LETTERS

— Invective unproductive

Gene Lyons' "Right-wing media machine coming off tracks," reinforces how seemingly impossible it is for those pundits who represent a leftist viewpoint to take issue with conservatives without engaging in personal invective.

In just the one column mentioned, gentle reader is assaulted by the following: "snarling misanthrope," "loudmouths," "bombastic radio yakker," "pompous braggart," "crybaby" and "blubbering faker." These quite specific references are followed by a more veiled allusion to the GOP lineup for president as all being candidates for an erectile dysfunction remedy, which, I suppose, one could construe as collective invective, and certainly individually demeaning at the very least. Nice, eh?

I read and listen to converse polemical arguments, which can result in a change of my viewpoint, but when I encounter egregious vituperation in the form of personal attack, as in the example above, then whatever sound argument may lie beneath such emotional verbal detritus becomes tainted and not worthy of further consideration. Is this throwing out the baby with the bathwater? Perhaps, but for me the idea of reasoned discourse has clearly been abridged.

Lyons seemingly preaches only to the choir every Wednesday, but if his objective is to reach those of us at the other end of the political spectrum also, in my case just to the right of center point, then my recommendation is simple enough: Make your argument and support it with unequivocal facts. I'm sick of wanton expository diatribe expounded from right or left, and that includes the duplicitous Media Matters.

JAMES H. BARRÃ Little Rock

Ads may scare seniors

For several weeks now the attorney general has been running a TV ad about Medicare Advantage plans for seniors. He seems to reluctantly state that they are legal, but cautions people to call his officewith any questions.

Two things about this ad bother me. First, these plans are authorized for sale by Medicare. Medicare is not in the habit of authorizing sales of products offered by insurance companies without thorough investigation. No, these plans are not for every senior, but a large majority can receive tremendous benefit.

Many seniors cannot afford a Medicare supplement plan. Many counties in Arkansas offer zero premium Medicare Advantage plans and are the only protection many will have against huge medical bills. I believe the ad may scare some people away who would benefit from these plans.

Second, he says to call his office. The implication here is that you can't trust your insurance agent to tell you the truth. Mr. Attorney General, I believe that most attorneys are completely honest and hold the interest of their clients above all else. After 30 years, I know the same is true of my profession.

JAMES JOHNSON Little Rock

Danny Nutt is due leave

The day the story broke about Danny Nutt and his sick leave benefits, I heard folks in stores all over Little Rock fussing and complaining about his pay. But what folks need to understand is that he is a state worker who happens to have some really good benefits.

I've read some of the letters criticizing his benefits and so-called special status because Houston Nutt is his brother and he works for the almighty Razorbacks. These folks sound jealous to me. Danny has built up extensive sick leave benefits and he gets to take advantage of them, all while he is battling a serious health condition. Please leave him alone.

REBEKAH A. GREENLEE Little Rock

Will of people ignored

Re private club permits: I am alarmed by the power given to five appointed people to overturn the votes, will and wishes of people in all areas of the state. The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board recently overturned the people of Columbia County who voted it dry in 1943. This is not right or fair.

The citizens of a county should determine whether it is wet or dry, not five people in Little Rock. This also applies to Craighead County, Faulkner County and Crawford County.

The power of this board reminds me of the former Nazi Party of Germany and the Communist Party of Russia. It appears that a person has only to ask for a permit to obtain one.

Nothing good has ever come from alcohol. It has broken more homes and families, harmed more children and destroyed more lives than perhaps any other thing. This is the reason I detest alcohol being sold in my county, a dry county by a legal vote of the people who lived here, made a mockery by the ABC Board in another location.

Who gave this power to five people to overturn votes?

HAROLD JAMESON Magnolia

'Best interest' not issue

Isn't it nice that the Family Council group is proposing an initiated act saying that it's in the "best interest" of children not to live with "cohabiting" people?

Boy, has that been a problem. But, gee, isn't it also in the "best interest" of children to live in a smoke-free environment? Better add smokers to the ban. And gun-free homes would be in the "best interest" of children, too. Better add gun owners to the ban.

Don't stop there. Wouldn't it be in the "best interest" of children to get lots of vegetables? Better keep couples who don't like vegetables from adopting or becoming foster parents. Why single out cohabiting people? I'm sure the Family Council would love to add non-Christians and those awful liberals to the ban. It's in the kids' "best interest," right? Yeah, right.

MIKE VINING Benton

Hate-crime law needed

I would like to answer letter writer Tim Johnson's question about why we need a hate-crime law. It is because the intent of any hate crime is not just to harm the individual or his family, but to terrorize a community.

Many victims must move to other states to avoid hate-crime violence. It is a special kind of crime which deserves special legislation. Because Senate Bill 1105 includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its list of those groups protected under the law, conservatives are against it. But the fact is that homosexuals and the transgendered are just two of several groups whose communities have suffered from hate-crime violence.

The legislation also includes gender, race, color, religion, national origin and disability of the victim. And it only applies to those crimes in which violence or murder took place. The First Amendment right of free speech is not to be affected. This bill has been endorsed by more than 230 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations.

Re Eileen Bruno's letter on health care: She makes a good point that many health problems are lifestyle-related and preventable. But I'm not sure if HIV should be lumped into the mix. If she is trying to equate homosexuality with lifestyle-related health problems, then she should know that millions of HIV sufferers are heterosexual. And many more contracted it through no fault of their own: babies born with it, bad blood transfusions and unknowing spouses in committed relationships whose partners were less than monogamous.

BRAD BAILEY Fayetteville

Crowd scared bird off

Well, well, well. The bird interest has resurfaced again. If a dummy knew where Daddy, Mama and Junior were, it doesn't matter. The crowd ran the bird off in the bottom of the Cache River area.

As strange as it seems, the bird has been here all the time. Being an elusive bird, [it's] no big deal about [its] being hard to find. Dead trees, fruit trees and others are a good place to go.

I will enjoy the birds and accept the factthat I do not know what [the ivory-billed woodpecker] looks like or where it is.

JIMMY JONES Little Rock

America falling to knees

What's wrong, America? What's wrong is that America is falling on her knees with liberalism.

Our judicial system is soft, afraid and not doing her job. Why can't America do her job? Because every time she tries to do the right thing, she is blocked by liberal people saying what they do is right.

The murders and rapes are out of hand. This country was founded on God. Our first lawmakers were Christian people. If there was a murder or rape, that person was put to death. But why do we let them go today or [sentence them to] life in prison? It's because the liberals say, well, that's cruel or unusual punishment, to kill someone for murder or rape.

Well, what happened to the one who was raped or the one who was killed? Was that cruel or horrible? Of course it was. A 3-year-old was raped the other day. What will happen to [his attacker]? Let him go because he was temporarily insane?

We'd better serve God. The lawyers who defend and let go the rapist or murderer? All I can say is when you stand before God on your judgment day, you will remember this letter to the editor. What we better do is follow what God would do with these kinds of people.

Liberals better be glad I'm not the governor of this state.

JOHN WYATT Pangburn

Editorial, Pages 13 on 10/29/2007

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