AMOS TAJ - Just as Al Quida and other radical groups have hijacked the Muslim faith, so has the KKK hijacked the Christian faith, adopting it's symbol, the cross, and using verses of the bible to justify their violence. The KKK is responsible for 4743 known lynchings - more deaths then 9-11 and all others by Al Quida in the US combined - plus countless other acts of violence over the course of 100 plus years.
The truth is only a tiny percentage of Muslims or Christians participate in or support violent organizations, but religions can be manipulated into a recruitment tool for the gullible and desperate.
Letters like yours only spawn more hatred, distrust and yes violence.
I had a similar experience as Mr. Hewitt with the NRA at the same age 10 in 1957. I went to summer camp and learned how to shoot from four different positions, gun safety, gun cleaning & maintenance and won 4 NRA marksmanship badges which my mom sowed onto a jacket that I proudly wore around.
Now the NRA has been purchased by the gun manufactures and it's primary missions is to serve as a powerful lobby group with the sole purpose of advancing the proliferation of unrestricted gun sales, safety and human life be damned.
They have morphed into a shameful organization that's but a shadow of it's proud past, and those that support them are being taken in by their propaganda. In short they are a wolf in sheep's clothing.
As a businessman, I see this in a somewhat different way.
This isn't about someone "picking winners and losers" an overused right wing catch-all phrase to attack anything government does to assist business. Rather I see this as competition between several communities in different parts of the country in an effort to attract VW to their area. Free enterprise in effect.
The question isn't what it cost the state and locals to get VW here, the question is what is the cost vs. benefit of the deal? You must consider the effect on the economic development of the region including the jobs created directly, and indirectly; the increased sales to local businesses of all types; the location and relocation of VW suppliers to the region; the positive effect on infrastructure, and housing; savings to the state for having people employed and paying taxes rather than being unemployed and collecting government benefits.
I admit I do not know what the cost/benefit is in dollars, but I'm not sure why the temporary layoff of 500 people has resulted in this kind of stir, nor do I understand how the decision makers should have known in 2009 that Passat sales would temporarily go soft in 2013.
Personally I find no fault with the government decision makers or the Chamber for their roll in bringing VW to Chattanooga. Chattanooga is the North American Headquarters for the second largest car manufacturer in the world. It will only grow and become an even bigger factor for our region in the future.
A couple of more points. It was President G. W. Bush that raised the Earned Income Tax Credit by $5000, and doubled the Child Tax Credit which resulted in the number of people falling into the "no federal tax" category Marineguy is referring to, to nearly doubled.
About one third of WalMart employees collect food stamps and are eligible for Medicaid because of the poverty wages they are paid. So not only do these people not make enough to pay federal taxes, they actually become a burden themselves through no fault of their own due to what they are paid. This effectively means the federal government (that's us tax payers) are subsidizing WalMart's payroll costs. Considering the Walton family is worth over $100 Billion dollars and collectively has more wealth than the bottom 40% of Americans, I find this disgusting.
Jeff Fisher said: "AR-15 style rifles use the same operating system as most .22 rifles and semi-automatic shotguns."
That's true but there are legally obtainable "bump fire" modifications on the market that will allow the AR-15 to shoot up to 900 rounds per minute. That's automatic fire by any definition.
Ann Benton: "I am constantly amazed at how the poor and middle-class in this country continue to vote against their best interests. Is it due to naiveness or ignorance? The GOP is against anything for the common man, including fair wages, public education, affordable health care, clean air, clean water, etc."
I'm convinced that without Fox News and the right wing talk radio/TV brigade that the Republcian Party would have already gone the way of the Whig Party. In fact, if they continue their unpopular positions on issues such as gun safety, immigration, and women's health, they will continue on a path towards insignificance.
SATCHEL DAHL "Unfortunately, somehow, the blame went to the guns he used, rather than the fact that he was mentally unstable and the fact that both his mother and psychologist knew it."
FALSE
No one has blamed the guns for gun violence. People have blamed the loop hole in the law that lets criminals, the mentally ill and terrorists acquire weapons without any type of background check and often without even showing an ID.
Corker and Alexander have exposed themselves to the fact that the opinions of 90% of the public do not matter to them, it's the opinion of gun manufacturers and the NRA that count. But there is going to be a political price for all those nay voters this time.
Since the only thing they listen to is those with the biggest mouths and biggest wallets, get behind the movement to shame these senators into changing their stance on a re-vote of the gun safety bill. Support these organizations:
Corker and Alexander and the other Nay voters are counting on the people forgetting about their vote over time. Don't let that happen. Keep reminding them every day of their cowardly, disgusting vote, and the blood that will be on their hands because of it.
Grammar lesson on 'whoever' and other letters to the ediotrs
AMOS TAJ - Just as Al Quida and other radical groups have hijacked the Muslim faith, so has the KKK hijacked the Christian faith, adopting it's symbol, the cross, and using verses of the bible to justify their violence. The KKK is responsible for 4743 known lynchings - more deaths then 9-11 and all others by Al Quida in the US combined - plus countless other acts of violence over the course of 100 plus years.
The truth is only a tiny percentage of Muslims or Christians participate in or support violent organizations, but religions can be manipulated into a recruitment tool for the gullible and desperate.
