Circus Circus: As I have pondered the political process in our country and the (ahem) stellar record of accomplishments that have taken place in the halls of Congress, I think it’s time to update the mascots that depict the two political parties and use animals that more accurately reflect the true nature of government.
Instead of a donkey and elephant, I suggest a dog and pony.
John Turnipseed
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Pols, at least read the Mueller report
I recently returned from the Midwest to Chattanooga, where I was born and raised, and I was interested in knowing some things about my “new” elected officials. So I sent a letter to Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann. In each letter I asked if she/he had read the Mueller report. I, on purpose, did not ask for an opinion.
I wrote: “Please assure me that any opinion you have on President Trump and his campaign associates is informed by the report.” I have not heard from Rep. Fleischmann. Both senators responded – Blackburn in an email and Alexander in a letter. And both just quoted Attorney General William Barr’s opinion of the report.
But I wanted to know if they had read the report for themselves. Their answers indicate they have not read the report. I’ve read most of it by now and am continuing to read it. As a taxpayer, I wanted to know what was in the report and make my own conclusions.
Our public officeholders have a responsibility to read the report in order to be informed and represent me and other Tennesseans.
Pat Ralston
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Pro-abortion side is indefensible
An abortion removes the tissue that is present in a pregnant woman’s womb. Is that tissue parasitic in nature, like a tapeworm? Is that tissue detrimental to the woman’s life or health, like a cancerous tumor? Is that tissue an unnecessary part of her, like an appendix? No, no and no!
That tissue would have continued to grow and develop without threatening her health. That tissue has DNA that is different from her own. The end result of that pregnancy would have been a person, a human being.
Arguments like “it is her body, so her choice” are irrelevant compared to the fact that this is human life.
When is this tissue human life? After it passes through the birth canal? At viability? When it is wanted? When it can feel pain? When a heartbeat can be detected? At what point does it change from non-life to life? Is there something that happens between conception and birth that science shows to be a transition from non-life to life? No; from the moment of conception, pregnancy is purely growth and development of a new human life.
The pro-abortion position is indefensible in the face of facts.
Dennis Urbaniak, Signal Mountain
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Reason for bearing arms still exists
A statement in a recent letter to the editor noted this country’s founders “never supported an unlimited right to guns” and that “only citizens trained and qualified to be in the military should have a gun.” Neither is true.
After the revolution, and given our new government’s fear of standing armies, the concept of the militia was retained. Previous military training was not a requirement for leader selection. All men, excepting physically impaired, conscientious objectors, too young or too old, were required to serve. They were required to have and maintain their own firearms and accessories.
Thus, we have the right of the people to keep and bear arms which, thankfully, shall not be infringed. There never was any intent for the militia to have firearm ownership based on prior military training.
The bottom line is that we the people have been since 1789, and still are, the militia. Our purpose is to prevent our government from becoming so intolerant as to be eliminated. We may not meet once a month as in the past, but the reason for bearing arms still exists, and rightly so. Beyond this, the sporting use of firearms has always been accepted.
Al Hockert
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Paint hazard in Brainerd?
As to Brainerd High, I think it’s fabulous that this school is being renovated by volunteers. Kudos to all. However, when I read “scraping paint,” my handyman background jumped out. Who tested for lead paint? Anything before 1971 must be tested, and respirators and clothing and tenting the area must be used. I don’t think that had been addressed.
Sherri DeRose
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Trump, McConnell cow senators
When Al Gore was running for president, someone stole George Bush’s briefing book and gave it to Gore. Instead of using stolen material to his advantage, he turned it over to the FBI. When Nixon was covering up the Watergate break-in, Howard Baker wanted to know “what did he know and when did he know it,” placing the country above party loyalty.
Both of these men knew right from wrong and had the courage to do what was best for America. Now our two senators are no more than sycophants and lickspittles for Lyin’ Donald Trump and Chinless Mitch.
Now Republicans think it is OK to lie, cheat, steal and ignore every law that is inconvenient or might impede their power mongering. Now they think it’s OK to sell out America if Russia will help you get elected.
It’s already illegal for a campaign to accept anything of value from a foreign actor. But Marsha Blackburn stood on the floor of the Senate, mischaracterized the issue, then blocked a bill that requires all Americans to report foreign interference in our elections. Maybe she thinks the Russians will help steal her next election. She is an embarrassment.
Terry Stulce, Ooltewah
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Expand Medicaid to help hospitals
The Jamestown Regional Medical Center closed this month, making it necessary for Fentress County residents to utilize hospitals outside their county. Here in Jasper, we know what this is like. We have not had inpatient care available at Parkridge West since 2015. We are lucky that we still have an ER, as many shuttered hospitals don’t even have that.
However, if people need to stay overnight in the hospital, they have to make the 45-minute drive to Chattanooga. This is a huge burden to place on people in need of vital medical care and their family members who are trying to care for them.
The Jamestown hospital is the 12th hospital to close in Tennessee since 2010. Tennessee has the highest rate of hospital closures in the country. Meanwhile, the Tennessee legislature continues to refuse to expand Medicaid, even though hospitals are six times less likely to close in Medicaid expansion states.
Gov. Bill Lee has promised that every Tennessean should have access to affordable, quality health care. But as more hospitals close, that promise seems further and further away. It’s time for Tennessee to expand Medicaid before yet another hospital shuts its doors.
Karen Rosenberg, Jasper, Tennessee
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McCain’s ghost stalking Trump?
Trump has recently returned from honoring the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion in 1944 and those who participated in it. Many of the American military personnel involved never left France and are buried in the military cemeteries at Normandy.
Trump’s speech was generally favorably reviewed, though he has previously stated he does not consider any GI who is captured a hero. Did he not know some of the GIs who jumped into France during the invasion were captured and held in POW camps? Some died in those POW camps and were buried in the military cemeteries. I assume his kind words were not meant for them. He continues to fight with the ghost of John McCain, who he didn’t consider a hero because he was captured.
His war with McCain’s ghost has so permeated his aides that they jump through hoops to keep McCain’s name out of his sight. One aide was so concerned Trump might go ballistic if saw the battleship John McCain while visiting Japan he asked the Navy to position the ship so the name could not be seen. I can picture Trump wandering around the White House at night shouting, “Out damn ghost.”
Archie Thurman