Not a ‘Wonderful Life’ in Red Bank
If Hamilton County was a company:
“Mr. Red Bank, we realize that due to our accounting error you were denied the raise that you were promised this year. And that you were counting on those funds to replace your leaking roof. We acknowledge that we could extend to you a zero-interest loan to cover that shortfall, but then other employees might expect the same largesse if we shortchange them in the future. So instead, we propose that you dip into your savings and take on a high interest HELOC to pay for the roof.
Merry Christmas.”
What a bunch of miserable Mr. Potters we have on the county commission.
Stephany Butler
Ooltewah
Column spreads wealthy propaganda
Allison Schrager wrote an article in this newspaper that it was OK the middle class was shrinking (Free Press, 12/1/25). Today, 30% of Americans make more than $150,000 while only 21% make less than $50,000 annually. Sounds good, but needs clarification.
Under Biden, from 2023 to 2024, low-income workers’ wages rose 3.9% while top incomes rose 3.1%, but never forget 3.1% of $1 million is more than 3.9% of $50,000. Under Trump, low-income Americans’ annual wages are rising just 1.5%, far below the rate of inflation.
A Bank of America Institute report indicates 32% of those earning at least $150,000 annually are living paycheck to paycheck. According to LendingTree, a staggering 64% of Americans admit to living paycheck to paycheck at least intermittently — 46% of whom say they do all the time. The top 40% of Americans buy 66% of all goods and services. The richest 10% own about 87% of stocks while the poorest 50% own about 1%.
$150,000 isn’t the rich Schrager proclaims, and the rich are using what you should have been paid to set records in the stock market.
David Bean
Chatsworth, Georgia