Proposed quarry could harm area
Our beautiful Hiwassee River flows clean and clear out of mountains in Polk County, providing wildlife habitat, drinking water and recreation.
Everyone who cares for rivers should know that commercial investors (East Tennessee Materials LLC) applied for permits to develop a large limestone quarry mine near Calhoun. The proposed site is on Oostanaula Creek near its confluence with the Hiwassee.
In addition to serene beauty of old farmlands and wooded ridges, the area is also rich in history. The Cherokee town of Ustana was documented at the confluence by state archaeologists, ruins of pre-Civil War mill with an intact dam remain, and Civil War troops camped nearby.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requests comments on this permit before Sept. 20, 2010: in writing, by fax or e-mail to Gary.Mullins@tn.gov. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control, Mining Section, 3711 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6538. Phone 865-594-6035, Fax 865-594-6105.
Human health and safety can also be affected by mining operations involving blasting, dust, truck traffic and unpredictable underground water flow in an area with many caves and sinkholes. Please take note and comment to TDEC.
KRISTINE JOHNSON
Sevierville, Tenn.
U.S. advisers need real-job experience
As reported Saturday, Sen. Lamar Alexander asserted that the “Obama team lacks business sense.” Given that less than 10 percent of the president’s inner circle has ever worked in business, Alexander’s claim is spot-on, but his suggestion that all those in government should have sat on corporate boards of directors (which often pay in the six figures) hardly seems the cure.
How about requiring that the president’s advisers should have held real jobs, those that pay salaries and wages, those that require day-in, day-out accountability, where performance is measured, and where the bottom line matters?
Obama’s lack of such experience is indeed troubling, especially in view of his stated desire to “rebuild the American economy.” Regardless of one’s politics, such a goal is troubling simply on its face.
Who determined that the American economy was broken? On the basis of what standard was this determination made? Who is clever enough (and arrogant enough?) to suppose that he knows how to re-build it, supposing that it is broken?
On what basis will it be rebuilt?
And finally, where does a president derive constitutional authority to pretend to manage something as vast and complex as the American economy?
GARY LINDLEY
Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Terrorist acts need criticism
Helene Cooper in the New York Times Friday said, “President Obama gave an impassioned call on Friday for tolerance and better relations between Muslims and non-Muslims at home and abroad, defending the ‘inalienable rights’ of those who worship Islam to practice their religion freely.”
The president’s national security team and advisers should pay attention to world news. On Thursday, Muslim terrorists from Ingushetia planted a car bomb at the entrance to the market in North Ossetia’s capital, Vladikavkaz, a city of 300,000 in this Northern Caucasus Russian republic. The bomb killed 15, including an 18-month-old child, injured 138, with 110 remaining hospitalized. Why? Because North Ossetia is the only Orthodox Christian republic in region! None of these Christians had burned nor threatened to burn the Quran!
Why didn’t the White House criticize this terrorist act against Christians in a predominately Christian nation? It’s more distressing if they’re ignorant about this former Soviet republic/region.
Expect next that these Muslim terrorists will attack north to Kalmykia on the Caspian. Kalmyks are the only Buddhist nation in Europe and revere the Dalai Lama. Not being “people of the book” – Jews, Christians and Muslims – they have no protection promised in Quran for book peoples. Neither did Christians in North Ossetia.
JOHN A. LYNCH
Whitwell, Tenn.
Bug instead of 9/11 is the final straw
I could not believe my eyes when I picked up the newspaper and saw the picture of a bug instead of coverage of 9/11. The person who made that call should be fired. This newspaper has been going downhill, but this is the final straw.
MICHELLE JOLLY
GOP votes show lack of caring
I’ve written letters stating that the GOP cares nothing for everyday working people. That is because I check how they vote. The votes are listed in this paper. If you do not check, or pretend that you don’t care how they vote, you are uninformed. You are not doing your patriotic duty as an American citizen.
So let me give you just one prime example out of many. On Aug. 10, Congress voted for money to states in order to help keep teachers, fire, and police personnel from losing jobs. Our GOP reps voted “NO,” as shown in the Times Free Press! Because the Democratic Party passed the bill, many jobs will be saved.
All teachers, fire, and police personnel, as well as their families owe a debt of gratitude to the Democratic Party. That goes for everyone who cares anything about “people” issues!
Right now, the GOP is holding up passage of a bill that would aid in loans and give tax breaks to small businesses. They care nothing about you or the good of our country. The one thing they will always vote to do is give tax cuts to the ultra-rich. Trickle down is an abysmal failure!
WALTER M. BENTON
Signal Mountain
Revere Constitution as first law of land
Constitution Week is Sept. 17-23. On Sept. 17, 1787, a final version of the Constitution was signed.
For 223 years. the Constitution has defended the independence of the American people, and stands alone as the only “Contract with America.”
It’s been trampled, assaulted, misinterpreted, and even disrespected. Nonetheless, it’s the envy of the world, and it’s been used in every court of our land, including the Supreme Court.
Torture, dismemberment and death have been imposed upon brave men and women in all the earth who have defended it. As a living document it has brought great joy, and much grief to the people who safeguarded its words. Its unrivaled ideas brought democracy to places that once only dreamed of a free society. It respects all faiths, is not male nor female, has no race, and recognizes no political affiliation. It has no emotion of love or hate; that is decreed to mortal dilemma.
The Constitution protects and defends speech you hate to hear; likewise the code is moral and vilifies no one who upholds the law. It casts no fear and is to be revered as the first law of the land.
It is “We the People” who are given this treasure to experience the great American adventure.
HELEN VARNELL
MALMQUIST
Cleveland, Tenn.