Speak Out 11/12/13

Ham and bean dinner

This is about the ham and bean dinner at the American Legion. I want to say that Glenda and the cake room did a wonderful job.

Sinister spin

A brutal and lengthy Speak Out assault lambasting columnist Gene Lyons for his withering dissection of Republican demagoguery and a subsequently published Speak Out comment supporting Lyons will likely stand forever as Speak Out's most fiendishly clever and sinister spin.

Guns, weather

Eighty-eight people were gunned down this year so far and now 10,000 or more people killed by the largest storm ever. But the Republican party says NRA has all the answers and there is no global warning. Yep, they are the ones we want to listen to.

War costs

Harbor any delusions you wish, but the simple facts are that George Bush fought two ill-conceived wars "off the books." When these totally unnecessary expenses were put on the books after the Bush administration left office, Republicans said, "Look at the deficit Obama ran up!" It's just the facts. Look it up.

Oak Ridge travel

Someone from the Oak Ridge School District please tell me why five students and two coaches were sent to the state meet without one administration on duty and why our school would not let the rest of the team travel to support their teammates? I thought when you're a team this was part of the team part and not the "me" part. Practice what you preach.

Health-care check

Fact check time. David Limbaugh recently wrote that the U.S. has the best health-care system in the world. Then when it comes to health care, the only factor which places us first is expenditures per capita. All things considered, we're 38th.

Christmas charges

With the Cape County park charging to put up Christmas lights and displays, I will not be taking part this year. But I will be putting up a display at the Jackson City Park. It's free.

Share the success

Bill Clinton always says we had the best economy ever during his presidency. Why doesn't he whisper to Obama some of the secrets of his success so that the economy can get going again? Lord knows that Obama needs the help. So come on, Clinton, and Hillary, share the secrets of an economic success that you had nothing to do with so that Obama can do more than limp to the end of his lackluster presidency.

Police station

What is wrong with the city government? Why would they spend $100,000 for an outside firm to tell us what we already know? The old police station is grossly overgrown, lacking in evidence space/storage, parking, jail space and office space. They have already boxed in the walk- in area to where there is hardly any waiting space at all and moved much-needed offices in that space and had to add trailers to work out in the parking lot! Get on with building a new, modern building that the AC/heat work properly all the time. For most of the 38 years, you freeze in the winter and burn up in the summer. Shameful conditions for our brave force to work in and their supporting staff. How do I know all this? Because I used to work there and, although our work was hindered from a lack of all this, we carried on, so the force could serve and protect its citizens to the best of its ability.

SNAP funds

Now why do you think the Salvation Army is in desperate need of foodstuffs? Because, at the worst possible time, Congress allowed for draconian, Simon Legree-ish cuts in SNAP.

Obamacare, hospitals

I think the major news media ought to be asking the hospitals how this Obamacare is going to affect them. I'm pretty sure it's going to hurt them.