Back Skiles, Privett for Soddy-Daisy
On Nov. 2, Soddy-Daisy will elect two commissioners. I personally am very satisfied with the work that Commissioner Skiles and Vice Mayor Privett have done during their terms in office. Commissioner Skiles has just completed his first four-year term in office and Vice Mayor Privett has been in office for 14 years.
Both of these gentlemen are successful businessmen and exercise their knowledge and experience in helping with the management of this city. They both work very well with our County Commission, which is a necessity for joint projects for the city.
Leave things alone and keep our commission as it is. These men are doing an excellent job. They’re always out in the community checking out problems and talking with people. They have always voted no to any tax increase. Our city is financially sound, and we need to keep it that way. Re-elect Skiles and Privett on Nov. 2.
We know what we have with these two commissioners. Changes are not always for the best.
JON VIALL
Soddy-Daisy
Football, politics alike in many ways
We Americans are hard-working and resilient people. We do take time to enjoy two very expensive activities, football and political elections.
I enjoy football, especially, when one player throws the ball at the other player who takes and runs with it, and then fans get aroused and I join with them.
Political elections are like a football game. We support our party and get excited, not really knowing what we are really excited about. I suppose it’s the party spirit.
The Democrats and Republicans love America as they run the opposite directions with the ball. Sometimes it seems America is being pulled apart between them in rhetoric at least, though not, I think in reality of a denial of the ideal of a common culture and a single society.
The genius of America lies in the capacity to forge a single nation from people of remarkable diverse society. Our democratic principles contemplate an open society founded on diversity and unity.
No matter what party we support, we all get around without breaking the bond of cohesion, common ideal, common political institutions, common culture and common fate that hold the republic together. Let’s get excited and support our team.
AMOS TAJ
Ooltewah
Support DeVol for Congress
No doubt Chuck Fleischmann and John Wolfe are both fine gentlemen, but I cannot support either one for the office of congressman from the 3rd District.
My reason is that they are both attorneys, and if there is one thing we do not need more of in Washington, it’s another lawyer. One of the first rules a lawyer learns in his craft is to perpetuate himself.
My choice would be someone with a business background. Someone who has built his business through blood, sweat and tears. A man who knows how to make a profit so that he can employ people, pay them a decent wage and support his country through paying taxes.
We have such a man running for this office. His name is Mark DeVol, 52, an independent who resides in Oak Ridge and has his business there.
He believes in term limits, and to quote him: “If I attempt to run for a fourth term, I will owe the Anderson County Fire Department $1 million (under a bonded pledge with the Alliance for Bonded Term Limits.”) Here is a man willing to serve and not perpetuate himself. Please vote for Mark DeVol.
DARDEN NEWMAN
Signal Mountain
Drug users fund violence in Mexico
Years ago, a letters to the editors debate about NAFTA and businesses along our southern border became heated. Someone wrote that we should allow Mexicans to “go their own way.” I then made regular business trips to Mexico, and had close friends there. I responded that this was a poor idea.
Recently the head of the officer investigating the disappearance of an American was delivered to Mexican authorities. Mexican military and police are nearly powerless to stop drug gangs. Funded by U.S. drug users, they infiltrate and bribe many in authority. Lacking the will – or firepower – to stop the drug trade, Mexico cannot cure the growing infection.
Should we ignore the problems of our neighbor? Maybe build taller fences and employ more border guards? These short-sighted and inhumane responses are also expensive and ineffective. Do not blame Mexicans for Mexico’s dissolution. It is our drug culture here in the U.S.A. that buys their sickness.
BILL LAUDEMAN
Red Bank needs positive leaders
John Roberts, campaigning in Red Bank, recently said most (people) he’s talked with during his campaign say they “are embarrassed to live in Red Bank.” I am not among the “thousands” he’s talked to and, I, for one, am proud of our nice city, as are many in Red Bank.
The Red Bank Pride Association and our Seniors Groups share a pride in Red Bank that this mayoral hopeful doesn’t represent by his negative remarks about our city. Many of us weren’t asked nor included in the “thousands” Roberts purports to have talked to. Most in Red Bank are proud of our schools, our hospitals, our churches, our many businesses and our many volunteers who work tirelessly in Red Bank.
