Good Samaritan thanked; critical information needs secure backup
When I was in the Hixson Target on Sunday afternoon, I lost my purse.
Frantic, I retraced my steps and remembered where I laid it down. It was not there when I got back to the spot. Thankfully, it was turned in to Guest Services and reclaimed.
Thanks to the Good Samaritan who found it.
While searching, I was going through in my mind all the things that would need to be replaced: my driver's license, credit and debit cards, car insurance cards. It occurred to me that I had this information in another form and could replace them easily.
Then I realized where I kept such "secure" information - on my phone, which was in my missing pocketbook. My calendar, contact phone numbers and email addresses are all on it. I will now transfer all this information to my home computer.
So, thanks to the person who turned in my purse, and thanks for reminding me that my information isn't secure if it's only on my phone.
Robbie Moore
Let people decide about health care
Clint Cooper's Free Press editorial last Sunday tells us Americans are not entitled to health care. We pay more than 90 assorted taxes, fees and charges to local, state and federal governments. We maintain schools, infrastructure, finance scientific research, equip and train our military, fire and police departments, etc.
Our money should continue to keep our air, water and food safe and provide a safety net for veterans, children, elderly, disabled and others in desperate need.
According to the World Health Organization, we spend a higher portion (18 percent) of GDP on health than other countries but rank 37th out of 191. The United Kingdom spends 6 percent and ranks 18th.
The Affordable Care Act arrested insurance cruelties such as pre-existing conditions. Our broken system calls for control of Big Pharma, but big money interests are for no control, no affordable health care.
American citizens should decide. If we decide health care is a priority, then we will provide it because, as Abraham Lincoln said, ours is a "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Lucy and Tim Taylor
Investigation needed of Russia
I wrote to Sen. Bob Corker requesting that he vote against Jeff Sessions' confirmation. Sessions' racism, prosecutorial misconduct and hyper-partisanship was well established in his reign of terror as a federal prosecutor in South Alabama.
He used entrapment strategies, strong-armed tactics and intimidation of witnesses to railroad African-Americans and popular Democratic politicians into Alabama's kangaroo courts. On the very day, it was revealed Sessions had perjured himself in his own confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Corker sent me an email proclaiming his support for Sessions.
In the email, Corker claimed Sessions "has great respect for the rule of law." Well,senator, if someone "has great respect for the rule of law," would he lie when he is under oath?
With each day's revelations, it is clearer Republicans have colluded with Russian intelligence agencies to undermine our elections. It is also clear Republicans are involved in a broad cover-up of this Russian sabotage.
The American public can't depend on these partisans to uncover the truth. America needs a totally independent investigation.
Terry Stulce
Ooltewah
Trump only doing what he promised
I am so tired of the bashing President Trump is taking on a daily basis - for what?
He is doing what he promised on his campaign run. I'm glad we finally have someone in office who will tell it like it is and not be afraid to do so.
I am tired of hearing how immigrants are being unfairly treated. Most people understand the difference between legal and illegal. They want in? Do it the legal way. If not, you should go back home.
I have heard many illegals say they have been here 10 or more years and are worried now about being deported, Sorry, you've had plenty of time to become a citizen of the U.S.A. the legal way and chose not to do it. It is the law.
As for celebs who think they run the country, you can't hide behind free speech when violence and damage occur due to your words. When these issues arise, the inciter should be held accountable.
So what's the big surprise? President Trump is doing what he said he was going to do.
Let him do his job.
Nick Raymond
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Tennessee should sell Georgia water
Instead of fighting it out in court and having the Supreme Court decide if a two-century-old survey was right, Tennessee should sell water to Georgia. This would help fund our states roads and infrastructure and lower the proposed gas tax.
Brad Case
Signal Mountain
Bottom-rung folk need choices
Bradley Gitz is right. We are becoming more socialistic. It's our strategy for maintaining an advantage that some of us have. But the ploy is limited. In "The Lessons of History," Ariel and Will Durant express it differently: "If our economy of freedom fails to distribute wealth as ably as it has created it, the road to dictatorship will be open to any man who can persuasively promise security to all."
Whatever. The road is going in the wrong direction.
Free enterprise, however, is designed to fairly distribute the wealth it creates. But before that can happen, bottom-rung employees must be freed to turn down unreasonable job offers. We can and must make it possible for that to happen if we don't like the direction the road is taking us. Give that some thought.
James O.B. Wright
Sequatchie, Tenn.
CSLA is a model to replicate
In front of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts is a plaque bearing board member names from when Elbert Long was established in 1949. Two of CSLA's current students located their great-great-grandfather's names on that sign.
These kids walk in their ancestor's footsteps every day, and it isn't as romantic as you think.
Problems like foundation shifts, mice, a leaky roof and walls, crumbling plaster, inadequate bathrooms, a lack of handicap-accessible facilities, and covered walkways between the main building and the portables have left CSLA students out in the cold and the wet for 25 years.
In business when an idea is successful, we expand and replicate it. Why wouldn't we do the same for an accomplished public school program? CSLA consistently ranks as one of the top 50 schools in Tennessee. The unwillingness of our local politicians to expand on this success is demoralizing to parents, teachers and students. The voters of Hamilton County should take note.
Leslie Rice
Hixson
Native Americans were here first
With all the discussion about immigrants and border enforcement, I'd like to remind readers what is left out - the experience of Native Americans.
Protests at Standing Rock are to protect water, since we believe water is a gift of God. Chief Tecumseh said we can't buy air, and we certainly can't replace valuable resources. Government leaders need to remember that our 567 tribes have not been respected for more than 400 years. We have little to show except broken treaties.
We are simply reminding citizens that we were here first and still have many needs: Poverty and health problems on our reservations need to be corrected. Spend the immigrant money on people who have been here 5,000 years! We don't need any more immigrants.
Tim Nichols
Hixson
Independent lost by Democrats
I am an independent voter and have voted in every election since 1950. I research both sides before voting and have voted for Democrats and Republicans, but I will never vote Democrat again. They are still angry about not winning. How childish!
Zella Dixon
Hixson