Letters

Could rail be priority?

Well, hallelujah, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., arrived by rail for a meeting with Donald Trump. Could this be a sign that at least one Arkansas officeholder will soon support commuter rail? Could we soon see funds revert from highway to rail spending? Could Arkansas commuters finally get a break?

Well, no, no and, well, no would be my guess.

Oh sure, there have been official transportation studies that included passenger rail. I even put in my two cents in 2015 by suggesting to the Arkansas intermodal transportation planning study that we should construct a commuter rail between Little Rock and Hot Springs. Evidently my suggestion was as well-received as my 2001 plea to the state Legislature to have state funds allocated for commuter rail (specifically between Little Rock and Hot Springs). As it turns out, commuter rail service from Little Rock to Hot Springs has never been on anyone's master plan. However, highway expansion has been at the top of a lot of official lists.

So here we are knocking on the door of 2017 and the state of Arkansas is undertaking the largest highway construction program in its history. Thirty-six road projects at a cost of $1.8 billion from a 10-year half-cent consumer tax created in 2012, but not one cent for commuter rail service. And if you live in Garland County, brace yourself--two of the five-lane expansion projects will soon commence on U.S. 70 east to I-30 and U.S. 270 west to Lake Ouachita. And when these two projects are completed in four years, yes, there will be a temporary relief to traffic congestion, but then the phenomena of induced traffic will kick in, and our same old traffic problems will continue.

JANIS PERCEFULL

Hot Springs

Medical pot and guns

Even though Arkansas voters have succeeded in the legalization of marijuana for medical use, keep in mind that it is still classified as an illegal drug by the federal government.

Beginning next January, the ATF form 4473 that you must fill out at a firearms dealer to purchase a firearm will be changed to warn buyers that if you are a user of drugs classified as illegal, including medical marijuana, you are not able to purchase, own, or possess firearms or ammunition.

If you are issued a prescription or medical card for marijuana, even if you have never used it, you will have forfeited your firearms rights under federal law. Possessing a firearm as an illegal drug user will make you subject to a 10-year imprisonment penalty.

Not meant to be an opinion on this situation either way; just hoping to make those it may affect aware.

JOHN A. YATES

Conway

Would not work here

According to a recent article, British school kids now have an opportunity to volunteer for an exercise program called the Daily Mile. For an hour a day they leave class and walk, run or jog one mile. The program--designed to fight obesity--has become very popular and successful.

But it's another great idea that wouldn't work on this side of the pond.

Why? Because we just couldn't afford it. In the U.S., we would need a bureaucracy to create all the rules, regulations and guidelines for such a program. And of course, those bureaucrats would require salaries and benefit packages as well as costs for office space, furniture and equipment. And let's not overlook the cost of those ubiquitous and uniquely American "Participation Trophies" we'd need for every kid in the program.

In addition, fighting lawsuits brought by parents of children exposed to the outdoors who develop colds, allergies, flu, sore muscles, or whatever would add more costs to the program. And if kids tripped or fell while doing the Daily Mile, more lawsuits would be launched against people being negligent about who knows what. And let's not forget lawsuits from those who didn't volunteer, claiming they're being ignored and discriminated against. And of course, the ACLU would surely find some reason to intervene and sue the schools, cities, and states for violating someone's rights about something.

Yep. The Brits have a great idea. But nope, just wouldn't work here.

WILL COHEN

North Little Rock

Letter of appreciation

Attention, automotive drivers: Please accept a special "thank you" for discovering and using your directional signal this past year. You have made life in this area very pleasant to drive in and/or walk. Again, thank you!

A few drivers have given me odd answers when approached, i.e., (a) "What is it?" (b) "You were too far away when parking my car." Yes, I was walking my two legs around the complex.

DOROTHY M. MAGUIRE

Bryant

He's such a character

Just read Mr. John Brummett's column on "Punishing the Clintons." That guy, he is such a character!

He starts out pooh-poohing Little Rock's leadership for worrying about how Bill Clinton's performance in the 1992 presidential campaign might affect the city's future. Mr. Brummett points out, rightly so, that the "presidency itself might be a more important consideration." Later in his column, he boasts, "For the record: Hillary carried Pulaski County handsomely." I suggest that the motives in Little Rock and Pulaski County were the same in 2016 as they were in 1992. Also for the record: There were 67 counties in Arkansas that Hillary did not carry handsomely.

As far as Mr. Brummett's "Clintons everywhere" comment, I agree wholeheartedly. Why would a hardworking middle-class man or woman from this state vote for someone who left Arkansas to go to New York so she could rub shoulders with the wealthiest people in the world? She may have been able to do some good for people in Arkansas who struggle to make ends meet.

Lastly, I found Mr. Brummett's comment about Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway imposing his values on others to be hypocritical to say the least. It seems he and his minions have no trouble forcing their values on everyone. Namely, Obamacare, anti-First Amendment rhetoric, anti-Second Amendment rhetoric, pro-illegal immigration rhetoric, and many others carried out by President Barack Obama, his phone, and his pen.

EDWIN CALVA

Little Rock

Agency for consumers

With all the hubbub going on about what Congress will attempt to do before the year ends--re a lame-duck Congress working to set the stage for President Trump--it seems that lawmakers are looking to give our new president-elect an opportunity to inform the budget and decide how taxpayer dollars will be spent in the new year.

During this transition to a new administration, I hope our lawmakers will make it a priority to uphold the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), one institution that has served taxpayers and consumers very well. The negligence of big banks has cost this country trillions of dollars and years of economic turmoil. It hit us hard in 2008, but we came back, in part because of the CFPB.

Now that we have the CFPB holding big banks accountable, $12 billion has been given back to 27 million consumers who were scammed by predatory financial practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a great thing that came out of a terrible crisis in our country. I hope our lawmakers will remember this and stay committed to protecting consumers over big banks as we shift into a new administration.

ERIN GOODYEAR

Eureka Springs

And after this election

Schadenfreude: sweet revenge.

RICK JOHNSON

Ratcliff

Editorial on 12/08/2016

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