C'mon, it's their fault
It's amazing to me why so many Arkansans cannot understand what a great job President Barack Obama is doing. Somehow, so many of us want to blame our leader for events he cannot control. Surely we all know most of the problems we are facing today are the direct result of policies initiated by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
For years the conservative Republicans have warned us about the dangers of increased government spending. As Paul Krugman, the brilliant and award-winning columnist of the New York Times, explains to us, most of our economic problems apparently could be solved by more government "stimulus" spending.
The fallacy of the national debt being a major problem has been put to bed. We need to worry about and put more spending in helping those who are less fortunate.
Surely the events of the past few years will result in voters throwing out those with a conservative bent in November. We must put more effort in supporting pro-choice and equal status for the LBGT community.
JERRY JACKSON
Heber Springs
Return our recycling
I have noted over the past many weeks the Voices letters of my Pulaski County rural neighbors expressing their disappointment of our current inability to recycle. Now it is my turn.
I have never had the luxury of curbside recycling (nor have many of my neighbors). We always collected our items and got up early on Saturday to carry them to the closest recycling area (Chenal Parkway at St. Margaret's for us). If you did not get there early enough, you had to haul your things back home and take them the next week, which we always did. Despite it being a trek, it was one we have always considered worthy and something I have done since 1992.
As Garnet Quimby pointed out, we are probably getting our money's worth now with garbage pickup, but it just does not feel right, not to any one of us.
Needless to say, I feel like the world is now spinning backwards. After all these years of teaching us to recycle, it is now taken away. I know there are many unspoken voices who concur.
Please help bring recycling back. It keeps our landfills from growing and keeps us civilized people progressive. If this means as much to you as it does to me, let your elected leaders know. It takes a village of voices. Let yours be heard.
RHONDA PATTON
Roland
It's all so confusing ...
Recent headlines in your publication have been "Deputies find SUV tied to missing man," "Gavel lowered on fleas in Little River County," and "Missouri goes in to run town torn by killing."
Each leaves much to the imagination of the reader. In what manner was the man tied? The article was about an unsolved crime. Why wasn't a croquet mallet used on fleas? Was the state of Missouri surrounded by crime tape prior to unleashing computers to run that town?
Please elucidate more exclusively.
KAY HICKS
Little Rock
All for our protection
I am a 70-year-old white male. I have never been fearful of a police officer in my life, whether that officer was white, black, Native American, Hispanic, Asian or Arabian, because I have always tried to abide by the law.
All law officers have been trained to protect me and the public at the risk of their own lives. When stopping speeders or drunk drivers, law officers are literally risking their lives. When a police officer walks up to a car, he could be stopping a harmless driver, a crazy person or a thug who may pull a gun and kill him for no reason whatsoever.
Having been stopped for speeding and other minor offenses, I realize it was for my protection and that of the public.
Whenever I was issued a speeding ticket, I had the privilege of going to court. In all cases I lost, but I still had respect for the law officers and judicial officers who handled the cases. (But I was still innocent!)
All law officers who have dedicated their lives to upholding the law and protecting all citizens should be commended and respected. I think all elected public officials, including the attorney general and the president of the United States, should be trustful and considerate of those who protect the lives of others at a risk to their own.
The presence of a law enforcement officer, regardless of race, makes me feel safe no matter where or what the conditions. I think any person should have the same feeling when he is in the presence of a law officer.
Without laws and law enforcement officials, we would all be in danger.
FRANK WILSON
Rison
New source of mud
As a public service, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette should publish the names and addresses of the state swine producers.
This would provide the two senatorial candidates a ready source of new material to sling at each other. They seem to refuse to discuss issues of the state or nation.
WINCIE C. DANIEL
North Little Rock
Could be harbinger?
If, heaven forbid, the paradigms shift and shake the foundations; if, heaven forbid, the cultural icons fall and shatter as cognitive dissonance is experienced on a grand global scale; if Humpty Dumpty cannot be put back together again despite the best efforts of all of the king's horses and all of the king's men; and if it is revealed that the emperor is naked and the Wizard of Oz is a fraud, could that be construed as a harbinger of the end times? Or a slow news day?
JOHN ROACH
Yellville
No men of substance
Pryor voted this way. Cotton voted that way. Pryor is good. Cotton is bad. Cotton is good. Pryor is bad. Pryor did this and Cotton did that.
Does the current wave of political attack ads seem confusing? I can't speak for everyone, but I am sick of these rantings. When I see them on my TV, the only think I can accurately determine is that my TV is working. Come on, guys; give us a break! I'm crying "uncle"--enough is enough. How about some substance for a change?
BILL DUDLEY
Conway
Editorial on 08/26/2014