U.S. spending is irresponsible
“Pork barrel” is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects to bring money (our tax money) to our so-called “public servant’s” district.
In fiscal year 2009, Congress stuffed 10,160 “pork” projects into 12 appropriations bills worth $19.6 billion. A few examples include:
1. $2,000,000 for textile research in North Carolina.
2. $900,000 for a planetarium in Chicago.
3. $951,000 for street lighting in Detroit.
4. $1,900,000 for a water taxi to a beach in Connecticut.
5. $6,430,414,000 for 142 anonymous projects.
The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous.
Then there was the huge “TARP” program, which created a $700 billion “pork barrel” for the executive branch to throw money on some (banks, car companies, “Cash for Clunkers”) and refuse money to others (small business).
Is this government corruption? You bet it is.
It was recently revealed that 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in both parties are now under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Many of our “public servants” are crooks.
Harry Truman was correct when he observed, “My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell you the truth, there’s hardly any difference.”
LEE GERALDSON
Ignore scare tactics of Obama foes
“The Democratic regime is hindering recovery. Business and industries’ lack of confidence is of the greatest detriment to our country.
“High taxes will injure our businesses. The administration is wasting vast sums of money and piling up a crushing national debt. People are losing more and more of their rights to government. The American form of government is being undermined.”
Who said this? Rush? Glenn Beck? Sarah Palin? Michael Steele? Sure sounds familiar. Actually it was said by the Republicans during Alf Landon’s campaign in 1936 against Franklin Roosevelt.
“Partisans will drag out red herrings to divert attention from the trail of their weakness. The most serious threat to our institutions comes from those who refuse to face the need for change. Liberalism becomes the protection for the farsighted conservative.” — Franklin Roosevelt
I think I’ll ignore the scare tactics and reactionary policies of the current administration’s opponents. I’ll certainly give Obama the eight years we gave G.W. Bush.
JOSEPH S. HODGIN
Cleveland, Tenn.
Beware high price for hybrid batteries
Hybrid and electric cars have attractive features. However, a rarely mentioned drawback is expensive battery replacement that likely will cost the second owner.
Shortly after I bought a used electric golf cart years ago, the batteries started to lose ability to hold a charge, which required replacement at a cost more than I paid for the cart.
Prospective buyers need to know the cost of battery replacement on both new and used hybrid and electric cars or be in for a big shock later.
BILL LILLY
Corker deserves praise for service
Seldom do we read or hear of someone praising one of our politicians — local, state or national. Admittedly, seldom is there anything to commend them for. However, we American voters and non-voters certainly have a U.S. senator who deserves recognition for the extraordinary service he is performing.
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, during his short time in office, is doing what we elected him for — as all elected officials should. His latest brave action was when he grilled Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issue. This is a guy who needs grilling. No! He needs to be kicked out of office. Geithner leads the list of those who need to be sent back home — and the line is getting longer each day.
Let’s remember his outstanding work at election time. We need more people serving us who have the qualifications — and courage to exercise them — as Corker.
CURTIS REVELS
Air act proposal cuts protections
I want my senators to know that I will be watching how they vote on Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s amendment attacking the Clean Air Act.
The measure was written with the help of lobbyists from dirty energy companies and weakens efforts to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. A vote for this Dirty Air Act is a vote for backroom deals and polluters.
Why is this important to you personally? The Senate should spend more time talking about how to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and build up our domestic sources of clean energy.
MARGARET ZMRAZEK
Agree or not, Bennett a genius
I consider myself to be a very informed Republican and often submit comments to the Times Free Press in defense of right-wing positions. I typically (but not always) support the positions of my party and probably spend too much time digesting a daily mix of print, radio, televised, and Internet journalism from both left- and right-wing sources.
Personally, I find it hard to imagine formulating my positions without taking the time to understand both sides (to this point, I would highly recommend one of my favorite books — “Common Ground” by lefty Bob Beckel and righty Cal Thomas).
So I would like to offer the following: Times Free Press cartoonist Clay Bennett is a genius! True, I rarely agree with his left-wing politics and complete aberration of most issues he chooses to parody. But his cartoons are brilliantly illustrated, extremely clever, and strangely, a joy for this Republican to read!
Recent Clay-bashing letters correctly illustrate the partisan nature of his cartoons, but readers should respect the Times Free Press’ right to publish his work on the left-hand side of the editorial page, just as they choose to print the right-side weekday partisan observations of the equally brilliant Lee Anderson.
MATT MCLELLAND
Lookout Mountain
Education a journey and should be fun
I can remember hearing children talking during recess about the kind of game they were playing along with the level of competitiveness; “Oh we’re not keeping score, we’re just playing for fun,” they would often say.
Class discipline was more rigid back then, but school was still a lot of fun. It hasn’t been much fun for anyone since then, but there may be a light at the end of this 40-year-long tunnel.
Race To The Top is a new government program that offers stimulus money to states as incentives to improve the quality of public education, and a possible $450 million for Tennessee in these hard times has gotten everybody’s attention.
It is shrouded in mystery in that only a general outline is available for viewing at this time, and Tennessee’s application is even more secretive in the fight with the other states for the money.
I fear that too much competition will cause us to lose sight of what is best for all the children. After all, education is a journey, not a destination, and a journey, like a child’s game, is not about keeping score. Sometimes it’s just for fun.
DAVID CLARK
Tullahoma, Tenn.
Stormwater tax hurts in long run
Every citizen should be greatly concerned with the absurd proposal of increasing the stormwater tax by so much and hiding it under the false representation of protecting the environment.
Anytime government leaders must increase their revenue by a large amount, you can be assured that mismanagement of previous funds has probably occurred. If city leaders continue on this path and ignore the Blue Ribbon Committee’s recommendations, many citizens would be better off to simply move out of the city.
Low-impact development is the future of handling stormwater runoff, but if we force our churches to pay an exorbitant share of the current costs, you will be hurting the primary institutions that are trying to help others in these bad economic times. That will only hurt all of us more.
BEN BURKE
Hiring policy could be tip of iceberg
Your article (Jan. 18) on Memorial Hospital’s policy on hiring non-smokers is alarming.
I agree that smoking is costing millions of dollars in health care yearly. I’m a health-care professional and non-smoker, but this may open the door later for other bad-health habits. Memorial should look at their overweight staff, since BMI (body mass index) over 30 is as bad as smoking.
TOM GARDNER
Hixson