Noise baffles Social Security’s robot
You may at some time in the future need to change your address with the Social Security people.
Let me give you a few hints at how to succeed without a long-time delay.
First, after you have connected with the robot on the phone, you will be asked about a dozen or so questions, which you can orally answer. Keep your hand over the phone transmitter unless you are answering a question. The slightest noise such as sniffling, sneezing, hiccuping or burping, will throw the robot off track and you will have to start over.
I called to change my address recently, and on the fifth try I succeeded, after only 40 minutes.
TRAVIS R. BROWN
Trenton, Ga.
Respect city name and its people
Liberty starts at home, in my opinion. Why can’t the citizens of each city be respected by the people who want to represent them in government? Each and every city around our state, region and country has its own unique nature. The citizens and businesses pay the taxes to use and participate in the growth of the city in which we choose to live, work and play. Let us not forget those who can’t recognize and respect the citizens of East Ridge by giving respect to our city name and proper address.
BILL BRENEMAN
East Ridge
Watch out if reform like Social Security
I was watching ABC’s “This Week” (March 28) and saw Ed Rendell and Haley Barbour debating the health-care reform bill which was passed into law last week. Both are governors of states now, and both served as chairmen of their parties’ national committee.
Gov. Rendell made, in my opinion, a very prophetic statement. He said that Social Security and Medicare were both demonized when they passed, but have been the saving grace for many senior citizens, so as soon as the American public understands it, it will be popular. Look at the financial crisis that both of those programs are in right now. If the health-care reform legislation that was just passed is the Social Security of the future, we are in a heap of trouble.
ANDY ARNOLD
Ooltewah
Citizens must vote on service mergers
The city of Chattanooga was established by a charter and vote of the majority of citizens in 1852. I am perplexed that our mayor or any council member would believe that they are vested with the authority to amend a charter, under the color of consolidation, and transfer departments. The police, fire, public works, and finance departments were established in 1852 charter and approved by vote of the citizens.
Transferring control of these departments named in the charter to a third party without a vote is simply a charter amendment without the consent of the voters.
The front-burner issues on consolidation and annexation were noticeably absent from campaign dialogue. In fact, under the current administration one controversy simply follows another. As a city resident and voter, I am feeling very jilted, like I was sold a bill of goods with adverse fine print. The fire, police, and public works departments are not the mayor’s to give away for $1. It is a voter decision requiring a charter amendment.
Please let the Chattanooga citizens vote and be heard on whether charter amendments to merge services are in deed the will of the people.
ALLEN DURHAM
Health care bill goes against people
In this paper on March 26, I read a letter containing a statement so inept it defies all reason and logic. The writer of the letter stated, “when private insurance failed, it is the government’s job to provide life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” It completely boggles the imagination that someone could actually believe such nonsense. Should I remind him of the words written over 200 years ago that still ring true today?
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Even our founders knew our rights come from God and not government.
When did “We The People” become so complacent and lazy that we need government to provide anything for us? At what point did we ever believe it was OK for Congress to trample the Constitution and force us to buy a product or be punished? What happened to government of the people, by the people, and for the people? Seems to me this health care bill goes against the people.
DONALD MEADOWS
Congress’ actions are hypocritical
Seniors on Social Security were informed back in December that there would be no increase in 2010 due to lack of inflation. However, Part D of Medicare went up, resulting in less in Social Security monthly payments. Later, word leaked out that Congress arranged a pay increase for themselves in 2010.
Just before ObamaCare became law, Congress arranged to have themselves pulled out of the bill so that they can keep their lush “Cadillac” plan not subject to rationed medical care. These sneaky actions define hypocrisy to the hilt, which proves Congress knows it is bad for everyone else.
BILL LILLY
Cost of hospital care exorbitant
Regarding the letter from Greg Moore about hospital-gouging: I know all about that. I was in a hospital bed for about four or five hours: They charged me $3,827.40 for lying in bed. At this price I could have probably bought my own bed with no insurance. Is this the normal price? My bill says hospital service: bed. This is sad – they could have just put me in a chair.
I was taken by ambulance. They had put an IV in my hand with an IV bag. Less than five minutes upon arriving at the hospital, the nurse takes the bag off and throws it away, not putting another bag on. This to me is wasteful and just extra money for me having to pay that I just don’t have. If I don’t need it, don’t give it to me.
LYNN RAY
Chickamauga, Ga.
Casavant needs to be defeated
Attention District 2 voters.
Richard Casavant is running again for a seat on the Hamilton County Commission, a seat he has held for too many years. There really should be term limits.
This is to remind you that Mr. Casavant has voted for every tax or tax increase that has come down the pike.
Also, seniors – remember he is definitely against the property tax increase freeze for you, even though 85 percent of voters approved it!
Let’s vote him out May 4.
BEVERLY BOWMAN
Hixson
Get over it; Obama has kept promises
Get over it! The election is over, Obama promised universal health care in his campaign, and he has kept that promise. I know it’s hard to believe, but we have a politician who is actually keeping his promises. He, along with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, have delivered to the American people almost exactly what they promised they would do if elected. The American voters chose and now we are getting what we said we wanted. Almost every president (Republican and Democrat) since Teddy Roosevelt attempted to do this, but failed. I just heard on “Meet the Press” that Obama’s approval rating is now at 53 percent.
The naysayers of doom and gloom threaten to repeal this law and replace it with one of their own. Where were they when Bush was president and Republicans had control of both houses of Congress? It seemed the only thing they were interested in then was cutting taxes for the upper 5 percent of the wealthy. When some of us objected, their mantra was “Get over it, Bush won.” The shoe is now on the other foot.
CHARLES J. ROGERS
Lynchburg, Tenn.