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Look Beyond the Bathroom
I am writing regarding Mike Gibson’s [Sept. 30] article, “Un-presidented.” To help him decide how to vote, Mr. Gibson visited Kerry and Bush headquarters. Judging bathrooms in their offices is hardly the way to choose a candidate. Yes, Kerry has a crappy little office compared to Bush. Flush with Big Oil and Big Pharmaceutical money, the Bush campaign can afford to be big spenders.
Bush himself is a big spender. He started his presidency with a U.S. budget trillions of dollars in surplus. By giving tax cuts to the elite rich, and spending like crazy, we are now trillions of dollars in debt. John Kerry will repeal tax cuts for those with incomes over $200,000, protect the middle class and increase childcare tax credits. Kerry will reduce the deficit by implementing a “pay as you go” policy.
The Bush recession began in March of his first year in office. He claims we are bouncing back. If we are in a recovery, where are the jobs? Bush thinks outsourcing jobs to other countries is a good idea. John Kerry will cut small-business taxes and give incentives to reinvest at home, instead of sending jobs overseas. Kerry’s plan will create new jobs in the manufacturing industry and other industries affected by outsourcing.
Mr. Gibson says he doesn’t like Kerry’s “constant equivocations.” John Kerry has had one consistent policy on Iraq, which goes something like this, “Saddam is a bad and dangerous man. We should send weapons inspectors to Iraq. War should be the last resort. Once we are in, we need to finish the job, reconstruct, and stabilize Iraq.” Kerry voted in favor of giving the president authority to go to war after exhausting diplomatic efforts and forming a global coalition. Bush did not let the inspectors or diplomats finish their work. He formed a four-country coalition and rushed to war. Later, other countries joined, but 90 percent of the cost and 90 percent of the casualties have been American. John Kerry will bring fresh credibility to the U.S. presidency and will be better able to gain international help in Iraq.
In the last three years of the Bush administration, family health insurance premiums have increased by more than $3,512 and prescription drug prices have grown four times faster than inflation. John Kerry will offer financial incentives to reduce prescription drug costs and give all Americans access to the Federal Employees Health Care Benefits Program. This means everyone will have access to health insurance.
The biggest contrast between candidates is in the environment. Bush has dismantled environmental regulation and weakened environmental law. As he did throughout his Senate career, John Kerry will continue to fight to clean up toxic waste sites, keep our air and water clean, and protect pristine wilderness areas. Kerry’s plan will invest in new environmental technologies and alternative fuels.
This election season offers two clearly contrasting candidates. Mr. Gibson, if you don’t like the way Bush has run the country, I hope you can see past what you call the “layered pillar of hair,” and vote for John Kerry.
Kathy Lindquist
Knoxville
Try Cognitive Complexity
In the first presidential debate, the president suggested that when John Kerry changes his mind about an issue (i.e., “flip-flops”), it speaks to his character. I believe that the president’s statement is correct, but our conclusions as to what exactly this says about John Kerry’s character are quite different.
Clinical psychologist Fred Fiedler once wrote, “A pretzel-shaped world requires a pretzel-shaped theory.” In an increasingly complex and interconnected (pretzel-shaped) world, I believe that critical thinking, tolerance for ambiguity, and openness to new information and perspectives is a strength, not a character flaw. On underlying principles, John Kerry stated clearly and with conviction in the debate that he indeed stands strong, but he acknowledged the need to attend to new facts and make responsible decisions from that point of knowledge, not from fear and dogma.
President Bush stated again and again: “People know where I stand.” Indeed. He stands steadfast in his decisions and beliefs regardless of new facts or changed circumstances. He stated in the first debate, “We may change tactics, but we never change our beliefs.” Never? I find that disheartening given the complexity of the situations our nation is faced with at present.
In fact, there is research in social psychology to suggest that Bush is not alone in his narrow-minded thinking among his conservative comrades. Political conservatism in general has been found to be associated with a lack of cognitive complexity and an intolerance for ambiguity (Jost, Glaser, Kruglanski, & Sulloway, 2003, Psychological Bulletin). We see clear evidence of this type of dogmatic, black-and-white “thinking” in the continued fear-based rhetoric of the president.
I believe that strength does not come in the form of black-and-white answers. Strength comes in the form of recognizing complexities and being flexible and adaptable to changing environments, then in making responsible decisions from a point of knowledge and wisdom. I look forward to the “fresh start” John Kerry’s strengths will bring to the United States and to earning back the respect that was once held for our great nation in the global community.
Crystal L. Wright
Maryville
Bush’s Giant Distraction
I saw the presidential debate, and I was left thinking that John Kerry would protect our country better than George Bush.
While Bush has certainly faced a rough time in American history, he’s mismanaged it. From protecting our borders, to providing for first responders, to capturing Osama bin Laden, to attacking Iraq in a giant distraction—we are less safe than if Bush had focused on the real threat: al-Qaeda.
Kerry offers a needed fresh start. He’s clearly smart and has more of a chance of convincing our allies to help us in Iraq—though this will no doubt be difficult and may be impossible at this point.
In any case, Kerry would abandon the “stay-the-course’’ attitude in Iraq and move closer toward a solution.
Sandy Huneycutt
Knoxville
Pity the Poor...Hospitals?
I see the Sunday Sentinel has run still another article on the plight of hospitals. The five Knoxville hospital CEOs agree that they are barely making ends meet, claiming their altruistic missions are being thwarted by cheapskates who refuse to buy health insurance and surly indigents who demand that their lives be saved despite their lack of funds.
Even worse, the East Tennessee population has the audacity to grow older, forcing hospitals to spend more money (garnered from Medicare, Medicaid and TennCare) to hire nurses and other workers to care for the sick. How are hospitals going to profit from the suffering if les miserables can’t pay the bill?
All this low-profit medicine erodes the revenue stream, causing funds to be diverted from those affluent enough to pay for their health care.
And poor Baptist Hospital is going broke again. For those who have followed its plight since the early 1950s, Baptist has been going broke for half a century. That’s why they’re always expanding.
Grady Amann
Knoxville
No, Not the Hot Java!
I was amazed when perusing this week’s restaurant guide to discover Old City Java missing from the coffee shop listing.
Not only is OC Java at 109 Central, I believe, Knoxville’s oldest coffee shop, but we were your Best of Knoxville runner-up for Best Coffee shop this year, and the winner for various other years.
Could you please take whoever is responsible for this omission out back and swat them with a switch? Don’t make us have to come down there and pour hot Mexican Organic over their heads until they grovel and beg for forgiveness. We Want a Correction! Thanks. (We really won’t torture anyone unless they like it.)
Renee Sanabria,
Robert Koons,
Denise Sanabria
Knoxville
October 7, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 41
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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