Letters to the Editor

With Corker, it’s all about party

It didn’t take Sen. Bob Corker too long for him to get in line with the rest of the Republican hypocrites.

Corker says that deficits and the national debt are the cause of a forthcoming apocalypse. Most economists say stimulating the economy should be the focus. But the deficit rhetoric promoted by Corker and other Republicans stirs the fear.

And it’s no wonder Corker doesn’t want campaign finance reform. Taking on the middle class and working people over privatization of Social Security and Medicare is much easier than bucking lobbyists from big oil, insurance, banking and other industries. That’s where his money comes from and where his loyalties lie.

Our senator puts the blame for all our economic problems on Obama and the Democrats. Yet big business is sitting on piles of money and won’t hire, and banks and financials have plenty of money to lend — mostly ours — but refuse to do so. Corker and his party support and listen slavishly to these people. They hope that the right people will get into office in November and frustrate much-needed regulation. But if the “right people” are the Republicans, nothing will be brought to the table except gridlock.

It’s all about party; not about people. How long will we — the right people — have to wait for Sen. Corker and Republicans to get it?

GREG WILLIAMS

Signal Mountain

Katrina brought nation together

Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina changed my life and the lives of so many others. Our family was touched by the outpouring of assistance, hope and love shown to us and others affected by this tragedy. Now, when I remember those events, I no longer focus on the losses, but on the willingness and love of our neighbors to help. I wish to thank everyone for their kindness to myself and my fellow New Orleanians.

But in a mere five years, the tone of the country has changed drastically. There is such divisiveness and hatred being promoted. There is not a sense of coming together to help others, but attacking others based on their beliefs — religious and political.

Katrina brought out the best in our fellow citizens; the recession has brought out the worst. During these economic times, we should be coming together again to help one another, to hold one another up and to support one another. Katrina and unemployment may have lots in common, but certainly not the response. Let’s remember how we came together to help those in need during Katrina and try to do the same during this recession.

DANIELLE HOOPER

Ringgold, Ga.

Beck, followers ruining country

There are so many merchants of hatred on our airwaves now. Let’s examine one of the very worst, Glenn Beck.

He is trying to elevate himself as the undisputed leader of the un-American crazies in this country by totally trashing Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.

This display, put on by Beck and his minions of hate purveyors, are hoping to create civil unrest in this country. No matter how many flag decals he sports, his hate speak is un-American and unpatriotic. He does not care that he is divisively destroying our great republic, just the opposite of MLK.

Where was the coverage from this so-called liberal media on the real event to honor Dr. King’s legacy, held just blocks away? Instead they chose to show the Hitler-like Beck whipping these throngs of low-information Americans into frenzy.

The truly scary people at this “rally” were the ones buying his “Elmer Gantry” impersonation. Australian Rupert Murdock does not care what happens in the wake of his 24/7 airing of nonfacts, outright lies and distortions of the truth. He and Roger Ailes almost single-handily have turned this country into a nation of whiners, liars and history re-writers.

ANN BENTON

Signal Mountain

Comics appeal to many readers

The things that keep me awake at night are climate change, the death of the oceans, global overpopulation, China calling in our debt, a nuclear Iran, and other things that I can do nothing about. However, when it comes to changes in the comics pages, I feel that I can voice my opinions and be heard. I am concerned when someone calls for the removal of those comics that he deems “unfunny.”

The first things I read daily are “Pearls Before Swine,” “Get Fuzzy” and “Dilbert.” Rarely am I disappointed in any of them. I proceed to the editorials where I read the opinions from moderate voices all the way to loonies from the left and right. There are those writers that I will vehemently disagree with, but I do not call for them to be stricken from the paper. There are times that I will learn things or get a new perspective on something that I thought that I had made a decision on.

The editorials appeal to a wide range of readers and so should the comics. “Pickles” is coming! Huzzah! I hope that readers enjoy it. But keep your hands off of my “Pearls!”

GEORGE D. FLAHERTY

Hixson

Story on careers takes wrong angle

As a young entrepreneur similar in circumstance to the profiled woman in the story “Young and Free” (Aug. 27), I am offended by this article’s angle. At first glance I assumed the article was featuring her business, but soon realized that it was speaking more to how an alternative entrepreneurial career path is not a realistic long-term prospect, and eventually working for “the Man” makes more sense.

In my particular circumstance, a 26-year-old mother of two and co-owner of a local small business, I find operating a business is much more involved and requires much more responsibility than this article alludes to. There are taxes and business documents to file at the federal, state and local levels, liability insurance to procure, books to keep — not to mention the everyday tasks of running a successful small business. This does not fit the bill of “wandering” through a stage of post-adolescence.

The article also suggests that this period of “emerging adulthood” doesn’t include adult markers like career, marriage and family building. However, Glen and I both run successful businesses and are married with children.

Chattanooga boasts itself on its successful promotion and support of small business. Seems like the newspaper would too.

