Letters to the Editor, April 23

To the editor:

Recently the Argie Cooper Public Library placed a call to the Shelbyville Fire Department when an employee found smoke in the lobby.

Commander Robert Wessner and firefighters arrived within seconds to do a thorough search of the entire building.

The smoke was coming from an electric motor of the HVAC system in the basement.

We would like to commend the firefighters, not only for their quick response, but for the job they do daily to serve and protect our community.

We also want to thank Mr. Wessner for coming back later the same day to make sure everything was safe.

Argie Cooper Public Library Staff

Video causes criticism of Planned Parenthood

To the Editor:

I have just viewed an undercover video of a girl who claimed to be 14 and pregnant by a 31-year-old man. It took place in the Memphis Planned Parenthood facility. The counselor actually coached the girl how to lie to a judge, not only to receive an abortion without her parents' consent, but to protect the man. "Say he's 17", she says!

Under Tennessee law, the man would be guilty of no less than statutory rape, and the counselor should have reported the incident. Who knows how many other cases like this have been covered up by Planned Parenthood?

It sickens me even further that $1.1 million of Tennessee taxpayer money supports this outrage every year. Will our legislature please stop funding Planned Parenthood? I support funding for women's reproductive health services, but only if awarded to agencies that don't perform abortions. Taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood has got to stop!

Katy Brown

Bell Buckle

Tax protestors miss the real culprit, says writer

To the editor:

This letter is for all protesters, both local and national. Doesn't it seem odd that protesting the government establishment is too late? When Bush was in office, no one here in town openly protested his stupid blunders.

Now, bear this in mind. Under [the Bush] administration, he racked up the greatest national debt that anyone in the White House ever did, but where were all the protesters?

What about the five trillion surplus he squandered in just a few months?

What about this stupid war in Iraq at the tune of $10 billion monthly?

Bush primarily followed the same policies as Bush Senior. "No taxation" to taxpayers, thus prompting his re-election, and at the same time borrowing from China to help finance his wars and even Social Security.

Did anyone protest this debt he caused?

Remember also, Bush left all this hideous mess upon leaving office.

The way I see it, the taxpayer is reaping the Bush regime's stupidity.

I will say Obama has certainly spent some bucks, but so did Bush.

No one is blaming Bush for starting this bailout, and don't forget Bush lifted all watchdogging, thus creating the largest clan of crooks and thieves this country has ever seen.

These Republicans still to date have never gotten over losing the White House and control of the judicial sector.

Looking at Thursday's paper, one thought came to mind, "I'll bet all these local protesters are Republicans."

If McCain had gained the White House, he probably would have done the same as Obama, and you wouldn't have seen any of these red-eyed protesterrs clogging up the papers and news media.

Another bit in this column has some protester yelling for the election of Newt [Gingrich] in the future.

Come on! Get real!

Another Bush supporter in the White House? How dumb can this country be?

It looks to me you Republicans need to get occupied with a hobby!

Oh, you have one already: Making things worse with your silliness.

My last thought. Whenever was a citizen ever represented by fair representation on taxes?

Example: I learned some months ago of a new property appraisal in the month of May here in Bedford County. I inquired personally, why do this when real estate all over this country has lost value?

The reply was, "Not here in Bedford County."

J. Augustus Woodward

Shelbyville

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