LETTERS

— Appreciation overdue

Returning from our summer visit with kin recently, I surprised myself in my unexpected evaluation of our Arkansas paper, the Democrat-Gazette. I found it better-suited to my interests than four hometown papers I browsed in Dallas, Austin and Lufkin, Texas, as well as Albuquerque.

As a subscriber to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for over 16 years, maybe I’ve taken its good work for granted. The paper has justified cause to make the accomplishments from effective journalists known, as they continue to excel in comparison with their peers from other papers.

The newspaper has statewide distribution of its daily efforts, and it appears not to be stingy with assignments to effective staff members in flushing out the news, involving its investigative employees in searching diligently, digging and checking under rocks, if need be, for factual information.

A major job description of a good newspaper is keeping the public accurately informed. And so they scrounge around towns and cities alike, focusing with substantial inquiry, consistently nudging politicians, educators, business leaders and the like in our counties and state—and reporting news they deem important for their readers.

I feel that my expression of appreciation to all the staff who make my reading of the paper an engaging experience is overdue—from the general manager to the person throwing my paper each morning. Thanks.

GRANT GROVES

De Queen

Some funny business

Methinks he protests too much. The all-so-knowledgeable John Brummett seems to be extremely sensitive, but his protests betray his own logic. When explaining the ethical purity of Vic Snyder, his column contains two contradictory arguments. First he says Snyder labors for Blue Cross as a “corporate director for external affairs.” I wonder just what external affairs he works on—Brummett doesn’t say. His only explanation is that Snyder is qualified beyond “simple” lobbying.

In the middle of his column Brummett says, “It is possible that Snyder manages to advise Blue Cross on political matters.” Now I ask you, is it also possible that Snyder uses his political background to, let’s say, “visit” legislators, the governor and others? Just because his title doesn’t say “lobbyist,” that doesn’t mean he isn’t. The old saying, if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck . . .

So Brummett can continue with his political comments and please, don’t feel sorry for us. We need and enjoy the comedy.

JERRY B. JACKSON

Heber Springs

Doesn’t fit definition

It boggles the mind that everything President Barack Obama does is characterized as socialist, or socialism. Socialism is defined as a system in which the means of production and distribution are owned by the government.

The classic example of mischaracterization in this is the Affordable Care Act being referred to as socialist by the right. The act only sets the policy; the execution is in the hands of private insurance companies. This is not socialism.

In defining the act, the conclusions of the nonpartisan Office of Management and Budget really characterize it as moderate to conservative. Consider that the OMB says it reduces the deficit by $193 billion from 2010-2019. That it will save $500 billion in Medicare costs while increasing benefits—one of many being cutting the doughnut hole. If only more of our legislation would be so financially conservative.

Of course there is also the constant reference to Obama being a socialist. Consider the definition above, and I am not aware of anything he has said or done that fits that mold. I would hope that letter writers would not continue to use that term so loosely.

BOB WATERS

Hot Springs Village

Get real about danger

Since the terrible shooting incident in Aurora, Colo., I’ve heard a lot of discussion about gun control. The discussion ranges from “How could our current laws have allowed someone to amass such an arsenal undetected?” to “If people in the theater had been armed ,they could have protected themselves.”

I’m sure that the National Rifle Association will have all kinds of reasons that Joe Sixpack should be able to purchase assault weapons and enough ammunition to take over a small country without showing as much ID as I have to show when I get on an airplane.

It’s about time for this country to get real about weapons. There is a correlation between both violent crime and suicide and gun accessibility. In a country where one can’t safely send children to school every day without metal detectors and security, are we to start arming children before sending them to the rollerskating rink?

At some point, personal freedom and the interpretation of the Second Amendment must line up with safeguards against crazed individuals who can legally purchase such weapons of destruction as assault rifles. No individual needs an automatic weapon or assault rifle. There is no reasonable justification.

There is always the potential risk to human life that is posed by handguns and hunting weapons, but nothing like the terror and annihilation that was dealt to the patrons at the Aurora Century 16 Theater.

PATTY MILLER-MARSHALL

Little Rock

Reconsider its closure

Fayetteville City Hospital is a community treasure, in my opinion. The decision by Washington Regional Medical Center to close the hospital-turned-nursing-home is based on what I consider to be a questionable review by the state Department of Human Services and a shortsighted conclusion by the Washington Regional board and administration.

I believe that decision and recent alarmist reports give an absolutely distorted view of what the readers of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette appropriately voted the best Northwest Arkansas nursing home in 2011, and what for years has generally been considered the best in the region.

I have talked to several people whose loved ones spent years there and who would go daily or at least weekly to visit them, and still return to volunteer their time in the team of master gardeners tending to the many gardens there.

It is lovingly known as a funky old building with exceptional nursing care. My father was there for over six years, and I felt so fortunate to have him in a place with such an incredibly fine staff and dedicated and caring director. In fact, I still go back to see the patients and staff in the three years since he died.

The community needs to know why families are so dedicated to City Hospital and why Washington Regional needs to reconsider its closing and simply make the necessary repairs to a facility which celebrates its 100th birthday this year.

KEN STOUT

Winslow

Not scent of success

I had a phone call at suppertime recently—a survey. They wanted to know how excited I was about the election and if I had picked someone to vote for. I hung up! I sure have someone to vote against: the badbody-odor guy—B.O.

LARRY HACKER

Bryant

Editorial, Pages 77 on 07/29/2012

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