Enforcing speed limits good policy
I read on Facebook the North Carolina governor had a safety initiative that started on March 24 where his state troopers issued tickets to anyone traveling one mile or more over posted speed limits.
The enforcement program is aimed at dispelling the widespread belief that it is OK for drivers to travel even one to nine miles above speed limits.
Can you imagine the revenue the state could get if Tennessee had this initiative? North Carolina’s slogan is “Obey the sign or pay the fine.”
Bottom line is there are simply too many drivers incapable of driving excessive speeds without causing or being involved in an accident.
Roger Groot
Cleveland, Tenn.
Before criticizing, check out the facts
The reader who complained about the biased “reporting” of The Associated Press and New York Times News Service, specifically the recent article about Obamacare driving down the uninsured to record lows, reminded me of Republican conservatives’ mindset, “Don’t confuse me with the facts.”
There are pros and cons to just about every piece of legislation, but here are some facts about Obamacare: more than 16 million Americans obtained health insurance within the first five years of the ACA, driving the uninsured rate to a new low of 9 percent. The uninsured rate was 11.5 percent in 2014 and 14.4 percent in 2013, according to a survey from the Center for Disease Control. It is true the uninsured rate has leveled out, but that was expected. A 100 percent uninsured rate was never expected.
Republicans have managed to alienate just about everyone except white male voters. On the almost no chance that they manage to repeal Obamacare, they will alienate about 16 million more voters, unless they can come up with a better plan. If history is any indication, that is unlikely.
Rebecca Rochat
Cemetery upkeep a continuous effort
In response to a resident’s recent 15 minutes of fame on TV spent criticizing employees of the National Cemetery because of a broken fence: We are so privileged to have a place to bury veterans. Each day workers spend countless hours and labor to keep the headstones in line, the grass mowed, even picking up a flower arrangement and replacing it back on the proper grave. Our cemetery is probably the best-looking cemetery of its kind in the nation.
To the upset resident: How about spending some time in the cemetery? Say, volunteer for an Honor Guard detail with the American Legion Post 95 or VVA-203. Call Larry or Charlie, respectively. After you spend a couple of years doing this duty, you will see first hand the work and detail that goes into the upkeep of a national cemetery.
John Lopez
AWC USN (ret)
Ooltewah