Want smart, honest? Choose Thurman
Vote for Rhonda Thurman.
Why? First and foremost, she is honest. Not squishy politician, do-the-expedient thing, help-your-buddies “honest,” but real honest.
Second, she is smart.
Third, she cares about where and how tax dollars are spent. As usual, both sides of the TFP editorial pages picked Rhonda’s opponent. Although most of us see this as a rousing endorsement they implied that “we” needed a change and Ms. Thurman was old news. They implied that she was responsible for the state of education in this county. They made it clear that the elites should run things.
There is one problem here: The board has been dominated by ex-teachers, ex-principals and spouses of same. Ms. Thurman was always in the minority on every vote. That majority of ex-educators did the decision making. She had nothing to do with the decline of the school system.
Ms. Thurman’s opponent is also a passed-around educator. She will just be another rubber stamp for the elites and the PEF. These elites think you are stupid. If you vote for another educator, they will be right. Be smart, vote for Rhonda Thurman.
Tim Price, Hixson
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De-coding what the GOP really means
It should be apparent to anyone who is paying attention in this election year that conservatives are using coded references in their slogans and campaigns. They are not coming right out and saying what they mean. Some examples include:
* Preventing voter fraud: Denying or restricting the access of minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged persons to the voting booth.
* Protecting women’s health: Denying or restricting women’s access to safe and legal abortion services.
* Protecting marriage: Discriminating against gays and lesbians and denying them the right to marry.
* Protecting privacy and safety: Denying transgender people to right to use the bathroom that conforms to the gender with which they identify.
* Make America Safe Again: Locking up minorities and deporting immigrants who may cause trouble.
At best, these are programs designed to solve problems that do not exist. There is precious little voter fraud. Abortion is a very safe procedure. Allowing gays and lesbians to marry does not diminish someone else’s marriage. There are no statistics indicating there is rampant crime committed in bathrooms by transgender people.
Let’s focus on our real problems and come up with intelligent and thoughtful solutions.
John West, Signal Mountain
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Lack of response prompts next vote
I have been a home owner and citizen of East Ridge for more than 35 years. I wrote Mayor Brent Lambert to find out who voted for the garbage fee they put on us a couple of years ago and would like to know how East Ridge is doing financially.
I sent Mayor Lambert an envelope, stamp, my address and phone number to write back. A week went by, didn’t hear anything, so I called his secretary, who said he had gotten my letter. Two months later, I still haven’t heard from him. I will sure know who to vote for next time.
Ronnie Proctor, East Ridge