LETTERS

Shortsightedness is costly

Now that the shutdown is over, I’m finding it was a very distasteful waste of time and presented an amazing level of governmental breakdown on the part of virtually all of our elected officials.

Having said that, would a similar shutdown have identified: U.S. Postal Service legacy costs, misunderstanding changes in customer tastes and misunderstanding the incredibly creative efficiencies of their competitors?

The financial problems of General Motors related to their legacy costs, misunderstanding of their customers’ expectations and misunderstanding the incredibly creative efficiencies of their competitors?

The incredible deficits in the Illinois and California pension programs and inflexible legacy costs?

The bankruptcy of Detroit?

The perpetuation of the misguided programs for unsuspecting buyers leading up to the housing crisis?

Social Security or Medicare as an unfunded liability going forward?

I’m wondering if a timely shutdown at some point in these governmental/corporate entities in the past would have prevented (or at least significantly improved) their current conditions. I’m also finding it difficult to condemn any of those involved with the recent shutdown, as distasteful as I find their tactics. If I’m condemning anyone, it’s those legislators or corporate managers that had no courage at all to question what they were obligating others to in the future. That shortsightedness is unforgivable and has cost me and many others. I hoping the fate is not the same for the Affordable Care Act. TOM RICHARDS Bella Vista

Destroying the nation

To me, it has been obvious that Barack Obama wants to destroy the U.S. and that a higher power is at work in Washington, D.C.-an evil, diabolical and deceiving power. The lawmakers’ ears seem deafened, their eyes blinded, and they are apparently being fueled by power and greed.

Not only are we being destroyed by power and greed, but our continent is being ripped apart by hurricanes, floods, fires, etc. These things are weakening our economy which has already been weakened by misguided spending.

It appears Obama is trying to abolish our two-party governing system by decimating the Republican Party, which will give him the control he wants to more easily destroy our nation.

I believe this destruction is happening because we have turned away from God.

I hope you believe in God because this nation will only be saved by his power. I believe our nation has been blessed because it was founded on Christianity, and we have been a friend to Israel, God’s chosen people. Now we have turned our back on God and Israel, and I believe his hand of protection is rapidly being lifted from us.

It is not too late if we will repent and turn back to God. Without him, we will not survive. Pray.

All it takes is one person to make a difference. Could that person be you? BECKY DIVINE Pine Bluff

Broyles struggled too

Frank Broyles’ record his first year as head Razorback football coach in 1958 was 4-6.

JAMES WILLIS Little Rock

Expand connectability

Imagine a day in which you couldn’t connect to the Internet at the click of a mouse. Access to high-speed Internet service plays a vital role for all of us, particularly when it comes to health care, education, and Arkansas’ 21st Century economy.

While most Americans have access to highspeed Internet, there still remain pockets throughout rural America that do not, many right here in Arkansas. To bring broadband to these areas, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has partnered with telecommunications companies and encouraged investment in connecting rural communities. By bringing broadband to rural communities, the Connect America Fund ensures that organizations such as the Independent Living Council, which works to promote independence for Arkansans living with disabilities, have access to the tools and technologies we need.

To date, the FCC has made good on its promise to help get rural America connected. Now we need to ensure that the progress continues. The first iteration of Connect America money is currently being put to work, but the FCC needs to remain committed to providing broadband access to all rural Americans and to providing the funding that makes this endeavor a reality.

SHA’ STEPHENS Little Rock

Sha’ Stephens is the executive director of the Arkansas Statewide Independent Living Council.

Could have been saved

My heart still cries for the 5-year old boy who died in Stuttgart. Deanna Rust’s letter said everything that I thought and told my husband when I read of the boy’s death.

That precious child of God could possibly have been saved had someone given him the attention that hislittle body was calling out for (physically). The Department of Human Services had seen him just two weeks prior. He surely had signs of needing medical attention with his little body being so thin, that his death was so near.

I wish that I could say that I have respect for the department, but my personal experience with it caused me to lose that in 2010. Hearing of this little boy’s death does not help my feeling of disrespect. I will always be grateful to Mike Masterson for printing my story, and Deann Newell for letting me tell my story at the state Capitol.

