Prayer dispute shouldn’t exist
As Christmas approaches, we may expect renewed contentions over public prayer and other displays of Christian faith. These controversies inspire outrage from activists on both sides of this First Amendment argument.
Observers seldom hear substantial presentation of biblical or constitutional wisdom from the contenders as they vie for advantage. The Christian Bible, Matthew 6:5-6, provides this red-letter quote from Jesus Christ as he spoke to his disciples.
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Regarding the Constitution, there is no “separation of church and state” in the First Amendment. Fervent advocates of public prayer and opposing zealots with an oppressive interpretation of the First Amendment have created this unnatural conflict where none should exist.
DAN C. JOHNSON
Obama priorities are out of order
With the nuclear threat of North Korea and the WikiLeaks releases in the headlines, it is interesting to see that the president’s priority is to have a news conference announcing a federal pay freeze.
RICHARD W. GORDON
Extending tax cuts for rich not right
With the GOP takeover of the House of Representatives, there is the obligatory talk about tax cuts again, especially extending in this time of recession the Bush tax cuts.
Extending the tax cuts to those making over $1 million is both foolhardy and heartless. We ask Americans to tighten their belts and sacrifice. Well, how many of the Forbes 400 have children serving in Iraq and Afghanistan? How many in Congress have?
Second, is this what the tea party wants: higher deficits? Not wanting to pay taxes and not wanting to tax the rich falls into the hands of the supply siders. Bush, with his eight years of deregulation and tax cuts for the super rich, succeeded in job losses and the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Wake up, tea party, and join the Democrats. Don’t let the right hoodwink you just because you are evangelical. Being right-to-life is not a reason to sacrifice all of your other rights to good government responsive to the middle class.
MIKE C. BODINE
TVA sale could help pare government
I have suggested considering privatization of the largest government-owned business in America – TVA – because I believe in capitalism, the efficiencies of the private sector and the need to attract investment into Tennessee and other states in the region.
Only private-sector investment can rebuild our economy and give us healthy job growth.
With cities selling parking lots and states selling roads and consideration being given to cutting government spending, it is time to recognize that the role of government needs to be reduced in many areas, not expanded, and that studying ways to reduce that role is good for Tennessee and the country.
REED HUNDT
CEO, Coalition for Green Capital, Washington, D.C.
Obama doesn’t deserve criticism
The deficit has been growing for the last eight years.
What do I mean? President Obama took on the challenge of two costly wars, a broken housing market and debt. It’s as simple as that.
Many, mostly on the right, criticize the president for “wasteful spending.” I guess if you want to call giving money to local colleges (an incentive for people to further their education and get better jobs), revamping a broken health care system and trying to revitalize the “green energy” policies, then, yes, he has.
Personally, I’d much rather see people better themselves with a good education, live “greener” lives, and be able to go to the doctor affordably than to criticize all he’s done.
SAMUEL HOWARD
Sale Creek, Tenn.
Palin has history of being a quitter
With all the support Sarah Palin is getting from the tea party, some segments of the Republican Party and other outliers, I wonder if it has occurred to them that they’re supporting a person who has a recent history of being a quitter.
She bailed on her constituents in Alaska by not finishing her term as governor, and that should have them wondering if things got rough would she bail on the presidency?
This is the one fact that I’ve seen little mentioned, and it begs the question why.
Initially there were some “floater” type concerns noted by the Palin team; e.g., legal, financial, etc. But how does that justify stepping down?
Seems she hasn’t had a problem traveling all over the country promoting her book, TV show, etc., thus I’m guessing that she wasn’t under significant stress or pressure from those fronts.
I might be a bit old-fashioned, but when you commit to something you’re supposed to finish it. Makes you sit back and wonder, Hmmmmm.
SCOTT C. WILSON
Ooltewah
Don’t belittle effect of hurting producer
To create jobs, companies must make a profit because of an obligation to their investors and bondholders.
Competition drives them to efficiently allocate resources to find the lowest cost place to do business.
States like Tennessee and Texas benefit greatly from being business friendly. Do you wonder why high tax states like California and New York are losing jobs?
As one of many examples, my employer, formerly based in Massachusetts, closed its legacy U.S. manufacturing plant in 2009. There were many moving parts to that decision, but bottom line, the crippling costs of taxes, mandates and regulations finally reached its tipping point, resulting in 280 jobs lost. Our products now are made offshore and imported to the U.S.
So to the folks who complain about “tax cuts for the rich” or “shipping jobs offshore,” please try to understand that in your zeal to punish the producer, there can be some serious negative consequences.
WARREN DANIEL
If there’s no job, then say so
I am 62, have been unemployed for six months and do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
I have spent many days, interviewing, being walked through, in conferences, and going over my resume.
In most cases it is: “Your qualifications are great!” “I will set up a meeting with the boss but we can sure use you!” And then, nothing, no phone call, no e-mail, nothing.
We are living off our savings and are kept going on hopes and dreams of that great interview that will land me a good job. But when I do not even get a “The position has been filled, thank you for your interest,” the silence is crushing. Days go by waiting for your phone call and the silence keeps me from looking further because I “know” it will come any day.
Your silence may ease your mind, but it is a torment to those of us looking for work. Employers, be kind and do not bind us to you with false hopes: The job that is waiting for me may be missed because I am waiting.
Being kind sometimes means telling someone the hard truth so they can move on.
ALBERT A. BACA
Ringgold, Ga.
Coaches’ pay difference unfair
UT pays Pat Summitt, women’s basketball coach, $1.4 million per year. Yet, they pay Bruce Pearl, men’s basketball coach, $2.3 million per year.
Pat built the women’s program from the ground up and has been with the university for many years. She has never been accused of breaking any NCAA rules and has won several SEC championships and national championships. Bruce Pearl has only been at UT for a few years and recently brought disgrace to the university by his own admission that he lied to investigators and broke NCAA rules by hosting several high school athletes, who were potential recruits, into his home for a dinner.
UT should pay Pat Summitt at least the same or more than it pays Bruce Pearl, given her superior program and her strict adherence to the NCAA rules.
Why the huge pay difference between a male and a female who are holding the same position?
BARBARA REASONER
Hixson