Chattanooga hospitality shines during Ironman
As a competitor in last Sunday’s Ironman Race, I would like to thank the Chattanooga community for your gracious hospitality.
To the police in Tennessee and Georgia who worked hard to ensure our safety and to cheer us on, thank you! To the thousands of race volunteers who made this race possible, thank you! To the citizens of Chattanooga and North Georgia who were inconvenienced by race day, thank you! To the local businesses who welcomed the athletes and families, thank you! To race director Brian Myrick, who had many challenges to deal with, thank you! To my local family who welcomed into their home not only myself but my many North Carolina friends, thank you!
See you again in May.
Thanks,
Cary Witherspoon Maycock, Greensboro, North Carolina
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Answers demanded on migrant children
We learn today that each week the federal government has moved hundreds of migrant children to a tent camp near the Texas border where they sleep in bunks. There is no school.
The federal government has taken thousands of children from their families and are now holding them in unnamed locations around the country, some run by for-profit contractors.
I call on you, Sens. Corker and Alexander, and Rep. Fleischmann, to provide answers to the most basic questions about what our government is doing with and to these children and whether they are being afforded long-established rights under the Constitution: Who exactly is taking these children? Where are they? Who is taking care of them, monitoring their well-being, their education, their nutrition, their play? Who is getting the $700-plus that each child is costing each day? What is happening to the federal agencies whose money the government has reprogrammed for these children’s detention? How long do you plan to keep these children away from their families?
All who believe in democracy, justice, mercy and humanity demand that you find out. Then tell us.
Emily T. Campbell
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Kavanaugh, Ford unfairly compared
Mr. Cook, rather than speculate, I’m curious why you did not apply the first several paragraphs of your Sept. 23 “This open Road” column to Brett Kavanaugh and selectively only to Christine Ford.
Isn’t Mr. Kavanaugh noteworthy also as not the same person in high school you are as an adult, should not also be imprisoned as an adult by teenage decisions, “we all make mistakes,” or it’s difficult being a teenager?
Shouldn’t Mr. Kavanaugh be believed for the same reasons?
William Moore, Dayton, Tenn.
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Kavanaugh emails reveal the truth
Forget about sexual allegations: Kavanaugh is a liar. He has lied multiple times before Congressional committees about knowledge of stolen Democratic documents (his emails prove he most emphatically knew about them).
In a confirmation hearing he claimed he knew nothing about warrantless NSA phone surveillance (again contradicted by his emails). Torture of detained “enemy combatants”? He claims he was not involved – until records proved that he participated in discussions about the issue in the Bush White House.
Working personally for a pro-life judicial and other controversial judicial nominees? Never. Read his emails.
Whether or not you agree with his views, whether you think he is guilty of any sexual crime, Kavanaugh is already on the record as a habitual liar. Do we want a supreme liar on our highest court?
David C. Redheffer, Ringgold
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Democrats have shown true colors
Whether or not you are a Trump supporter, the Democrats have shown how despicable and corrupt they are during the Judge Kavanaugh Senate hearings. They have vilified, slandered and lied about the accusations levied upon him. Witnesses Dr. Ford listed in her sexual assault accusation have denied her accusations.
The Democrats don’t care how qualified Judge Kavanaugh is or his record as a 12-year judge on the Washington, D.C., court. Democrats won’t allow a conservative, constitutional judge on the Supreme Court.
Their strategy is to delay, delay, delay until after the mid-terms this November in hopes of winning back the House and Senate. If they do, they intend to impeach Trump and not let him confirm another Supreme Court nominee.
The Democrats don’t care how much they destroy this country as long as they get their power back by any means possible, legal or otherwise. The Democrats have no intentions of working with Republicans or to compromise.
If you want this country moving forward as Trump envisions, Democrats must be defeated in the mid-term elections in November.
Gary Hayes, Ooltewah
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Caregiver praises rehab services
As a caregiver during the day, one of my greatest fears is to arrive to find out Frank had a bad night. At 7:50 a.m. I found him on the bathroom floor and unable to get up.
It was obvious he had been on the hard floor for many hours. Emergency room, a few days at the hospital, and then reluctantly Frank was admitted at Health South Hospital for Rehabilitation.
Two weeks of daily physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy for an 86-year-old with limited mobility would be a challenge.
My purpose in writing is to give praise to so many at Health South who really went above and beyond to care for Frank. I spent many days and nights helping Frank and observing those angels meeting so many needs.
There are many great health care professionals at a multitude of facilities. I wonder how many of us express our gratitude.
Thank you, I wish I could list all the names!
Edward Snodgrass, Sale Creek
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Fiscal health masks taxation problem
Our right-side editorial last Sunday, “Our Financially Healthy State,” rightly boasted about Tennessee’s financial health compared to virtually every state in the east.
And, yes, that is good news; however, I believe it deserves further comment: The first stated reason for Tennessee’s fiscal health is our sales tax.
Most states have at least some sales tax but Tennessee features a high sales tax on food. This is considered a regressive tax; that is, low-income people pay a higher relative portion of their earnings on something they cannot do without.
The conservative American Legislative Council ranks Tennessee high due to “the State’s many responsible fiscal policies, including no personal income tax, the repeal of the Hall Tax, the recent repeal of the death tax and the state’s right to work status.” (The council likes Tennessee because of our right-leaning policies).
Our fiscal health is further attributed to Republican governance; this ignores great Democratic governors like Ned McWherter and (future Sen.) Phil Bredesen (and Sundquist’s attempts to get a reasonable income tax). Ridiculous.
Let’s not boast about Tennessee’s fiscal health and wealth when so much of it comes from the food tax on the working poor.
Byron Chapin, Hixson
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Six observations on our state, city
Note: Only a very progressive city would tear down a beautiful park, spend $10 million-plus creating a less than mediocre space, and then celebrate.
Note: Former Gov. Bredesen and Gov. Haslam have proven that people can work out differences. Had not Gov. Haslam had way-right Beth Harwell et al., he could have done better. Kudos, Gov. Haslam.
Note: You read the news, watch the news and you pay no attention. Headlines say how well the economy is doing. For whom? The 1 percent is doing great, but we the people are living on the same money we were living on 17 years ago. Seventeen years ago.
Note: Enterprise zones that enable those with all of the money to get all the tax breaks at the expense of taxpayers is very typical of Chattanooga.
Note: I am amazed the people outside of downtown have not started a revolution over the way Chattanooga is screwing them.
Note: Fall is coming. Can’t wait for the temperatures to drop.
Mark Tyson