Opportunist on court
Recent editorials and columns that addressed the ongoing appearance of bought favoritism among some lawyers and some members of the Arkansas Supreme Court are appreciated and confirm what many already suspected. I am disappointed that some lawyers appear to want and need the favor of the (not so) Goodson influence and hopeful favor of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
However, other attorneys I know and respect turn "thumbs down" when requested to support an opportunist candidate who is a member of the (not so) Goodson family.
GARY GRAY
Fayetteville
Vote for honest man
Now this will blow your fuse. It seems the only two honest men in this election are Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders. They are polar opposites, yet I believe they are honest. They believe what they are saying with conviction.
Our decision should be between honest men. If you think Bernie is wiser, vote for him. I personally think he is an idiot, yet he is sincere and honest. I would rather have an honest socialist than a lying one like Hill-lie-ry. The rest of them are establishment whores. More of the same.
If I had to vote for an establishment whore, I would vote for Donald Trump as he does not need George Soros' money.
Trust me, I don't want Trump. Anyone would be better than Barack Obama or Hill-lie-ry.
ROBERT KITTELSON
Powhatan
Lower blood pressure
In the nation, Arkansas stands as one of the top-ranked for hypertension. With a current hypertension rate of 38.7 percent, Arkansas has the seventh-highest percentage of hypertensive residents in America; however, Arkansas residents have made few efforts to impede hypertension, producing more incurable cases.
Although many Arkansans apparently do not view hypertension as a major issue, the risks can be deadly. If untreated, hypertension can cause gradual damage to blood vessels, leading to health complications such as heart attacks, impaired vision, or heart failure. As it is incurable, it ruins the lives of numerous individuals. However, of the many solutions that claim to reduce blood pressure, I believe one stands out for its efficiency and feasibility: the DASH diet.
The DASH diet is a dietary lifestyle for hypertension prevention and management, recommended by the American Heart Association and the National Cancer Institute, that reinforces the weight of influential acts such as regularly eating hearty low-sodium meals, consistently being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and refraining from smoking. The diet requires no external medical aid, allowing anyone the opportunity to control their blood pressure. Yet, the average Arkansan refuses to make simple lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly or eating healthy, low-sodium meals, risking the chance of developing hypertension.
Arkansans need to control their hypertension rates; otherwise residents will suffer the lethal outcomes.
SHARON AMOLE
Little Rock
Dude, that's awesome
So, I'm super stoked that the Bernster might be, like, the president, you know? I can like hardly wait to get my tuition refund from the government. Dude, I don't, like, know how much it will be, but it will be, like, a lot, you know? After 40 years, I'll bet my tuition money with the accrued interest will be, like, mega-bucks.
I hope they, like, give me something to put it in, you know? I do, like, feel the Bern!
MICHAEL BERGER
Benton
Question on morality
Re "A pathetic failure": Who exactly appointed Mr. Jerry Cox, president of the Family Council, Lord and Master of Arkansas Morality?
Nobody is forced to buy lottery tickets. What I do with my money is my business.
RICK CROUCH
Russellville
Protest or rebellion?
In my opinion, the peaceful takeover of government property by concerned citizens is a protest.
The takeover of government property by an armed militia is a rebellion.
ED HUDNALL
Bryant
How to curb pollution
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay of the implementation of the EPA's Clean Power Plan. The Arkansas attorney general signed on to this lawsuit, which could scuttle the EPA plan.
I believe the Clean Power Plan is a bold initiative to curb air pollution and mitigate effects of climate change (it's too late to prevent them).
What I haven't heard from the plan's opponents, and what I would like to hear from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Congressman French Hill, Sen. John Boozman, and Sen. Tom Cotton: What is your bold plan for clean air, clean energy, and population health? How will you ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren?
RICK OWEN
Little Rock
A purposeful display
I'm the most casual of music consumers, with my tastes having developed little beyond the early rock, soul, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson of my youth. I appreciate rap and hip-hop as authentic and important art forms.
But it's not my music. I like it when I hear it as kind of a glancing blow to my senses, but don't even try to listen.
I could not understand any of the lyrics in the Super Bowl halftime show and found the first two acts boring displays of expensive, obsessive pageantry.
But I did like the Beyoncé part. It was powerful and, though I couldn't understand the lyrics, it sounded good while the others just sounded annoying. While the dancing of the first two groups was somewhat artful jumping around, hers was a purposeful display of black woman power.
It had me feeling something like, "Yeah, bring it, girl!"
When I heard right-wingers were agog over her promotion of the Black Lives Matter movement, among other reasons, I thought, "Right on."
Upon reflection, it brought to mind the Black is Beautiful and Black Power movements during my youth, which were necessary expressions of pride, power and assertiveness by an oppressed minority.
I believe it is still necessary for black people to assert themselves powerfully and proudly (and beautifully if it's Beyoncé) and be heard about the racism they experience. And reject it. And fight it. And change it.
Right-wingers will always be agog about it. It's what they do.
HOWELL MEDDERS
Fayetteville
Boozman out of touch
Sen. John Boozman, who the Democrat-Gazette has endorsed for re-election, has impressed me as a good and decent man. But that's not the issue. It is that, based upon his voting record, it appears he is evolving into just another member of the entrenched Washington political establishment that continues to be out of control and out of touch.
I reach this conclusion based upon the record. His rating by the highly respected American Conservative Union has dropped sharply since Mr. Boozman joined the Senate in 2010. The Conservative Review gives him a current grade of F.
For me, this is a disturbing trend. In politics, I believe that past performance is a good predictor of future performance. If continued, it would seem that another six years will see even further drift by Mr. Boozman in the direction of big, runaway, oppressive government.
Curtis Coleman, a true constitutional conservative, is, in my opinion, a better alternative. Mr. Coleman has pledged that if elected, he will fight to fit Washington inside the Constitution and will never vote for party over principle. Check out his credentials at his Coleman for Senate Facebook site and, if you share his values, vote for him in the March 1 primary.
MARK ALSPAUGH
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 02/13/2016