Corker only wants wages to increase
On Sept. 1, the Times Free Press ran an article titled "Volkswagen union could signal change for Tennessee" that misquoted me by erroneously stating I had claimed the UAW would be negative for our state because it could push up wages - a statement I have never made and absolutely do not believe. The following day, your paper ran a correction to the story explaining that I "did not say the union would necessarily inflate wages, as was reported in a story Monday." After all that, I am extremely disappointed that the paper chose to reprint the false quote mistakenly attributed to me by running a letter to the editor on Sept. 11, based on the inaccurate article from Sept. 1. As I have explained, this is a total misrepresentation of my view. The idea that I would oppose an organization because it could push up wages is absolutely ludicrous. If I thought the UAW would overall raise the wages of people in Tennessee and sustain that over the long haul, then I would say, "Sign me up!" But every discussion and indication we've had is just the opposite. The UAW's growing presence and destructive history would lessen our ability to attract additional manufacturing companies statewide -- companies that would drive up employment and drive up wages. One of the things I cherish most about my time in business and public service has been the ability to create opportunities that lead others to have good-paying jobs that allow them and their families to pursue even greater opportunities in life. There is nothing that is more meaningful to me than seeing hard-working employees and their families prosper. This is the principle that motivated me throughout my time in business and caused me to be so passionate about helping develop Enterprise South as mayor and helping recruit Volkswagen as senator.
BOB CORKER
Stay out of trouble, prevent police stops
Michael Brown was 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 300 pounds, was on drugs, harassed a shopkeeper much smaller than he was, stole cigars, injured a police officer trying to stop him in his aggression, and the officer shot him -- which is his job. Six shots to make sure the deed was done. Being black has nothing to do with this case. The victim resisted arrest, was combative and the threat was extinguished. This brought many blacks (many not from the town where the incident took place) to loot, vandalize, destroy honest (and non-involved) shopkeepers' property for "revenge." Shameful. The president sent two or three troublemakers not to Chicago, where many crimes take place, but to the town where the trouble with Brown occurred. Obama has caused more strife and racial conflict than ever before, this man of hope and change. If black people follow the law, stay out of trouble, live clean, wholesome lives, they will not be stopped by the police. If not, the law will do what it is paid to do -- root out criminals and treat them accordingly.
PEARL RAND, Pikeville, Tenn.
Money can be made by pot legalization
I thoroughly enjoyed your article concerning the growing amount of pot dispensaries in Colorado and Washington. It was interesting to learn about the large profit margins these businesses enjoy. I'm just wondering when will the federal government jump on board and legalize marijuana and end all this chaos caused by conflicting federal and state laws? In my opinion, the federal government will legalize marijuana when someone in the capital realizes the money to be made from pot. Nothing gets people moving faster than money that could be potentially made.
OLIVIA DeWITT