Greed key to inflation
The president is not in The Wizard of Oz. A president does not have levers and buttons that can be activated to control inflation, gas prices and the overall economy.
This is a fact, not a narrative. Otherwise, surely George H.W. Bush would have used these imagined powers in 1992, because he lost due to a weak economy.
However, a president can affect the U.S. economy.
Thanks to the legislation President Joe Biden got through Congress, the U.S. economy looks the best I’ve ever seen.
There’s a factory in Georgia producing the most solar panels in the Western Hemisphere, and they are expanding.
Ford Motor Co. is building a massive facility in Tennessee. investing $5.8 billion.
There are huge factories being built to manufacture computer chips.
Battery maker Novonix has a giant facility near Chattanooga, Tenn. They are looking to invest up to $1 billion to ramp up production.
In McMinn County, Tenn., Piedmont Lithium will break ground on a plant that will process the most lithium in America.
These are just a few of the many projects underway.
With all of these high-paying, safe jobs becoming available, who in their right mind would choose to work in a coal mine, oil field or nuclear power plant endangering their health?
The high inflation rate was triggered by the pandemic, not policy. Wages have been going up faster than inflation for a year now.
Corporate greed is a key driver of high inflation. Just relax and enjoy life.
Jack Montgomery, Ogreeta
Voting for democracy
In this next election, I will be voting for candidates of the party who promote democracy and the right to vote, who support truth, who believe in science, who are able to pass legislation and be responsible members of a functional Congress.
I will not support election deniers or those who enable them; nor a candidate who praises dictators or disrespects our allies, NATO and our own intelligence officers.
I will vote for those who believe no one is above the law and who are willing to put the good of the country ahead of their own lust for power. I will vote for people who would rather solve problems than use them to stir up discord.
I will vote for a president who is willing to make his tax returns public, who respects our experienced civil servants instead of firing them as part of an imagined “deep state” so he can line all agencies with his loyalists. I will vote for president the person who shows respect for others, who is rational, who reads the Presidential Daily Brief prepared for him, and who will appoint experienced and wise people to fill the Cabinet and positions of power.
I will vote for those who promote peace, not chaos; goodwill, not hatred, scorn, and retribution; acceptance of election results, not insurrection.
I am voting for democracy in 2024. I urge you to join me.
Elaine Bagley, Asheville
Formerly of Murphy
Grateful for Senior Games
Thanks to your generous sponsorship and support, 2024 has been a great year for Cherokee/Clay Senior Games & SilverArts.
We again set a new record for total participants this year with 213 and of the total participants, with 70 of them first-time competitors. A total of 901 medals were awarded to the participants over the four weeks of competition, which included 46 sports and 35 Silver Arts categories.
We introduced two new events this year – Air Rifle Target Shooting and Billiards. Both of these were extremely popular and will become permanent fixtures in our lineup. In fact, the Air Rifle event was so popular, we had to close down the registration after only one week because all slots had been completely filled. Next year, we will plan to expand the number of competition days to accommodate more participants.
We also have plans to continue some activities throughout the year to keep our seniors active and connected such as Bocce Ball, Cornhole, Mini Golf and possibly another Air Rifle event to accommodate some of the people who were not able to participate.
The Silver Arts Showcase, which was held the week prior to the games this year, was also an immense success. A record number of 73 artists (last year 67) entered 199 pieces of artwork in the Visual, Heritage and Literary Arts categories as well as 13 who displayed their talents in the Performing Arts.
Many of the competitors – both sports and artists – are now looking forward to taking part in the State Finals, which will be held in Raleigh and other venues in September and October.
But the Senior Games and Silver Arts is not just about medals. As Dr. Jillian Irwin, Cherokee County medical director and keynote speaker at our closing ceremony, said, “Human interaction is essential for our mental and physical well-being. Loneliness and social isolation contribute to sleeplessness, reduced immune function, anxiety, depression, heart disease, stroke and dementia. We need other people and social interaction.”
And this is exactly what Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games seeks to encourage with our seniors – physical, mental and creative activities with friends and family in an atmosphere of fun. Without your support, this would not be possible.
Terence Faries, Murphy
The writer is coordinator for Cherokee/Clay Senior Games & SilverArts.