Cartoon misses libertarian mark
Your editorial cartoon (June 20) depicting a supposedly libertarian lifeguard completely misses the mark.
A true libertarian would have immediately jumped in the pool to save the drowning to ensure that he earned his paycheck. Since no one owes him the job, he would know he had to perform above a minimal level to keep the job.
The libertarian would not have assumed that he could just sit back and wait for the government to take care of it, so this is the exact opposite of the behavior you would expect.
If you’re implying a libertarian would leave people alone, it is true that a libertarian would not expect people to get a license before swimming, nor would he decide whether they were capable of swimming, so in that sense he will respect their right to self-determination.
A libertarian would make a far better lifeguard than a liberal (who would organize everyone else to rescue the drowning) or a conservative (who would make sure the drowning wore swim suits). Since he’s just sitting there, I must conclude he is simply a bureaucrat waiting to retire.
Donn King
Alcoa, Tenn.
Time for change in clerk’s office
I’m an authentic conservative Republican who has never compromised my belief or my core values. My faith is whole and complete. I have never betrayed or been an obstructionist to any Republican candidate. I will cede no ground to anyone on principles.
It is time for something completely different in the county clerk’s office, for the employees and citizens of our great county. This election will be won with honor.
R. CHESTER HEATHINGTON JR.
Candidate
Strangers replace visitor’s lost money
My 12-year-old granddaughter, visiting from Utah, was the recipient of $40 given to her by two complete strangers (sisters) in the “Charming Charlie” store in Hamilton Place mall on Monday (July 5). She had earned spending money for our family reunion and had $48 in her wallet when she went to see “Eclipse” last week. She later discovered the wallet missing and went back to the Rave Theatre Monday morning — just in case it had been turned in. The wallet had been found, but the $48 was missing. She was devastated! The family tried to give her some money to soothe the loss, but she adamantly refused.
Later, she was in the above-mentioned store with her mom and older sisters, feeling really bad, tears coming down her cheeks. These two ladies overheard and asked what the problem was. The older sister explained, and the ladies both tried to hand the 12-year-old two $20 bills, but she refused to take it. By then Mom was also explaining the problem and how she had refused money from the family also. But the two ladies insisted and wouldn’t take the money back! What a heartwarming story. Good Samaritans still exist!
SUSAN WARD
Signal Mountain
Three trucks used for single pickup
For the month of June, in our neighborhood we counted eight brush pickups. On one of those pickups (that we saw) there were three trucks here. The first truck picked up the brush pile. In the second truck, a man raked up what was left from the first truck, and then the third, a man used a leaf blower and blew everything else down the storm drain.
Saving money? I don’t think so! Go back to the scheduled once a month pickups and stop wasting the taxpayers money!
Nancy Grigsby