LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Political wisdom lacking

Three pieces in a recent Perspective section attracted my attention: explorations by E.J. Dionne Jr. and by Sanford Levinson on the founders and the current political landscape, as well as Paul Greenberg’s column. A careful synthesis of Dionne’s and Levinson’s propositions on our current dysfunctionality juxtaposed against our Constitution and the founders’ intentions requires, I believe, a wisdom accumulated over time, as suggested by Greenberg.

Whatever wisdom I have assimilated in seven decades suggests to me a severe dearth of wisdom in our current political world. On the other hand, a study of our founders’ writings reveals extraordinary wisdom accumulated not only through their own experiences, but also through arduous study of history of successes and failures of governmental endeavors throughout the civilized world. They incorporated this wisdom into our founding documents, perceiving it as timeless in its efficacy. To safeguard against frivolous treatment of these principles by future generations, their provision for future constitutional changes was designed to be slow and deliberative.

An analysis of our past century’s history indicates to me that most of our domestic problems have ensued from “progressive” policies wherein the federal government has interjected itself into various aspects of our lives explicitly intended by our founders as the sole purview of the individual states and/or the citizenry itself. In summary, today’s Washington is far more often the problem than the solution.

DENNIS LEGGETT

Batesville

Oh, that’s just typical

Re Bill Fritz’s letter: Quite honestly, I found it amusing. It’s the same old liberal playbook.

If you disagree with Barack Obama and/or his policy, play the race card. Fritz managed to take shots at the Tea Party, all conservatives, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Mitt Romney. He scoffs at the ideas critical of Obama, implying that all are fabrications, while our transparent president will reveal little to nothing about his past.

There are a few issues Fritz overlooked discussing. How about the deficit, how about unemployment, corruption, Fast and Furious, the number of people losing their homes and Obamacare, just to name a few?

Fritz is a typical liberal, in my opinion: He’s a good soldier spewing the party line. His avoidance of discussing the substantial issues is not new. I find it objectionable that his final sentence used the words “succeed Obama.” These words do not belong together.

MICKEY JORDAN

Hot Springs Village

Unity is far preferable

The notion and practice of communities contributing their wealth to a common store and distributing from that store as members of the community had need was reported by Saint Luke in the fourth chapter of Acts. The “creeping Marxist” strategy attributed to President Barack Obama in a recent letter might just indicate that both Karl Marx and Obama were positively influenced by their reading of the New Testament.

Incidentally, Abraham Lincoln likely had also read and believed the Bible when he quoted Saint Matthew’s report of Jesus stating that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

It seems possible to me that a democracy populated by mutually supportive citizens might be preferable to schismatic hate-mongering.

JACK McCORMACK

Fayetteville

Do the research first

Obviously, Mike Davis of Maumelle knows nothing of Sheffield Nelson. He has made baseless accusations about a man we call friend. Sheffield is one of the most generous and honest men we know. He has a long record of fighting for the best for Arkansas, the state he loves.

One statement we do agree with is that Sheffield is a shrewd businessman. He wisely understands that the oil and gas companies are spending millions of dollars to confuse and yes, lie to the people in this state. They have used scare tactics to maintain a rate of severance tax that is a pittance compared to other states.

Davis asks, “What is in this for Nelson?” We can tell you. He is grieved that oil and gas company executives are cheating our state of a reasonable severance tax and leaving our roads in a deplorable condition.

We believe Davis has not done his research. He asks questions of the readers that should not be necessary had he known Sheffield, or fairly investigated the severance tax proposal. We attend church with him and know him to be both an encouraging and generous supporter of numerous charities, one of which we are a part. He also has many people in this state that he, through his generosity, has helped individually, and on a continual basis. This letter would not have space to contain the many accolades he has received for his hard work and generosity.

We suggest that the next time Davis wants to critique a man and his motives, he might want to do a better job of research.

BARRY and LYNDA SORRELLS

Little Rock

Not-so-fond farewell

Re Ed Dugan’s “farewell” guest column: I’m sure I am joined by a lot of Arkansans who say “don’t let the door hit you in the butt.”

DAN ARNDT

Mena

Ideology and intellect

Joyce Jarrett’s letter chastising Joe Janowski has Jarrett allowing her ideology to get in the way of her intellect. All you have to do is Google “Fast and Furious did not begin under President Bush.” Operation Wide Receiver ended before George W. Bush left office, with, as I remember, no killings and many arrests made. Before spewing misinformation, verify the facts.

Also, I believe Jarrett bared her soul and weakened her argument when she threw in a statement about anti-abortion legislation. She should let us know how she really feels backed up by facts.