Please, investigate the policies and procedures that the Department of Human Services has in place so that another child will not suffer for their mistakes. Oh yes, they make mistakes.

Curious, is the case still “pending”? LOUISE MONDAY Bryant

More liberal hogwash

I listened to a hearing done by a committee of the illustrious House of Representatives on the subject of the Affordable Care Act rollout. As usual, by the usual Democrats, the debacle was compared to the Medicare Part D rollout issues during George W. Bush’s time.

Are you kidding me?

The ACA cost trillions of dollars and affects every American. This impact includes every health-care provider (physicians, hospitals, drug companies), and according to most estimates, fully one-sixth of our economy. Medicare Part D affected a small segment of our population and a few drug companies. I believe to compare these programs just to say it’s Bush’s fault is typical liberal hogwash. All they need to say is “we screwed up and we’ll wait until it is corrected before we impose it on America.”

I think if this administration would just admit its errors, it might get a little support from the citizens. Until then, it is politics as usual and the typical Barack Obama method of “I am right and everyone else is wrong.”

Stop blaming or comparing to Bush. He’s been gone a long time.

JAMES BAKER North Little Rock

Embody those values

As proud alumnae of Mount St. Mary Academy, we are writing to express our disappointment in its termination of a much-loved teacher with a 15-year history of service. While it operated within its legal rights and in accordance with Catholic doctrine, we write today to challenge, as we were taught to do there, whether Tippi McCullough’s termination is consistent with the school’s Mercy Values.

Founded in 1851, Mount St. Mary began educating young women in Arkansas long before many people believed in the value of women’s education. The Mercy Values that remain today include the recognition of the intrinsic worth and dignity of each person; compassion, mercy, justice; the courage to innovate; and hospitality. Ms. McCullough’s termination does not align with these values.

We cannot understand how Ms. McCullough’s marital relationship warrants her termination while other violations of Catholic teachings do not. Moreover, we cannot discern how Ms. McCullough’s marriage would negatively affect her students any more than another teacher’s marriage would affect his or her students. However, Ms. McCullough’s termination has disrupted her students’ education and has sent the message to young women enrolled in the school, particularly those who are gay, that hospitality does not apply to them.

We challenge the Sisters of Mercy to have the courage to innovate by apologizing to Ms. McCullough. We remain hopeful that Mount St. Mary will not cease to embody the Mercy Values that instructed us as students and continue to guide us as adults.

LAUREN W. HAMILTON and CHRISTIN HARPER North Little Rock

Problem, not solution

Ms. Charlotte Hobbs hit the nail right on the head! We extend our congratulations to her for clarifying the situation concerning Tippi Mc-Cullough at Mount St. Mary Academy.

We also mused at how many ardent supporters of the Catholic Church throughout the country would be eliminated because of the practices of their lifestyle in opposition to the teachings of the church.

Of more impact to the church, though, would be the immediate and sizable effect in the decrease of contributions.

Pope Francis is urging all of us to follow the greatest law that Christ gave to us, to love one another. Leadership within the church, of necessity, must wake up and realize that law is still pre-eminent in our lives, and that many church laws are the problems, not the solution.

BARB and ED HANCOCK Springdale

Curse of the helmets

So, the Arkansas Razorbacks lost another football game, huh?

It’s the curse of those darned white helmets! Get rid of them. Just sayin’.

M.S. SMITH Eureka Springs

Feedback

All down to usage

I seldom agree with columnist Charles Krauthammer, but his take on the Washington Redskins name controversy is very thoughtful.

He bypasses the politically correct, the language police, and the pollsters. Krauthammer notes the usage of certain terms have evolved over the years; we no longer use Negro or retarded. In our ethnic breakdown of Congress, we don’t say there are two redskins.

Krauthammer does say it is simple decency not to define people in a demeaning way. He says he would not use the word if others were available. And he suggests Skins, which is already applied by fans to the Washington football team.

It’s a matter of usage-and usage changes.

BETTY IRENE McSWAIN Fort Smith

The chances of that

I saw a headline on a story about the death of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Tom Foley: “Ex-House chief … known for fairness.”

What are the chances of seeing wording like that referring to recent or current speakers?

MIKE WATTS Little Rock