Freedom threatened by inaction
Seeing that Republicans refuse to vote to force ICE agents to respect people’s civil rights, they’re behaving like fascists.
Considering that law enforcement agents killed 1,369 people in 2024 with very few repercussions, our freedoms are fading.
If you can’t see that our democracy is being dismantled, you just might be in a cult.
Jack Montgomery
Murphy, North Carolina
Shutdown blame game Congress is on a two-week break.
How inexcusable is this? The country is in chaos with the government shutdown, war in Iran and potentially harmful bills (SAVE Act) up in the air.
Thankfully, TSA agents are getting paid again. They should never have been expected to work without pay to begin with. Congress, the very people who created the budget crisis and also are the ones who can solve it, has continued to be paid throughout the shutdown. This is shameful since many of them are millionaires, while starting pay for TSA agents is only $35,000.
Congress is 100% at fault for the shutdown, while they play the blame game. Consider this –Republicans control the entire government yet they blame the Democrats for not passing the bill to fund DHS.
We need compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent adults running the country. Let’s vote some in this November.
Cathy Dreger
E-bikes aren’t the state’s biggest problem
The Tennessee legislature has passed new legislation (allowing bans of) electric bicycles, and it now awaits the governor’s signature. One can only assume our lawmakers have already resolved the state’s pressing challenges — fully funded public schools, an end to housing insecurity, food on every table — and simply needed something new to tackle.
The irony is hard to miss. While speeding cars and trucks claim lives and fill our air with noise and pollution with little legislative urgency, lawmakers have set their sights on electric bicycles ridden by people simply trying to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.
Laws governing bicycles and e-bikes, including age requirements for their operation, already exist. The problem has never been a lack of legislation — it’s a lack of enforcement. The rare bad actor flouting current rules should be addressed by local police under existing law, not used as justification for sweeping new restrictions.
What this legislation will actually accomplish is to turn law-abiding citizens into criminals overnight. Families and individuals who invested their hard-earned money in e-bikes — in good faith, under the law as it stood — will suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of it.
Chattanooga can and should do better. Mayor Kelly, Mayor Wamp — we urge you to bring together e-bike owners and local bicycle retailers to craft sensible, locally tailored regulations that protect public safety without punishing those who did nothing wrong. Lead by example. Show Nashville what thoughtful governance looks like.
John D. Mathna
Mr. President, words matter
President Donald Trump may be remembered as a great negotiator or business tycoon.
In my opinion, he will not be remembered as a great people person, although he could be, he has time.
The constant disrespectful vocabulary he uses against people who do not agree with him is immature and childish.
He is a self-worshipper and expects that from all peoples.
My grandmother could have straighten him out with a good a– whoopin. Early on. His personality would be different today.
He can be a strong leader of this great country. Words make a difference.
Ruth Cote
Hixson
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