Protesters should learn from past
In 1773, a group of American colonists performed a famous act of civil disobedience after years of protest against taxes imposed by a parliament in which they had no representation. Because of one of these taxes, the protesters would not allow the tea on three ships in the harbor to be unloaded. They insisted the tea be returned to its owners. The governor refused. After a final meeting failed to resolve the impasse, a group of men, quietly and peacefully, boarded the ships, dumped all of the tea into Boston Harbor. None of the ship’s crews were injured. Nothing besides the tea was damaged. Afterward, the ships were swept clean, the captains’ keys were returned and the colonists disappeared into the night.
The current “protest movement” named for the Boston Tea Party could take a few lessons from the actual incident. The issue of “taxation without representation” was resolved by the American Revolution and the Constitution. We all have representation in Congress, even if we don’t always agree with what they do. The colonists tried every legal mechanism for change before resorting to civil disobedience and, when they finally chose to act, they did so purposefully, but politely. Our country was founded by protest, but we founded a republic with means for change without violence. I hope that those on all sides who disagree with their elected representatives will learn from the example of their ancestors.
PAUL M. HENDRICKS, M.D.
GOP incites with fear-mongering talk
To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, “nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” Democrats don’t grasp this simple reality and tend to treat the American public as if they were intelligent. Republicans understand this reality fully and incorporate it into their politics of incitement.
Their message plays well to the ignorant and misinformed. They know that they can make any wild, unfounded claim, and those with limited critical thinking skills will buy it. Claims of “death panels,” “rationing,” “government takeovers” and “socialism” are totally bogus but Americans with limited intellectual capacity believe it.
In the latest round of Republican lies and misinformation, they claim that our health care system is “the greatest in the world.” The facts would indicate otherwise.
In 2007, an international study compared our system to Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Australia. The U.S. was fifth (5 of 6) on measures of quality, and dead last on measures of access and efficiency. However, our health care did cost more than twice as much as anyone else.
The Republicans play with fire when manipulating the uniformed with misinformation and inciting them with fear-mongering rhetoric.
TERRY STULCE
Pitts should divide assets among poor
I am writing regarding Leonard Pitts’ column (March 28). As usual, he lifted words out of context.
What Glenn Beck said is “If your church is preaching social justice as defined by this administration as forced redistribution of wealth with a hostility toward individual property rights under the guise of equality and justice, then run away from it.” Taking from one person to give to another is theft. The Bible says to give to the poor, not to steal for them.
Perhaps Mr. Pitts should lead the way in redistribution by dividing up all of his assets among the poor. I invite those of you who agree with him to do the same.
GAIL CRAGG
Turtletown, Tenn.
Little difference in two kinds of man
As I watch these anti-health reform, anti-choice lunatics spit on congressmen, throw bricks through windows and threaten the lives of our lawmakers, it reminds me, once again, that there is very little difference between the “born again man” and the “Taliban man.”
WILLIAM GREESON
Art sites missing from magazine
The massive magazine insert Chattanooganow had a glaring omission. No art venues! You obviously see the value of fine art in this community as you placed a painting on the cover! But alas, there was no reference guide to all the wonderful art districts available in Chattanooga. Chattanooga is one of the richest cities of its size when looking for fine art. Your paper has even bragged about how the arts have elevated this city’s image nationwide. To omit references to our art districts is counterproductive in your marketing strategy.
So readers, be aware of this: The Northshore Art District, the Southside Art District, the Bluff View Art District, the Broad Street/St. Elmo Art District, UTC’s Cress Gallery, Dalton Georgia’s Art District, and many other tri-state areas have numerous galleries where you can go to see a wide range of fine art.
And in case you want to discover a secret jewel of a museum, you can travel down to Cartersville, Ga., to view the exquisite Booth Museum of Western Art. Go look at art! Add an original piece to your home! Your life will be richer for it.
GAY M. ARTHUR
President of
In-Town Gallery
Outrage goes both ways
Your editorial (March 27) showing outrage at the attacks on Democrats by some on the “other side” was interesting. Of course, you blamed right-wing pundits and tea partiers for stoking it. Were you as outraged when signs were held up that said “Kill Bush” and showed his severed head on a platter? And who was to blame for that?
