LETTERS

Pssst … wanna buy land?

Peter Trabant reported that if we don’t do something about global warming, all the ice could melt and the oceans ultimately would rise 180 feet. The total area of the world’s oceans is about 139 million square miles. The total volume of the world’s ice caps is about 5.8 million cubic miles. So a very rough calculation of the expected rise would give 5.8 divided by 139 with the answer expressed in miles, which is about 220 feet.

So Mr. Trabant was correct.

This means there are going to be a huge number of underwater mortgages in all our coastal cities. As oceans rise, there will be less available land, and more demand for it. But remember, this will only happen if folks remain greedy, selfish and ignorant of the long-term consequences of their actions so that they don’t do anything to stop global warming. This seems like a good bet.

There is money to be made from this coming catastrophe. Just invest in some cheap land, well away from the ocean, and 100 or so feet above sea level. Then wait for the oceans to rise, and eventually you’ll have beachfront property.

For a more aggressive investment program, buy land closer to sea level. You could implement a lucrative strategy the opposite of the “buy low, sell high” approach that works in the stock market. You would buy when the land is well above sea level, wait for the ocean to arrive, sell after the land has reached sea level. “Buy high, sell low.” You could rinse (with salt water) and repeat, taking regular profits as the ocean rises.

But hurry! After the ocean rises 180 feet, the game is over.

THOMAS L. ATWOOD West Fork

Is ritual just an act?

In calendar year 2012, 20.9 percent of residents age 18 and older lacked health insurance in the state of Arkansas. These numbers or data come from an entity of the United States government. Mind you, children are not included.

Nothing’s on the agenda to mitigate this problem except the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this law passed by the Senate, the House, signed by the president and basically approved by the Supreme Court. Further, the Republican Party and supporters want to abolish with no intrinsic policy to mitigate the problem.

Crass.

A golden rule promulgated 2,000 years ago says, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do unto you; for this sums up the law and the prophets.”

We live in the heart of the Bible Belt, where 89 percent of us go to church, at least on occasion. We pray over our food, go to bed after prayer. Could this ritual be no more than an act, a source of entertainment?

Let’s get real!

ROBERT E. HYMER SR. Little Rock

Helps relieve the pain

Here’s my two cents in support of a yes vote for medical marijuana. I am 77 with back pain called sciatica.I have used every pill, injection, X-ray and specialist that my insurance will provide, plus $7,000 of my own money for time on a chiropractor’s wonder machine, all complete failures.

Hydrocodone usually helps slightly.

Twice I smoked a half of a marijuana cigarette. Both times the pain was completely gone in 20 minutes.

Recreational use? I have no opinion. LEE ROGELSTAD Greenbrier

Just creating trouble

Making big problems out of smaller ones. Calling the Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” made it a partisan measure to many when, in fact, one model for it was the health-care law passed in Massachusetts under the guidance of Mitt Romney. Gov. Romney had the blessing of Edward Kennedy, and Sen. Kennedy’s backing for his presidential run and his work for health care were a primary motivation for President Barack Obama’s drive to pass the ACA. Yet certain members of the Republican Party are now determined to destroy it.

Romney recently got permission to demolish his California house in order to build another one four times larger. If Democrats could only see the light, they would see, in his building plans, the GOP’s apparent plans for health care. They do not want to destroy it. They want to destroy the ACA in order to build another one four times larger and better. Let’s call it O’Romneycare. It sounds Irish, it’s bipartisan and it sounds Republican, so, of course, it is possible. And, “it will get the government off the backs of the people,” so it will involve the private insurance industry.

Of course, “the people” in that context means those making enough money in the private sector to live comfortably. Those working for government and those in financial need more often look to the government for assistance, don’t they?

The shutdown illustrated just how important the government really is. Actually, if they wanted to amend Obamacare, they could do it the usual way and start making changes to it when they have a chance to see what needs changing, could they not?

GARY SCHMEDEMANN Russellville

Angels in our midst

On a rainy October day, my daughter lost my wallet. There was no money in it, but there was a $425 shopping card. We called the Clarksville Wal-Mart. They said it was found on their lot. So we hurried to fetch the card, and it was a glorious sensation to learn there are angels in our midst.

I sent a similar note to the Wal-Mart store, and we always praise God for Sam Walton’s great service.

As for the big ruckus in Washington, there weren’t any big people worried about our foreign aid programs being harmed. And that is a program that the American voters have faithfully supported since Herbert Hoover was feeding the Europeans while my people were very down and out.

