To the Editor:
You know it really makes me wonder when I read all this ridiculous blathering from David Belton about how wonderful Ronald Reagan was  and how his novel philosophies still ring true today.
Mr. Belton conjures these retro images of all the paranoia and hatred  directed toward former Soviet leaders and philosophers to somehow compare this to what? The reference to how the "Constitution designed America to be a 'center-right' nation," and then goes on to assert that "our leaders alter it at our peril"   are you serious...really?    
Maybe at your peril and your assumption of the authority to misinterpret the intentions of our founding fathers...seemingly to somehow legitimize the absurd notion that America is, by its founders' intent, a nation more appropriately run by the rightists?   Go watch Fox News and nod your head; and don't forget to bring your coffee and notepad, so you can take notes from which to draw the Kremlins in the sky for your next sub-sophomoric column.
President Reagan was a great man, yes.  I'm sure the Taliban and other "freedom fighters" from Iran still appreciate all he did for us and them, all in the name of defending us all from the evil communists.  Oh wow, a point. 
Give me a break, and really, are these same moral assumptions considered when making decisions regarding the education of Morgan County's youth?  I just hope we're still protected from KGB spies.   I'm sure I have opened myself up for limitless criticism , since the majority of people consider themselves conservatives.  Be that as it may, I still think logic at least somewhat dictates that hypocrisy is eventually obvious and if ignored, it will most certainly not go away.

Matt Lasseter
Madison
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
I want to congratulate Mike Naples on his re-election and to thank him for the outstanding job he has done for Madison as a City Council member.  I shudder to think of what might have happened to Madison if Mike hadn’t been on the council these past four years.  He has a strong concern about the well-being of our town and shows it in every meeting and discussion.  I attend quite a few of our City Council meetings and Mike has always particularly impressed me with his preparation.  He is often, in my opinion, the most thoroughly prepared person in the room and when thorny issues are discussed he is quick to point out issues that need more careful analysis and review by the entire council from community impact, legal, or ethical perspectives.  His thoroughness and attention to detail have sometimes required multiple meetings in order to properly examine an issue; but from attending many of these meetings I’m convinced a lesser prepared council, a council that didn’t have Mike Naples on it, may have made rash decisions to the serious detriment of Madison and all of its citizens.  The value of his background in federal service and in teaching have also been clearly demonstrated as he always shows the dedication, the willingness to consider all sides of an issue, and the personal ethics I would always hope for in an elected official.  Don’t you wish we could say that about all of our nation’s elected officials? 
Stratton Hicky
Madison
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
My name is Christy Reid and I am the chairperson for the annual Spooky Fall Fest in the City of Rutledge. Our event was held on Saturday, October 24. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank several people and companies who helped make this a terrific event, once again. Thanks go out to SER, Rutledge Hardware, Yesterday's Cafe, The Barn Raising, Back to Wellness Clinic, Byer Realty and Val and Connie Odgen for their donations of money for the prizes in the costume contests. Thank you to Scoops for the gift basket prize for the Best Decorated Trunk. Thank you to the volunteers who make this all possible and are too numerous to list, but especially: Molly and Ed Hogan, Don Anderson, Sherry Rhoades, Dan Matthews, Val and Connie Ogden and their "gang," and a special thank you to The Southern Cruisers Riding Club (Covington Chapter). Our Haunted Hayride will surely be the talk of the community largely due to their time and effort.
I would like to also give a "shout out" to Hard Labor Creek State Park, Camp Twin Lakes and Don Anderson for providing the hay wagons. Our hayride was a little different this year as we decided to sell tickes. They were 50 cents and all of the money went to two very good causes; one half went to the City of Rutledge Department of Recreation to help fund the new recreation facilities and one half went to St Jude's Childrens' Hospital. We sold over 450 tickets! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to help these two very worthy causes.
In closing, I would like to personally Thank Teri Bragg, Spencer Knight and Jerry Fowler for their support.
Christy Reid
Rutledge
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
The Friday night piano bar at Perk Avenue has been a great addition to the Madison “music scene”.  The local volunteer pianists have been wonderful.  One can just count on it being there on a Friday when it would be fun to go there and get something to drink or eat and enjoy the piano music.
Now the month of November will be special.  Jim Sherman from Athens will be playing every Friday this month.  He is a talent and loves to play requests!  You’ve got to hear him play “Here’s That Rainy Day”!!

Jerry Caldwell
Madison
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
Ah, health care reform. Although the frenzy of the debate has calmed, there are points still standing.
Regardless of which side of the fence your on, public vs. private, the only real reform that is needed is with the pious, price-gouging doctors, surgeons, specialists, health care unions, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Reporting from the front lines of the public side, I am disabled with a terminal disease (boo-hoo) receiving Medicaid/ SSI for five years. I don't feel bad about accepting the benefits for I worked and payed taxes for 40 years. Get it now for the well will run dry.
I need a specialist for my condition, one of which can not be found at the local hospital nor anywhere in the county. I contacted 26 gastrointeroligists and not one accepted Medicaid, leaving me to twist in the wind.
When pressed for the reason most admitted "why should we settle for 25 cents on the dollar from Medicaid when private pay/ insurance will pay 100 percent on the dollar?” Nuff said.
Granted, the public system [won’t] let John Doe the Homeless die but don't expect transplants or tummy tucks.
Oh, while we're on the subject. Why do we need a new hospital when the current one can't even provide proper staff or equipment? Then MMH recently announced their "Point of Service Collection Policies in the Emergency Dept.", cash or credit please!
Money talks and "_ _" walks or crawls for that matter... good ole' rural health care.
E. DeVane Jr.
Madison
Via e-mail