A post-nuclear planet
Donald Trump shocked a lot of people when he said that we have nuclear weapons, so why can't we use them. But maybe he woke us up a little bit about the present danger of a world full of nuclear weapons, many on hair-trigger alert. For years we have based our hope--of never having another horrific event like the devastation of Hiroshima--on mutually assured destruction.
A better way would be the complete abolition of nuclear weapons, and we can use our power as voters to urge our leaders to take steps in that direction.
Tell the president and presidential candidates that we don't need to spend a trillion dollars on refurbishing our nuclear arsenal. Besides taking money from much needed "home repairs," it would only inspire other countries to start another arms race.
And in these uncertain political times, we should urge the president to sign a "No First Use" agreement to pledge that the United States will never start a nuclear exchange.
JEAN T. GORDON
Little Rock
For the state's future
The Republican Party of Arkansas recently stripped all support for pre-K from the party's platform. State Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, said on Twitter: "What does it say about how we value families and education when the majority party strikes support for pre-K?"
Instead of spending the state's surplus on tax cuts benefiting the wealthy, we may want to consider investing in the future of Arkansas--our kids.
The education of our kids can't be second to anything else we do. The Pew Charitable Trusts found that children who attend high-quality pre-K "have a reduced likelihood of criminal behavior and incarceration, higher chances of being employed as adults, increased lifetime earnings, and less reliance on welfare." Every kindergarten teacher I know will tell you that pre-K education makes a big difference.
I believe pre-kindergarten is unquestionably an efficient and effective investment--an investment that has a positive impact on all Arkansans. As a member of the Democratic Party of Arkansas' platform committee, I made sure our platform recognizes that quality pre-K has a positive ripple effect throughout our whole education system and the academic life of any single student.
The benefits of expanding access to pre-K are so clear that the idea has garnered bipartisan support across the nation. I challenge our state's Republican leaders--like Gov. Asa Hutchinson--to step up and admit their party made a mistake when they gutted support for early childhood education from their platform.
After all, this is about Arkansas' future.
VICTOR J. ROJAS
De Queen
Set up for an easy win
Looks like Donald Trump gets up every morning and shoots himself in the foot. However, it seems Hillary still can't deliver a knockout punch.
Imagine what Trump could do if he really tried!
RONALD SMITH
Little Rock
Can't support Trump
Back in the '60s I was proud to be called a young Republican supporter, especially when Win Rockefeller was elected governor of Arkansas.
I didn't like the conservative "stuck in a rut" Democratic Party. The Republicans were progressive, open-minded, the movers and shakers, so to speak, of my generation. Today, as the years have gone by, the positions seem to have been completely reversed; I now identify more with the Democratic party.
Although I'm not a great fan of Hillary (and Bill) Clinton, compared to Donald Trump she is a far better choice for president.
How anyone can support Donald Trump when even the Republican Party didn't want him is beyond me. I believe he is an embarrassment to the country, a bully, egotistical beyond belief, full of crazy, hateful and dangerous ideas. He doesn't believe in global warming and he wants to build a wall across America.
How can we as a country support a man like Donald Trump with all his hatred, divisiveness and bigotry toward women and minorities?
LARRY BINTLIFF
Bee Branch
Input not necessary?
Read the article about the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department's survey. Went to the indicated website. I found that all the regional meetings occurred in June, and apparently no others are planned.
I sometimes wonder if those at the department really want input from the masses.
For example, on more than one occasion I have suggested an alternate to the boondoggle of I-30 through Little Rock. No one at the department has ever said anything in response to indicate why it is or is not a workable plan. Other citizens have indicated by letters to the Democrat-Gazette that they think my idea is the way to go.
SKIP HARRIS
Benton
New version each day
When it comes to her emails, Hillary Clinton continues to defy logic.
FBI Director James Comey gave his statement to the press then testified, under oath, to Congress regarding the matter. Yet Hillary continues to turn out, on an endless basis, a new version of her activities. Now, she has "short-circuited," whatever that means. Each day new revelations come forth.
Each time she speaks to this matter, I am reminded of the words of the British statesman and philosopher, Frances Bacon, who said, "It is not the lie that passeth through the mind, but the lie that sinketh in, and settleth in it, that doth the hurt."
RUTH M. WALDON
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/13/2016