No more taxes; this cow’s dry
I agree with Hamilton County Commissioner Joe Graham. The schools should be pulling from their fund balance. With all the millions they get, how can Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith ask for more money? I called the tax office today, and I paid $396 in 1999. They told me they don’t go back before 1999. Today, my taxes are $780. If I live long enough, I will have paid more in taxes than I paid for my house. Call your commissioners. Tell them no money from the property owners. They have milked this old cow dry.
Ronnie Proctor, East Ridge
Bible bill is one of discrimination
Republicans are supposedly for low taxes and against wasteful spending and big government, as if governments couldn’t organize a two-car parade. As reported in this newspaper, Tennessee House of Representatives members recently voted the Bible as the official state book despite being warned by the state’s attorney general that the bill violated provisions of both federal and state constitutions over separation of church and state. Similar bills have been dropped in other states over possible lawsuits and the expense. The bill’s supporters in Tennessee said it would be “worth” the expense. Clearly it violates both constitutions, is wasteful and the money to defend it would come from taxes everybody pays regardless of their religious beliefs. The bill clearly discriminates against people of other faiths, even Christians who don’t think the King James version is the only word of God and those of the Jewish faith. If supporters love Israel so much, why are they discriminating against Jews? Christians are constantly crying and whining about being discriminated against, but if their faith was strong enough they wouldn’t be crying and whining because people could see the virtue or worth of their faith.
David Bean, Chatsworth, Ga.
Let women make abortion choice
Ladies, do you like the idea of men choosing what you get to do with your body? Or, would you rather be making the decision yourself? With the new Amendment 1 law passed in November, the men are the ones deciding. Many people believe different things when the topic of abortion comes up. Some believe it goes against the wishes of God, but we never know what life holds. Some people receive abortions for health reasons, some because they aren’t ready or stable enough to have a kid; however, it’s their life. I shouldn’t be able to decide for them. They will all meet with their maker, and on that day their creator will decide. Adoption is an option, but take a look at the amount of kids who already go through foster care. The abortion restrictions set in place by lawmakers will only add more kids to the system. I can only imagine how many more kids would feel unloved because they were put in foster care but never adopted. So are you OK with men, who have no idea about the troubles women go through and never experience a pregnancy, deciding what you do with your baby?
Kyra Duke, Murfreesboro, Tenn
The few, the proud, the Hall taxpayers
This week I, and many other retirees, had the great honor to do what most Tennessee employees had no opportunity to do. We paid our Hall Income Tax on interest and dividends. This apparently is a rare civic opportunity denied to all those whose salaries make our income from interest and dividends look like a pittance in comparison. How can we few be so lucky? Maybe our governor and legislators in Nashville can explain the fairness of this tax; that is, why are we so fortunate to pay an income tax when most others do not. We await your explanation.
Bill Gallagher, Signal Mountain