BBQ owner needs community support
This is a plea for all the area churches to help Mr. Javan Martin (the Sunset BBQ owner and Avondale community supporter whose restaurant has been the victim of recent thefts).
His Christmas ministry is reaching those who are in need. There are more than 200 churches in the surrounding area. Just think what a donation of $100 from each could do.
Margie Merritt
Ringgold, Ga.
Free yourself of cable, internet
Why are people upset with the end of net neutrality? We did this to ourselves. For years, we allowed phone and cable companies to control us: 200-plus channels, 98 percent of which most people do not want; service outages for which we are not compensated; internet speed much slower than promised; installers and repair personnel who rarely arrive as promised.
With the end of net neutrality, the cost of internet access will increase like the cost of cable. Subscribers will be charged extra to access services they want - all but me. At the end of this billing cycle, no more cable or internet and $150 extra in my bank account each month. What will I do with an extra $1,800 each year?
I can live without internet and cable TV. Service providers cannot survive without subscribers. Subscribers control the income of service providers. Give subscribers a choice of programs, channels and internet services we want at fair and reasonable prices, with no contracts, and we will give you our money so you can stay in business. Don't bother contacting elected officials. After elections, their only interest is big money falling into their big pockets.
Richard Moore
Cleveland, Tenn.
Visitors Center not ideal for city
Why does the city spend so much on civic improvements yet neglect what sadly passes for the Chattanooga Visitors Center? For those of you unaware, the center is located outdoors in the downtown Shuttle Park North breezeway and has been in this location for years. The breezeway is aptly named, given its east-west orientation. It is not uncommon to hear visitors respond, "This is the visitors center?" especially in cold weather.
Some visitors react with outright derision. Yet, the staff does the best it can in this locale, engaging visitors in a friendly manner, regardless of the weather. Admittedly, the location has a few advantages in warm weather, but the aesthetics remain the same.
The location appears to be an afterthought, even though the city seems to focus on image/aesthetics in many civic improvements. Maybe the mayor and other city decision-makers could work a shift there this winter and see/feel for themselves the image we portray for the city.
George Bartnik
Why should Trump have immunity?
Donald Trump's enablers claim he should not be held accountable for the numerous allegations of sexual harassment prior to his election. Their rationale is that he was elected and therefore deserves immunity. But what about half the USA, which did not vote for him, and continues to find him incompetent to hold office and offensive in a number of ways, the allegations being one of many.
How is it other powerful, prominent persons are being fired from their jobs, no matter how popular they are? And Trump should be an exception? While I may understand why he and his supporters seem impervious to expectations and requirements of those who would not accept this in someone they worked for, with or had respect for, no rationale is sufficient to warrant my acceptance that it reflects the new norm in politics. That goes for anyone elected to public office, let alone the president. The Republican Party, with a few courageous exceptions, seems to have no alternative but to allow this to continue. One of those is a senator from Tennessee who is being maligned by some voters in his state for doing so.
This boggles the mind.
Becky Young
Signal Mountain
GOP tax plan like Depression cause
Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize winner in economics, John Bates Clark Medal, Adam Smith Award of the National Association for Business Economics, H.C. Recktenwald Prize in Economics and EPI Distinguished Economist Award winner. An analysis of 26 politicians, journalists, and media commentators who made predictions in major newspaper columns or television news shows showed Krugman was the most accurate media figure.
A 1926 tax cut so concentrated wealth in the upper class that it caused the Great Depression, and austerity by Republicans, which Krugman is against, made it worse. Trump's tax plan is reminiscent of 1929. The criticism of Paul Krugman (Dec. 11 letter) is greedy nonsense.
David Bean
Chatsworth, Ga.
Can car gadgets stop baby deaths?
A total of 40 babies dying in hot cars this year. Can you believe this? How can you strap babies in car seats and forget that they are there? What happened to these people who did this? You only hear about the babies. Are they at least given a night in jail, a slap on the wrist or something? Now they need a gadget to let them know their baby is in the back.
My heart hurts for these babies. Life is a gift that was taken away from them.
Mary Taylor
Mueller not called to be Mr. Nice Guy
Trump and his Republican supporters in Congress are crying because Mueller is not being nice in his Russian probe. Mueller has investigators who have donated to Democrats in the past? How awful. I thought these guys were tough on crime. Remember Trump putting down cops as being too soft?
Remember the suspect is always guilty, even if he has no weapon and is dead? Remember the innocent 1989 Central Park five black guys who Trump labeled as guilty and bought full-page ads calling for their execution? Remember Trump pardoning Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the tough cop, who refused to obey a court order to stop racial profiling? And Trump never apologizes.
If Trump is innocent in the Russia investigation, maybe he could show some sympathy for other suspects in suspicious situations. Mueller, initially praised by both Republicans and Democrats, was named to lead the Russian probe, not to be soft on the White House. That means he shouldn't hire people prone to be soft. Prosecutors shouldn't be soft on their suspects; their job is to look for evidence and follow it wherever. Mueller doesn't convict - that is for a judge, jury and a fair trial.
John Winesett
Lakesite, Tenn.
Christmas tree giver owed thanks
A big heartfelt thanks to the very thoughtful person who has, once again, gifted us with the beautiful Christmas tree on Hickory Valley Road at the railroad tracks, reminding us that the joy and spirit of Christmas still can be found in the most unexpected places. Many thanks and merry Christmas!
Libby Simons
Harrison