Obama destined to be at bottom
I think Bennett’s cartoon (Nov. 10) comparing President Bush’s intellectual capability unfavorably to Obama is, at best, ludicrous.
Without his speech writers, and his massive teleprompters, the man is destined to go down in history as the only man able to displace Jimmy Carter at the bottom of the presidential ranking list!
GORDON SPAHR
Mentone, Ala.
Beck is second coming of Martino
In a recent Newsweek article, Glenn Beck was listed as the second highest paid political pundit. Periodically I turn on to his radio show to appreciate his dramatic range from laughing, to crying to denouncing, to ranting. I wonder if he has considered medication.
One thing I have noticed is that he often puts forth the idea that his followers are God-fearing people and that their cause is a righteous cause. I suppose that means that anyone who doesn’t agree with him is ungodly. He seems to be bringing back the mantra that “God is a Republican.” I am so lucky. I have lived long enough to see the second coming … of Dan Martino, Chattanooga’s own late street preacher.
TERENCE HOUSMAN
Hixson
Rant, its printing border on racism
The rant in Sunday’s paper mocking the way black people were portrayed to talk years ago in movies and books confirms my belief that many people don’t like Obama simply because he is black. I think that the rant borders on racism and that the person at the Times Free Press who made the decision to print this rant fits the same mold.
JIM GRIFFIN
Chickamauga, Ga.
Hospital gives back with charity care
Memorial Health Care System is a not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization dedicated to the healing ministry of the church. It offers a continuum of care including preventive, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Memorial provides care to all those who present to one of our facilities and charity care to all who qualify. In 2009, Memorial performed more than $21 million in community benefit services and $14.4 million was for the less fortunate members of our community. Those included $4.8 million in charity care, $2 million in community services, $7.6 million in unreimbursed Medicaid cost and $81,668 non-billed services.
Please note that Memorial does not receive disproportionate share funding or other supplemental funding such as essential access payments from the state to offset the cost of charity care. Memorial does not provide obstetrics, pediatrics or psychiatric services which accounts for a large portion of the TennCare funding across the state. Memorial always allocates dollars for charity care each year. During the past two years, we have experienced an increase in charity care; fiscal year charity care for 2010 was 42 percent above the prior fiscal year. Our charity care reflects our desire to give back generously to the community we serve.
KATHERINE S. LINDGREN
Vice chairwoman
Memorial Health Care System Board of directors
Time evolves, opinions change
Recent articles in the Times Free Press verify what my political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University in the late 1940s, Dr. C.C. Sims, told his classes — that perceptions and opinions change as time evolves.
One (by Ben Evans, the issue of Nov. 5), quotes a Democrat activist, Dave Sounders, as saying, “Right now in most of Dixie it is culturally unacceptable to be a Democrat.”
That is in opposition to the popular concept in the 1930s and for some years thereafter, that former President Herbert Hoover, a Republican, was an object of ridicule for having been a major influence causing the depression of the 1930s.
In another area, as a railroader, I witnessed the demise of rail passenger transportation in Chattanooga and in many other places in our nation. Now the possibility of such rail transportation is resurfacing.
Both of these suggest that we take things as they come in some areas, and try to be a positive influence, as we can, in others.
MARK S. WOMACK
Legal delays bad for child
On July 27, a court-ordered visitation was ruled by Magistrate Bruce Owens.
As of Nov. 12, the court-ordered documents have not been signed by Magistrate Bruce Owens and the child in question has not been seen since Sept. 7.
Police reports have been filed concerning this, and when the Chattanooga Police Department has tried to make contact concerning this child, they receive no answer. According to the Chattanooga Police nothing else can be done until these documents are signed and then they would go to the home of said child.
Why have these documents not been signed?
Child Protective Services was contacted over the concern of the welfare of the child. They were going to look into this and respond. As of Nov. 12, no response has been issued.
Why is that?
Cutbacks? Not enough case workers? Is that what the child is told if he/she is being abused, left alone to die in a fire or being beaten?
I cannot believe this is an isolated incident. If I am missing something and someone out there would like to respond, I read the editorials every day. I would love to hear from someone. I see no excuse for it.
CATHY McCRAW
Hixson
Cut the Pentagon to balance budget
We can best balance the budget by cutting the largest expense, the Pentagon.
It’s time for rocket scientists, aviation engineers and bomb manufacturers to find productive employment. For too long they have justified their existence with deceit and taxpayer-funded propaganda.
$660,000,000,000 x 20 years should just about neutralize the national debt.
I’m still waiting for the constitutionalists to complain about the unauthorized U.S. military actions of the last 65 years.
WAYNE THOMAS
Washington focus in wrong place
Are there not more important issues in Washington than “Don’t ask, don’t tell”?
Another prime example of “artificial intelligence” in D.C.
JIM WOLFE
Guild, Tenn.
World peace probably a dream
The American people are getting fed up with the two wars that are being fought by our brave men and women in the military. The president is trying to make it look like at least one war is winding down by withdrawing our troops from Iraq, but they’re still there to train Iraqi soldiers and police. Now, they’re saying the same plan in Afghanistan will happen soon.
Meanwhile, our troops are still in harm’s way as terrorists continue to blow themselves up killing many Americans and Iraqis. President Obama changed generals in hopes of turning things around in these two “no end in sight” wars. How many more must give their lives before this insanity comes to an end?
The Korean War had three different names. They first called it the Korean conflict. Then it was a police action. Finally, after many had lost their lives, they called it like it was all along: the Korean War.
Why does our military always seem to be expected to be the world’s police force? The only way it will ever stop is to have our leaders doing the fighting and dying. We all know that will never happen. So, world peace most likely will never happen. Sad, but true.
RICHARD D. BLOOD
Ringgold, Ga.