Have we prevented a terrorist takeover?
Sitting here watching Fox News ... New York getting ready to commemorate 9/11 site: "Thousands of cameras, New York s 'finest' monitoring video feeds of the site, all vehicle tags being scanned, radiation monitors...". What is wrong with this picture? Do you think the two or three backwater nations that support terrorism are doing these things for their protection? Or fear us so much that they spend millions keeping an eye out for us?
We have lost thousands of lives, destroyed our economy, made a shambles of our freedoms and political system, for what?
We have given them the victory! If you don't believe me, try to get on an airline flight, get patted down like a criminal, see the same thing happen to old ladies and children.
Our great country; strong, powerful, rescuer of Europe in two world wars, now, 10 years after 9/11, running scared from a couple of thousand terrorists using outdated equipment and poor funding.
The terrorists probably spend two or three hundred dollars for every million that we spend (a $100 RPG vs a Hummer and 10 or 12 U.S. soldiers), and the only thing we have prevented is the takeover of our country ... or have we?
MIKE HENRY
Whitwell, Tenn.
Tragedies are call to repentance
What would Jesus say about the tragedies at the Twin Towers in New York 10 years ago?
We know what Jesus would say because it's recorded in Luke 13, His words when a building fell and killed 18.
Jesus said, "... except you repent you shall all likewise perish."
God is big enough to do many things at the same time and is using the 9/11 tragedies, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes as signs, judgments and as a call to repentance.
Judgment is coming because of our 50 million abortions and taking land from Israel. Earthquakes are a sign telling Christians, Jesus will return soon.
From tragedies God teaches humility and mercy. Disasters allow Christians to show the love and mercy of Jesus by helping those in need. By all of the disasters God is pointing the way so secular people can understand something big is going to happen so there will be none with an excuse for not getting right with Jesus.
Heaven is only for those who repent and surrender to Jesus. The prospects for America are shaky and America is living on borrowed time and so are you. Don't delay giving your life to Jesus!
DANIEL D. NAVE
Elizabethton, Tenn.
Crew tremendous in brush cleanup
I just wanted to say thanks for the work crew under the supervision of Keith Templin for the massive effort of cleaning out the trees and brush out of the ditches off Ely Road and Glen Court area.
All the work crews were courteous and made a concerted effort to do more than was expected of them.
Thanks that this was all accomplished before the heavy rains came to prevent flooding.
Also others involved in getting all this done after the destruction of the tornado.
They are: Mark Weiss, supervisor; Youi Kulakevich, crew manager, and Robert Quinn, engineer.
Mayor Ron Littlefield, the city can be proud of this group of city workers, just as I am also proud of them. Thanks for all you do.
JAMES G. GRAHAM
USPS woes go back to GOP
I think the Free Press editorial writer should do a little fact checking.
The current fiscal issues with the Postal Service stem from Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. Yet another Republican poison pill bill not unlike the doughnut hole they stuck Medicare with. This little jewel from the Bush administration requires the USPS to prefund retiree benefits for the next 75 years and do it before 2016. A requirement that no other business nor government agency is required to do.
And, yes, that means the USPS is required to fund the retirement of postal workers not even born yet to the tune of $5.5 billion every year since.
And there also is the issue of overpayment to civil service retirement system. Both the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General and the independent Postal Regulatory Commission commissioned audits to look into possible overpayments that the Postal Service has made into the Civil Service Retirement System. Both audits show that the Postal Service has overpaid at least $50 billion into the pension fund over the years.
There is a bill, HR 1351, that has 183 co-sponsors which would correct this. It is time that this Republican monkey wrench be removed.
ROD YOUNG
Perry needs salvation agenda
The Republican leader in the recent polls, Rick Perry, speaking about his faith in God and his Dominionist ideas before more than 30,000 evangelicals at a Houston rally, is the very reason that founder Thomas Jefferson held evangelicals in such low regard, and why George Washington refused to discuss them in polite company.
Jesus didn't have a political agenda, but Perry doesn't have a salvation agenda. He chose to violate Jesus' command to separate the agendas of Caesar and God, which is also the command of the Constitution.
B.J. PASCHALL
Sevierville, Tenn.
Who do we blame for mess we're in?
Possessing expertise in neither business nor logic, one dare not question the wisdom of your Sept. 5 "hypothetical" editorial bashing "ObamaCare" for stifling small business growth. One can only stare in wide-eyed amazement at the hopeful audacity of any businessman, with profits too tight to afford $2,000 per new employee (and current employees above the first 30), who would even contemplate expanding his workforce by 50 percent. With business decisions like this, how dare we blame the politicians for the mess we're in?
RAY TROTTER
Varnell, Ga.
Walker library a valuable resource
I am a Walker County citizen and voter. Issues regarding our library's finances have been weighing heavily on my mind.
My concern is for the folks depending on our library. Unemployed people with no way to provide activities for their families enjoy the library.
The Department of Labor directs people to use library resources. If unemployed people don't have access to free resources (computers/Internet) -- they cannot find jobs. Library staff help people with resumes and computing. Many jobs require online applications -- adults must know how to use a computer.
Children use our library for school work -- to complete research for school projects, use the Internet and to complete homework. Children benefit from the books available at the library.
I hope the commissioner will consider these things when searching for a solution to the budget problems of our library. Cutting the hours is not the answer. We need to find the way to let the library best serve the public because that is what it is ... The Public Library. It has so much to give to the people of Walker County. I believe you will see why we as a community need to support our library more.
SARAH H. JENKINS
LaFayette, Ga.