In response to remarks about the traffic cameras: Question: Do these traffic cameras make our city safer or more dangerous? It’s disturbing when a few can have a negative impact on so many. Do we want our city governed by negative leaders or by positive leaders? We can make our nice city of Red Bank a better and safer place to live and enjoy if we vote for positive commissioners. Vote Nov. 2. Go Red Bank.
GERALD C. WILSON
Cagle’s action hurt Red Bank
Before the people of Soddy-Daisy go to the polls and vote on Nov. 2, they need to be aware of a few facts regarding our former city manager, Janice Cagle, who is a candidate for the commission. Our city now is in a pending lawsuit because of some reckless decisions that were made by her during her last year as city manager.
The decision made by Janice Cagle to fire former Police Chief Loftis for doing his job, looking into corrupt activities in City Hall, has already cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars and could cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since when can’t a police chief look into allegations of wrongdoing? I thought this was his job. Could he have been getting too close to the truth?
The city has no insurance coverage against such a lawsuit. If the city loses this lawsuit, the taxpayers will pay the bill.
As a multiple property owner, I cannot afford any more taxes incurred by incompetent decisions.
My taxes are already high enough.
ALLEN LEWIS
Soddy-Daisy
Letter writers, please explain
There have been many letters blaming the Republicans for everything. Now, I am not an apologist for the Republicans. I believe Republicans are too stupid, too timid and never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. In fact, the term Republican leadership is an oxymoron.
However, the Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate since 2007. President Obama and the Democrats have been in total majority since 2008. All spending bills must originate in the House. The Republicans, being the party of “no,” have mostly voted against all spending.
The Democrats are on record since 2003 stating there is no problem with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Republicans are on record as just the opposite. Interestingly, the Democrats’ financial reform bill specifically exempted both agencies from any reform.
Maybe the letter writers blaming the Republicans for everything can help us understand how this is possible
VIRGIL R. SPERRY
LaFayette, Ga.
‘Sodomites’ pose little threat
Homosexuality only hurts the insecure heterosexuals.
However much Tennesseans throw around threats of God’s judgment and hatred of homosexuality and homosexuals by association, I see no evidence that this is the case. Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction was not primarily due to homosexuality, however much the message is skewed that way.
Even the Bible is ambivalent as to whether the reason for its holocaust was the sexual orientation of its citizens. Ezekiel 16:49-50 suggests it was Sodom’s inhospitality and greed that made it deserving of destruction. Although I imagine raping someone, hoarding supplies and being insensitive to people’s suffering is more unethical by nature than harmless same-sex attraction.
It’s not as if homosexuals are growing in numbers, since many alleged homosexuals turn out to be bisexual; fewer people are exclusively homosexual, so there’s no threat of an invasion of “sodomites.” And if being gay is a “lifestyle choice,” there is no reason to favor being straight, since it’s also a mere preference.
I conclude by quoting “Philadelphia,” “This is the essence of discrimination: formulating opinions about others not based on their individual merits, but rather on their membership in a group with assumed characteristics.”
JARED COWAN
Sewanee, Tenn.
Middle class potential lost
Our country is having an education crisis, while China is spending huge amounts of money on educating its citizens.
The U.S. emphasis has always been on funds for low-income students. No one seems to have noticed that the truly middle class, those who make too much to qualify for grants and work-study programs but too little to just write a check to cover college tuition, are left completely out of any consideration for assistance.
My father (a struggling farmer) couldn’t afford to pay for my college. I was second in my graduating class, yet forced to take out student loans to go to school. I settled for less than what I was capable of, even though I had the dream and the potential (but not the money) to be one of the first female engineers.
Today it’s even harder for a middle-class student to afford college. I still haven’t reached the income level of my potential, and my children aren’t likely to either without taking on tremendous debt.
We are in the lower, forgotten portion of middle class, yet some of our children could be among the brightest and best new scientists. What about their lost potential?
CAROLYN ELROD
Cleveland, Tenn.
Stand up for rights of murder victims
Pray for abolition of the death penalty? No! Pray for the abolishment of murder. Most of those murdered are innocents, sometimes children. The murderers are not innocent and only get the death penalty if they deserve it. Why not stand up for the rights of the victims, not the murderers.
DALE ROSE
Cleveland, Tenn.