LETTERS

— Fomenting of hatred

Kudos for Fox and Friends for calling out Hank Williams Jr. on his equating President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. The president, like Rodney Dangerfield, “just can’t get no respect” or credit.

If Hank Williams Jr. really wants something to equate to the Nazis, he need look no further than Tea Party blogger Mike Vanderboegh’s rant fomenting hatred for the Democratic Party: “To all modern Sons of Liberty: This is your time. Break their windows. Break them now” sounds similar to the Nazis sending the brownshirts out to break the windows of Jewish shops and synagogues.

“Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats. But break them.” Was that from 1938’s Nazis or 2011’s Vanderboegh?

Clearly, Tea Baggers have no knowledge of Kristallnacht or they wouldn’t want to be associated with “breaking windows” and the Nazis.

MICHAEL JIRKA

Mountain Home

Take the nation back

Because of America’s orderly and legal approach to immigration, American citizens have been a wonderful blend of many nationalities. That is America. Our laws served us well. It has been our policy to welcome controlled numbers of applicants from all over the world. Since they filled out application papers, we knew they had at least a rudimentary understanding of our language. These applicants agreed to attend and pass citizenship classes. Their participation at the swearing-in ceremony was cause for celebration.

In those days we didn’t find directions in Spanish and English on numerous products. We didn’t hire Spanish-speaking interpreters for doctors’ offices, public schools or welfare centers. We were an Englishspeaking country. Unfortunately, it appears we have become a nation of American citizens and illegals who daily steal across the Mexican border. These people do not care about us. They have no regard for our laws. And now, during times of economic hardship for our own citizens, these illegals smugly feel they should receive benefits that we, the U.S. taxpayers, have earned.

Our leaders appear overwhelmed, turning to thoughts of immigration reform rather than law enforcement. We have sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, helping their citizens keep order, yet we seem unable or unwilling to accomplish the same at home. Why not hire unemployed Americans to help secure the Mexican border? Why must we continue supporting this illegal community? I want my country back. You?

DIXIE LEE ERD

Lincoln

Suits and hard work

It seems to me that the only people who say we should raise the retirement age to solve most of the shortage of funding for the system are suits who never worked doing really hard manual labor and got dead-tired.

I think an easier plan would be to change the tax law so that everyone pays the same effective Social Security tax rate until they retire, rather than the yearly contribution being capped, which means high earners pay nothing further each year after meeting the cap.

Of course the GOP doesn’t quite see things like the middle class, who pay these taxes year-long till they die or retire. That would go against the mantra of the Republican Party.

CARL ANDERSON

Hot Springs Village

Need a serious leader

As I follow the presidential race, I am reminded of how displeased Americans were with former President George W. Bush. Barack Obama then emerged as the new hope and now that he has failed, it’s back to the same old candidates. Mitt Romney is hypocritical of his own agenda, having hired a landscaping company who employed illegal aliens. Rick Perry is no different, for he has assisted illegal aliens as the governor of Texas. Neither candidate offers a new approach for change in America, and neither candidate stands true to their agendas. However, these two hypocrites have led the polls.

Herman Cain also is a frontrunner, but let’s get serious; America is not a pizza company in need of a CEO. I do recognize that Cain has at least presented a new approach with his 9-9-9 plan, but how many times has he changed the plan to please the public? America doesn’t need a president who is so unsure about his ideas that he constantly revises them simply to keep a lead in the polls.

We don’t need a people-pleaser. We need a people’s president. We don’t need a jokester. We need someone serious about getting this country back on track.

There is one candidate who has always held true to his beliefs, whose agenda truly employs a new direction for America, who is consistent and who does not echo the failures of past presidents. That candidate is Rep. Ron Paul. It’s time to wake up America.

MICHAEL LONG

Brickeys

No trips to museum

I saw that they are expecting to have a lot of people visit the new billion-dollar-plus Crystal Bridges Museum when it opens. I want everyone to be on notice that I, for one, will not be going to visit.

It is not only a waste of time and money, but it was built on the backs of the American workers. Millions of American jobs have been lost because of Wal-Mart and Sam’s. History shows that when they build new stores it often puts other well-established businesses out of business.

Additionally, only a small portion of their merchandise seems to be American-made.

And now even before I get this letter turned into the newspaper, I see that someone has donated $10 million so that kids can go to the museum. What a waste of money there.

Just think of all the water wells that money could pay for in Third World nations or, as a matter of fact, in this nation.

BOYD B. McNIEL Pea Ridge

Give them some slack

It has been some time since Gary Lemon of Cabot had a letter printed, but I see it hasn’t been sufficient time for his disposition or how he talks to other people to change.

He brings up some good points, but in the end it all goes to hell in a handbasket because he can’t keep from calling those who don’t agree with his ideas either stupid or a moron.

Lemon should give the rest of the world some slack. He doesn’t have to be a jerk all of the time.

BILLY D. HOLLAWAY North Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 11 on 10/31/2011

Upcoming Events