Letters

He can clean up D.C.

A party is raging and the house is a mess. It will take a while to clean. Some things are broken and need repair. It is hard to know where to start, but first we have to replace the partiers with people who will roll up their sleeves, hold their noses and get things livable again.

We knew something was wrong, but just kept driving past as things continued to deteriorate. Now the trash is spilling into the neighborhood and threatening property values. We thought the caretakers we hired would do their jobs, but now we realize they joined the party and gorged on the food.

Finally someone said, "Enough is enough!" After years of trying to get his co-workers to help, he decided to take on the thankless task. Some made promises to come, but never showed up with brooms or disinfectants.

He knows that he cannot do the job alone but is working to open the door for others. If they get in, they will pull up the shades, let in the light and open the doors to freshen the air. Then they will start hauling out trash and broken items, saving what they can. Repairs will be made and new items acquired. This will take some time with a can-do spirit from young workers, but it can be done.

I believe that if we want a clean house, we must follow Bernie Sanders. He cannot do it alone, but he is working to open the door so that we can follow.

JAMES C. HALE

Fayetteville

Accentuate negatives

The January national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent is the lowest in eight years. We have had over 70 months of employment gains. Importantly, real wage growth increased in January. With this news, the massive Democrat-Gazette headline is "Job growth slows down in January."

It is reassuring to know that your staff apparently can find a path to reflect every reference to this president and his administration in a negative light.

PAUL PREBIL

Bentonville

Unworthy of support

If John Boozman is the conservative you say he is in your editorial, then why does it seem he votes in such a way that his votes support what the Democrat Party backs?

I disagree with your decision to support John Boozman.

GARY LOW

Little Rock

Explaining Brummett

A few years ago, I was at the concession stand at the Riverdale Theater. One of their specials was the "John Brummett Special." Two giggly girls behind me wondered who he was, so I told them that he was a columnist in the local newspaper.

They were wide-eyed and said, "A communist?" which caused more giggles.

I gave up at that point.

I repeated this story to my friend, Bob Fisher, who was a newspaper owner in the Magnolia area. He laughed and said, "Well, there are some folks out there who may think the same thing." (We miss you, Bob, and your wonderful wit and wisdom.)

Sometimes it's easier to laugh than explain.

SANDY THOMAS

Little Rock

Colonies aid feral cats

I applaud Tracy Roark, the head of Little Rock's Animal Services Division, for his support of Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) as a solution to feral cat populations.

Euthanasia isn't humane, and it doesn't work--other homeless cats simply move in and replace those you have killed. But in a managed TNR colony, the members remain stable over a period of years; since they are sterilized, they seldom wander and fight, and therefore they seldom transmit diseases such as feline leukemia, feline AIDS, and feline infectious peritonitis. The notched ear on TNR cats tells any caretaker that the animal has been trapped, spayed or neutered, has most likely received some vaccinations, such as for rabies, and probably belongs to a managed colony.

Those of us who manage a feral colony are like the post office--neither snow nor sleet nor dead of night will keep us from feeding our dependent charges, having them put down if they are suffering, and finding homes for those who might be socialized.

My yard is alive with birds and squirrels--which I feed--and my chubby, inept, socialized feral cats. Watching them lumber ineffectually about in pursuit of the wildlife is vastly amusing. Wildlife conservationists deplore the fact that cats are the second-leading cause of death for birds behind habitat loss. Since we humans are the cause of most habitat loss, I hope they won't be euthanizing us!

ANN LINK

Little Rock

Court appointments

I believe the most important instrument in the United States government is the Supreme Court. An appointment can only end at death or resignation. Currently three of the justices average 80 years of age. The next president of the United States could possibly appoint three justices.

Who do you want to be the next president? An activist or an originalist? I believe the activists are taking away the religion upon which our nation was built and have allowed our national flag to be burned in public disgrace. Of course this is just me speaking.

When you vote, you could be appointing three justices to the Supreme Court. Barack Obama has appointed the last two justices. Think about it.

JOE O. PHILLIPS

Stuttgart

Should have known

Re Hillary Clinton: Does anyone besides me think that as a secretary of state she should be wise and experienced enough to know that an email should be classified even if it were not so marked upon arrival? I wonder if her political ambitions jeopardized covert agents in the field.

For shame!

PHIL SPRUIELL

Benton

Fix its own problems

Now our big-hearted president wants to commit the United States to help Colombia rebuild after a half-century of guerrilla conflict. Colombia is and has been for years a recipient of our generosity and it still has a heavy drug trade and mass corruption. Part of this financial aid will help Colombia rid itself of land mines.

Does Colombia ever do anything to correct its own problems, or is it easier for its president to visit the White House? Keep working hard, America--the whole world needs you.

LAVERNE WELCHER

Hot Springs

Editorial on 02/14/2016

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