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Monday, November 2, 2026Nov 2

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Free Press Editorial: Chamber’s parody has both truth, hyperbole

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Developer Ethan Collier talks speaks in the middle of his Mill Town development on June 15, 2026.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Ethan Collier talks at the intersection of E. 18th and S. Watkins Sts. in the Mill Town area on Monday, June 15, 2026. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Developer Ethan Collier talks speaks in the middle of his Mill Town development on June 15, 2026.

One of the supreme attributes of politicians and organizations dealing with political-ish issues is being able to make fun of themselves.

Former President Ronald Reagan was a master at this skill, and others such as former first lady Nancy Reagan and former President George W. Bush were only too happy to poke fun at themselves during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has no ability at this. Whatever is said to him must be all praise all the time, or he is not a happy camper.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce thought it was poking fun at a controversial situation at its annual meeting recently when a character termed a “Supreme NIMBY” appeared in a parody proposing to be prevent all change and growth in the area.

(NIMBY stands for “not in my back yard.”)