Who makes what now?
This letter was addressed to Publisher David Brown.
Thanks so much for your “My View’’ about the ridiculous lawsuit (against Texas Pete in the Oct. 24 edition of the Cherokee Scout).
I just keep thinking – will the guy be upset to know that Lucky Charms are really not made by leprechauns?
Deb Nemath, Hanging Dog
Saving us in name of virus
In case Americans weren’t already ticked off enough at what President Joe Biden and his merry group of doorknobs have done to the country, here’s a list of everything they’d done to Americans “to save them” from the virus.
This is like dumping gasoline on a napalm incendiary. When you examine policies from this perspective, no wonder we’re all upset. In the name of a virus, Biden’s government gave you:
- Americans received $3,200 from our own tax revenues.
- Added to each American’s debt by $30,000.
- Destabilized the dollar so our products are more expensive overseas.
- A wrecked economy and recession.
- Isolation from family and friends.
- Closed businesses.
- Shortages of goods and services.
- Supply chains that rely on products from enemies.
- Growing trade deficit with China.
- Undermined energy independence intentionally.
- Increased government spending via the “Inflation Reduction Act.”
- Dwindling savings and soaring prices of goods and services.
- Up to 90 percent of new taxes accumulate on small businesses making less than $200,000.
What is the cause of inflation? High oil, high gasoline prices and high government spending – especially stimulus spending – and reliance on foreign products and supply chains.
Based on recent GDP numbers and the 1974 conventional quantitative measure of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP, we are in a recession. Yet, the White House and their media shills are trying to redefine recession.
Biden needs a crisis to lead, even though he’s not leading. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” is a proverb which means you can provide opportunities but not force implementation. Biden’s team couldn’t lead a horse to water, let alone make him drink.
Our government locked down the country and we didn’t even get a lousy T-shirt. Stay safe.
Terry Payne, Marble
Westmoreland did right thing
Two Cherokee County Department of Social Services directors, and at different times, had the same problem. Both mustered the courage, and at several different times went to the only group that had the authority and responsibility to solve their and county problem.
Neither director had an ax to grind, no hidden agenda or dislike for the person in question. Both were highly recommended to their jobs by their board, and had the confidence and approval of the commissioners.
The commissioners by majority, each and every time, sent them packing. The message was although we hired you and trust you to do a good job, we don’t believe you. The commissioners’ subliminal message had to be, “We know your job better than you do.”
What are the results of their refusal to address the problem requested and presented by the two different DSS directors?
The commissioners approved a $48.5 million settlement of more than 20 cases in the separation of children from their families without judicial oversight. Eight cents added to the millage rate, which totals to a whopping 61 cents per $100 of property value. More to come.
Two good people, Cindy Palmer and David Hughes, were victims of the system. Both will be scarred forever.
It took courage for Gary “Hippie” Westmoreland to come forward with the truth.
Although two former commissioners, a DDS director and minutes of meetings will back the truthfulness of his story, there will still be some backlash. I’m guessing there will be planned fireworks at his next and last commissioners meeting.
I also believe the big silent majority appreciate what he did.
Curtis Brown, Murphy
Crypto mine’s non response
Now that all the meetings, proposals and debates have subsided, I would like, as a captive observer, to let you all know how the operators of this crypto operation have responded to our concerns.
They have hung a plastic curtain over the entrance (for whatever purpose), and increased the volume of their operation. It varies, of course, from annoying to akin to a low-flying plane passing overhead – but it does not pass, it just hangs above you.
The homeowner closest cannot even open a window. Imagine, in this beautiful autumn weather, not able to even air out your home.
I understand that a class action lawsuit is in the works, but these folks getting fat at our expense could care less.
This could not have happened without the cooperation of local folks, they should live here and watch their property values decline.
May they enjoy their profits.
Dave Bock, Murphy
Time to vote Democratic
Dear neighbors, this letter is for you.
You are all on my mind, and in my heart, as we live through one of the last elections of my life. I won’t be around to live the consequences of your vote, but my efforts to encourage you to understand the life-and-death issues to you and your grandchildren are a week away.
Democrats, flawed as we are, gave us Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and voting rights, plus a flock of President Joe Biden’s bills to help you recover from President Donald Trump’s $1.2 trillion tax cut to corporations and billionaires, and from his COVID-19 lies that killed a million Americans.
The Trump MAGA party – not the Republican Party anymore – has promised to cut Social Security and Medicare (it won’t be there for any of you). They will forbid abortion for every woman and girl, whether raped, pregnant by a relative, suffering an ectopic pregnancy that can kill her or just a single mother trying to be responsible for the child or children she already has.
Some of you may get your news from Fox or Newsmax. They support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia is bombing civilians and their power grid so children will freeze this winter.
I believe very few of us in this community are haters really. If you follow Jesus’ message that we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, we will vote to take care of one another.
And, to me, that means vote your conscience – and vote Democratic.
Joan Tidwell, Murphy
Light shines in darkness
It has been said that: “Truth dies in darkness.” Truth lives when the Cherokee Scout brings it into the light. This was especially noted regarding the Cherokee County Department of Social Services saga and dirty little secrets.
It was shocking to learn of the level of malfeasance within our elected county officials. Only one of the county commissioners, Gary Westmoreland, sought to act when the issue was brought to their attention.
