Of differing legacies
I am a 78-year-old male and a Democrat for almost six decades.
My first trip to the polls I had the honor to cast my very first vote for John F. Kennedy. A man admired by many, and part of his legacy is that we were able to land a man on the moon, a historical event we can all be proud of.
Our current President Barack Obama's legacy: He succeeded in putting a man in the women's bathroom. Not something I can be proud of.
Also I would like to add I have not voted Democratic at the presidential level for some time.
LEE A. POOL
Salem
Embarrassing to state
I was dismayed to read of the actions of both Arkansas senators.
While I understand that it is "politics as usual," the actions of both of them in blocking appointments of individuals deserving the recognition (as apparently admitted by both senators) in their efforts to coerce the president into acting as they desired on completely unrelated matters is an embarrassment to them and to the state of Arkansas.
BLAINE A. JACKSON
Bentonville
Your graduation gift
Congratulations, graduates!
And what a wonderful gift you are getting from your state, you know--The Land of Opportunity. No, not any of those scholarships you may have heard about. That money is going to all the people working for the lottery and to all the prizes going to the few people who win the humongous amounts.
What they are giving you is even more lifelong debt from the higher prices all the colleges and graduate schools are charging you.
Your state really knows how to reward you for all your hard work.
Since we already have the lottery and it seems like we will have to put up with it, a novel way to use that money might be to give four or five $5 million prizes each year, maybe even tax-free, and use the rest of it to make higher education in Arkansas free. Now that would be a wonderful gift for all graduates, not just those who are lucky enough to live in El Dorado.
But kids, please don't hold your breath.
LYNN BLAGG
Maumelle
Change won't happen
Having approximately 70 years of real-life interpersonal experiences, may I offer a few words of advice to people (especially to teens, young adults who are considering marriage and also to voters)?
Here it is: People do not change. If you or people you know are drunks, druggies, beat their wives, are self-centered liars, cheaters, or bigoted, they are not likely to change behaviors. You are what you are. If you love someone who has these behaviors, let me tell you your love will not change them for the better, and you need to run fast and far away from them.
So it is with the Republican presidential candidate. People want him to soften his angry, antagonistic, bigoted, self-centered behavior, and he may do so for a short period of time, but he will soon lapse back into his old self.
You may argue that you know people who have changed their lives for the better but these exceptions are very few and far between. Believe me, I have learned the hard way as I too believed my love and trust could change people for the better.
I was so wrong.
KAREN PORTER
Conway
Political philosophies
Everywhere you go people speak of voting in the coming presidential election in terms of picking "the lesser of two evils" between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It's fascinating that two such seemingly unpopular individuals could become their party's representative. Kind of makes a good case for a rigged primary system, huh? Anyway, how about approaching the issue from another angle? Instead of trying to decide which candidate is better or worse, how about thinking in terms of which political philosophy is better for you as a voter?
The most superficial perusal of human economic history reveals something interesting about the competing philosophies of conservatism and liberalism. A conservative approach to governing tends to favor the economic elite, while a liberal approach tends to be better for the general populace. The conservative approach seeks to maintain the status quo for the same old limited group of power players that have always enjoyed their privileged positions, while liberalism looks to make social progress in order to include previously excluded groups in what society has to offer. When casting votes individuals should ask themselves, "am I a member of the economic elite of society, or a member of the general populace?" Then vote accordingly.
"But wait!" you might say. "You are talking about economics. Maybe the liberal approach is better for the general populace in terms of economics. But what about moral issues? Aren't conservatives stronger on moral issues?" Well, consider this. The same people who are against reproductive rights for women, against compassionate treatment of immigrants, and against equal rights for the LGBT community today are the same people who in the past supported Jim Crow, opposed giving women the right to vote, used the Bible to justify slavery, and agreed with the extermination of Native American tribes.
Again, vote accordingly.
RL HUTSON
Cabot
On the list of nevers
In a recent column, Wally Hall declared you should never hit a woman.
Based on what Amber Heard is allegedly scheduled to receive from Johnny Depp after 15 months of marriage, and the $109,000 spousal support plus $15,000 child support per month Derek Fisher has been ordered to pay his ex-wife, it seems there is one other "never" that should be observed: Never marry a woman!
K.C. BYRD JR.
North Little Rock
Those payday lenders
Waxing righteously indignant over payday lenders is cheap entertainment when you reside in Hillcrest. Not everyone does.
Startling as it sounds, people with marginal credit ratings depend on payday lenders for the money to repair their transmission, pay the electric bill, or buy groceries. No, the lenders are not Mother Teresa, but do you see the mainstream banks lining up to accommodate this clientele?
Want to put payday lenders out of business as opposed to demonstrating your sanctimonious superiority? Provide an alternative.
J. FRED HART JR.
Little Rock
Editorial on 06/10/2016