Writer is wrong on AGI explanation
A letter on Oct. 1 was incorrect in the explanation of adjusted gross income. It is not “income that is left after subtracting personal exemptions, mortgage interest, property tax, state income tax or sales tax, gifts to charities and other deductions.” AGI is the number on the last line on the bottom of page 1 of the Form 1040. The itemized or standardized deduction is then subtracted, followed by exemptions. The higher a taxpayer’s AGI, the more the taxpayer is penalized by reducing allowable itemized deductions and the amount of exemption. AGI is the taxpayer’s income before any deductions or exemptions.
JENNY HOPKINS
Signal Mountain
Conservatives made South a cesspool
Why would any worker ever vote for Conservative/Republican politicians? Conservative/Republican are now synonymous, unlike in the previous century, when you had anti-Roosevelt Southern Democrats earlier, and mix of them with bigoted segregationist Dixiecrats a few decades later. In the ’70s and ’80s these two groups of Southern conservatives mutated into today’s Southern Republicans.
Conservatives have vehemently fought every proposal to give American workers the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. No representative of working people or even decency would oppose overtime, minimum wage, or especially child labor laws. This is the rapacious and wretched history of conservative voting records! These family-value hypocrites were even against worker’s rights to be by the side of their sick or dying loved ones, as evidenced by their near unanimity in opposing the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993!
This doesn’t include their support for the anti-union right to work ( For Nothing!) laws that have been enacted in 22 states. Half of these states comprise the poorest 15 states in the country.
Categorically speaking, the South dominates the country in poverty, lowest median income, uninsured and any other category that would suggest that conservatism has made this region the cesspool of America.
JOHN MARK DAVIS
Ringgold, Ga.
KKK also sought community order
The Ku Klux Klan is best known for their racism and extreme actions toward African-Americans. Americans should abhor the racism and hatred that they showed. We should be ashamed of them for taking lives and striking fear in the hearts of innocent people.
But let’s not forget the rest of their history. The KKK wasn’t just a lynch mob out to exterminate an entire race from the South. They were very concerned with order being kept in their communities.
If a man abused his family or refused to provide for them, the Klan was sure to be at his door, regardless of his race.
My grandmother has memories of a man in her small neighborhood being dragged out into his yard and beaten by Klan members because he physically abused his wife. This man was white.
I do not agree with the Ku Klux Klan’s racist past or even their racist present. You cannot blame our country’s problems on a person or a group just because they are a certain color. But maybe a little old-fashioned social order wouldn’t be such a bad thing these days. I’m sure the battered women in your neighborhood would appreciate it.
ERICA PARIS
Chickamauga, Ga.
Traffic cameras too selective
Traffic cameras provide selective enforcement.
Apparently Judge Frank Brown did not consider an important fact in regard to the lawsuit regarding the traffic cameras.
Apparently the cities using them do not consider this fact and/or don’t care. That fact is the traffic cameras provide selective enforcement. The traffic cameras photograph the back of the vehicle which shows the license plate which results in a citation to the owner of the vehicle, whether they were driving the vehicle or not.
Large vehicle license plates are located on the front of the vehicle. Then there are those vehicles that do not have a plate, license plates not on file, have the plate in the back window, and those that have temporary/dealer tags. All of these go without a citation but still allegedly committed a violation.
But remember, “this is about safety and not the money.” Yeah, right.
JOHN C. SCHULTZ
Gas shutoff policy bad for customers
Last spring, I called the Chattanooga Gas Co. to have my gas shut off during the summer to save the $13 a month minimum gas fee. I was not told that I would have to be given a new account number and a charge of $65 to have the gas turned on in the fall.
This is wrong and just a way of taking money unfairly from their old and reliable customers. They need to know.
BARBARA SUMMERS
Politicians guilty of racketeering
Vote?
Why should I bother to vote when our government is comprised of pathological liars, thieves and hypocrites.
It no longer matters who is president of our country, nor does it matter who is in control of Congress.
Our country will continue to go downhill to a Third World country, thanks to our corrupt government!
There are only three things that all politicians understand: (1) Kickbacks, (2) kickbacks and (3) kickbacks.
If I tried to sell my vote I would be sent to prison. It is a federal offense. Politicians sell their votes to the highest bidder all the time and shaft the people of our country.
They should all be in prison for racketeering. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
RAY EDGELL
Ooltewah
Elect Johnson East Ridge mayor
I am asking my friends and neighbors to join me in voting for Robert (Bob) Johnson to be the next mayor of East Ridge.
Bob served the citizens of East Ridge as a councilman for four years and was our mayor for two. During his tenure a new police and fire building was erected, much- needed police cruisers and fire vehicles were purchased, and a community/senior citizen center was built for our enjoyment.
I have known Bob and his wife, June, for many years. They are a valuable asset to our community. Bob retired from Bell Telephone Co. after 30 years of service. He also served as chairman of the board at Erlanger Hospital. He is no stranger to hard work and public service. He will work for us, and we will fair well to vote for a man of his caliber.
DIANNE BROCK
East Ridge
Cagle good choice for Soddy-Daisy
Why would I vote for and ask you to do the same, for someone who is honest, trustworthy, and wants to do good for Soddy-Daisy?
Janice Cagle is the person who most of you in the area know. She has all of these qualities.
You may not have liked the answer you received from her always, but you knew it was honest. When she was working at the bank, you may have been denied a loan; or when you wanted something from her while working at the city and she was unable to help you, you knew she was being honest.
We’ve not always had a chance to elect someone as qualified, who knows the city so well, and has been involved from the youth to the business end of this city. This Nov. 2 we do and should take the honor of putting the most qualified person on that board.
She will watch our tax dollars very closely and spend them wisely, while trying to get more businesses into our city and helping our tax base to become broad so we will keep a low tax rate.
It’s time for a change. We need Janice Cagle for commissioner. Please cast your vote for her.
MARGARET H. CHASTAIN
Soddy-Daisy