Be thankful for God's generous gifts to all
If we had to pay to see the twinkle of a star or the brilliance of a rainbow, or the calm of the sea, or the crashing of the waves; if we had to pay to smell a lovely rose, or the aroma of our favorite meal; if we had to pay to hear the song of a bird or the strains of a beautiful orchestra, or the cooing of a sweet baby; if we had to pay to feel the warmth of the sun, or a gentle breeze in the summer, or the refreshing rain after a drought; if we had to pay for all these things, plus every breath we breathe, it would be beyond anyone's ability to pay. We would all be bankrupt and paupers indeed.
Karleen Howe
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No supply-side plan for reader
Despite Ronald Reagan's lies about cutting federal spending, reducing regulations and shrinking government, and despite that Reagan nearly tripled the national debt, increased the deficit, and that few benefits from "supply side" economics "trickled down" to America's working classes, Reagan remains a hero at the bottom of the Republican barrel.
One explanation: "If you feed the horse enough oats, some will pass through to the road for the sparrows." - J.K. Galbraith, 1982, describing one supply-side/trickle-down process.
Still trading on Reagan, Republicans just reanimated "trickle-down" economics, perhaps in search of a final solution for America's working class problem. Food for thought: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - J. Santayana, 1905.
It will be interesting to see if Trump can fool the bottom of the Republican barrel for four years, let alone 40 years. H.L. Mencken's insight (paraphrased) could be prophetic: "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." - Chicago Daily Tribune, Sept. 19, 1926.
W.L. "Bill" Welch Ooltewah
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Cable TV prices may price us out
So Comcast is raising its rates again this coming year. Should we be surprised? It raises them every year.
While you can try to play around with the packages that you have, or downsize from a Triple Play to a Double Play, you can't escape the broadcast TV fee and the sports fee. What will they be someday - $20 each a month?
It's really getting harder and harder to afford. I understand why people are leaving cable and taking advantage of all the other ways to watch TV. We may have to join them soon. Our package rate expires in January.
Lauren Pieniaszek, Ooltewah