Taxes not willed; they are forced
The recent letter from Wilbourne Markham, for once, actually said why he is a Democrat instead of the usual “hate Republican” rants. Republicans have their own ranters, but the Democrats seem to have an excess of hatred.
I agree with some of the things Markham lists but strongly disagree with others. But is he a “willing taxpayer”? No. Taxes are forced, not willed.
Democrats take tax deductions while saying taxes need to be raised. They want to choose how their money is spent instead of “willingly” donating it to the government. Hypocrites? Do they think government is too wasteful to donate?
Democrats, on average, give less (“willing”) charity, but want to force (tax for) government social programs. The more Democrat an area votes, the smaller charity is given. That is fact from the IRS, GAO and other sources.
Democrats and Republicans want more federal government spending, just in different areas. If you do not agree, too bad; you will be taxed to support their choices. Also, government employee unions are paid off with your forced taxes.
If you believe you do not pay enough in taxes, donate to the government. Taxes are forced, not willed.
Jim Hill, Harrison
Parents need school choice for children
As a family who is involved in a county charter school, we want more families to know about the great option and see more support of our public school.
Our child attends Ivy Academy, the first public charter school in the state that uses the environment and the outdoors in every aspect of its curriculum. Ivy Academy, like the other charter schools in Tennessee, are public schools.
The availability of school choice is important for our children and others. What we have experienced is certainly what other parents face: Our child responds best in a very interactive classroom environment.
As our state works toward educational excellence, it must include parental school choice and encourage a menu of choices to fit the needs of individual students. Constantly pitting one school against another within the same county for limited resources is an approach that serves the system and not the best interests of our children.
Tennessee’s legislature is currently working to offer more parental school choice. It’s a win for our kids, which should be the first priority.
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Downey
Arrogance, contempt define Gardenhire
It’s not often you hear an elected official insult a constituent using a combination of arrogance and contempt. But then there is state Sen. Todd Gardenhire. Recently, he and six other members of the Senate Commerce Committee rejected Gov. Haslam’s Insure Tennessee legislation for the second time. Later, outside the committee room, a constituent asked Gardenhire a reasonable question: Was he willing to give up his state health insurance.
Gardenhire replied by insulting the questioner with an anatomical slur. That was his way of proving that election to the legislature doesn’t necessarily endow an officeholder with wisdom, not to mention clearly he has yet to learn that constituents deserve a courteous response to reasonable questions — even harsh ones.
It is ironic that although Gardenhire has state health insurance, that didn’t stop him from voting to deny a quarter-million Tennesseans desperately needed health coverage under the Haslam plan. He has bragged that he doesn’t use the state plan since he has “very nice health care provided to me by my private employer.” If that inoculates him against a catastrophic medical issue, surely that will gladden the hearts of his constituents even as they marveled at his tone-deafness.
Michael Loftin