Hiring policy good, not pioneering
Concerning the “Smokers need not apply” story (Jan. 18):
Porter Memorial Hospital in Denver implemented this type of hiring policy in the early 1980s — more than 25 years ago! I was working in their public relations department at the time.
They encountered no difficulty putting it in place. It was an entirely appropriate policy then and is now. It makes perfect sense that a 100 percent nonsmoking employee group is going to have lower health care costs.
So I applaud Memorial Hospital’s new policy. I just wanted to point out that it isn’t all that groundbreaking. This could have been an option for them for many years.
RAY MINNER
Collegedale
Aid Haiti by moving U.N. to the nation
Perhaps we should consider an option to the terrible situation in Haiti. With an estimated 200,000 dead, and a state in turmoil, perhaps we might build another democratic nation of which the world would, could be proud.
Consider this: Move the United Nations Headquarters out of New York City and to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The engineering and building of an international headquarters for the United Nations would create thousands of jobs. The construction of United Nations ambassadors’ residences would add thousands of additional jobs for the people of that destroyed nation. Now consider the jobs which would open for ambassadors’ offices and residences: restaurants and bars that the staffs of those delegated to the United Nations love.
This would create two major international objectives: (1) it would eliminate any discussion of the U.S. trying to take over the country with its military and economic (although diminishing) might; and (2) get the United Nations to take some responsibility for something.
STEVE BECK
College operation needs improving
Chattanooga State is a poorly managed institution, to say the least. As the parent of a student there, I am amazed at how much worse the state of affairs becomes with each passing semester. The parking is horrendous.
The book store situation is also unbelievable, long lines out the door and down the hall and into the library all week. If it is going to be so backed up and they know this in advance, why can’t they either have additional help in the bookstore, or make book purchases available in the classrooms or other satellite locations for the simple cash/check transactions?
Just trying to register for classes has become virtually insurmountable. The online registration is always down, making in-person registration necessary. Of course, this is another huge backup. No parking, long, unmoving lines, inadequate and/or inept staff.
In these trying times when work is down and financial situations are tense, the tuition money we fork over every semester is very hard-earned. Therefore, it is especially irritating to learn that the basic student needs can’t even be efficiently managed — something that occurs each and every semester and could be anticipated. If any other business was conducted in this manner, it wouldn’t survive.
RENEE PARNELL
Decatur, Tenn.
U.S. does work while U.N. sits
Haiti’s “Biblical proportions” earthquake (or if biblical terminology offends, half their country is leveled, a half-million will have died and that many more are homeless or missing). As usual, the U.S. is providing almost all relief, medical care and control, while the U.N. (191 other nations whose dues are almost totally U.S. supported) sits on Manhattan, complaining at U.S. responsibility for world ills. Specific members like Venezuela, Cuba and Iran ironically appear to be nearly absent in Haiti. You fans of these thugocracies, have you seen a single medic or ration from these socialist utopias?
Venezuela’s Chavez avows “the U.S. is militarily occupying Haiti,” and other thugs are, as usual, silent (although Iran’s Ahmadinejad will imply “There was no earthquake; this is another Zionist/American myth like the Holocaust”).
For those who are still U.N. supporters, this is another in the continual series of events wherein the U.N. orates and the U.S. does the heavy lifting. U.S. participation in the U.N. achieves (1) ceding the U.N. expensive Manhattan waterfront and (2) the opportunity to fund nearly 40 percent of a U.N. that spends 90 percent of its time gnawing on our leg, feigning accomplishment while in fact the U.S. accomplishes anything of substance.
MIKE BYINGTON
Signal Mountain
Inform people on marijuana bill
The people of Tennessee need to be informed on the medical marijuana bill.
Our government is putting normal innocent people in jail and giving normal non-violent citizens a record for no reason.
The people of Tennessee need to know about this bill. It’s wrong for the public not to know.
The laws in place now are to govern us with safety. I feel like I am being harassed instead of protected and, yes, I do live in Chattanooga.
DeVAUGHN TYLER