Beach town urged to keep fighting
Re: “In Florida party town, last call leaving a financial hangover” (March 22):
I found the article to be well-written, balanced and fair. There is a fine line between keeping middle-class business owners happy and balancing what is truly best for a city and ultimately our country. The debauchery exhibited during spring break around our country should be abhorrent not just to those living in Panama City Beach (PCB) but to the nation. It is my opinion we have lost our way when it comes to how America views what is acceptable and what is depraved. We as a nation are overcome with greed – a nation that bows to the almighty dollar, foregoing solid morals and ethics in lieu of fattening our coffers. I commend PCB for its efforts in curbing the idea and attitude that you only live once and you need to get out there, find yourself and enjoy life while you’re young! These are all falsehoods built on a slippery slope that many youths never recover from.
Keep fighting the good fight, PCB. There are those close to home who are hopeful for you and keeping your most troublesome afflictions in prayer.
Justin Alexander
Students should be top priority
A recent article about a Hixson gathering to discuss our next school superintendent was disappointing. The group of adults did nothing more than focus on the problems of adults in education (communication, teacher relations). For too long Hamilton County leadership has placed the needs of our students last in the education equation. Dedication to what is best for students should be at the forefront of every decision related to our schools and our approach to education.
A subsequent TFP article highlighted student conversations at CSAS where they’ve been studying the Chattanooga 2.0 report. Middle school students were exploring big adult issues related to low-wage jobs and working-parent schedules. If Hamilton County’s children are thoughtful enough to consider what is important for the adults in their lives, the absolute least we can do as the “grown ups” is to rise to the challenge of thinking about our children more than ourselves.
Jenny K. Hill
GOP ‘unhealthy for a democracy’
It is thought by many on the left and right that a Trump nomination would be ruinous for the Republican Party. What a blessing for the nation! Thus, as much as I despise Mr. Trump, I favor his nomination and his subsequent defeat by the Democratic nominee, whoever he (she) might be.
The Republican Party promotes man’s dominance over woman, Caucasian dominance over other races, and dominance of the wealthy over the middle and lower classes. The party favors the elimination of Medi-caid, Medicare and Social Security, humanitarian government programs which are not money-makers for the private sector but are merely life sustaining.
Compassion is flagrantly absent from conservative utterances. It is troubling right-wing proponents who do not appear to feel much of a need to hide their indifference to others’ suffering.
A dearth of conscience characterizes the right, unhealthy for a democracy.
Gelburd Sheldon, Ph.D.