Unintended results put oil in the Gulf
Oil spill blame game!
When making an honest evaluation of the current pollution of the Gulf, ask why BP was drilling in 5,000 feet of ocean when there are so many other accessible and safe alternatives. The answer is, environmental groups have effectively stymied safe and relatively easy production of oil from large deposits of oil shale in western Colorado, the huge deposits in ANWR (Alaska’s north) and safer shallow waters. Environmentalists’ unintended consequences put oil on the Gulf Coast and a lot farther.
Richard L. FISHER
Tracy City, Tenn.
Wamp has no thoughts of own
If the citizens of Tennessee elect Zach Wamp as the governor of our state, it will be like electing George Bush and all his ideals. Wamp voted for every issue Bush came up with, the surge of 2007, his unending war in Iraq in 2003 on false and unproven allegations of the (WMD) weapons of mass destruction.
In my opinion, his proven actions while in Congress, never serving in the military himself, he has partly been responsible for many of our military deaths and our local casualties in the longest war in our history.
You can now deal with him at the polls. He is a man of no thoughts of his own and can be swayed and controlled by those who do his thinking. He is and has been a man with no plans of his own.
If elected, he will be a governor of catastrophic ideas and cause the state to go bankrupt. A vote for him is a vote for George W. Bush.
BILLY M. SHADWICK
Soddy-Daisy
Rhodes lives his faith every day
I have attended church with 3rd District congressional candidate Art Rhodes for several years now, and I have seen that he is a man who lives out his Christian faith every day.
Art’s “Faith” video on his website, www.artrhodes.com, truly reflects the type of man Art is. At this time in our nation, we need men and women who pray and fear the Lord in leadership roles.
My family and I will be voting for Art Rhodes to replace Zach Wamp because we need his leadership in Washington.
JEWEL HENRY
Cleveland, Tenn.
Obama also made errors
When President Barack Obama was accepting Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation, an important aspect was ignored. Where was the management expertise?
When a subordinate does not fully support the superior, there are two parties (not one) involved.
While Gen. McChrystal made some errors, how about the management errors of the president? He was completely unaware that his policies were not respected. He did not suspect that the general felt there was some disagreement, and he failed to motivate the subordinate manager which is necessary to accomplish the mission.
The election gave President Obama his first job as a manager. His lack of experience is showing up.
CHARLES E. HAWKINS
Signal Mountain
Haslam has skills to be governor
Tennessee has had good leadership for eight years, and Bill Haslam has the skills to continue with our progress. Being governor calls for experience in the business word, and Haslam has it.
His main opponent, Zach Wamp, lacks political integrity.
An informed voter needs to evaluate the facts, and Bill Haslam is our best choice to be our next governor.
WILLIAM WRIGHT
Don’t bother going to source
I don’t understand the hubbub over Gen. Stanley McChrystal. I mean, what country does not make decisions concerning its top military official based on Rolling Stone magazine?
When I saw the cover of the magazine with Lady Gaga and her double-machine-gun bra, I thought if I really want to know what’s what with today’s military, I have got to read Rolling Stone!
Sure enough, there was the McChrystal story, quoting “aides” about what they thought of administration officials. I don’t know about you, but when I want to know something about someone, I don’t go right to the source. I consult unnamed sources for my information. That way, I’m sure to get the truth from someone who doesn’t have to worry about his real name being revealed. Who needs to know who’s talking when the nation’s No. 1 military job is on the line?
Thank goodness this country is getting back to making decisions concerning the lives of millions of people based on information from unidentified aides and Rolling Stone.
I can rest easy tonight knowing my country is in good hands with Lady Gaga and the other great military minds of our age.
STEVE SHACKLEFORD
McDonald, Tenn.
Smith possesses leadership qualities
Elect Kenny Smith county commissioner District 8.
I’m voting for Kenny Smith to fill Curtis Adams’ seat on the Hamilton County Commission. Kenny is a team player — a skill he demonstrated in his sports career. And he’s a leader — a skill he demonstrates and his fellow school board members recognize in electing him chairman.
Being a team player and a leader are important characteristics for a county commissioner.
Kenny possesses additional, equally important characteristics — common sense and hard work. Kenny’s a humble man, but I would be proud to have him as my commissioner. I’m glad he is interested in serving on the County Commission, and I encourage my fellow District 8 residents to join me in voting for Kenny Smith.
GREG EZELL
East Ridge
Candidates need to outline plans
Chuck Fleischmann and Robin Smith should come forward and fully disclose how they plan to privatize Medicare and Social Security.
Mr. Fleischmann is a local attorney, and he should know more so than anyone that in order to privatize Social Security the $2.5 trillion government debt must be paid in full, to transfer public pension to private.
How will Mr. Fleischmann and Mrs. Smith come up with the $2.5 trillion we owe to the Social Security Trust Fund?
ALBERT F. TEAGUE JR.
Rossville
Colonists compare to people of today
As the Redcoats surrendered to Gen. Washington at Yorktown, one of Gen. Cornwallis’ officers remarked, “Out of this rabble has risen a people who dare to defy Kings.”
You see, he observed with disdain these simple American continental soldiers, all shabbily dressed, many with limited or no education and with his elitist arrogance called them rabble. The irony was that he was surrendering to that “rabble” and the outcome of the Revolutionary War and our freedom had just been assured.
Isn’t it remarkable that the elitist “intellectuals” and many of our elected officials of today refer to the Tea Party members in similar terms? They refer to us as Nazis, racists, bigots, illiterate, and most recently in this column as “simple people.”
This is because we demand that our government and elected officials follow the U.S. Constitution and our laws as they have sworn to.
Today, the future of our republic is in grave peril, with criminal activities by our government and crushing debt that will enslave our children and grandchildren. Apparently they are indifferent to the situation as they continue to waste our money on projects that will enrich them, their friends and buy votes for their re-election.
JERRY HENDERSON
Cleveland, Tenn.
Time to fight back to restore country
Parasites are organisms that benefit and grow at the expense of their hosts and exist without making a useful or adequate return. We have a tremendous parasite problem right here in the United States — our “federal government.”
Government growth plus funding for existing and new entitlements is destroying this country. Examples include Social Security, health care, welfare, social services, food stamps, government pensions, TARP, company takeovers, etc., etc. Big goverment never lifted anyone out of poverty and always leads to a loss of freedoms. Look at Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea and now Greece to name a few.
I’d like to suggest a few ideas to restore greatness in our country. (1) Restore fiscal integrity and stop our public servants’ lust for spending our money. (2) Restore capitalism. (3) Restore small government. (4) Restore our “Constitution.” (5) Restore common sense. And of most importance, (6) restore God back into government and our daily lives.
Ronald Reagan summed it up brilliantly when he said: “History makes it plain that unless restrained, government proliferates to a point where its cost bankrupts the people at the same time it robs them of their freedom.”
Fight back to restore our country and vote in November.
LEE GERALDSON
Harrison
Breyer’s actions on issues wrong
Re: Justice Steven Breyer’s dissent to aiding terrorists. “Not even the ‘serious and deadly problem’ of international terrorism can require automatic forfeiture of First Amendment rights.”
Well, Mr. Justice, I’m exercising my First Amendment rights.
Oh, and you totally screwed up on the “eminent domain” issue, too.
I feel much better now. Gotta love that First Amendment.
TERESA TAYLOR