Arnold best choice for school board
I served as PTA president of McBrien Elementary in East Ridge and gained first-hand knowledge of the many needs of our school system and in particular, those of District 8 (East Ridge, Brainerd, and Eastgate).
Personal agendas, long-time relationships and lack of knowledge have become the driving forces on our school board. We, as voters, must raise the standard for our board and hold them accountable. We need board members who are truly working for our children and their taxpaying constituents.
I endorse Dean Arnold for school board. Dean is a conservative who possesses the experience, wisdom, background and courage required to make the important, critical decisions needed. I know Dean personally and respect his commitment to serving our community, his dedication to his work as a researcher and writer, his abilities as a leader and communicator, and his strong Christian character.
I believe Dean will represent us without the petty games and bureaucratic patronage that hurt our system. Vote for Dean Arnold on Aug. 5.
CITA HALLORAN
Haynes’ service makes him choice
In a day where community service is on the decline except around election time, Marty Haynes has set himself apart with a solid history of demonstrated passion for our local schools and community.
It has been my pleasure to serve our local schools and community with Marty for over 20 years. We co-chaired the recent Hixson High Centennial Celebration in which a scholarship fund was established. We were asked to serve on the recent Hamilton County Department of Education Discipline Task Force chaired by Rhonda Thurman. We have served together with the Hixson Kiwanis Club where he is the current vice president.
Over the years, Marty and I have addressed some tough issues with Hixson and HCDE administrators to include concerns regarding academics, safety, discipline, facilities, faculty issues and leadership.
Marty’s family includes four generations of Hixson High graduates. He is no stranger to our community. His solid faith, loving family and supportive friends have all helped prepare him for this opportunity.
As a lifelong resident of Hixson myself, I have known Marty and his family for over 30 years. Please join me in voting for Marty Haynes for school board representative District 3. Don’t forget, early voting begins July 16.
MICHAEL S. KIRK
Hixson
Learn capitalism before bashing it
In the aftermath of World War II, the West German economy was in a wreckage that would make today’s U.S. economy look golden.
What did West Germany do? It didn’t institute stimulus plans or raise taxes or increase the money supply. It did the exact opposite. The government decreased regulations, drastically slashed tax rates, and tightened the money supply.
The result was an almost overnight boom. Jobs abounded, and in just a few months, industrial output was up by 50 percent.
Belgium followed a similar hands-off approach and also saw swift economic recovery. By contrast, the European countries who attempted to tax, spend and regulate their way back to prosperity saw only stagnation and unemployment.
A lot of folks blame the free market for today’s recession. But we haven’t had a really committed free market president in years — neither Bush nor Obama qualify. Maybe we should remind ourselves of just what capitalism is, and what it can do, before we bash it.
BEN M. WOLK
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Riverwalk a jewel for Chattanooga
Recently we trained for a bicycling vacation and started our training on the Tennessee Riverwalk.
Not having been on the walk for a few years, we experienced it with fresh eyes, and “wow” are there things to see — people of many sorts and shapes walking, running, biking or just resting.
Amnicola marsh with its wildlife, including the blue heron and momma goose and her goslings, beautifully designed landscaping, well-groomed paths and grounds, recreation areas, beautiful permanent and temporary sculptures, one-to-eight-man boats on the river from the Crewing Center, soldiers running on Saturday mornings, Chickamauga Dam and fishing, food at the Boathouse, coffee and almond croissant at Rembrandt’s and last but not least, the Tennessee River.
Our hats are off to its planners and designers for such a great resource for Chattanooga and the current administration for keeping it in pristine shape.
We have out-of-town company on the Fourth of July (Janet’s 70th birthday) and guess what — we’re biking the Tennessee Riverwalk.
STEVE & JANET WIXSON
Signal Mountain
Behler is best qualified for job
We need a change in the Juvenile Court clerk’s office, and Hamilton County is fortunate to have a candidate with the qualifications and attributes that read like the “Who’s Who in Criminal Justice.”
I don’t recall ever supporting an individual more qualified for this position than Gary Behler. I have known the Behler family for 15 years. He brings a new vision, leadership and fiscal responsibility to face the challenges of our youth. Gary has worked with kids most of his life and his credentials are above reproach. His track record reflects his passion and dedication he brings to this job.
Gary earned his MS in criminal justice and a short list of his experience follows: program director; Bethel Bible Village; operations director, First Things First; adjunct professor. UTC; administrator/warden Corrections Corporation America; Chattanooga Crime Task Force; past president, Tennessee Association Child Care; Community Services Advisory Board, and the list goes on.
Please join me in electing Gary Behler to this very important position.
BILL WATKINS
Ooltewah
It’s right there in Constitution
Pundits have said recently that the current disagreements among those across the political spectrum are contradictions on the fundamental role of government in society.
The left says that our country is a ship without a rudder, save the government assuming responsibility for the economic and social processes that drive our country.
Conversely, the right says that the market (i.e. the people) is most efficient at regulating itself, without government intervention, on the majority of economic and social issues. The right believes the government’s role is to provide the services that the people cannot adequately provide for themselves, like defense and public safety.
If, in the words of one commentator, centralized control of the markets by smart, competent people were the best, most efficient way to govern, wouldn’t we all be surrounded by statues of Lenin instead of the Statue of Liberty? (And who has ever accused government workers of being smart or competent?)
It would seem that a simple refresh of our political ideologies would be helpful. The Founding Fathers understood that government was a necessary evil to be limited and controlled, not expanded and unleashed. I believe a document that begins “We the People” contains that simple political ideology.
JOSH PAUL
Signal Mountain
Electric autos not that clean
There is/are a number of advertisers, today, touting electric automobiles.
Their hype leads one to believe that you simply plug it in overnight and charge the batteries and there will be no “greenhouse gasses” generated and released into the atmosphere. They imply that there can be no pollutants created.
Remove the “blinders” from your eyes and think. One horsepower of torque requires 746 watts of electric energy — generated by a gasoline engine, as in my Ford Escape Hybrid, or by a steam-powered generator in one of the TVA’s coal-fired power plants. Remember, there is no 100 percent conversion of heat to electricity. One horsepower hour requires 2546 British thermal units of heat. There would be thermal losses and mechanical losses in the generator turbine and reduction gears.
I don’t know the precise figures but think my Escape hybrid is the most efficient means of saving on fuel mileage and exhaust gas emissions.
WILLIAM P. CORBIN
Crossville, Tenn.