Oh, I forgot. It’s OK when your guys do it.
Silly me.
BARBARA DOLL
Hixson
Now isn’t the time for ‘parachutes’
It’s amazing how in the mist of all the distrust with government officials from sea to shining sea, our mayor, Ron Littlefield, would attempt to present to the City Council a measure to pad the pockets of retiring police Chief Freeman Cooper.
Will this now be standard policy for all city employees? Or is it reserved only for those deemed worthy by our mayor?
Just as regular citizens in the private sector do at retirement time, Mr. Cooper has to weigh his options and make his decision accordingly.
The current economic climate leaves little room for these types of “golden parachutes.” Surely the City Council will avoid the “rubberstamping” that takes place so often at council meetings when it comes to the mayor and stand up for the citizens of Chattanooga.
RANDEE SCRUGGS
Bravo to Democrats for health victory
Passing health care is a truly historic victory for America. A victory I never expected in my lifetime. Hooray for the Democrats for having the intestinal fortitude to overcome the “no” party and the death threats. Live on, America!
BRUCE GARWOOD
Crossville, Tenn.
Health OK a step in right direction
Passage of this bill may not fix everything that’s wrong with our system of health care, but it is a step in the right direction and is a good starting point to get us where we as a country need to be as far as health care goes.
Now we need to get the special-interest groups out of Washington so our representatives can do what we sent them there to do; what’s best for the people, not big business.
MARK SULLIVAN
Harriman, Tenn.
Time to make things right
We didn’t get to be the best by taking whatever some politician said we needed. Americans aren’t a bunch of followers like most other countries. We tend to make our own way. We take our freedom seriously to the point that we’ve always been willing to lay down our lives if need be to defend our freedom.
It seems more like a missed opportunity by the elected leadership to get us back on their side. After all, we put them there and we can take them out. You would think they got the message after the last few elections held with overwhelming response to the exact opposite direction they want to lead. It’s not about health care with them. It’s a disguise to take more of our money and freedom. Nancy Pelosi doesn’t give a hoot if we have good medical attention. Ronald Reagan warned us it could come in the form of health care.
Well, I for one am glad they have taken us to task. It’s now time to make things right. Luckily there are enough of us left from the good old days when America was the home of the brave and the land of the free. God bless America.
MONTY OWNBY
U.S. government on way to socialism
March 21 was historic in that a fundamental and transformational change was enacted by a partisan Congress, driven by Chicago-style politics in the White House. Representative and constitutional American government is now well on the way to socialism and the end of the American Dream.
We can look for something similar to the “brown shirt of German fascism and Russian KGB” as the IRS polices payment of the mandated taxes to support the insupportable. This is Obama’s way to grow jobs?
With Muslims, worldwide, and Chavez of South America so envious of our way of life that they live to kill us, it becomes onerous to have the “leader of the Free World” working feverishly to bring about the bankruptcy and downfall of the American republic and the constitutional government.
The elderly will be the sacrificial goat and the fees paid by me and my husband (now deceased) for 40 years are counted as nothing toward the maintenance of old age but were mandated by the federal government. I am supposed to feel guilty for collecting on something that I paid for?
I’m thankful for my heavenly citizenship because before I die, my country will be something other than the U.S.A.
GAIL BLAYLOCK
HUDSON
Don’t applaud; vote leaders out of office
Did you applaud Jesse James’ train robberies, Al Capone’s burning hundred-dollar bills with his cigar, or Michael Corleone for breaking a few heads and destroying officials’ careers?
Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid twisted arms and bribed senators, and not with a cigar but with a stroke of a pen, they are burning trillions of dollars on special interest groups and a health care package which will bankrupt our country and send it into socialism.
In the late 1960s, there were hippies who wouldn’t work and radicals bombing and burning in protest of the system while the rest of us were working to have a home and a future.
Some of those hard-working people are still on the job or retired and are having to watch while these ’60s radicals are trying to take our freedoms one by one.
In the past, we didn’t have Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh burning the midnight oil to bring us the truth.
Are we “the people” going to applaud the corruption in November and re-elect or are we going to vote them out of office?
ERNESTINE MEADOWS