Less government allows more harm
Seems like only yesterday we were voting for a president. Much has happened in those two years. We’re trying to get out of Iraq, but Afghanistan continues. We’ve had confirmation that Bush lied to us about torture. We seem to have avoided a major depression, but reforms should have been far more aggressive. We’ve tried to tackle the escalating costs of health care and provide some means for all citizens to be covered. Amazingly, all of this has been done with Republican heels stubbornly dug in to stop any progress.
We’ve seen tea partiers and candidates ranting about “less government” as the answer to everything. Well, GlaxoSmithKline is going to pay a $750 million fine for problems associated with its manufacture of medications. We saw what happened when BP failed to adequately protect their drilling operations. Toyota was called to account for its myriad product failures. Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal crimes. Less government is only going to open the spigots of greed, crime and self-indulgence.
We no longer live on the wide-open frontiers of the 1700s. We are a nation of 300 million people with responsibilities to each other. We are all Americans. Think about it.
Jim Webster
Signal Mountain
Chickens made life uncomfortable
Concerning the “Hen Ordinance” that some folks think is a good idea.
I’m sure those folks did not live in my neighborhood two summers ago when my neighbors and I suffered what I call “the summer from hell” because of our neighbors’ chickens and roosters. The roosters would wake me up approximately 5 a.m. every morning and crow till 10 a.m. They would give me a break till 11 a.m. then crow again.
We could not keep the chickens out of our yards. They roamed the neighborhood pecking and doing whatever they wanted, anytime they wanted.
All my neighbors were complaining, but nothing was done until the “chicken owner” moved. If these chickens and roosters return to our neighborhood, I’ll be glad to let the “chicken and rooster lovers” know and maybe we can swap houses.
ELIZABETH HENDERSON
Editor’s Note: The proposed city ordinance to allow hens bans roosters, requires the hens to be kept in closed coops, with a minimum space per laying hen, and a limit on the number of hens.
Taliban punishment dreadful, brutal
I wonder how many people read the commentary written by Nicholas Kristof on the editorial page of the Chattanooga Times on Oct. 26, regarding the 18-year-old woman in Afghanistan who ran away from an abusive husband. The Taliban punished her by permitting her husband to hack off her nose and ears.
This was described as traditional punishment for disobedient or promiscuous women. I personally can’t think of anything more dreadful or brutal.
SYBIL ELDRIDGE
Officer’s actions are taxes at work
I wanted to say thank you to Patrol Officer Walden of the Chattanooga Police Department. He came to my rescue Saturday morning following a car problem on I-75 North.
He went above and beyond, and I really appreciate it. So, all you anti-tax people, his actions were my tax dollars at work, and I was very glad to have his help and to have paid the taxes that made his presence possible.
CAROLINE MARTIN
Proposal on fishing, hunting ludicrous
The Republicans are really paranoid. It has been “don’t take my gun” and now it’s “don’t take my fishing pole.” How asinine! When I looked at my ballot and saw a proposed amendment to our Constitution dealing with fishing and hunting I couldn’t believe it.
It would be laughable if it were not symptomatic of how far from reality Republicans have come. People were fishing and hunting in Tennessee before we became the state of Franklin in 1784.
Republicans don’t understand the constitutional guarantee of “Custom and Usage.” This eliminates any danger to current activities. There’s never been any danger of losing these rights. No Supreme Court would think this amendment had merit.
Reminds me of the law they tried to pass years ago to limit the length of a woman’s skirt. I wanted that job.
My wife likes to shop and I like to watch the Washington Redskins. Do we need a constitutional amendment to guarantee these pleasures? Ludicrous!
The vote to approve this amendment indicates the need for government classes in our schools. Thomas Jefferson said, “To expect to be both free and ignorant is to expect what never was and never will be.” God help us if the trend doesn’t stop!
WILBOURNE C. MARKHAM
Priorities as nation getting confused
Comprehending an income of $250,000 is hard. The richest people I know make half that. President Obama wants to return the tax on people who make above that to the level it was before the Bush tax cuts. And Republicans cry foul. They are calling it a “tax increase” and making a lot of people mad. Tax cuts are great, but not at the expense of a nation that is beginning to crumble under its own stress. After two wars and several disasters, our nation’s poverty is taking us to a Third World status.
If you make over $250,000, I salute you for your ability and sacrifice. But I have to ask if you feel a slight need to help out the nation that has given you such a lifestyle. Even though it seems there are people all over America who are standing there to defend you and your wealth.
But the environment, infrastructure and the destitute people are important considerations when looking at the structure of our nation. When those become less important than who can build the biggest cruise ship, or a billion-dollar football arena, we have confused our priorities as a nation.
Give Obama a chance!
ROGER SHIPLEY
Ringgold, Ga.
Let’s look at lies and truth
Lie – Obama tripled the deficit. Truth: Bush’s last deficit was $1.416 trillion. Obama’s first was $1.29 trillion. Hey, that’s a cut.
Lie – Obama raised taxes. Truth: Obama cut taxes for way most of us.
Lie – Obama bailed out big banks and Wall Street. Truth: In 2008 Bush got the big banks and Wall Street the bailout. Obama didn’t get in office until 2009.
Lie – Obama’s stimulus didn’t work. Truth: It did. The CBO said the stimulus caused between 1.4 million and 3.3 million more jobs. And a big chunk is still coming.
Lie – Businesses will hire if they get tax cuts. Truth: A business hires to meet demand. Now, businesses want customers, not tax cuts.
Lie – Health care reform costs $1 trillion. Truth: It reduces deficits by $138 billion.
Lie – Social Security is “going broke.” Truth: Social Security has always run a surplus. Social Security has trillions in trust funds, is sound for 25 or more years.
Lie – Government spending hurts the economy. Truth: Government builds roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that business needs. Look at the “Little Debbie” Highway 75 Interchange, VW and more.
STEPHEN NEMECEK
Anger over prayers at a violent game?
Putting the boot to football:
With Philippians 2:3 in mind, I wonder if God approves of “His workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10) having angry arguments over public prayer at games of violence and competitive rivalry. Or whether Jesus would strap on a football helmet and sack a quarterback (even the despised Brett Favre).
MARK RAEDISCH
McDonald, Tenn.