Letters

We can do something

Frequently, a diatribe appears in the letters section of the Democrat-Gazette about trash and debris scattered along various highways. Seldom is anything ever mentioned to do anything about it.

A section of highway can be adopted, and safety vests are provided for wear during the policing. One such crew adopted two miles of highway with the help of two high school senior football players from McCrory High School. Two very nice blue signs, one at each end of the chosen stretch of highway, with the name of the fraternity, are provided. McCrory looks better, and the young men and the fraternity both get credit. Of course, it is a lot easier just to complain!

VES PANKEY

McCrory

A greedy opportunist

James Mitchell proudly proclaims that he is a lifelong Republican, but that he has seen the light--now he is going to vote for Hillary Clinton and he urges all like-minded voters to do the same. I doubt that Mitchell will have many like-minded voters voting for Hillary. I believe Arkansans know who she is and what she is: She is a greedy opportunist who has never accomplished anything beneficial to this country. I think she has been a disaster in every position she has held while serving in Washington.

It seems her political career is defined by the many scandals she's been reportedly involved in. I believe her State Department's refusal to provide additional security for the Benghazi facility cost the lives of our ambassador and three other brave Americans.

Currently it seems she is involved in more scandals involving the use of her own email server while secretary of state, in violation of State Department policy. Then she destroyed all of her emails, in violation of department policy and a request from the House investigating committee requesting those emails. A tangled web of alleged influence-peddling, bribes, quid pro quo--the Clinton Foundation is right in the middle of this whole sordid affair, and Hillary refuses to answer any questions whatsoever about any of this chicanery. And the coverup and stonewalling go on and on and on and people like James Mitchell couldn't care less.

GARY W. LEMON

Cabot

Won't help in real life

I strongly agree with the student who said he felt his schooling is not good enough. I feel that the lesson plans we go through during school are not meant to help us succeed in the real world. For example, in math, we don't learn anything important that's going to really help us succeed in life such as pre-calculus and geometry. How is that going to help in the world? I don't want to be a carpenter.

The only realistic class we might have at school is economics; at least we learn about stock markets and stuff. But I would love if they started teaching us how to write checks, pay bills, how to maintain credit--all the stuff we really need to know in the real world.

JAYLIN JOHNSON

North Little Rock

Support for schools

I am writing as a proud graduate of the Little Rock public schools (Fair Park Elementary, Forest Heights Junior High and Hall High School). I want to encourage all who are working to strengthen support for the students and their schools to keep working hard.

I hope more graduates of the Little Rock School District will decide now is the time to step forward, become active in a school and demonstrate, in a new way, that the people who live in Little Rock care about the quality of the education their children, grandchildren, neighbors and employees are receiving.

Surely we are not satisfied to have a handful of schools called excellent. All of our schools should be outstanding. What better place to see democracy in action than in our public schools where, as a community, we are striving to educate every child? Can we be satisfied with anything less? Can our city's future be truly bright without more great public schools?

Superintendent Baker Kurrus and the school staffs deserve real support as they move forward.

MARY CANTWELL

Little Rock

Party has lost its way

I'm saying "goodbye" to the Grand Old Party. The budget passed recently by the GOP was the last straw. I've been a member of the GOP for more than 50 years, but it apparently no longer works to serve the people of the country; it works to serve the corporations, the wealthy and to acquire huge sums of money for campaigning.

A recent article in this newspaper stated the adopted budget plans to cut funding for Medicaid, food stamps, student loans and, if you can believe it, "curb tax breaks for the poor." On the other hand, it plans a $38 billion increase for the Pentagon "that is possible only by padding war accounts" and a proposal "to eliminate taxes on multimillion-dollar inheritances."

Where is "government of the people, by the people and for the people"? The party of Abraham Lincoln has lost its way. So for me, it's goodbye to the Grand Old Party--you're not so grand anymore.

GRACE WATT

Springdale

One more bad choice

After enduring three years of misguided policies, I was relieved my oldest daughter was graduating. One more stupid instance of in-school suspension, where the students can't even do their work, I'd have blown a gasket. And then I get notice of the graduation date.

Well, the Perennial Consummate Sultans of Stupid Decisions had one more surprise. Five of its six schools graduate on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. At the Stephens Center. Guaranteeing no one other than parents will attend. The grand finale of shortsightedness and blatant stupidity.

Pitiful.

J. STEPHEN HARRISON

Maumelle

Editorial on 05/22/2015

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