JESSICA N. HAMPTON

Signal Mountain

‘Revival article’ warms the heart

My wife, Alberta, and I were both surprised and excited last Wednesday morning when we observed and read your “Sense of Revival” article on Oakwood Baptist Church baptizing 177 people on Aug. 15.

Virtually every day, we read about murders, arrests, budget deficits, illegal politicians, job losses, etc., as the only credible news worth reporting. Yet, when I saw your “revival article,” I thought of Canadian singer Anne Murray’s song some years back asking if anyone had “A Little Good News” to report (instead of all the negative stuff).

Consequently, we wanted to give the Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial board a big “thank you” for such a positive story, and we hope you will do that more often in the future.

JACK BAKER JR.

Signal Mountain

You’ll be sorry for return to GOP

Voting the Republicans in again? Are you people crazy? Republicans have a lower approval rating than the president and the Democrats.

Did you know 95 percent of the people in this country earn less than $200,000 a year? That includes small businesses. What have Republicans done for you lately?

False economies, unfunded wars, tax cuts for the wealthiest, which was also unfunded adding a trillion dollars to the deficit, and which did not create jobs. Does this make sense to any of you?

You so-called “independents,” you flip-floppers? Aren’t you really Republicans who regretfully voted for Bush, twice? You say, oh, I voted for Obama this time, making you sound so liberal and “independent.” Instead of Obama regrets, you should have Bush regrets. That was when it all went [bad]. The wealthiest went crazy on us. Robbing the Treasury, deregulating everything from egg farms to deep-water drilling to banks and mortgages.

Please come and buy a house. No money down. No job necessary. Bad credit? No problem. Take equity loans for 110 percent of your house’s value. No problem.

Yeah, let’s just go back to the good old days and vote in a Republican. I’m sure they will look out for you.

KAY PFEIFLE

Arrogance behind recall success

Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence addresses the issue of arrogance on the part of government officials. The word, “arrogance,” itself, is not used, but that is the point of his grievances against the king and his minions.

Why should local officials be surprised at the success of the recent recall effort(s)? Those who are angry over the outcome should spend some time reading the Declaration. It is arrogance which led to the recall effort and its successful conclusion.

Annexation land grabs, increasing property valuations in a declining real estate market, increasing property tax rates, and creating retirement plans and other benefits for part-time positions are just a few of the manifestations of arrogance.

We need local officials who will concentrate on encouraging entrepreneurship, making local government as non-invasive and efficient as possible, and keeping taxes as low as possible.

PHILIP W. HAYMAKER SR.

Hixson

McMinn a leader in teacher training

McMinn County school leaders can be proud of their investment of valuable “Race to the Top” funding to provide ongoing, job-embedded professional development to its teachers.

Often overlooked, quality professional development is the essential ingredient in improving teacher and student performance.

As an increasing number of schools adopt single-use seminars, McMinn County appears to understand that quality professional development is a serious investment. Through its existing work to equip its elementary schools with instructional coaches who use student performance and classroom observation data to help teachers improve their teaching performances, McMinn County has committed itself to making lasting improvements.

Better schools and improved student performance are impossible without high-quality and well-supported teachers, and better teaching is possibly only when educators receive data-driven and peer-delivered professional learning as part of each school day.

As McMinn County moves forward to expand and enhance professional development, the district has the potential to serve as a state and national role model on how to implement high-quality, cost-effective, and results-oriented professional development. This model, which emphasizes substance over bureaucracy can — and must — be delivered nationwide.

MARTI RICHARDSON

Supervisor of Staff

Development (Retired)

Knox County Schools

Knoxville, Tenn.

Kudos to Graham for fiscal control

Thank you, County Commissioner Joe Graham.

Finally we have a commissioner who is willing to stand up in an effort to correct a wrong that has been going on too long.

The discretionary fund of the Hamilton County commissioners is wrong, has been wrong and will remain wrong until it’s discontinued.

Too many times I’ve read quotes of commissioners telling how conservative they have been, spending Hamilton County taxpayers’ money, and never mentioning the $100,000 of discretionary fund money or the unused travel expense money they just give away.

I believe commissioners are elected to do the work of being a commissioner.

Nowhere in their job description does it say “your job is to give away $100,000” of taxpayers’ money every year. With nine commissioners, that’s $900,000. That’s wrong ...

Thanks for making the effort, Commissioner Graham. I wish you luck and I wish you were in my district, so I could vote for you.

BOB ROCK

Warren should lead consumers panel

Elizabeth Warren is the best person to lead the new consumer protection board (the federal Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection). She proposed the idea for the agency and has been a strong advocate for it in Washington, plus her academic credentials are unparalleled. She has been an outstanding member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the TARP funds, showing integrity, leadership and competence. She will be a strong advocate for us taxpayers. Let’s ask that Sens. Alexander and Corker encourage President Obama to name her.

ROSS MCCLUNEY