To the Editor:

It was reported in The Smoky Mountain News on Aug. 5 that Jackson County Commissioner John Smith’s completion of a statutorily required ethics training within a year of being elected was in question.

Congressional redistricting  — the process of drawing electoral districts to account for population changes — was conceived by the Founding Fathers as a once-per-decade redrawing of district lines following the decennial U.S. census.

To the Editor:

In the 2024 Presidential race, 49.8% of the votes went to Donald J. Trump, who promised to reduce the costs of consumer goods, end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and fix our immigration crisis.

To the Editor:

“A decade was marked by ideological zeal, systemic upheaval, cultural cleansing, and concentrated power, all underpinned by the leader’s personal cult and political dominance.”

This description of China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) sounds eerily familiar today under the Trump administration.

President’s priorities are not mine

To the Editor:

Priorities: $200 million for a ballroom in the White House; $1 billion to retrofit a jet given by Qatar. Contrasted by cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs. 

To the Editor:

Many American servicemen feel duty-bound to oppose combat Marines being deployed in American cities. I’m one of them.

First of all, this President is in clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, a federal U.S. law that restricts the use of the military for law enforcement within the country.

To the Editor:

Disappointing national employment numbers were released last week. Estimates were much lower than expected, and may be precursors of a shrinking economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that 19,000 jobs were filled in May, 14,000 in June, and 73,000 in July (bls.gov/economic news release 8/1/2025).

To the Editor:

Last week’s letter by L. E. Cossette: “Democratic Party is in disarray,” is a delusional insult to Democrats and a vacuous flattery job to Trump’s Republican Party. Democrats are as committed and vocal about the values that they support as they always have been. 

To the Editor:

As we approach the 2026 mid-term elections, the political climate is marked by uncertainty for the Democratic Party. Confusion and disorder echo throughout their ranks, causing many to doubt the party’s sustainability. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has a unique opportunity to benefit from this chaos, provided it avoids complacency and overconfidence. 

To the Editor:

What I dislike about the American Christian Right is what I dislike about Jeff Minick’s book review in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News, which is less a book review as it is a chance for Mr. Minick to display his own religious views using the passages he quotes from the book as support.