It’s obvious GOP can’t win
It warms my heart to read Thomas Sowell’s rant about how imperiled Western civilization will be if Mr. Obama is re-elected. Such hyperbole! Shall I extend the peril beyond the solar system? I see galaxies colliding and suns exploding. The microbial world will perish, too. Election affected electrons will make quantum shifts. People will turn into cheese.
George Will wrote that the Republicans should give up on the presidential election and focus on Congress. Why is that? It’s obvious that they can’t win.
There is no candidate running for the Republican nomination who is an equal to our president as an intellectual, a politician, a Christian, a father, a husband, and a man. We should be proud that we elected someone who is restoring the dignity of the executive branch.
He also cares about the American people.
Bin Laden is dead. Insurance companies pay for pre-existing conditions. American auto workers make American cars in America. Unemployment creeps down. Our country lifts itself out of the Western civilization affecting mess left by that paragon of unilateral conservatism, Mr. George W. Bush.
My only regret is I will never see Mr. Obama show what a pseudo-intellectual Gingrich is in a debate.
WILLIAM D. HEARD, Ringgold, Ga.
* * * * *
Capital gains rate loots the economy
Mary Ann Crowe wrote a letter to the editor Feb. 26, asking “Why do capital gains get lower rate?”
That question has a complicated answer that I can’t begin to explain in 200 words. However, in a nutshell, that favorable tax treatment is one of the principle methods that allows Wall Street to loot the American economy, treating it as their private piggy bank at middle-income America’s expense.
If anyone else who wants to fully understand how this process works, they need to read this book by Josh Kosman: “The Buyout of America.” It is not the only book, but a very timely one considering the times.
Far too many people in this country simply don’t connect the dots that very expensive media-driven political campaigns, primarily funded by Wall Street and billionaire money, is the principle reason. The politicians do what the big-money donors want, not what the voters want.
The founders said that for democracy to be successful requires educated voters. That is ultimately what her question is really all about. Until the voters become educated things are not likely to get better.
SAMUEL HATHAWAY, Cleveland, Tenn.
* * * * *
Romney is best to manage money
Mitt Romney — I just do not like the man, but I am going to vote for him.
The federal government is now the largest employer in the country, so you might as well view it as the largest corporation in the U.S. No other candidate, including President Obama, has had any actual experience running a business. Romney ran a corporation, as well as was governor of a state. As governor, he had a good track record of financial management and a balanced budget.
When you vote, whether it be for president, or someone running for a local office, it should never be a popularity contest — this is not high school! View voting as if you are hiring someone to manage your money and investments, because that is exactly what they are going to be doing.
JOE KIRKPATRICK, Cleveland, Tenn.
* * * * *
Thomas column one of best articles
We want to thank the Chattanooga Free Press for the fine article by columnist Cal Thomas on March 2, which significantly appeared on the same day as the terrible storms. That was one of the truest and best articles your paper has ever printed.
GLENN AND BARBARA SWYGART, Sewanee, Tenn.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The article was about “the gulf between people who take God’s instructions seriously and those who don’t.”)
* * * * *
School responds in efficient way
On March 2, the teachers, staff, guests and students of Daisy Elementary were put to the test we all hope never happens to us.
The office staff let each teacher know about the tornado watch/warning in a special way. When the time came to make the move to the hallways, it was done in a calm and quiet manner that everyone was encouraged to do as told for safety.
A few children became upset, but adults using a mild but firm voice instructed them to be quiet and listen for instructions.
There were guests from Soddy-Daisy High; they were doing craft/reading to help celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday. All week staff and students had worn costumes from the book stories. Each day the principal was in costume while greeting students and parents at school. Her leadership during the operation on March 2 showed great care for students and everyone in the building, for their safety.
You can rest assured that everything at Daisy will be done to keep everyone safe. I know this first-hand as being a sub teacher on campus that day. The benefits of training do pay off.
MARGARET CHASTAIN, Soddy-Daisy
* * * * *
Tattling isn’t right way to go
Mr. Rick Smith needs to realize that parents tattling on each other, which is what his advice amounts to, (per page B2 of The Times Free Press, Sunday, March 4), is not the answer!
Nazi Germany is a hideous example of citizens getting in the habit of tattling on one another.
Aside from the above reason, the following should be even more obvious: “We the People” are paying for this school system, even those of us who do not have children using this system for various reasons.
Considering ever-rising taxes, why should we feel compelled to do the job that we are paying you to do?
Where is the logic to this zoning system?
Who, with good intent, moves children to a school farther from their home, separating families in times of emergency as recently experienced and daily, the insanely needless rise of gas prices considered, defies all logic.
This verifies the ever-growing concern that government cares nothing about family survival or values.
Remember, “We the People” are the ones who pay your salary and have the right to be sure that our choices are heard, protected and respected, starting at a local level.
BARBARA ADAMS, Ooltewah
* * * * *
Don’t cave to union over TVA salaries
Hats off to the Times Free Press for requesting all TVA employee salary information. I only hope that you don’t cave in to the union and not make the information public on your Right2Know website.
I side with you in the belief that public employee salary information is public domain. I am a public employee and my salary information is available to any interested party, and I don’t care. It makes one wonder why union president Gay Henson is so anxious to keep her members’ information under wraps. Who knows? Maybe someone in the private sector, performing the same job, will find out, much to their dismay, that the TVA is paying unionized employees way more. That probably wouldn’t sit well, especially if that person is paying the TVA for electricity.
STEVE BERNTHAL, Blairsville, Ga.