Sharp right on with tax break challenges
Tax breaks should not be given without significant public benefit. They should not be indiscriminately passed out to the well-heeled and well-lawyered with no resulting public benefit.
With all of the good publicity Chattanooga has recently received, there should not be a widespread perception that tax break decisions are based on cronyism and the fact that the administration simply does not understand the consequences.
Helen Burns Sharp should be given an expression of gratitude for having the spine to stand up and point out the obvious.
H. Graham Swafford Jr.
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Don't miss Theatre Centre production
On opening night, last Friday, I was treated to live theater the way it ought to be. The Chattanooga Theatre Centre reduced me (or elevated me!) to tears.
Opening night of a new play by Christopher Durang (winner of the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013), "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," produced the magic that live theater does when at its best. The set, direction, casting, pace all were perfect. It's a comedy with a message, superbly cast and acted.
Chattanooga is very lucky to have this Theatre Centre, as it produces plays of high quality, runs special programs for children and successfully follows its mission in an incredible 40,000-square-foot facility by the river (Coolidge Park).
I urge you to see this play. You will be glad you did, and I guarantee you will come back for more! It runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through June 28, and Sunday matinees today and the 28th. There is ample, accessible parking.
Jo Coke, Signal Mountain
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Haslam urged to control Senate's bully speaker
Gov. Haslam,
I have reviewed the appeal you made to local government officials on June 9 wherein you called for assistance in convincing lawmakers to refocus their attention to avoid a repetition of mistakes such as were made with Insure Tennessee.
The defeat of your signature legislation, Insure Tennessee, had nothing to do with the General Assembly but had everything to do with "who had the manpower" - the governor or the lieutenant governor. Tennesseans know who was elected governor.
However, I am not sure the speaker of the Senate shares this knowledge. Unfortunately, as long as you permit Ron Ramsey to bully you, he will continue to stack the deck to prevent this vital legislation from passing.
The outcome of your passiveness with regard to Mr. Ramsey will set a precedent for all legislation in Tennessee.
Governor, your speaker of the Senate wanted a super majority to maintain absolute control. The moment absolute control was obtained, outside influence magnified. This controlling influence, along with corporate election money, will carve an indelible scar on your administration's legacy. It is imperative that you act now and come to terms with the speaker and his bullying billionaires for the sake of all Tennesseans.
Carl Lansden, chairman, Bradley County Democratic Party
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TennCare has serious gaps to be fixed
I believe that most Tennesseans are unaware of the big gap that exists in the state's Medicaid system rather than actively agree with the cruel politics of our legislators who refuse to fix it.
If they knew of the gaping hole in the TennCare program that allows poor citizens who don't fall into one of the eligibility categories to go without treatment for diseases such as cancer, they would think it is a problem that needs solving.
If they knew that we already had paid our tax dollars to the feds to cover this "gap" and the only thing preventing us claiming back the money was partisan politics, they would be appalled.
By not approving the governor's Insure Tennessee program, our state senators are throwing away our tax dollars when they could be used to help over 20,000 of our poorer neighbors in Hamilton County as well as create jobs and keep hospitals open.
To learn more, come to a meeting, organized by the Tennessee Justice Center, on June 23 at St. Elmo United Methodist Church, 4500 St. Elmo Ave., from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Neil Grant
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Choose foods carefully to avoid antibiotics
President Obama recently directed federal agencies to serve antibiotic-free meat and poultry in government cafeterias. The FDA will require animal producers to obtain authorization from a licensed veterinarian to use drugs to treat a specific disease rather than just to promote rapid growth, as is current practice.
As much as 80 percent of all U.S. antibiotics are used in animal agriculture. The moves come amid growing concern about the link between routine antibiotic use in animal agriculture and human infections by bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics.
The CDC estimates that antibiotic resistance causes 2 million illnesses a year in the U.S. and 23,000 deaths. It also adds $20 billion per year in health care costs and $35 billion in lost productivity.
And we thought that animal products were just linked to heart disease, cancer and stroke.
While government agencies reduce antibiotics in animal products, the rest of us can do better immediately with wholesome vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains and a rich variety of plant-based meats, cheeses, milks and ice creams available in every supermarket.
These foods contain all the nutrients we require, without the deadly pathogens, antibiotics, carcinogens, cholesterol and saturated fats.
Tristan Bell
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Liberalism fails country on multiple fronts
A gentleman wrote in recently claiming that liberalism was the reason for America's success.
The words supporting that position were so eloquently written that one could almost believe it if not for all those pesky facts to the contrary - bankrupt Detroit, failing schools, profitless Amtrak, trillions wasted on welfare - just a few of endless examples.
Giving away free stuff by spending other people's money with no accountability. That is a liberal's classic recipe for failure.
Vegas would give excellent odds on that probability!
Warren Daniel
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All humans share common makeup
The way of the world is making us realize we are all just one big family of many blends. The New Age is full of spiritual teachers such as Dr. Deepak Chopra stating we are all 99.88 percent identical.
The word evil, E-Veil, a veil of energy that comes between us and tells us we are not the same. The world-famous healer Edgar Cayce predicted in the '30s: "By the year of 2000 we will all have the "Knowledge of One."
I have believed for years that the computer was a "gifted tool" to help us become connected to the "oneness" consciousness. Only until we pierce this illusionary veil with absolute unconditional love for each other will we ever know peace.
Jesus knew this reality: "Love ye one another." My old hippie guru used to say, "We're just a bunch of hot rod monkeys sittin' on a flat rock flying through space. If somebody don't want you on their grass - don't get on their grass, man."
Robert Lee Brown