The rest appeared to have the mentality of “Let’s take care of our friend,” or maybe hope that the issue could be “swept under the rug.”
It would be speculation on my part to say which, but it is not speculation to say that families were damaged, the trust of the citizens of Cherokee County was violated and the financial stability of our county has been compromised.
Unfortunately, the one light on the board, Westmoreland, has decided to not seek another term. But fortunately, the citizens of Cherokee County still have one chance to right a wrong and gain some accountability.
Commissioner Cal Stiles is on the ballot for re-election. His actions regarding the DSS debacle shows he is not worthy of our trust nor our vote. The citizens must hold Stiles accountable by rejecting his bid for another term.
Thanks for the excellent reporting.
Jack Lewis, Marble
Pipeline was not shut down
To previous Cherokee Scout letter writers Mary Mason and Wanda Russ on the Keystone Pipeline:
It was not shut down.
It is up and running, delivering approximately 590,000 barrels (Denver Post, July 18, 2022) daily of Canadian tar sand oil to U.S. refineries. What got halted – or “canceled,” as you folks are so fond of saying – was the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline, if construction resumed tomorrow, would take five more years to complete.
We have over 190,000 miles (American Petroleum Institute’s website) of operating liquid petroleum pipelines traversing our country today. No operating pipelines have been stoppered by the Biden administration. Not even Line 5 in Michigan, which transports 540,000 barrels of light crude oil, synthetic light crude and natural gas liquids (Enbridge’s website).
As for fracking, it’s not OK in your backyard (remembering all the “Water is Life” signs in the area of just a few years ago) but it is in other folks’ backyards? Fracking should be stopped, plain and simple. It is too environmentally perilous.
Gail Samples, Brasstown
Board needs change now
The Oct. 26 article about Cherokee County Department of Social Services directors who wanted DSS attorney Scott Lindsay fired is absolutely vexing. Angering, in fact. It is time to vote Cal Stiles the heck out of office as a commissioner.
The small town good ol’ boy “we gotta protect our own” stuff has got to go when it comes to taxpayers ending up responsible; taxpayers paying for their completely avoidable gross negligence. They are as bad a Lindsay was.
Who in the world did they think they were? They thought they knew better than the DSS directors who were working directly with him?
The board was way out of their element. That board and Stiles cost a tax increase for every single land owner in this county! A total of $53,000,000 in total tax losses for us. It’s a lot bigger number when we see all those zeroes, isn’t it? Thanks for having our backs.
And now Stiles thinks he did such a bang-up job that he wants to get elected yet again? Are we going to be so stupid as to vote against our own best interests as taxpayers? I sure hope not.
And all of this says nothing about what they did to the children. The children, folks.
And now Stiles is whining about the truth coming out at election time. Typical politician. Couldn’t be a better time than just before next week’s election.
Let’s send Stiles back to where he belongs, at home, or any place else as long as he is off the board.
Write-in Jeana Conley so we can have someone who will actually work for us.
David Bellino, Murphy
Cronyism still alive
The latest revelation about Cherokee County Department of Social Services issues has brought to light that cronyism is alive and (un)well in our beautiful county. I am glad that the truth is finally coming out about what led to the $53 million in settlements so that we, the taxpayers, understand why we are getting hosed.
Four times directors came to the commissioners with concerns about DSS attorney Scott Lindsay hurting children by not doing what was right, and four times Cal Stiles refused to fire him. How someone can refuse to fire someone who put children in harm’s way is awful. That it resulted in lawsuits that the taxpayers have been burdened to pay for is shameful.
For Stiles to say he doesn’t recall being informed about the CVAs, while others involved obviously do, then hiding behind the ol’ “lawyer-says-don’t-say-anything” routine is pathetic. If he can’t recall addressing an issue that effected 22 families and cost taxpayers millions, then he has no business being a commissioner.
I know that Stiles isn’t the only reason Lindsay stayed on for years, but he certainly didn’t help get rid of the problem and let it linger long enough to hurt more families. Cherokee County’s children and taxpayers deserve better from their elected officials.
At least we have the option to vote one of them out by writing in Jeana Conley in for District 1 on Election Day.
John Worden, Murphy
Democracy is in peril today
The truth is Joe Biden won the election in 2020, partly because thousands of honorable Republicans voted for him, because they could not vote for Donald Trump. They were sick of his divisive rhetoric, promotion of violence, and tweets.
“The Lincoln Project” patriotic members of the true Grand Old Party made it their mission to vote Trump out of office because of his goal to destroy American institutions and the Republican Party, plus his strict loyalty to Vladimir Putin.
U.S. Sen. Liz Cheney, who is a hardcore conservative and devout Republican, embodies the U.S. Constitution. She is battling to keep the election deniers out of office, because she knows our democracy is in peril.
Judges appointed by Trump have ruled against more than 60 lawsuits of voter fraud filed by Trump because there was no truth and no proof. The Bible says beware of false prophets who spread lies and deceit. Yet, some “Christians” still turn a deaf ear to the lies and hate-filled speeches.
Inflation concerns and high gas prices are worldwide, and will not matter if our democracy falls to those who will take your freedom, by allowing your vote to be cast out if those in charge don’t like the results. This is not the American way.
Republicans need candidates who abide by our laws, upholds the Constitution and are far removed from conspiracy theories and dictatorships.
Kandy Barnard,Andrews