Tax rich because they have money
In a recent letter to the editor, I see where another neo-conservative Republican is squawking about poor folks not paying enough taxes, saying they need “skin in the game.” I’d like to make a few points on this topic.
1) If you tax low-income-wage-earning families, it severely dilutes their buying power, hurting them and the economy. 2) If you talk to an honest high-wage-earner, he might fuss about the rich paying the biggest percentage of all income taxes and he might tell you the rich pay the most income taxes, but he will never tell you the rich pay more than their fair share of income taxes. 3) You tax the rich for the same reason Jesse James said he robbed banks – because that’s where the money is. Selah.
Allan Baggett
Trion, Ga.
Time to replace Rep. Fleischmann
Gun Owners of America has announced it opposes any ban on “bump stocks,” the devices used in the mass shooting in Las Vegas a few days ago to make the weapons fire automatically for increased firepower.
In May 2015, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann told a rally of members of the GOA at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Brainerd that if they voted for him, they could count on his voting for what they wanted. Less than three months later, Chattanooga experienced its mass shooting incident, which started about a mile away from where Fleischmann made those remarks.
This summer at a congressional baseball team practice, Fleischmann directly experienced the terror inflicted by a shooter intent on killing people.
He is on record for having accepted monies from the National Rifle Association as it lobbied for his continued support for its pro-gun causes, and he has been rated at 93 percent by that group for his support of its issues.
His flag-draped support of the Second Amendment and refusal to address how to stop these mass shooting incidents shows he is in Congress only to help himself. It’s time to replace him with someone who will demonstrate true leadership.
Jim Webster
Faux patriots never served U.S.
This letter concerns the recent uproar about not standing for the national anthem. I have attended sporting events all my life. I’ve always honored the flag and national anthem by standing and placing my hand over my heart.
But as an American citizen, as much as I dislike watching someone not standing or removing their caps during the national anthem, they legally have that right.
I served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s and feel that citizens who didn’t answer the call to serve their country seem to be the most vocal about how to be patriotic. Make a list of our elected officials, of all ages, and determine how many of them put on the uniform, served our country and protected our freedom. Then make a list of our elected officials of today, including the president and vice president, who are so adamant about America and the flag, and ask where they were when the roll was called.
Let’s wake up before it’s too late. Sen. Corker has it right in calling out the president. Where are the other good folks to join him?
Dale Eubanks
Ooltewah
‘One-two punch’ or freedom?
Don’t fight Hitler, fight pregnancy? People who deemed it wrong to fight against Auschwitz by killing Germans could serve in other ways. But now people who deem it wrong to fight against pregnancy by killing babies can opt out? How awful! “One-two punch hits birth control and LGBT rights,” yelps the headline (cover, Oct. 7).
Exit your liberal bubble; read the Constitution. A country enjoying “the blessings of liberty” is a country where people freely do what others deem bad, up to a point; freely criticize each other’s ideas and practices, and freely join or refuse to join groups each of which sets its own standards.
Churches (New City Fellowship) help the needy; donate. Crisis pregnancy centers (Choices) help needy women. Fornication has been popular since Genesis 38. Does it really need help from enforced subsidies? Really need help from lies saying “no-cost birth control” when well-paid bureaucrats shuffle the costs around?
Jesus Christ, president of presidents, freely donated his life to pay our costs. Takers – heirs of Judas and Caiaphas and Pilate – repent while you can.
Logic on fire is what preaching should be, said Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
Andrew Lohr
Sen. Corker gives hope for mankind
I am ashamed and embarrassed by the Tennesseans who voted for, and, apparently, continue to support the engineer of the greatest train wreck since Old 97.
I am, conversely, very, very proud of Sen. Bob Corker for having the guts, courage and integrity to stand for what is right.
Thank you, Mr. Corker, a true Tennessee Volunteer. I will delay, once again, my surrender of any hope for mankind whatsoever because of you.
Mark H. Holden
Ooltewah
Corker’s courage lauded by reader
I applaud the courageous and outspoken position taken by Sen. Corker regarding the inability of Trump to “demonstrate the stability or the competence” to lead the country. In characterizing the White House as an “adult daycare center,” Sen. Corker has stated what many Republicans believe but are unwilling to acknowledge. It requires more than a modicum of courage to denounce, categorically and specifically, but without acrimony, the titular head of the one’s party as both incompetent and psychotic!
Regarding incompetence, Secretary of State Tillerson allegedly referred to Trump as a moron but was unwilling to corroborate that allegation. Regarding mental stability, mental health experts, during a conference at Yale University, warned that Trump has a “dangerous mental illness” and is “paranoid and delusional.” Their comments were punctuated with the conclusion that his psychological state poses a threat to the country and that he is mentally incompetent to lead it.
Statesmen, as opposed to politicians, are in short supply. It is refreshing that Sen. Corker has chosen to be a statesman by publicly embracing a, perhaps, unpopular and politically tenuous position that few members of his party are willing to advocate. The silence of the lambs is disconcerting!
T. William Alexander