Educate yourself before voting
We are now in voting season (early voting ends July 28; Election Day is Aug. 2). We need to keep several things in mind before casting our valuable vote.
First, think and learn for yourself. Not from your friends, the blowhards in the media, your neighbors or the guys at the tavern. The most dangerous thing is an uneducated voter; you may be voting for the opposite of what you want.
Next, think of your priorities. Do you like how our country is heading? Are you happy with the people who represent you?
Before you actually press that lever, do you want term limits? Learn how many terms the candidates already have served.
Are you unhappy with Congress and your representatives? Think before you automatically re-elect them.
We need to get our country on track.
Jack Pine, Dunlap, Tenn.
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Competitive curricula needed
In the 1980s one in eight students attended a nonpublic school; today it's one in four.
That ratio will most likely go to one in three as most of the nonpublic high schools have gone to Division 2 in the TSSAA, which means they can give scholarships.
Our public schools need to become more competitive in our academic curriculum but very few of our leaders are discussing this situation.
Jim Watson, Hixson
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Trump provided Kim 'face' time
Dear Mr. Bennett,
While I envy your artistic ability - I can't even draw stick figures well - it is obvious that you lack my experience in dealing with persons from the Far East.
I've had the benefit of spending many months dealing with Chinese, Japanese and Korean businessmen, engineers and government executives. Now, those weren't great international affairs, but hundreds of my fellow employees depended on my success or failure ... and I did not fail.
I did not fail because I had studied the ethos of those folks' cultures, and I carefully took into account what I had been told was important to them: "Face."
You must never win an argument or conclude a negotiation by causing the other party to "lose face" - never. It is the sure way to fail.
I don't like The Donald either, but he left the Korean leader with great face, and that makes him the winner.
Don't let your dislike cloud your judgment.
Bill Laudeman
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Dreamer soldiers should be citizens
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed ..."
For Dreamers who have committed to serve in the military, this oath meant they accepted the truths of the Constitution and joined "We the people" in defense of the union. Ripping these words from the heart of honor breaks the "true faith and allegiance" pledge to the country that they grew up to serve.
Stealing the promise made by the government and blocking their path to citizenship makes those in charge oath breakers to men and women who were willing and ready to serve their country and lay down their lives for America. Why destroy loyalty?
Let this citizenship pathway be a highway to hope and honor. This is not about making Democrats or Republicans; this is about making soldiers.
Kemmer Anderson
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Trump attracting flies with honey
It seems to me that the Democrats, some officials in the Department of Justice and Republicans wanted President Trump to enter a meeting with President Putin in a hostile way.
Do they think that if President Trump approached President Putin in a hostile way, it would cause President Putin to listen to him favorably? No, the opposite would be true.
In case they are not aware of it, it is better to approach your adversary with a positive attitude and even some praise. When you watch the news conference, you see that is what President Trump did. As a result, he and President Putin are working together to end the Syria crisis and to make sure North Korea follows through on being denuclearized.
Concerning the Justice Department and its talk, talk, talk: Please substantiate what you are saying with some proof. I for one am tired of your talk, talk, talk accusations and nothing to back up what you say.
The same goes for the media.
Paulette E Anderson
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Just 'impeach this treasonous imposter'
In a letter to the editor on July 17, a writer endorsed Republican Marsha Blackburn for the U.S. Senate. He stated, "She will work with President Trump on solving our nation's greatest issues."
Whoa! Does he live on the planet occupied by the United States of America?
Even our Tennessee Republican senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, are at odds with Trump's acceptance of Putin's meddling and denials.
For the safety and well-being of our country, we all, Democrats, Republicans and independents, should support measures to impeach this treasonous imposter.
Tom O'Neal, Signal Mountain
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Alzheimer's bill needs our support
It is time we change our thinking on Alzheimer's disease. Too often Alzheimer's is treated as an aging issue, ignoring the public health consequences of a disease that someone in the U.S. develops every 66 seconds. And with two-thirds of its annual costs being borne by Medicare and Medicaid, it is one that demands more attention from our government.
Congress has a chance to take decisive action passing the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (S. 2076/H.R. 4256). Endorsed by the Alzheimer's Association, the bill would create an Alzheimer's public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer's interventions, including increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospitalizations.
Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in the U.S. Alzheimer's costs the country more than $277 billion a year, which is why we need the bill. If we are going to end Alzheimer's disease, we must start treating it like the public health threat it is.
Join me in asking U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann to fight for the millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer's by sponsoring the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act.
Tresa Vaudreuil, Ooltewah, Alzheimer's ambassador
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Our Constitution must reign supreme
America is our Constitution!
President Trump holds, "Without borders, we have no country."
I hold that, "Without our Constitution, we have no country, either."
Our unique greatness resides in God and in his wisdom, expressed in our Constitution.
Trump has a list of 25 judges from which he nominated the next Supreme Court justice. All govern their decisions by our Constitution. Schumer, a head politician, has said he wouldn't vote for any one of them. He reminds me of the FBI head who decided Hillary was innocent weeks before her hearings.
Ask a businessman what 2 + 2 is, and he will say "4." Ask a politician what 2 + 2 is, and he will ask you, "What do you want it to be?
Trump is a businessman. His opponents are mostly politicians, Trump wants Supreme Court judges to decide "4," as they interpret the Constitution - the original intent. Corrupt politicians want Supreme Court judges to decide what the party in power wants it to be - like when they called the fine for not having health insurance a "tax," not a penalty.
Dr. Tom Herzog