Sen. Corker helps with compromises
The Tea Party has many positives, as do the Democrat and Republican parties, but demanding conformity reflects underlying weakness and ignores the history of our great nation. A Tea Party leader recently was quoted in this paper as having been critical of Sen. Bob Corker because he reached across the aisle to work with Democrats to try to do some positive things for our country. The thrust of the Tea Party leader’s remarks was that any attempt at compromise would not be tolerated.
I would remind us all that without compromise we would never have had the Declaration of Independence. Without compromise we would never have had our Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Much needed legislation would never have passed without compromise. Indeed, the genius of our political system has been the ability to balance competing interests for the common good. Compromise has enabled our nation to move forward and be strong.
Shrill partisanship and demanding that everybody agree with one position or be written off is a sign of weakness, not of strength.
I applaud Sen. Corker for his hard work necessary to thoroughly understand the issues, and his willingness to hear conversations with others who disagree with him which is necessary to craft sound legislation for our country. Would we have more like him!
T. MAXFIELD BAHNER
Elder residents seek de-annexation
How interesting that buried on the back page of the Sat., Nov. 20, classified section, is a public notice that the residents of Elder Mountain are attempting to have their properties de-annexed from the city of Chattanooga.
The list of property owners reads like a list of who’s who in this city. Lawyers, property developers, business owners and companies, all of whom have made a very successful living from the very city that they’re attempting to de-annex from.
How is it that this is being attempted even while the mayor continues to annex more county property from citizens who can barely afford the taxes they are currently paying. And while middle-class county residents are having to pay huge legal fees to stop the city’s annexation attempts, some of the city’s most wealthy and influential citizens don’t want to pay their fair share of taxes on some of the most valuable property in the city. I can’t help but wonder if they think it’s payback time for all of the substantial political contributions made over the years.
Every citizen should express their opinion about this de-annexation attempt at the public hearing Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. or to their county commission representative.
STEVE KROME
East Ridge
Israel’s attack on Syria unjustified
I read with interest the Free Press’ editorial on Israel’s surprise bombing attack on Syria on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
As the Free Press defended Israel’s pre-emptive strike, providing no details as to whether there was any actual evidence of nuclear weapons or justification for any attack at all, a passage from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland” came into my head.
During the trial at the end of the novel, the King cried, “let the jury consider their verdict!”
“‘No, no, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence first — verdict afterward.'”
LIZ HELD
Many with agenda misuse Bible
Many people misuse the Bible to support their position in an argument. Such was the case when a Colorado resident wrote to our paper (Nov. 4) to promote the legal use of marijuana. He proposed that the Bible supports the use of marijuana because God created the plant and everything that God created he called good (Genesis 1), and because Revelation 22 says the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations.
How utterly absurd!
Many things derived from plants, like opium, hemlock, and digitalis, need to be controlled substances because they are poisonous in the hands of untrained persons. And clearly the Revelation 22 reference is to Heaven, not to life on earth.
The Bible is God’s word to us that we may learn several things — that God made this world, he loves us, he hates sin, he judges sin, that humans are a depraved species who revert to evil without God, that Jesus Christ is God and his death and resurrection are our only hope for eternal life in Heaven, and that there is joy in knowing and living for God.
The Bible is not to be (mis)used to promote personal, human agendas.
DENNIS URBANIAK
Signal Mountain
Secure U.S. borders first
Our federal government has proven it has lost its minds!
Our troops are sent to patrol foreign soil with weapons, yet, illegal immigrants flow freely across U.S. borders.
America has become a laughing stock to all foreign countries, especially those south of the border. Traveling across America and back, the Hispanic people are taking over. Everyone complains, but thanks to our government, the states can’t do anything to protect their citizens, counties and cities, and states cannot balance their budget.
American students are falling behind because we must first provide for the illegal immigrant children. Health care is an ugly mess as doctors and hospitals have to provide free care for illegal immigrants. Out of work, can’t get unemployment or food stamps. Sorry, yours went to an illegal immigrant.
Would there be as many Hispanic babies born if they weren’t automatically American citizens? This must change! Round up the illegal immigrants and deport now! This is America and if you have to profile in order to find these immigrants, so be it! What country with common sense would not profile in order to find illegals.
Secure our borders now!
TINY N. STEELE
East Ridge
Postal Service report skewed
The U.S. Postal Service, like many companies in today’s economic times, is facing financial difficulties. However, your recent editorial (Nov. 23) left out some very important facts concerning the financial situation of the Postal Service.
Since 2006, the Postal Service has had to pre-fund retiree health and benefits to the tune of some $5.5 billion annually, as per congressional mandate. This is the only government agency that is required to do so. To date the retiree health and benefits fund has been over-funded to the tune of some $75 billion.
This year the Postal Service had to write off an additional $2.5 billion based on government assumptions of rising interest rates and long-term predictions of compensation and health costs.
That being the case, the Postal Service, which by the way according to polls is the most trusted of all government agencies, only lost $500 million for 2010. Still a large amount. Over the past four years, taking into consideration the pre-funding requirement, the Postal Service actually made some $700 million. That’s a significant difference from the reported figures given by the Postal Service in this a contract year.
JOE SCRUGGS