Letters

Today's conservatism

It seems modern conservatism has been reduced to the majority funding the opposition, and then whining about it when the base points it out. Unending increases in our national debt and deficits are now foregone conclusions, so we're told.

In actuality, I believe turning our fiscal ship around requires taking the case to the American people, standing up to the media and the president, and voting against the left's spending agenda--everything Sen. John Boozman won't or can't seem to do. It's much easier to ride your anonymity into multiple re-elections than to vote against multiple debt-ceiling increases.

While the good senator and kindred spirits wait for our fiscal problems to melt away in a cosmic capitulation of the left on Capitol Hill, the rest of us who deal in reality are working to put someone in office to do what is necessary, in spite of what it may cost them. Winston Churchill is reported to have said, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something." In a place where politicians are bought and sold like the latest smartphone, true conservatives should have plenty of them. I'm voting for Curtis Coleman.

STEVE MACKEY

Ward

Protect the loyal fans

If you are a baseball fan and watch it live or on TV, you most likely have observed often when a fan is either hit with a line drive or a flying ball bat, sometimes splintered, and is helped out of the stands with a serious injury.

There has been much talk recently by the commissioner and broadcasters, as well as fans who have expressed a strong interest to see that something is done before the beginning of the 2016 season to protect fans.

What can be done? Every ballpark does appear to have a protective fence that covers an area behind home plate and an area or small portion of first and third bases. Fans who risk the dangers of a line drive or a flying bat support the owners and professional ball players by purchasing tickets to attend the games. How much money will it cost to extend a fence along the first and third base lines? For the protection of the fans and for those who enjoy bringing a glove to catch a flying ball or to retrieve a grounder along the fence lines, why not offer a special seating area further away from the danger areas to these fans?

For those arguing that you attend the games at your own risk, tell this to a family with young children finding it impossible to duck a flying splintered bat or a line drive.

Finally, let's begin the coming 2016 baseball season by protecting the loyal and faithful fans of baseball. From a St. Louis Cardinal fan of over 60 years.

JOE BRINDLEY

Conway

Wait, that's my line!

When former governor Mike Huckabee exited the presidential race, he used illness as his reason. The voters were sick of him.

I've been using that line since 1990, the year that my firm that I'd worked for for over 23 years retired me "on account of illness." My company was sick of me.

Now, Marco Rubio should have used another epithet that I've used many times when I'm telling my friends one of my favorite stories that they've likely heard before. I preface my words with this: "If you've heard this before, don't interrupt me. I want to hear it again myself."

WILLIAM C. KRAMER

North Little Rock

Solve teen drug abuse

Arkansas has had an active participation in prescription drug abuse by adolescents. In 2007, Arkansas was ranked as the No. 1 state in the nation to have teen prescription pain reliever abuse.

This pill-popping problem is fueled by the easy access of pills, unawareness/ignorance of the risks, and its effects on school. It seems most teens that abuse claim it's due to the easy access of drugs in their medicine cabinets at home.

There are many health risks involved in abusing including slower brain activity, accidental overdose or death. There is also the constant danger of addiction and interest in other drugs as prescription pills can easily become "gateway drugs." This problem also spreads faster at school with encouragement from friends to pop pills.

I think the best solution would be to educate teens at school of the risks and consequences. Education can cover other solutions, like community pill dropoffs and security of medication at home, as well. Students can also be informed of "Arkansas Take Back" in class and encouraged to participate in the program. Teachers could also make parents aware of precautions to take to secure medicine at home and suggest talking to their doctors about prescribing smaller doses.

I believe education can achieve many things, including solving the problem of adolescents abusing prescribed medication.

KRISHNA PATEL

Little Rock

Not afraid of change

Once again we are lectured by Howell Medders, most recently about "inevitable change." Whatever would we poor ignorant folks do without his instruction? In November he labeled as "willfully ignorant" those among us who, after study and due consideration, reject the fairy tale of Darwinian evolution. We follow the advice of the Apostle Paul that we "test all things; hold fast to that which is good."

In December he told us that the Republican base is a "writhing ball of fear, greed, hate, ignorance, bigotry ... and phony fundamentalist piety" because many Americans of different political persuasions have expressed their concern about allowing thousands of Middle Eastern refugees to enter this country without proper and adequate investigation. How dare you conservatives object! Do you not realize that you will be called bigots and other ugly names?

In January's rant Medders seemed to accuse people whose opinions he doesn't like of having a "fear of progressivism, Muslims, immigrants and sexual 'deviance' and ... anti-science mentality." Note that he puts quotation marks around "deviance" as though to say that certain sexual practices which are against nature, harmful and in defiance of the will of the God who made us are not really "deviant" at all. Of course that last part, about the will of God, will have no weight at all with him.

We are not afraid of "change"; we just don't believe that all change is necessarily good, and we see some changes in our country and our culture which are not. We've all chuckled at the story of the warden of the gulag who tells the miserable prisoners, "Men, today we have good news: All get a change of underwear. Igor, you change with Boris; Nikita, you change with Petrov ..."

I am hoping for one change that will be most welcome: a year from now, a new president.

HAROLD B. CHILTON

Fayetteville

Slow down on stadium

Thank goodness former Arkansas governor David Pryor is on the University of Arkansas board of trustees. Pryor recently abstained on a trustee vote to spend $160 million to add 3,200 seats to Razorback Stadium.

I thought my calculator was off when it showed that the cost per seat would be $50,000.

Will the seats be pure gold and contain a plush gold pillow? Yes, the figure includes enclosing the end zone, but the total cost is still far out of line in my opinion.

Some contractor should make millions if the board accepts the above figure.

I hope Pryor continues to warn the trustees to give further study to the matter.

VERNON McDANIEL

Ozark

Simply a suggestion

I have seen some recent letters regarding the comic choices. If I could make a suggestion, I think Tundra and Non Sequitur are witty and fun. Lio, Wumo and Overboard are not.

On another topic, Ms. Janice Choate says that I can't possibly know what other people think. She then proceeds to tell us what other people think. Hilarious.

FRANK LATIMER

Little Rock

Editorial on 02/11/2016

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