LETTERS

Heeding cries of mob

Paul Greenberg’s recent column, “Mobs I have known,” seems to set the stage for mobster Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post.

I believe her column, which appeared with Greenberg’s, is a classic example of mob mentality. She talks of the Iraq surge as if it was some kind of victory, but does not say what the victory was. If you think Iraq was a victory, you’re buying the right paper.

Ms. Rubin is just one of the many mobsters that seem to have a rather intense dislike of all things Clinton. Her last sentence of mob speech reads, “… Obama, Clinton, Rand Paul and other sanctions opponents will have the unenviable distinction of helping to foster either war or a nuclear-armed Iran.”

Just like Iraq. Use mob mentality. Scare the mob. War or nuclear weapons are the only outcome. Or in Iraq’s case, mobile chemical weapons labs were the mob’s cry. Waiting to verify intelligence is not really a mob type of thing.

So Ms. Rubin apparently would use mob tactics: bomb first, seek peace later, if ever. Another war, another mob mistake. Indications are that there are no nuclear weapons in Iran. There were no WMDs in Iraq. It seems the mob wants to start another war based on fear. Where is the evidence? What would be the outcome of invasion? At what price?

Iran is no Iraq. Way more formidable. I think Ms. Rubin and her mobsters would be looking at far greater casualties than Iraq.

JEFF LAHA Little Rock

How to teach students

Teach students math and reading, and they are empowered.

Teach students envy, and the state is empowered.

MIKE BROWN Redfield

Of unintended effects

The new higher minimum wage is a great political play, but like all political plays, there are unfortunately unintended consequences.

Services for the very young and the old are oftentimes paid for with government funds. Many of the workers in these services are paid less than $10.50 per hour and the services have no way to raise the money to pay a higher wage. There are many private agencies that supply services to this same group that cannot afford to pay more.

It sounds good if you say a fastfood service is going to have to pay more; to say you may have to shutter a senior center or a Head Start program doesn’t sound good. There are some conservative politicians that might get on the president’s wagon and say go for it, but not those of us who work to stretch every dollar for these two groups.

Please tell the president that unless the federal government is ready to put more money into senior and child programs for salaries, he may go down as the president that killed Head Start and senior programs.

STEWART NELSON

Morrilton Made right decision

I think the editorial concerning Tom Cotton’s vote against the food stamp/farm bill was right on target.

Each of these programs, food stamps and agriculture, deserve the scrutiny and revision that will only happen when they are considered in separate bills. In their present form, neither of these programs are affordable.

It seems our only hope to deal with out-of-control spending and continued expansion of federal power is to elect men and women to make the tough votes that will be unpopular with special-interest groups that fund campaigns for “go along to get along” politicians.

I believe Tom Cotton has proven that he has the courage to back up his convictions and do the right thing for our state and country. He deserves our support in his drive to be the next senator from Arkansas.

DAVID L. SUENRAM Bull Shoals Program now pathetic

I am a little perplexed by the attitude of the athletic department at University of Arkansas. I am a lifelong diehard Razorback fan, and I think this is the most pathetic state this program has been in in over 50 years.

The football team is not competitive and is blown out by halftime in most games due to missed assignments, poor play-calling, poor effort. The basketball program just continues to be outcoached, outhustled and finds a way to lose games it should win. Yet Jeff Long and the university act as if this is an elite program. The policies they enact continue to divide a once-united fan base.

Frank Broyles’ focus as coach and athletic director made you proud to be a Razorback. The current athletic director seems way more interested in building monuments to himself and forging his own legacy rather than developing winning teams.

When I first started attending Razorback events in the ’60s, we were all just fans. Whether you were rich or poor, lived in Northwest Arkansas, the Delta or Southeast, you were welcomed, and fans intermingled with one common reason, to cheer our team to victory.

Under Jeff Long, it seems you can now be afforded special privileges, such as alcoholic beverages, if you contribute certain amounts. You can only watch your Razorbacks if you drive to Fayetteville.

Long continues to divide the fans and instill animosity among them. We are a long way from the elite program we once were under Frank Broyles, but I am sure we can return to that level-just not under the current athletic director.

ALAN DAUGHERTY Hot Springs

Extra-curly newspaper

I certainly do agree with the Dockhams regarding the eternal rolling up of your newspaper sheets. It is good to know I am not the only person irritated by this.

Whether I am holding the paper or laying it on the table, it is a continual battle to unroll the corners in order to read an article in full. Endless crimping in the opposite direction is involved. And the battle continues when I am trying to place the papers in the recycling basket.

Perhaps it’s just because I like things arranged neatly, but if I didn’t flatten the papers carefully, the stack would very soon reach the ceiling. Surely there is heavier newsprint available, and I would hope that a change could be made.

BETTY J. BROKAW Pea Ridge