improve the conditions of its citizens were maligned and misrepresented by the right wing, doubtless contributing to their rejection by a gullible citizenry. One can now anticipate augmenting manipulations by conservatives aimed at undermining Social Security, Medicare, environment protections, proposed minimum wage increases, Obamacare and more. Humaneness was battered on Nov. 4.

Gelburd A. Sheldon


Shepherd vandals strengthen staff

Another school was violated recently in District 7, when individuals decided to invade Bess T. Shepherd Elementary School, stealing technology that was fortunately recovered. It is heartbreaking that someone would steal from children without conscience. Those teachers and administrators work so very hard to boost their students' academic achievement and to acquire needed technology, then someone wants to take it away from them. My apologies to the faculty of Bess T. Shepherd. I know how hard this staff works. I know they write grants to acquire technology that our system cannot financially provide. I know their hearts are in that school every day, every hour; I've witnessed it. I cannot apologize enough for self-indulgent people who think stealing from children can be justified. This will not break the Bess T. family. It will only help strengthen the family members' conviction that our kids are worth all of the sacrifices. They will continue in their mission, regardless of any deterrents. Once again, thanks to the police and detectives, who recovered most but not all the lost items, but more importantly were able to take those responsible for the theft into custody.

Donna Horn


Thanks, vets, for risking your lives

Thank you to all veterans! My family and I thank you for your service protecting and defending the country we all love. Thank you for risking your lives for us all in spite of the our country's imperfections that could have discouraged you. Thank you whether or not you saw combat. The fact that you were there and ready to fight prevented much combat. We owe you all a debt we can never repay. Well done!

Tom Hughes, East Ridge


Valley Baptist needs your help

I urge local churches, home improvement stores and citizens to contact Valley Memorial Baptist Church with regard to its needs as it recovers from the vandalism it recently suffered. I dropped by the church last weekend to make a donation, and the wonderful church members working that day showed me the damage. The damage is extensive, and they need money and manpower. Please help them!

Dana Lingerfelt, Signal Mountain


Now's time for Corker candidacy

The Republican Party should begin right now to seek and support Sen. Bob Corker for the 2016 presidential election. Why? 1. He's a self-made millionaire. 2. He's a successful businessman, who started working as a very young man to build success. 3. He speaks well and has a distinctive voice. 4. He's stately, dignified. 5. He was not born into wealth. I know the South is not well regarded as far as political candidates for president. However, there is a real possibility in Sen. Corker. Now is the time.

Margie Merritt, Ringgold, Ga.


Hats off for Sohn editorial

Talk about holding your nose during last week's voting, I hold my nose almost every time I read the Chattanooga Times editorial page. It's appropriate it is on the left side of the paper, though! However, Pam Sohn's Sunday (Nov. 9) editorial was right on, so I salute her for being right (even a blind squirrel ... well you know the saying)! I did say "right-on" when I read Charles Krauthammer's column, finding his comments to be on point, but I would prefer not to engage the president with our intentions so early in the game. This is what he does, giving away strategy so our enemies can plan around it! Republicans, now that we have a chance to get it right, we should play our cards close to the vest and work toward a 60-plus-one majority in the Senate, so when a veto occurs, we are prepared to override it! I for one would like to "channel" Thomas Jefferson during the next two years to give the American people at least a fighting chance to recover this mostly broken and horribly failed administration's policies! But hats off to Clint Cooper and the right side of the editorial pages.

Jack Ray, Hixson


Not a good month for Paul Krugman

How ironic that Paul Krugman comes out with his convoluted criticism of the Obamacare lawsuit the day after its principal architect admits the plan was designed without transparency because the typical Democrat was too stupid to figure out what was going on. Or as Nancy Pelosi said, "We have to pass the bill to find out what's in it." The bill passed without a Republican vote; now we are finding out what was in it. The wording that Krugman defends specifically says subsidies are available only to those who purchased Obamacare through "state run exchanges." One other irony on Veterans Day. The new secretary of the Veterans Administration called for a massive reorganization of veterans' health care. It is the same VA that Krugman called a "huge policy success story that offers important lessons for future health reform" as recently as 2011.

Doug Jones, Ooltewah

Upcoming Events