GOP supported rights acts too

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

GOP supported rights acts too

A recent letter, "Is racism still alive in GOP?" (July 18), gives the Democrats sole credit for passage of the Voting Rights and Civil Rights acts. The Republican members of both houses of Congress voted in higher percentages than the Democrats for both of those acts.

JEFF EPPERSON

Time for wealthy to join sacrifice

I consider myself a pragmatist, or better yet, a realist. I look to past experience to predict the future.

If an action were taken in the past, it offers a clue as to what could happen if a similar action were taken today.

The last decade saw serious tax benefits extended to wealthy Americans, which we now know merely extended the wealth for the wealthiest among us.

The last 10 years is a perfect economic laboratory for predicting the future impact of extending the so-called "Bush tax cuts" for the wealthy.

The Republicans refer to this group of taxpayers as "job creators" and not to be tampered with for fear of negative impacts on job creation.

I ask, "Where are the jobs" that this group of job creators should have delivered on already? Remember it has been almost a decade since the preferential tax cuts went into effect.

It seems to be time for the preferential tax cuts to end and the wealthy (to) join in the sacrifice the middle class has endured for far too long.

IRV GINSBURG

Ooltewah

GOP ignores history, facts

The Republican strategy to gain control of the White House and both houses of Congress created some interesting scenarios.

The Republican leadership of both houses inferred the debt and the need to raise the debt ceiling resulted from Obama's policies. They ignored the fact that they routinely voted for expenditures exceeding income under Reagan and both Bushes.

They called for tax cuts, ignoring the fact that both Reagan's 1981 and Bush's 2001 tax cuts led to increases in the national debt. Up until the deadline, they refused to accept that failing to raise debt ceiling could lead to catastrophe. That changed when polls said the people disagreed.

Tea party Republicans are more influenced by the theories of Ayn Rand and Libertarians than history or facts found in government reports. Their focus is monomaniacal: the government is bad and business is good.

From the perspective of a wealthy, corporate executive, that makes sense. But the tea party claims to represent the common people of America, who cannot pay for everything they need and put away large savings for retirement. Their wages aren't high enough. They need Medicare and Social Security, and if they have a serious accident or health crisis, Medicaid.

ROGER A. MEYER

Educators show the way to go

I recently had the honor of presenting an award at Orchard Knob Elementary School. I was very impressed with the young people -- how well they dressed, how respectfully they acted.

I have had other experiences which were not nearly as impressive. I expressed my pride in these young people with the principal, Marthel Young, after the ceremony. She said she wanted the children to take pride in themselves and in their accomplishments.

I believe that behavioral requirements including respect for others and even a dress code result in self-discipline, self-respect, consideration of others, and confidence in themselves and in making the world a better place.

These children are the future of the country, and Marthel Young and all the staff at Orchard Knob Elementary are helping to assure that we the people cannot fail. Thanks to these superior educators.

SHERRY KITTS

Hixson

Bernstein story, language salient

Carl Bernstein's story about Rupert Murdoch uses adult words like "pernicious," "promulgated," and "gossipization." I have to wonder if the last one is fabricated -- it's not in my computer's dictionary -- but you know exactly what he means.

Describing the infamous Page Six of the New York Post, he calls it "emblematic in its carelessness about accuracy or truth or context." He cites "Murdoch's genius at building an empire on the basis of an ever-descending lowest journalistic denominator." I think his definition of responsible reporting is exceptional and concise: "the best obtainable version of the truth" instead of "manufactured controversy."

All of these quotation marks precede the quote of the day, from a former Murdoch editor: "Now they are hanging people out to dry. The moment you do that, the omerta is gone, and people are going to talk. It looks like a circular firing squad." Doesn't that conjure up a powerful image?

What brilliant writing and research! Thank you, Mr. Bernstein, for using words I have to look up. Proof that talent and skill with the language didn't die with Watergate and that the Pulitizer you earned for the Post is still deserved.

ROBBIE MOORE

Hixson

Public's pockets aren't bottomless

It is past the time when all our politicians realize that everything they do is financed from the pocketbooks of the taxpaying employees of our local businesses!

Police protection, fire protection, school operating costs, "public" housing, welfare program, meals for low- income family children as well as operating costs of all our public buildings/courts/libraries/Medicare and the maintenance of their salaries/wages.

They should be aware, also, that the taxpayers' pockets are not bottomless.

It is past time, too, for the politicians at all levels (city, county, state and federal) to deny all the privileges of citizenship to illegal immigrants, physically capable people who are "playing all the angles" of the welfare state -- to their advantage and the detriment of the hard-working taxpayer.

The welfare state is fiscally unstable. No welfare state can survive when the number of "recipients" nears the number of taxpayers.

The size of government must be reduced -- at all levels -- to restore some semblance of stability to our nation!

WILLIAM P. CORBIN

Crossville, Tenn.

Those in D.C. just take, never give

Tell those little boys in Washington that we elected: We pay their salaries and give them their jobs.

They let us down daily. They only know how to sit there and take, never give.

We teach our children to compromise. Who taught Washington anything other than take from all America.

DORA HISE

East Ridge

GOP actions don't sound like racism

In the late 1970s and early '80s, the National Organization for Women (NOW), routinely made charges of sexism against conservatives.

To be a conservative meant you were also a sexist. This was a failed attempt by socialist organizations to intimidate conservatives.

The reason this attempt failed was that over a period of just a few years, women began to speak out for conservative principles.

Fortunately, today we have some great conservative women leaders.

Today, we see a similar baseless accusation being made, but the charge is racism. To be a conservative automatically means you are a racist.

Those who make these charges ignore the fact that conservatives supported the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

Today, from within the Republican Party and the Tea Party there is strong support for Herman Cain for president.

Recently, at the GOP convention in Macon, Ga., of which I was a delegate, Herman Cain during his speech received no fewer than four standing ovations.

Does that sound like racism? Or does it sound like Americans from all walks of life that share the same values and vision for this nation.

DEAN KELLEY,

Coordinator, Walker County Tea Party

Rossville, Ga.

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