City, U.S. leaders can’t see reality
The problem with our current leadership is their inability to understand the problems real people are facing. Whether it be the city wanting to raise property taxes or the federal government allowing the tax cuts to expire, raising our income taxes, they are both out of touch with real people. They become so focused on their own political agendas, they forget that people are out of work and there is no extra money available. Even though I earn above-average wages, my wife became disabled this past year resulting in a 30 percent reduction in income. For our household, we have no extra income. That is reality. If our city or federal government can’t see it, we will have to elect someone else who does see it.
RICK RATHBUN
Hold your criticism until you see Beck
Never having heard of Glenn Beck before people started criticizing him in the media, I watched his show for a number of weeks, culminating in the march in Washington. I learned about how Woodrow Wilson, in writing a four-volume set of history books used in schools for decades, was one who hijacked the contributions of African-Americans years ago. I learned amazing African-American history on two of Beck’s shows. I read for myself quotations from our early founders; these had never been in any of the textbooks over the last 35 years of my teaching history. This man is passionate about our country and its welfare. In a letter to the editor, I read words such as “un-American crazies,” “Hitler-like Beck whipping these throngs of low-information Americans into frenzy,” and turning “this country into a nation of whiners, liars, and history re-writers.” Funny, I have seen the exact opposite. I wonder if some have even seen enough of his programs to know what they’re espousing about this man. Americans should be able to disagree without being so disagreeable as Sunday’s letter.
LEE RITTER
Hixson
Evaluate Beck after watching him
I have not written before, but I must address all of the Glenn Beck bashing. Have any that criticize even watched his program, or are you coming up with your opinion by watching the far left media? I challenge you all to watch him for one week, and then give an assessment. Most people would agree with him. How can you give an accurate account of a book by reading the introduction? His Restoring Honor rally was awesome. And, speaking of the rally, the far left showed their true colors once more in their reviews. Very disturbing.
CINDY HOWARD
Chickamauga, Ga.
Jury’s criticism not based on facts
The perennial criticism of the criminal justice system by one of the two concurrent Hamilton County grand juries is short-sighted, not based on true facts and is reminiscent of the Star Chamber of the Middle Ages.
The criminal courts, district attorneys, defense counsel, law enforcement officers, victims, and all of the participants in the system are faced with many more issues than a lower court or a grand jury that usually only hears one side of a case (testimony normally for 5-to-15 minutes by a police officer) and has to decide only two issues: (1) if a crime has been committed; and (2) is it probable (not guilt beyond a reasonable doubt) that the accused committed the offense charged.
The rules of criminal procedure, the Tennessee and federal constitutions, admissibility of evidence and testimony, and the often quoted principle, of “equal justice under the law” for all parties mandates much more than the cursory attack on the courts and prosecutors from the one-sided view of the total criminal system by the grand jury.
Our criminal justice system is not perfect, but it functions much better than the criticism by one of the Hamilton County grand juries.
JERRY SUMMERS
Beck seeks change through the truth
Far from being “Hitler-like” “hoping to create civil unrest,” Glenn Beck constantly advocates against violence, saying we must change our country by becoming informed, by researching the truth ourselves and putting people in office who adhere to our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
It’s amazing that in a crowd of 350,000 to 450,000 “hateful, low-information Americans” there were no arrests. Also, if Glenn Beck was “trashing Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy,” why would MLK’s niece be a main guest at this rally?
Who is really “un-American and unpatriotic”: Glenn Beck having a rally which raised over $5 million supporting the Special Operations Wounded Warriors’ families, or someone who is outraged that other American citizens dare to exercise their freedom of speech and right to peaceful assembly?
It is sad there are citizens who feel their point of view is the only one allowed. The really “scary people” are those either too apathetic to try and restore our country to its founding principles or are receiving so many government handouts they don’t want the gravy train to stop.
I am a Glenn Beck follower and patriot.
DONNA M. BREWER
Ooltewah
Area lucky to have this newspaper
Editor Todd Foster failed to mention in his Sunday article one of the callers on UCTV complimenting the layout of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. I am that person, and I told him all you have to do is read a paper from another city to know how lucky we are.
I also want to tell a letter writer from Hixson that he needs to include “Mutts” and “Garfield” in his morning comics to start his day off with love and humor.
NANETTE HAWKINS
Fort Oglethorpe
Christians must assess candidates
While the Tea Party and Libertarians say they are for the little guy, both are supported financially and in the media by very rich people. It’s obvious that these two groups aren’t interested in looking into the source of funding for their causes, because they have no problem with accepting millionaires Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News being spokespersons for the everyday Americans. Charles and David Koch (who ran in 1980 as the Libertarian Party vice-presidential candidate), billionaire oilmen, give huge amounts of money to both groups. These individuals use the Tea Party to promote ideas, such as continuing Bush’s tax cuts, which primarily benefit the very rich.
