A sure cure for voter apathy
I had an epiphany last night while being inundated by obnoxious political television ads.
Early voter turnout numbers would skyrocket if, once you voted, political ads were blocked on your TV. People would line up in the middle of the night waiting for the polls to open; the lines would be longer than those of people waiting to buy a ticket in a $1 billion-plus lottery.
EPB, Comcast, DirecTV – make it happen!
J. Michael Hemsley
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Kushner report incorrect, unfair
On Oct. 14, the TFP reprinted an article (page A19) from The New York Times that is the perfect example of why President Trump labels that paper fake news.
The article implied that Jared Kushner was taking advantage of tax loopholes only available to rich real estate developers. But at issue was his use of one of the most ordinary of business deductions, depreciation on property. It stated that “the losses were only on paper.” That is a flat-out lie.
Any competent accountant can verify that losses due to depreciation are real losses. Money paid out. They account for the payments one has to make on the property. Interest is also deductible but not included in depreciation. If you are taking in less money every month than you are paying out on a property, you are losing money every month.
Depreciation is not only a standard business practice but it is federal tax law. Mr. Kushner was doing nothing wrong in depreciating his property. He was properly accounting for his costs.
I would advise the editor to be very careful reprinting stories from the Times. I would hate for my hometown newspaper with its rich history to become just another source of fake news.
Kevin H. Roberts
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A proud American in Trump economy
Proud to be an American? According to a recent poll, more than 70 percent of Republicans are proud to be a citizen of America, but only 31 percent of Democrats feel the same. Here are some reasons why I don’t want Democrats in control:
Every single Democrat voted to reject the tax cuts, which have produced the greatest economy and the lowest unemployment in history. That greatly improved economy includes blacks, Hispanics, youth and even those without even high school diplomas.
They won’t vote for secure borders. They criticize ICE and all other law and order. They ignore the international respect Obama lost that Trump has restored. Their Resist movement has paralyzed Congress, forcing Trump to do anything necessary to get legislation done.
Every chance they get they try to assassinate not only Trump’s efforts but his very character. This is not the way America has worked successfully for over 200 years.
Vote! If the Democrats take over in November, I, too, will no longer be proud to be an American.
Dr. Tom Herzog
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Use of term ‘feral’ was racist, wrong
I read both sides of the editorials daily as I did when I read the Bradley Gitz commentary “Chicago’s Charnel House” (Aug. 2). Normally, I don’t agree with his views, but I respect his right to them. However, I was disturbed with this piece as it demonized the Black Lives Matter movement for its attempt to get justice for unarmed victims killed by rogue policemen.
Even more disturbing was the language he used to describe poor, inner-city families. He referred to young black males who grow up without a father as feral youths. Racism at its finest – from the mouth of a teacher.
Synonyms for “feral” are animal, savage, brutal, uncultivated. Even though Gitz is only dehumanizing African-Americans, this language has been used by racists throughout history: savages – Native Americans, native Africans; animals – Hispanics, homeless, gays, Jews; brutal, uncultivated – Muslims.
This makes me sad and angry. My first inclination was to blame this on the current administration, but I cannot because we all share the blame for not calling out people who spew this type of racism. For the sake of our democracy and human decency, we must do our part to get it stopped.
Fred Kuhn
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‘Pampered’ boomer takes exception
I would like to comment on a column that appeared in the TFP on Oct. 18 by The New York Times’ Timothy Egan.
He seems to postulate that the election of Donald Trump was due to the lack of participation by the millennials, individuals born between 1981 and 1996. The result of this lack of participation was the election of Trump by the “entitled, pampered and aging” baby boomers, individuals born between 1946 and 1964.
As a member of that pampered generation, being born in 1946, I take exception to the term “pampered.” Many in this generation became of age during the turbulent 1960s. They’ve seen the assassination of a president, his brother, a famed civil rights leader, race riots and civil rights marches with the violence that resulted.
The young men of this generation were subject to being drafted into the military services to fight in an unpopular war. Some 50,000 of the men of this generation did not return home to their pampered lives.
This generation through protests and other means played a substantial part in bringing this war to an end, the elimination of the draft, and a president’s decision not to seek re-election.
Archie Thurman
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Teach for America would be a mistake
As a longtime educator and Teach Tennessee mentor, I believe Teach for America is a huge mistake for Hamilton County Schools.
1. Teach Tennessee trained both recent college graduates and experienced professionals for fast-track certification. Teach for America only works with recent college graduates.
2. Eighty-five percent of Teach Tennessee cohorts remained as teachers for five years or more. Teach for America will see a much lower retention rate due to their trainees’ inexperience.
3. There is no teacher shortage, only a shortage of teachers who want to teach. HCDE needs to create a better classroom situation that is safe and allows the teacher to teach, not be micromanaged by administration. Teach Tennessee used local mentors.
4. Teach Tennessee placed cohorts and mentors in all schools interested. Teach for America will just place teachers in specific schools. All schools need good teachers.
The bottom line: Why can’t HCDE use the Teach Tennessee model, use local, retired teachers as mentors, recruit teachers from local schools and businesses? This would keep money in Hamilton County rather than sending it out of state. A locally run program should cost less so money could go to schools lacking SROs.
Jim Watson, Hixson
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Confront politicians who support Trump
On Oct. 18, while Donald Trump was campaigning for Congressman Greg Gianforte of Montana, he lauded the congressman for body-slamming a reporter during a 2017 special election. He called Gianforte “my kind of guy” and “a tough cookie.” Gianforte was charged with a misdemeanor, fined and required to do community service for the attack. That’s the sort of person Trump finds appealing.
While it’s no longer surprising Trump encourages violence against reporters, it’s appalling he chose to do so in the wake of evidence another reporter, Jamal Khashoggi, had his fingers chopped off and was then decapitated by agents of the Saudi Arabian government.
Trump is a disgrace as president and beneath contempt as a human being. We need to hold our politicians to account for him, especially Republicans who accept his support.
Republican officeholders and candidates, from U.S. senators and governors to state legislators, mayors, city councilmen, sheriffs and dog catchers, should be confronted publicly and asked whether they believe his advocacy of violence against reporters is appropriate. If they dodge, they should be asked until they answer.
We know about Donald Trump; now we need to know about his party.
David Cofield, LaFayette, Ga.