RICHARD ALAN

Hot Springs Village

Knowing what’s best

I wish to express my appreciation for Michael Wickline’s article on the efforts put forth by the “Stop Casinos Now! Committee.”

It is good to know that once again we have a group of people working hard to keep a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution off the ballot so I do not have to make a decision on whether I want casinos in Arkansas. Their efforts seem to be a continuation of special-interest groups (in this case, it sounds like Southland Greyhound Park since the article states that all of the group’s funding is coming from the park’s New York-based parent company) of Southland to keep us poor, dumb Arkansawyers from thinking for ourselves and checking a box on a ballot to express our opinion on the subject. Keep up the good work.

Heaven forbid that I have to think for myself and possibly make a stupid mistake by checking a box on this year’s ballot that just might cut into Southland’s and Oaklawn’s casino income. Thank God for special-interest groups who know what is in my best interest as a poor, dumb Arkansawyer.

LLOYD QUALLS JR.

Russellville

Not very conservative

I have a problem with two of Paul Greenberg’s definitions in his “Angel’s Dictionary.” “Liberals” are no more like “progressives” than progressives are like liberals. Liberals are idealists primarily concerned with personal liberty and justice for all. Progressives are an amalgam of both liberalism and conservatism. Progressives are pragmatists. They glean the most practical ideas from both “isms.” They realize that the nature of the universe is change. Unlike conservatives and liberals who don’t want change (unless it benefits them), progressives want to build a better and saner world. They want to progress—not stagnate, or even worse, regress.

Strange, but I couldn’t find a definition for “conservatives” in “The Angel’s Dictionary.” That’s a shame, because I’m still trying to figure out just what a conservative is. Is it conservative to want deregulation of businesses and industry, especially the banking industry? Is it conservative to start not one but two wars and in eight years add $5 trillion more to the national debt? Is it conservative to wish the demise of the Clean Water and Clean Air acts? Is it conservative to allow corporations the power to influence elections through large infusions of cash?

The only things I find conservative about the current state of American conservatism is the dream of a return to those good old days of Eisenhower and Reagan, and the yearning to return to that mythical time when the founding fathers were all Christians and everyone was white, except the slaves.

FLEMING STOCKTON

Little Rock

A poor little critique

Who wrote that mean editorial on the troubles at the Oxford American?

Well, actually the editorial began by talking about the troubles, including the firing of its editor and another employee, but it soon seemed to turn into a rant about how the “little magazine” wasn’t, in the opinion of the writer, very good anyhow. How its writing didn’t come to the level of Thomas Wolfe. How it was never able to “answer the question every Yankee keeps asking: ‘What is life really like down there?’” (Right, that’s the big question on every Yankee’s mind.) And then it continues, “But, poor thing, the OA got so caught up in its self-absorption it never seemed to have sufficient time, talent, money or perspective to really answer the question.”

Oh, so the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette does? Yes, the “little magazine” has always had its troubles— mostly money troubles from trying to bring a little Southern light to an increasingly vapid public. But why demean such a noble and decent effort? Why kick the “poor little thing” so hard when it’s down? Is that what the writer means by understanding the South?

Finally, the writer ends with this gem: “For a great magazine requires a great editor.” Maybe a great editor like the writer? Talk about self-absorption!

LESLIE SINGER

Little Rock

Of all the silly things

I have a question for letter-writer Alan Glenn of Hot Springs, who recently opined that we’re being governed by “the most evil, corrupt, greedy government on the face of the Earth.” Does Glenn really believe the government of the United States is worse than the governments of Somalia, North Korea, Communist China or Syria?

That’s just silly.

RENEE HUNTER

Conway

Feedback

Votes on sale now

Looks to me like President Barack Obama believes that teachers’ votes can be purchased for a $20,000 stipend each and that $1 billion should eventually buy the votes of 10,000 teachers nationwide. Obama calls the program a “Master Teacher Corps” with the purpose of boosting the achievements of students in math and the science.

I am personally doubtful that the teachers unions will step up to the plate to guarantee any better results in the classrooms. Two years from now I think we will be another $1 billion in debt and the election will be over.

DEANE T. WALLACE

Little Rock

Play up the positive

I couldn’t help but notice on a recent day that on the front page of the Arkansas section of the paper, half the articles were about murder.

Don’t you think we have enough depressing and negative news right now? Why not showcase more positive aspects of this great state on the front page?

I wish the media would make us smile more than causing us to shake our heads in disappointment.

ELIZABETH STAUFFER

Vilonia