State voter ID law is biggest fraud - and more letters to the editors

State voter ID law is biggest fraud

Kudos for the recent and excellent Times editorial on voter suppression.

Republicans are disenfranchising millions of voters, mainly Democrats.

As a worker in elections, I have seen how ridiculous the Tennessee law is.

An outdated driver's license picture ID can be accepted, although it looks nothing like the voter. A valid student ID is not accepted. Further, absentee voters do not need picture IDs.

According to a Department of Justice study delivered to Congress, "Out of 197 million votes cast between 2002 and 2005, only 40 voters were indicted for fraud. ... Since 2000, only 2,068 alleged voter frauds occurred from 146 million registered voters; only 10 were voter impersonation. ... Between 2000 and 2010, 649 million votes were cast in general elections, and only 13 cases were in-person voter fraud."

In 10 years, with 20 million votes cast, Texas had only four convictions.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, "Absentee voting fraud is greater than election fraud."

University of Kentucky professor Tracy Campbell, who studies voter fraud, says, "These contemporary laws are addressing a problem that hasn't existed in over a century."

The greatest fraud is the law from the Tennessee legislature. Our democracy is in peril!

Wilbourne C. Markham, Walden, Tenn.


Drivers too focused on saving time

After 42 years on a bike, tons of miles, and hours and hours of deep contemplation, I have finally figured it out. People just simply hate slowing down for a cyclist.

It's a strange mindset not seen when overtaking a dog, a cat, a squirrel or kids playing in the street.

The mindset seems to be, "There is no way I'm going to let that cyclist slow me down." So then it's really about time.

The average person spends 382 hours a year behind the wheel.

Be honest. How many times a year do you really encounter a cyclist? How much time will you really lose to safely pass a cyclist?

Who are those weirdo cyclists you can't seem to slow down for anyway? They're your auto mechanic, your kid's teacher, a mother of three, someone's grandfather, your child's doctor and maybe even your local chief of police.

On the other hand, I have a protagonist or two with whom I regularly ride who occasionally ride two abreast down the street. I also want to run them into the ditch, but I let it go.

Frank Daniel, Signal Mountain


Keep veterans as the nation's top priority

Nov. 4 was a good beginning with the credit going to the American voters, changing command and turning it over to the Republicans.

Continuing with the house cleaning, the Phoenix, Ariz., head of the VA was fired, a smart move that will most likely spread throughout the Veterans Administration.

It's too bad that our great country has so many problems, some caused by other countries, but even withall the problems that exist our veterans should have "top priority."

They have done more than their part. God help them and bless them.

Richard D. Blood, Ringgold, Ga.


Common Core better learning alternative

I would like to give you my opinions about the teaching of Common Core subjects. On paper the objectives look excellent.

As a retired teacher, I certainly have seen the need for a Common Core set of standards.

I have taught in vocational schools drawing students from across the South. We quickly learned that a high school diploma too often signified nothing.

Indeed, many "graduates" couldn't read beyond a grammar school level, indicating they had been socially promoted through the years, then granted diplomas based on attendance. Remedial education was necessary before higher training was possible.

It would only make sense to teach toward Common Core standards so that diplomas nationwide might be trusted to signify learning has taken place. It is perplexing to see how there could be any objections to such a goal.

Our piecemeal, state-by-state method leaves much to be desired.

Ronald Cumbie

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