Commission 'day care' a good option for county
I have a solution to the Hamilton County Commission's squabbles - Commission day care.
Before each meeting, make sure commissioners' diapers are changed. It appears many commissioners' nappies are constantly dirty, causing irritation, rashes and pitiful behaviors.
During each session, provide cots so the adult babies can have time to rest. Give them bright red rubber checks made out to each baby that they can snuggle while they play pretend "elected official" and imagine all the lollipops and toys they can buy.
Finally, should they continue their infantile behavior, call their children to come pick them up and require a note from a psychologist that they're receiving medication and counseling before allowing them back into the Commission day care. Some of those babies are pretty sharp, so make sure they didn't forge the psychologist's signature.
The Learning Channel is interested in a series on Commission day care and have found a spot for the show between "Toddlers and Tiaras" and "Little Miss Atlanta."
Just imagine the great publicity for Hamilton County's local toddler talent.
Stephen Greenfield
***
TFP needs do ACA follow-up
Your front-page headline, "Health options shrink," and story are a bit disingenuous.
In observing the map accompanying the story, it is obvious that the "shrinking" options in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are geographically specific predominantly to those states in the southeastern U.S.: Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida.
Most of the other states that lack options, including those noted, are those states whose Republican-controlled legislatures and statehouses opted out of participation in the ACA at its outset.
No wonder the options for those who are seeking affordable health insurance coverage are limited in these states and counties.
I would ask the TFP to produce a companion article on the health insurance premium hikes - ACA programs and for private insurance plans - in those states that do and do not participate in the ACA.
It would be helpful also to have some measure of the number of lives covered in all categories of insurance.
William H. Hicks
***
Voter purge rules need to change
In the "Inactive voter purge in spotlight" story in last week's TFP, I agree with the League of Women Voters.
If individuals meet all of the requirements and are eligible to vote, then their voting registration should not be terminated.
They should be able to vote as long as they keep up with the requirements.
This law that allows their registration to be terminated should be overturned.
Allison Melton, Ooltewah