Letters like yours only spawn more hatred, distrust and yes violence.
NRA is transforming into a hate group and other letters to the editors
I had a similar experience as Mr. Hewitt with the NRA at the same age 10 in 1957. I went to summer camp and learned how to shoot from four different positions, gun safety, gun cleaning & maintenance and won 4 NRA marksmanship badges which my mom sowed onto a jacket that I proudly wore around.
Now the NRA has been purchased by the gun manufactures and it's primary missions is to serve as a powerful lobby group with the sole purpose of advancing the proliferation of unrestricted gun sales, safety and human life be damned.
They have morphed into a shameful organization that's but a shadow of it's proud past, and those that support them are being taken in by their propaganda. In short they are a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Volkswagen layoffs expose flaws: Tennessee's incentive scheme fails
As a businessman, I see this in a somewhat different way.
This isn't about someone "picking winners and losers" an overused right wing catch-all phrase to attack anything government does to assist business. Rather I see this as competition between several communities in different parts of the country in an effort to attract VW to their area. Free enterprise in effect.
The question isn't what it cost the state and locals to get VW here, the question is what is the cost vs. benefit of the deal? You must consider the effect on the economic development of the region including the jobs created directly, and indirectly; the increased sales to local businesses of all types; the location and relocation of VW suppliers to the region; the positive effect on infrastructure, and housing; savings to the state for having people employed and paying taxes rather than being unemployed and collecting government benefits.
I admit I do not know what the cost/benefit is in dollars, but I'm not sure why the temporary layoff of 500 people has resulted in this kind of stir, nor do I understand how the decision makers should have known in 2009 that Passat sales would temporarily go soft in 2013.
Personally I find no fault with the government decision makers or the Chamber for their roll in bringing VW to Chattanooga. Chattanooga is the North American Headquarters for the second largest car manufacturer in the world. It will only grow and become an even bigger factor for our region in the future.
Golden Rule is rooted in most religions, and more letters to the editors
A couple of more points. It was President G. W. Bush that raised the Earned Income Tax Credit by $5000, and doubled the Child Tax Credit which resulted in the number of people falling into the "no federal tax" category Marineguy is referring to, to nearly doubled.
About one third of WalMart employees collect food stamps and are eligible for Medicaid because of the poverty wages they are paid. So not only do these people not make enough to pay federal taxes, they actually become a burden themselves through no fault of their own due to what they are paid. This effectively means the federal government (that's us tax payers) are subsidizing WalMart's payroll costs. Considering the Walton family is worth over $100 Billion dollars and collectively has more wealth than the bottom 40% of Americans, I find this disgusting.
Golden Rule is rooted in most religions, and more letters to the editors
MarineGuy said:
"Since the top 20% of income earners now pay over 80% of the income taxes collected, don't you think they are paying their fair share?"
Well, since the top 20% of Americans own 85% of the country's wealth and the bottom 80% of the population own 15% I would answer - NO.
Wealth inequality in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Your community/your voice: Semi-Automatics rarely used in crimes
Jeff Fisher said: "AR-15 style rifles use the same operating system as most .22 rifles and semi-automatic shotguns."
That's true but there are legally obtainable "bump fire" modifications on the market that will allow the AR-15 to shoot up to 900 rounds per minute. That's automatic fire by any definition.
Pollution in America and other letters to the editors
DAVID CLOSE, M.D.said: "The soviets are winning, and things will get worse as a result."
I have a flash bulletin for you Doc, the Soviets went out of business 23 years ago.
Gardenhire statement contradicts action and other letters to the editors
Ann Benton: "I am constantly amazed at how the poor and middle-class in this country continue to vote against their best interests. Is it due to naiveness or ignorance? The GOP is against anything for the common man, including fair wages, public education, affordable health care, clean air, clean water, etc."
I'm convinced that without Fox News and the right wing talk radio/TV brigade that the Republcian Party would have already gone the way of the Whig Party. In fact, if they continue their unpopular positions on issues such as gun safety, immigration, and women's health, they will continue on a path towards insignificance.
Guns not the problem; humans are to blame and other letters to the editors
SATCHEL DAHL "Unfortunately, somehow, the blame went to the guns he used, rather than the fact that he was mentally unstable and the fact that both his mother and psychologist knew it."
FALSE
No one has blamed the guns for gun violence. People have blamed the loop hole in the law that lets criminals, the mentally ill and terrorists acquire weapons without any type of background check and often without even showing an ID.
Just another strawman argument.
Gun owners' mistrust reason for failed bill and other letters to the editors
Corker and Alexander have exposed themselves to the fact that the opinions of 90% of the public do not matter to them, it's the opinion of gun manufacturers and the NRA that count. But there is going to be a political price for all those nay voters this time.
Since the only thing they listen to is those with the biggest mouths and biggest wallets, get behind the movement to shame these senators into changing their stance on a re-vote of the gun safety bill. Support these organizations:
Mayors Against Illegal Guns: http://www.demandaction.org/
Americans For Responsible Solutions (Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly) http://americansforresponsiblesolutions.org/
Corker and Alexander and the other Nay voters are counting on the people forgetting about their vote over time. Don't let that happen. Keep reminding them every day of their cowardly, disgusting vote, and the blood that will be on their hands because of it.