Conservatives use speech to destroy
America has created its own brand of Taliban. Calling themselves “conservatives,” they have taken over the Republican Party and many churches. They use people like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh to create fear and anger among the extremists, the ignorant and unbalanced with lies, distortions and disinformation.
Sarah Palin is an ignorant woman who craves attention. She was a willing tool, and now she has become a scapegoat. Rush Limbaugh is in it for the millions of dollars they pay him.
Extremists, be they Muslim or American, see themselves as martyrs to a cause and will go to any extreme to protect that cause.
Freedom of speech is essential to democracy, but conservatives have made it a weapon of mass destruction in their quest for power and wealth.
I hope the Tucson atrocity serves as a wake-up call to America to become like the Bereans in the Bible, “They listened closely to the things they heard, then examined them to see if they were true.”
Greed is like an avalanche destroying everything in its path. We must say no to the “Party of No” and its hateful rhetoric.
EDNA TAYLOR
Health vote to be proud of
Our new Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said that he “…was proud to cast my vote today to repeal ObamaCare. …”
Fleischmann is proud that insurers will again be able to drop coverage after a beneficiary becomes sick.
Fleischmann is proud that dependents won’t be able stay on their parents’ policies until age 26 anymore.
Fleischmann is proud that insurers will not have to pay for preventive care and annual checkups anymore.
Fleischmann is proud that insurance companies can again place lifetime limits on how much they will pay for treatment.
That’s what Fleischmann’s vote means. That’s what Fleischmann is proud of. What future votes will Fleischmann be proud of?
TED TUMELAIRE
Signal Mountain
Other Erlanger staff should get bonuses
Once again, is there any guilt by Erlanger management accepting large bonuses and not offering any to the support staff?
The published bonus criteria included patient satisfaction, low infection rates, etc.
Are any of Erlanger’s management staff actually meeting and speaking to the patients and their families? Finding out how they are, or how they were being treated? What makes the management staff more important than a trained nurse, patient care technicians, respiratory therapist, housekeeping, materials management, physical therapist, speech therapist or janitorial staff?
Who makes sure the five rights of medication administration are given correctly? Who makes sure the patients’ rooms are being stat cleaned so the Emergency Department can expedite a transfer to the ICUs or the floor?
Erlanger advertises it wants to be above the rest (especially with a nursing shortage), yet the Erlanger support staff are the lowest-paid employees compared to our two biggest competitors and SkyRidge Medical Center.
We, the support staff, feel that management is being judged and rewarded, with large bonuses, for the efforts, skills and productivity of others.
KELLY FANT
Appreciation for winning ‘Best’
We thank everyone who voted us “Best of the Best” Medical Equipment Store in North Georgia in the Times Free Press’ recent poll. We are humbled and deeply grateful. Without all of you, we realize we are nothing.
EDDIE TEST
AND STAFF
of Eddie Test’s
Home Medical
Ringgold, Ga.
Reagan gets too much credit
In response to the letter (Jan. 26) lauding the potential of Sarah Palin and the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan, I would beg to differ.
Reagan slashed taxes on the upper class that started the economic slide of our economy, especially concerning the middle class and its ability to thrive financially.
His deregulation policies have landed us where we are today, practically an oligarchy, controlled by Wall Street more than ever.
Even his budget director at the time, David Stockman, admits to the fallacy of these practices.
Although Reagan is portrayed as a small-government advocate, he actually raised taxes on the middle class six of the eight years he was in office.
As to his most praised deed, the fall of the Soviet Union, I would submit that it was more being in the right place at the right time. The Soviet system was flawed and would have fallen regardless of whoever occupied the White House.
As to Sarah Palin, just mentioning her in this letter is more acclaim than she deserves.
JOSEPH S. HODGIN
Cleveland, Tenn.
Pundits, politicians must stop ‘hate’ talk
“Fox News” is 24/7 propaganda; much is just hatred. This is especially true of Glenn Beck. We have the constant hatred spewed by Hannity and the Limbaugh ditto heads.
Then there are the politicians, Sarah Palin, etc., who have no plan or program except a campaign of hatred.
They claim “free speech.” But that should not apply to radio, TV or newspapers, not when its lies (are) coming from overpaid pundits and politicians.
There are many lunatics in this country seeking justification to act out their own lunacy.
People can tell themselves or you that this constant barrage of hatred doesn’t cause the despicable acts carried out by those lunatics. In some cases, that may be true, but do you really want to “defend” such hatred?
American people can put a stop to this constant hate talk. But you need to act, stop being apathetic, quit sitting on your hands and pressure all sources to cease such filth. Call and write your senators and representatives to end this on our airwaves and newspapers.
Hatred begets hatred! Violence begets violence! Are you going to allow this hatred and violence to destroy the U.S.A.?
ANN BENTON
Signal Mountain
It shouldn’t come down to lawsuit
After a campaign of smears and distortions thrown at Robin Smith by Chuck Fleischmann and his campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, last year, I was pleased to read that her staff member has filed a suit against Saltsman for defamation.
One way or the other, the truth always comes out. It’s just a shame it takes a lawsuit to do what the media couldn’t or wouldn’t — find the facts and report them accurately. I hope Mark Winslow prevails in his suit and the voters get the truth. Better late than never.
JEAN JOHNSON
Hixson