Use own money to go ‘green’
On the front page of the Sept. 21 Times Free Press there was an article titled “Energy that comes with a check, no bill.” The article was very misleading; it suggests something for nothing. The solar system was reported to cost $560,000. The farmer who installed the solar panels was subsidized by all of the American taxpayers, and that amount was $364,000. (The article stated that 35 percent ($196,000) of the cost was borne by a Georgia Energy Finance Authority grant and 30 percent ($168,000) by a federal grant.
What were the farmer’s electricity costs prior to the installation of the solar panels? If the $560,000 were invested at 6 percent, the annual income would be $33,600 (or $2,800 per month).
I object to subsidizing a chicken farmer’s product when it costs the American taxpayer $364,000 and he/she gets “credit” for being green; if the farmer wants credit for being “green,” why doesn’t he/she do it with their own money?
DOMENIC CANONICO
Signal Mountain
Focus on positive to build America
I’m pleased to be able to pay taxes. Taxes go to support our military and national security. They pay for foreign aid to developing countries. They pay for other good things, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, roads, bridges, education and other government services.
Mr. Gruener’s fine article (Sunday’s Perspective section) is correct in his approach to our current economic difficulties. We need to pull together to improve our economy and not spread false propaganda to win elections. Our president needs our help and adequate time to reinforce our steadily improving economy. Let us focus on the positive and reduce the negative in order to build a better society. Attitude is an important factor in our drive to keep America strong.
ROCKY RENNEISEN
Signal Mountain
Understand tax proposals
Many people may not understand President Obama’s proposals concerning the income tax. Everyone would receive a tax cut on the first $250,000 of adjusted gross income (AGI). Those with an AGI of more than $250,000 will have an increase.
The term “adjusted gross income” is important. It is the income you actually pay tax on. That is, it is income that is left after subtracting personal exemptions, mortgage interest, property tax, state income tax or sales tax, gifts to charities and other deductions. So a couple would have to make quite a bit more than $250,000 before the tax increase would affect them.
In comparing the Obama and Republican proposals, everyone with an AGI under $500,000 would receive approximately the same tax cut under both proposals. But those between $500,000 and $1 million would receive a cut of $6,701 (Obama) or $17,467 (Republicans); those with income over $1 million would receive a cut of $6,349 (Obama) or $103,845 (Republicans).
If the Bush tax cuts are extended to the top 2 percent of earners, it would decrease tax revenue by $70 billion per year; that is money that could be used to reduce the deficit or to fund needed infrastructure repair.
PAT PULLIAM
Sewanee, Tenn.
Illogical program leaves child behind
Re: Sunday’s “Move to Improve” for students in Title I schools transferring, thanks to the supposed “holy grail” of educational equality, known as No Child Left Behind.
I requested transfer to Hunter Middle for my daughter through Sheryl Randolph’s office. My daughter doesn’t attend a Title I school. In fact, she attends one of the best magnet schools in the county. However, life-changing personal issues necessitated a new school environment and fresh start. (As a single parent, private schools weren’t an option for us.)
Unwilling to send her to our zoned school, a Title I school, Ms. Randolph instructed me that the more I could go into detail regarding why we needed to change schools, the better the chance of accommodating our request. I did so, maintained contact with her office half a dozen times, and unfortunately, received a letter of denial of transfer the week school started.
HCDE, as a whole, needs to determine how they can help all children succeed, not only those from Title I schools. If my daughter had attended a Title I school, the request would have likely been granted. This is woefully unfair. One child in particular was “left behind” due to the unnecessary and illogical program known as NCLB.
MELISSA OAKES
Crutchfield impact is everywhere
Missy Crutchfield: Chattanooga asset and advocate.
The lines are occasionally blurry between time spent at work and on personal issues. When one spends daytime, evenings and weekends devoted to the city of Chattanooga, it’s very hard not to do something personal between 9 and 5, Monday-Friday. I do hope the city’s audit of Be Communications LLC and the hearing by the City Council panel that Andraé McGary oversees will shed light on what exactly Missy does? How does she spend her time?
I’ve known Missy for decades, conducted business with her and have benefited from her service as a board member for Mark Making, for which I am the executive director. She’s a tireless promoter of all things Chattanoogan. Beyond her job description, she’s spearheaded countless efforts in Chattanooga to make the city a better place.
Thanks to Missy, the “Water for Elephants” film very recently made a $1 million footprint locally; less flashy but equally impacting are the grassroots efforts of “Unbroken,” which promotes cohesion and literacy in East Lake and East Chattanooga. These are two of many; Missy’s impact is everywhere.
Cheers to a fearless, creative activist and leader. I hope she continues to do her work: days, nights and weekends for all Chattanoogans.
FRANCES McDONALD
Sept. 11 page out of context
I am going to be brief, and to the point!
The front page of the Times Free Press on Saturday, Sept. 11, was out of context with an important date in recent American history.
Why does a bed bug take priority over an attack on this country? Did you forget it was an (act) of war? Are we that forgetful or just don’t care anymore. This date did get mentioned lightly in one cartoon and this date in history.
Wake up, people, before we don’t have our country anymore.
WILLIAM R. REINHART
McDonald, Tenn.
1 option missing for public workers
Imagine that not once, but twice in the same week we find that public employees, Missy Crutchfield ($103,000-plus a year) and her assistant ($35,000-plus a year), both city of Chattanooga employees, and then Hamilton County public works employee Alan Knowles ($65,000 a year), son of the Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles (no nepotism here), are caught running other businesses on the taxpayer nickel.
In true “we’re above the rules” fashion, Mayor Ron Littlefield told Crutchfield to “stop working on her web site during working hours,” and Mr. Knowles says, “it’s a mistake, and it’s one that won’t be repeated.”
Does the option “you’re fired” come to mind? Evidently not!
STEVE BERNTHAL
Blairsville, Ga.