Many Tea Party members also support Libertarians. Much of Libertarian philosophy and platform contradict historic Christian teachings. Glenn Beck has attacked mainstream churches and traditional teachings of the Christian church despite sounding like a preacher in his Washington rally.
It is important for Christians who independently evaluate candidates to check out the ideas put forth in the current election cycle. Many are not what they seem, are not factual or are distortions. Much of what is being promoted as Christian cannot be found in the Bible or historically in church teachings.
ROGER A. MEYER
Congress behind nation’s debt
I wish to respond to a letter published Saturday (Sept. 4) under the title “GOP presidents put us in a bind.”
The writer said that since 1950, GOP presidents contributed five times the debt of Democrat presidents, resulting in the Sept. 30, 2009, total debt of $11.909 trillion. It conveniently overlooked the constitutional fact that presidents do not control spending – Congress does.
Only once (2003-2006) in that time span did a GOP president have the benefit of a GOP Congress. This one instance reflected spending for two wars.
The current administration (where both the presidency and Congress are Democrat) has accelerated and continues to accelerate spending, leading to debt levels that threaten our future and very existence. A close examination of the history since 1950 will show the correct correlation of spending and congressional makeup. The GOP is clearly not the culprit.
MIKE BUDNICK
Winchester, Tenn.
‘Socialist’ nations are ahead of us
The standard Republican solution to everything is deregulation, privatization and tax cuts, believing taxes are the number one detriment to economic prosperity. They conveniently ignore the fact that the period from post-World War II until the early 1970s, the “Golden Era of American Capitalism,” was a time of strict regulation, powerful labor unions and high taxes.
When all taxes – federal, state and local – are considered as a percentage of national income, we have the developed world’s lowest tax rate at 29.8 percent. Sweden’s (the highest) is 53.2 percent, Norway’s 48.3, Germany’s 39.2 percent and Canada’s 37.3 percent.
Yes, right-wingers say, but aren’t these all socialist systems which would never work here?
Horsefeathers! Socialism has never worked anywhere, anytime. Capitalism is alive and well in Sweden with a vibrant free-market economy boasting such world-class corporations as Volvo, Ericcson Electronics and Electrolux. High-grade Swedish steel is valued the world over for fine cutlery and surgical instruments. Germany, with only 28 percent of our population, surpasses us and is second only to China in exports.
These “socialist” countries who are out-competing us in world markets also pay first-world wages while we lay off and outsource.
Say what you wish Republicans, conservatives, neocons, Libertarians, but do your homework first.
GEORGE B. REED JR.
Fort Oglethorpe
People with ideas are job creators
Mr. Obama has again called for billions more of spending and debt for future generations to come. This latest infrastructure proposal is just another payoff to unions.
Private sector jobs are created by someone with an idea. Not the government.
David Packard and Bill Hewlett started Hewlett-Packard in a garage, now employing 304,000. The airplane was invented by the Wright brothers in their bicycle repair shop that has grown to millions of air industry related jobs. Dell computer was created by Michael Dell in his college dorm room, now employing 94,000. Bill Gates created Microsoft to fill a need in the growing computer industry. Bill Gates is directly and indirectly responsible for creating hundreds of millions of private sector jobs, more than any human in history.
How many private sector jobs have been created by union bosses? By Barack Obama? Both answers are – none.
The economy is not recovering because both small and large businesses are fearful of the future under Obama’s policies, including ObamaCare. Therefore they are unwilling to take future business risks. It really is that simple.
WALTER S. MCFARLAND
Roberts has insight to help Red Bank
We need John Roberts as a city commissioner in Red Bank.
We are beset with problems that could damage not only the city government of Red Bank but the quality of life in Red Bank. A hostile business climate; lawsuits that could bankrupt the city; and apartment complexes that change the character of Red Bank are some of the challenges that the citizens of Red Bank face.
John Roberts has the determination and the wisdom to face these problems and move Red Bank forward for a better tomorrow.
MICHAEL BARNES
Officials’ actions woke up citizens
I thank the mayor (with a tip of the hat to the School Board) for waking up the citizens of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
For too long elected officials in all levels of government have pretty much figured that they can do whatever they want with no reprisals from the voting public.
Quoting Mayor Ron Littlefield: “What are they going to do – recall me?” In the past the answer would have been no – but not anymore, for we are now involved – and we are no longer your servants – you are ours.
For governments to operate properly requires an engaged public – one that pays attention and gets involved – Chattanooga has that now, so I want to thank the mayor (and the School Board especially, Janice Boydston) for actions so outlandish, and replies so repugnant that you have personally made Chattanoogans a better electorate by waking us up – even though that wasn’t your intention.
GREGG JUSTER