Heads should roll in pay abuse cases
It’s appalling that our city and county governments are infested with family cliques, nepotism and cronyism from top to bottom.
Where is the philosophy of a day’s work for a day’s pay? How does a $30,000 clerk’s job get reclassified as a $65,000 superintendent’s job, an $82,000 deputy clerk, or a $58,000 director?
How can a non-profit Christian music DMI sling $157,000 to one person drawing $65,000 from taxpayers?
Hey, and this is been going on for years as if city and county governments were welfare organizations.
Heads should roll, and any elected official who permitted such abuse should resign. The council should go after this problem with pit bull zeal and engage an independent outside agency to analyze every job, assign duties, set salaries and clean out the entrenched infestation.
It’s said that a 30 percent reduction in employees would be realized. Oh, and one more thing – I want my taxes lowered.
GLEN MOULTRIE
District has choice with Kyriakidis
Over 150 of us listened to all three independent candidates running for Congress last week. One candidate was so impressive he was swamped after the meeting by many who wouldn’t let him leave. Savas Kyriakidis is his name, and he is owner of the Acropolis restaurant and a major in the U.S. Army.
When you hear his solutions on economic growth, job creation, smaller government, immigration, pro life, and the Constitution you will want to scream, “where have you been all this time.” Savas is true conservative with a strong Christian faith, a true patriot and a decorated Iraq war veteran still in our local Army Reserve.
His family came to America (legally) in 1951 to pursue the American dream of owning a restaurant business. Savas is a graduate of McCallie, University of the South, and University of Dayton with a law degree.
If you are as disappointed as many of us with our Republican choice who refuses to debate other candidates, and if (you’re) sick of the same old party rhetoric, Savas will renew your spirits and add the excitement so lacking in this important race.
Please do not vote until you meet and hear Savas. We do have a choice!
BILL WATKINS
Ooltewah
Libertarian Party makes most sense
Although “it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks,” which I feel is a rather closed-minded perspective, it’s time for a change in everyone’s political beliefs. The Libertarian Party is growing amongst Americans and according to theadvocates.org, growing among college students.
Simply explained, the Libertarian movement promotes more freedom and less government. But, when I started my search for political ideologies, I read Rush Limbaugh’s books, which after a few years led me away from the Republican Party and I became a liberal, which was very short-lived.
After I spent countless time applying logic to politics, I found what Ron Paul had to say, and the Libertarian Party, and from a pretty good logical aptitude, makes the most sense.
For the conservatives out there who still question it, Paul has voted more conservative than any other politician since 1937. For the liberals, more freedom for everyone.
I welcome Republicans and Democrats, who aren’t closed minded, to look up libertarianism, do some study, and join the movement that will progress America.
JOSH HALE
Soddy-Daisy
Democrats resort to mud-slinging
Recently, the New York Times reported that Democrat candidates across the country are opening an offensive of negative advertisements against Republicans, using lawsuits, tax filings, reports from the Better Business Bureau, and even divorce proceedings to try to discredit their opponents and save their congressional majority.
This is mud-slinging at its best and it is a tactic liberals are using to draw our attention away from the poor job they have done running this country.
The liberals cannot debate the issues, for if they do, they assure themselves a loss.
They have brought the country we love to near ruin in just two years, and now they have the audacity to ask for an additional two to complete the job.
Borrowing money, printing money and spending money will not fix the problems with America. I yearn for a time when political debate rules the day and voter decisions are based on the content of the message. Misrepresentation of the facts and mud-slinging must take a back seat. We have too much at stake to not demand more.
Make sure you understand the issues before you vote and hold those running for office accountable for what they say and do.
PAUL PEPI
Breach of faith negates promises
Lunar priests presided over civilization’s early agricultural phase. Solar aristocracies ruled urban, commercial civilizations. Ruling classes controlled wealth and power.
God said: “Let my people go.” Messianic communities had neither aristocrats (“sun”) nor priests (“moon”). Elected elders governed a universal priesthood ruled by conscience. Untaxed common wealth instilled liberty, peace, and universal prosperity.
After anti-Semitism transformed Christianity into a solar religion ruled by Caesar, the masses returned to bondage. Radical reformers sought to restore 1st Century Christianity. Aristocrats ruled Luther’s solar Reformation. Priests ruled Calvin’s lunar theocracy. Solar and lunar states enslaved the world amid increasingly devastating wars.
America’s Constitution wisely separated “sun” and “moon.” Its wisdom worked so long as free moral agents voluntarily maintained equity. When inequality united Pharisees and Sadducees, lust for wealth and power returned the masses to economic hardship amid unending wars.
The Constitution is a legal contract among all the people. Denying equality and freedom of conscience, Pharisees and Sadducees divide the nation against itself. Breach of faith makes the promises of no effect. The people reject democracy.
The republic then becomes the express image of its master – plutocracy, theocracy, or chaos. Jesus called Pharisees serpents, self-righteous, hypocrites, and liars. Divide and conquer!
RICHARD D. VICKREY
‘Lousy’ ticket mars visit to city
To the City Court clerk:
My wife and I spent five nights in your beautiful city. We stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. We dined out every day and night. We went to every major attraction in the city. We spent money as any visitor/tourist would have done and for the most part had a wonderful time. The people of the city are warm and friendly.
Sadly, our last memory will be of a “lousy” $11 parking ticket. It seems that we parked in a legal parking space facing the wrong direction. There was still 50 minutes left on the parking meter so that was not an issue.
Based on the way cars are parked on Broad Street, especially on the right side of the road, I did not know there was a wrong direction in the city. It seems to me that a simple warning ticket would have sufficed and been more gracious to a visitor.
Also, in the police officer’s haste to write a ticket, he listed our handicapped tag as Tennessee instead of Alabama, so please correct this fact on your paperwork.
I know this is not your concern, therefore I will also “vent” to other city officials.
RICHARD L. BAKER
Mobile, Ala.
Hearings holdup hinders security
If Republicans are so strong on national security, why are they blocking hearings for a new secretary of Homeland Security?
ROD YOUNG