H.E. HARVEY Clarksville

Believability factor

What a great paper! Many points of view are expressed in the Perspective, editorial and Voices pages. I was particularly impressed that you published two pieces in one week by Sheldon Richman.

I don’t know anything about Mr. Richman other than he is a defender of the country of Iran. I know this is a very unpopular position to take and a bold move by this paper to give his voice to the large readership it has. His arguments made sense and I could see no obvious falsehoods. Since I know nothing else about the man, I will assume he is honest and is person of integrity. I assume that about everyone until they prove otherwise.

Unfortunately the president, vice president, secretary of state and all the other high-ranking officials of our government have proven otherwise to me.

Still, this letter is not intended to support Mr. Richman’s position, but at this point he has more believability than our government does.

WILLIAM B. CLEVELAND Clarksville

Couple won nothing

I was brought to tears when I read that Dusten Brown and the Cherokee Nation have dropped all proceedings related to the custody of 4-year-old Veronica Capobianco (Brown). Her biological father, Dusten, said that he could no longer bear the trauma heaped upon Veronica by the constant media attention and scrutiny of the world.

There is an old story that tells of how the true parent of a child was determined by a wise king who saw and understood that the real parent gave up the living child in order to protect the child from harm, or in that case, death.

Veronica Brown is Cherokee and will always be Cherokee, and I believe Mr. and Mrs. Capobianco have won nothing.

SHEILA CORDELLIA HICKS North Little Rock

A path to destruction

One of the favorite Republican Party talking points is that our government has borrowed more money than our economy takes in per year. They rail that our debt will choke our economy.

Millions of Americans have debt that far exceeds their yearly income.

Debt and deficits are the false reasoning, given by the Republicans, for the need to destroy the social safety net of millions of Americans and to deny them affordable health care.

The political god of most Republicans, Ronnie Reagan (who I voted for twice), believed deficits don’t matter. The father of all right-wing freakazoids, Dick (Halliburton) Cheney said, “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”

The hypocrisy in the GOP is sickening.

President Barack Obama was elected by 51 percent of the electorate; he was given a clear mandate to govern the country with his policies. If you don’t agree, vote him out in the next election.

Thirty-something political extremists in the U.S. House, collectively elected by probably less than 5 percent of the American electorate, held the entire country hostage and put the lives and fortunes of all of us at great risk.

Only a few times in the last 100 years, Republicans have had total control of our government. Twice their tenure was followed by an almost total economic collapse-the Great Depression and the Great Recession. If the current Republicans are allowed to enforce their destructive policies and hold our economy hostage, we are doomed to repeat history.

Tom “The untruthful” Cotton and Tim “All things Exxon” Griffin have to go. Please, learn and vote.

AUSTIN STEWART Judsonia

Only sane ones in D.C.

I owe over $148,000 on the national debt. So do you. So does every taxpayer in this nation. And now the Democrats have raised the debt ceiling, again. The Democrats apparently need more taxes to buy more votes.

I admire and respect the Tea Party patriots. They’re the only vestige of morals, values, principles and sanity I see in politics. The Tea Party is under constant attack by Democrats,RINOs, the liberal media and what Vladimir Lenin called “useful idiots.”

Margaret Thatcher said it best: “Socialism is a wonderful thing until you run out of other people’s money.”

Are you taxed enough already? I am. WAYNE WYATT Sherwood

Out of place in district

The Little Rock River Market should be a place with its own unique, cultural vibe. I think the addition of all the blue and white, aluminum, multispace parking signs are an unwelcome distraction. These signs are everywhere and have overwhelmed the aesthetics of the area. The large signs on the lovely antique street lights are especially unattractive.

Other alternatives for improving the parking turnover time in the River Market District must be explored. It is possible to find an answer to the parking dilemma while maintaining the integrity of the River Market. Perhaps closing off the area to all motor traffic, except the trolley, is the way to preserve our River Market District. SHARI BARNES Little Rock

Feedback

No religious crazy

Did I miss something? I have never read any “religious crazies” letters.

I suppose some people enjoyed all the government shutdown garbage. We wouldn’t want anyone offended by religious people. I, for one, am a Christian and I do not appreciate being called a crazy. I will proudly stand up for God any day.

Sounds like Pat Deming needs to rethink what I consider to be the best thing that ever happened to me, which is when I became a Christian.

PEGGY WOLFE Pangburn

Love is all around

Look out, Pat Deming!

Just when you thought you were safe, along comes another religious crazy, saying I love God, and he and I love you.

PAT NESIEWICZ Rogers

Editorial, Pages 13 on 10/28/2013

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