Allow temporary use of Medicare
If Washington was serious about providing health coverage for those uninsured, let the uninsured sign up for temporary Medicare coverage, either for a specific time period or until they have coverage through employment.
The currently stalled health mega-bill was going to add millions of people down to the age of 55 years old to Medicare anyway, so it wouldn’t change the procedure.
This would cover those who truly need the coverage without messing up the lives of the rest of the nation … if that’s what the politicians were truly serious about.
TERRY WILKINSON
Music clubs deserve better attendance
Chattanooga is so lucky to have two music clubs, the MacDowell Music Club of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Music Club. These music clubs always sought to promote, encourage, and support the music activities of Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. These music clubs have led in presenting varied and innovative programs of the highest level by local and nationally known artists. I am just appalled by the paucity of attendees for the clubs’ musical presentations.
For more information of future activities, please contact: Ms. Pauline Martin, Corresponding Secretary, (423) 875-5581 for the MacDowell Music Club of Chattanooga, and Ms. Evelyn Gibbs, Secretary General, Chattanooga Music Club, (423) 899-1701.
The next musical presentation of the MacDowell Music Club of Chattanooga is on Feb. 3 at Brainerd Baptist Church at 10:30 a.m. Please come; you will be glad you did.
ANDRES S.
ALISAGO JR.
Effort to ‘protect’ liquor stores wrong
Dedicated wine and liquor stores thrive in many states that permit grocers to sell wine as well as beer. Wine merchants who know their merchandise and provide good customer service won’t feel threatened if grocery stores also sell wine.
Tennessee laws for the liquor industry create a vicious cycle of lost revenue and pressure to raise sales taxes even higher. Sales tax revenue will continue to flow into Georgia and Alabama as long as Tennessee bans grocery stores from selling wine. The new Costco — rumored to be opening just south of Chattanooga — would surely have landed in Hamilton County except for misguided effort to “protect” Tennessee’s existing liquor stores.
Will Tennessee’s liquor lobbyists make up the sales tax revenue that is being lost to bordering states? Unlikely. So, why should Tennessee citizens bear the brunt of lost revenue because those merchants are afraid of competition?
MR. & MRS.
CHARLES ZAMMIT
Sewanee, Tenn.