Sen. Blackburn dishonors Kirk’s memory

Marsha Blackburn dishonors the memory of Charlie Kirk

Reflecting on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Marsha Blackburn ensured Tennesseans that “We will not allow Charlie’s life and legacy to be forgotten, and we will not stop fighting to eradicate the rot of political violence in our nation that claimed his life.”

Marsha’s “fight” – which has been remarkably swift – against the violent rot of our body politic has primarily consisted of publicly, and successfully, pressuring universities to fire professors for social media posts that appeared to condone the shooting. The senator has seemingly adopted the traditionally liberal view that words are a form of violence and appointed herself as the final judge of which words Tennesseans can handle.

While the immediate, gleeful online celebration of Charlie Kirk’s death was indeed shocking and demoralizing for what is becoming a constantly grieving nation, we cannot allow our officials to overreach their authority. The senator’s move to silence the opposition is not only an abuse of power, but, further, dishonors the memory of Charlie Kirk.

Social media platforms provide the opportunity for citizens to debate constitutional rights and ethical norms – just the types of free political debates that Charlie himself cherished so deeply. Whenever an individual passes judgment in public, they always take on the risk of public rejection, but it is the people who hold that authority – never a government official. The senator’s surveillance of, and interference in, these online discussions cannot possibly be in line with the legacy of Kirk’s movement, as it is undoubtedly a violation of free speech.

Alina Rosati, Knoxville, 37919

MAGA law undermines ‘Make America Healthy’ agenda

I am confused by MAGA’s implementation of Make America Healthy Again in regard to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps). The MAHA movement is urging states to implement SNAP waivers restricting the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda and candy. A dozen states, not including Tennessee, have done so.

USDA’s waiver template suggests states mention use of the SNAP education funds to inform participants about healthy eating. But thanks to MAGA’s One Big Beautiful Bill, all SNAP-Ed funding ended as of Sept. 30, the end of FY25. States are puzzling how to replace that and other decreased federal funds for SNAP benefits and administration costs also cut by the OBBB.

Congress, it is up to you to save USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in the FY26 budget. As you negotiate, remember the health of your young constituents.

Anne Child, Oak Ridge, 37830

Trump’s tariffs killing farmers, will cost taxpayers again

Let’s talk about farmers, soybeans in particular. President Donald Trump touted as a success in his first term that he got China to commit to buy more soybeans from the U.S. China didn’t come close to meeting that commitment, and Trump paid farmers to try to forget this failure of his tariff war.

Now you can expect the same, as soybean sales from the U.S. to China are nonexistent. The secretary of Agriculture is touting a commitment from Taiwan to buy more soybeans as a success for the current trade policies, but last year, from all sources, Taiwan imported 2.5 million tons while China imported 105 million tons.

Because of the tariff war Trump started, China has imported zero U.S. soybeans since May of this year and has placed no orders for the fall production.

No other combination of markets from other countries comes close to the amount of soybeans bought by China from the U.S. Farm bankruptcies of all kinds thus far have almost doubled in 2025 from the same period in 2024. So expect another farm bailout bill from the Trump administration in the fall that will be borne by the taxpayer.

The last bailout was tied to number of acres, not the number of bushels produced, so the largest farms by acre (1% of total farms) got $183,331 while the bottom 80% got less than $5,000. I guess I failed to read that chapter in “The Art of the Deal” where this is a good thing!

Charles Patten, Powder Springs, TN 37848

Credit card ‘convenience’ fees: a rebuttal

In rebuttal to David Moon’s column of Oct. 5 (“Credit card fees for whose convenience?”), it feels like we are all getting nickeled-and-dimed in our daily business transactions, even though a big contribution to business expense has been from the overdue but disproportionate increase in working-class wages in recent years. But is there some exploitation?

When businesses accept credit cards, the merchant fee they pay the card processor or network is typically 1.5% to 3.5%. Some premium cards are even higher. Retailers have traditionally eaten this cost.

The real question is why should a typical small business give up a third of its 7-10% profit to a customer who wants the convenience of using a charge card while the operating margin of the two major card providers is 50-60%?

Much of the benefits from these cards go to people like me for points toward premium hotels or business-class flights, rental car insurance, or posh airport lounges with free food and other amenities. We get to sleep at Minute Suites between flights in facilities sponsored by the charge card company, all from the profits gleaned from businesses across the board.

Last year America’s service industry enjoyed a world trade surplus of $300 billion. Forty-four percent of this was from the financial services sector.

Arguing against retailers of auto parts for charging credit card fees is misguided. Yes, auto parts cost too much, but that is more an argument for EVs with their 20 moving parts versus 2,000 for conventional cars. Not to mention no scheduled maintenance.

But since you have argued against EVs in previous columns, maybe we are seeing a sea change.  

William Culbert, Oak Ridge, 37830

A special ‘thank you’ to the Tennova North staff

To the fifth-floor staff at Tennova Medical Center North: a special “thank you.” My 93-year-old sister was admitted Aug. 8. She died Sept. 4. During this four-week period, I spent every night and day with her.

The doctors, nurses, CNAs and other employees gave care and comfort to my sister, Thelma Brooks Cox. Words cannot express the gratitude for the care both she and I received. There were tears, prayers, some laughter, but most of all there was love.

We are so blessed to have Tennova in our Powell community. Thank you again and God bless!

Lola Heck, Powell, 37849