Fair Tax transfers power to people
I’ve never been so angry with and fearful of our federal government until I read “The Fair Tax” book. This book, and subsequent editions, exposes the power the political class has over the people, through the taxation and limitless spending of our hard-earned income.
An estimated $13 trillion in wealth is held offshore because Americans are afraid of punitive taxation, and that money, under the Fair Tax, would flow back into this country like a tsunami. Businesses “ship their jobs offshore” because they seek the lowest cost place to do business, not as punishment to U.S. workers.
Numerous multinational corporations have stated if the U.S. enacted the Fair Tax their plans would be to locate corporate offices here or have some presence in this country. Talk about job creation; the only jobless people would be those who truly don’t want to work.
The Fair Tax is nonpartisan but it has its detractors. Who, you might ask? Well none other than the same politicians, bureaucrats and lobbyists who have run this country into the ground — they care about nothing but themselves.
I encourage you to study the Fair Tax and see how this transfers power from government to “We the People.” Go to www.fairtax.org
WARREN DANIEL
Health bills don’t address problems
While the passage of any form of “health care reform” is uncertain, one should remember that a bad change is worse than no change. The primary problem with our current system is its cost, but the bills in the House and Senate do not address the problems. These factors are primarily liability and lack of competition, hence the Republican calls for legal system reform and insurance portability. Predictably, these proposals have been rejected by the Democrats.
Legal system reform requires two basic changes: all litigation must be on a “loser pays” basis, as exists in Canada, and abolition of the “contingency fee,” so that a lawyer is paid based on the hours he/she works rather than a percentage of the winnings.
Insurance portability can be in several forms, including expansion of health savings accounts (HSA) and allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines. Lack of competition between insurers only serves to keep costs high.
For controlling costs, individuals need to take responsibility for their own health. This includes maintaining an ideal body weight, getting regular exercise, and avoidance of tobacco products. These measures are free, and some insurance companies will even give a discount for such behavior!
DAVID CLOSE, M.D.
Move railroad tracks on Hamill
On Feb. 18, the headline on the Metro-Region section read “Greenway getting a little longer.” The article pointed out that $2,000,000 of federal money and $650,000 of private money was being used to expand the Greenway. I have no issue with the Greenway.
My question rests with the city and county representatives: When will the railroad tracks that cross Hamill Road in Hixson be put over/under the road so traffic on Hamill Road can flow unimpeded? The railroad crossing creates dangerous congestion and costs taxpayers thousands of dollars in gasoline while idling cars wait to cross the tracks. Auto emission pollutes the atmosphere. In addition, noise pollution from both trains and autos continues unabated on a 24/7 basis.
Can anyone provide us with a reasonable answer why this can’t be done for the citizens of Hamilton County and Chattanooga?
CHARLES LANE
Hixson
Save in good times to use later
Have you noticed that when times are hard, our local governments start asking for more taxes, usually in the way of property taxes?
I noticed that our mayor has suggested that the city increase property taxes at a time when most of us have just come off an increase due to the re-evaluation of property values.
I wouldn’t mind so much, if during good times, when revenues are up, they would lower taxes. But they don’t ever do that.
It looks to me like they would save some of the revenue during good times, to tide them over during hard times. They don’t do that either. Tell me if there is some law that prohibits that.
I already pay over 10 percent of my Social Security benefits in property taxes. I don’t see how they expect us to handle another increase. Since there was no inflation last year, there was no increase in my Social Security check, either. In addition, my Medicare supplement policy increases 27.2 percent this year.
Two things I know for sure: We should consolidate our county and city governments, and elect businessmen instead of politicians.
They are going to spend, and ask for more, every penny we give them.
ROBERT LEE
RAYBURN
Mayor’s analogy is not funny
Concerning Mayor Littlefield’s crusade to “consolidate” the governments of Chattanooga and Hamilton county.
I have lived in four different states. In each state, consolidation of city and county government has either been proposed or instituted. Usually it has always been the mayor of the city and not the county officials of that county who is the advocate. Mayor Littlefield cites the benefits of increased “services” to the county as his mantra while we hardly hear a peep out of County Mayor Claude Ramsey as to any benefit to the county.
The analogy that Mayor Littlefield used — “It is time for Chattanooga to transform itself, much in the same way that U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn, transformed himself from comedian to U.S. senator” — was surprising and funny. Surprising in that Al Franken actually has not transformed himself. He is still a comedian, just on a different stage. Much like Chattanooga transforming from city government to countywide government. It would not be a transformation but an expansion of a city with increased taxes and little or no improvement in “services” to the county residents. The only difference between analogies is consolidation is not funny. Just like most of Al Franken’s material.
SCOTT HARRINGTON
Ooltewah
Wamp should stay in his current job
It seems that once or twice a week I read in the paper that Zach Wamp is bad mouthing one of his rivals for governor.
Why don’t they just try running a good race?
Who cares if a man is rich or owns a lot of stores? Our present governor is rich and is doing a good job.
My opinion is Zach Wamp should have stayed at his present job. He will not get my vote.
JIM L. WILSON
Try a third party to do what’s right
I am amazed at the latest development in Congress. The Republicans finally decided we needed to give a tax break to small businesses for hiring new workers, but guess what? Since the Democrats proposed the bill all but five Republicans voted against it.
It is good to see that at least five Republicans think about the good of Americans and small businesses and forget about politics.
Did our Tennessee senators vote for us? Of course not; it was a Democrat who proposed it. It is time we got rid of all the incumbents who only think of politics and themselves and not the people they represent.
I would love to see people get smart enough to vote for a third party so our representatives will finally do what the people sent them in to do. Think about it, folks.
JACK PINE
Dunlap, Tenn.
Governor should change sentence
Gov. Phil Bredesen holds the life of a battered woman in his hands. The state will execute Gaile Kirksey Owens, 57, by lethal injection unless the governor commutes her sentence to life in prison.
Gaile is a victim of severe domestic violence who was arrested in 1985, and later convicted, for hiring a man to kill her husband. After exhausting her appeals, her lawyer and two public defenders have filed a formal plea asking Gov. Bredesen to commute her sentence to life in prison. Though she was diagnosed with battered woman’s syndrome, Gaile’s jurors never heard about the physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Among nine comparable cases over the past 25 years: two are serving life sentences, six have received probation or early parole, while only Gaile is facing death. Unless Gov. Bredesen commutes Gaile’s sentence, she will be the first woman executed by the state since 1820. Not only were there very few, if any, resources for a battered woman in the early 1980s, but a woman who has suffered severe and consistent abuse is not in a competent state of mind. Gov. Phil Bredesen should commute Gaile Owens’ sentence to life in prison and save the state from executing a battered woman.
CAITLIN O’LEARY
Nashville, Tenn.