Bowden was one of Auburn's follies

The Bowden Academy in Troy got Terry Bowden's juices flowing. Last week he issued salvos at Bobby Lowder for micro-management, at Pat Dye for not winning a national championship, at the Auburn University faculty for working for less (although living in Auburn). Take cover. Noticeably absent was Bowden's acquiescence to:

- The worst football season at Auburn in the last 50 years.

- A consistent national ranking in the bottom 10 percent, based on yards rushing.

- By almost anyone's analysis, so-called expert or casual fan, the least talented group of football athletes -- as compared with SEC sister schools -- in recent memory.

All under Bowden's direction. Based on his latest comments, can you imagine the turmoil of another football season under his leadership?

Auburn's athletic department has had its share of public relations follies the past several years. But putting up with Terry Bowden's excuses for another year is not one.

Carlton Garner
Montgomery

Estate tax change benefits wealthy

Rep. Terry Everett wrote a newspaper article entitled "House Votes to Lay to Rest the Death Tax." Throughout the article, Everett refers to the "death tax" 11 times. There's just one big problem -- there is no such thing as the death tax. There is an inheritance tax which Everett alluded to once.

Everett says the death tax is "one of the most hated taxes imposed on small business and family farmers..." Tell that to the people in Alabama who are paying sales taxes on food and the regressive income taxes in this state. Tell it to the families who have large medical bills and loved ones in nursing homes and can't get the Republican Congress to give them a tax break. Tell it to the veterans who can't get medical care because Everett and his buddies are too busy giving tax breaks to the wealthy.

Somehow, Everett failed to mention the $675,000 exemption (soon to be raised to $1 million). Do you suppose he didn't know this, or just thinks the voters are ignorant?

You may say, "But you just want to punish the rich." No, I don't want to punish the rich. I am one of the rich. I have a roof over my head, good health, and enough income for food and clothing. I just think everyone should pay their fair share of taxes.

Carl L. Hess
Ozark

Media avoid the right word

Let's play Jeopardy!

The Category is: "New York Politics."

The Answer: "An outsider, especially a politician, who presumptuously seeks a position or success in a new locality."

The Question: What is a carpetbagger?

Next Answer: What descriptive term do the media steer clear of using in reporting New York politics?

The Question: What is a carpetbagger?

Armond Simmons
Pell City

Trash befouls state's beauty

Many thanks for your recent article about volunteers collecting 41 tons of trash from the Coosa River. This is just the tip of the iceberg on trash in Alabama.

It is sad that a state with a beautiful environment is probably first or second for trash in the country. The Advertiser can be the instrument to awake the governor and our city government to make Alabama still "The Beautiful." Our leaders have to set the pace. Make it happen.

Bill Scott
Montgomery

Abortion issue isn't complicated

No issue has vexed this nation quite like abortion. For many, the issue is so complex that it defies solution. But like most complex issues, there comes a point where it is not complex at all -- a point where all the important realities of abortion stand out clearly -- and at this point we do not only pass judgment on the issue, it also judges us.

The Supreme Court has struck down the right of the states to meaningfully restrict partial birth abortion. The law of the land is that delivering a live baby up to the head and then killing it is a constitutionally protected act. Here, the truth about where America is on this issue stands revealed. The politically correct nonsense about the baby not being a baby becomes absurd. The truth that we are legally murdering a living human being becomes inescapable, yet the court allows it even if the life of the mother is not in danger.

The American Revolution was based on the belief that the creator endowed all people with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As the Supreme Court continues to tear at the foundation of the first of these rights, who can say how long it will respect the other two?

Dick L. Brewbaker
Montgomery

Mark calendar for early frost

Tuesday night, June 20, my friend Gary French said he heard a katydid. Old folks say there will be a frost 90 days from then.

Perhaps your readers might want to put Aug. 18 on their calendar and be prepared.

Jack N. Teague
Eclectic

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