Virgin Mary OK; why not the Bible?
As the Democrats gloat over putting down the history of the United States and its Bible, it is no problem recognizing the ladybug as honoring the Virgin Mary (page 522, Tennessee Blue Book). No problem with “separation of church and state.” As for the governor and those who curry his favor in fear of his corporate right arm, we the people didn’t vote for the 60 corporations and their strong-arm tactics; we voted for representatives. Whether it’s the “bathroom bill” or honoring the Bible, these corporations run in fear of the IRS and ACLU lawyers while they imprison those who resist this thievery.
The vote was in the majority in favor of recognizing the Bible as the historical State Book, and with a radical move, your governor vetoed the clear will of the people. How many of those who changed their mind swore in on the Bible? And how many lawyers had Communist law professors, as testified by Sen. Brian Kelsey at our tea party?
June Griffin
Dayton, Tenn.
Forget politics; we need insurance
I am in the health coverage gap. I cannot get affordable insurance. I was born legally blind, but I’ve done everything I could to not let that stop me in life. I’ve gone to schools for the blind, which is where I met my husband, and other special training programs to try to help me get a job. But reality is, most employers don’t want to hire someone who can’t see well.
I can’t find work in my town, and Tennessee won’t give me disability. I’m stuck. I’ve got no way to afford insurance. With Insure Tennessee, I’ve been hopeful something might be done to help people like me. I’ve walked all over town gathering about 300 signatures in support of Insure Tennessee. I’m disappointed nothing happened this year to help us. I hope whatever Speaker Harwell is working on is good for us. I don’t care about the politics. Only insured people care about that. I just care about getting insurance.
I know Speaker Harwell made some task force to come up with a plan. I just hope those people remember what’s most important – the lives and needs of the people who elected them to office.
Cynthia Baker
Athens, Tenn.
Wealthy wrong ones to receive tax cuts
Contrary to conservative orthodoxy, substantial economic data indicates that to energize the economy the wealthiest individuals are precisely the wrong ones on whom to bestow tax cuts.
Tax reduction for lower- and middle-income people, over 95 percent of the population, has a far more stimulating effect on consumption, production and investment because it puts more money in more pockets. This shouldn’t be that hard to understand. Tax reduction for the highest-income people does not necessarily boost consumption because lack of income has never inhibited their spending. Purchasing and investing by the super rich are essentially unaffected by tax policy.
It is also no mystery the biggest beneficiaries of supply-side economics are the wealthiest elite who control the Republican Party and the conservative media. Lower taxes enable them to bank more income than their counterparts in any other developed country. Tax reduction also shrinks government programs, the bane of the right wing, by starving them of revenue and thereby driving up deficits. Bernie Sanders understands all this, but as an independent ideologue he can accomplish little. It will take at least four more years, a third party, and visionary leadership to begin setting things right.
George B. Reed
Rossville
Siedlecki can’t enact tax freeze
A letter writer in Monday’s Times Free Press said assessor of property candidate Mark Siedlecki promised to freeze property taxes for the elderly property owners of Hamilton County if he were to be elected. The tax assessor has no such authority. To freeze property taxes for seniors requires a referendum approval by the voters, which already has been voted on and approved, and requires approval by the Hamilton County Commission, which has chosen to ignore the wishes of 80 percent of voters.
I would not like some seniors to believe that a vote for Mark Siedlecki would freeze their property tax if he is elected.
Robert A. Reno
Ooltewah