Hardly presidential
That wasn't a presidential debate the other night. It was an episode of The Three Stooges, with John Kasich saying to Ben Carson, "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Ollie."
RAY McMILLIN
Benton
Hear silent majority
We have seen the destruction of any semblance of a workable political process. When citizens proudly hold signs reading "Obamanomics: Monkey see, Monkey Spend," or yell at notable Hispanic journalist Jorge Ramos, "Get out of my country!" in response to his pointed questions about Donald Trump's plan to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, the precedent has been established.
Rather than blame the people making these outrageous statements, or even the farcical candidacy of someone like Trump, a close look at the fracturing of the Republican party reveals the degeneration of a constructive political process. Many may have already forgotten that Mark Meadows filed a bill to vacate the seat of the Speaker of the House (John Boehner), effectively communicating that the House was in revolt, and that the "House Freedom Caucus" would not tolerate a functioning Congress. In the Senate, Tom Cotton and the majority of Republican senators signed a letter openly stating to Iran that deals made would not be honored. These acts and many others have telegraphed to the public that there is no political process to speak of and that the entire agenda of one party is to rule from a single point of view only.
Congress no longer hears the new silent majority, those of us moderates who simply want a government that provides fair structure to commerce, safety based upon a defensive posture rather than a military offense strategy that generates blowback and perpetuates the cycle of military entanglement, a commitment to American infrastructure that supports growth, education of our children so that the next generation is prepared to contribute to our great society, and enough support of the poor, sick and elderly that does not dispatch them to hardship.
AJ ZOLTEN
Little Rock
Safe from drowning
When I read about the two young men who lost their lives while deer hunting and then about the men who drowned on Lake Maumelle, a thousand horrible thoughts went through my mind.
It was February a few years ago when we left our house on Little Maumelle River to where it forks to the main river. Our boat capsized and threw us in the 38-degree water. It happened so fast, I didn't realize what had happened. I was seeing steam coming off my body. I told my husband Kenny I was getting warm. I was clutching at the boat but I couldn't hold on. The thought came to me that, about 45 minutes in the cold water, I was probably going to drown.
Kenny saw a red cushion that floated away from the boat. He thought he saw a motor boat in the distance and he started waving at it. They saw some debris floating on the water and came to see what it was. They were so far away it was a miracle they saw us. They could hardly lift us out of the water, we were so waterlogged.
We really shouldn't still be here. There is a reason and I believe it. Wear your life jackets always. The families of those four men will never be the same.
MYRNA and KENNY BAILEY
Little Rock
Let everybody choose
The subject of Obamacare, "private option," single-payer, and health care in general is all over the news and editorial page again. Instead of enduring the usual tiresome, tortured arguments for the millionth time, allow me to present my simple solution.
Let's permit everybody to choose whether they want to participate in gubbermint-run or private health care. If an individual chooses to get his health care from the gubbermint, his taxes are raised to cover the expenses of the gubbermint-run system. All expenses of the gubbermint plan are covered by the people participating in it. No money is taken from other parts of the gubbermint, no deficit is carried.
All those choosing the private system may not go to the gubbermint for free health care. An individual on the private system will not have his taxes raised to cover the gubbermint plan. The private health-care providers will not be forced to provide care for gubbermint-plan patients or people not willing or capable of paying for it.
Sounds fair, right? Of course it is. Would a leftist go for it? Of course not, because inevitably the private system will have much better care, better doctors, etc.
And in spite of all the fake appeals for "fairness" and concern for the well-being of the noble poor, I believe there are two desires that motivate all leftists: They want the best health care, and they want somebody else to pay for it.
R.G. STONE
Fayetteville
Il Duce reincarnated?
It's 2016, and the primaries are in full El Toro Poo mode. What a sorry bunch of candidates led by the biggest blowhard of them all, Donald Trump. I read that he had quoted Mussolini; I felt nauseous.
When I've watched him pontificate in his pompous style, I've got the feeling I've seen this before. Then it came to me--he's a dead ringer for deceased dictator Benito Mussolini. I went to YouTube, and sure enough, it seems Donald stole his style from Il Duce. The mannerisms, the arm-waving and especially the way he pauses during key points thoroughly emulates the departed dictator. His lip action is incredible, especially when he purses them for effect. He could make a hit movie and not trouble us with a presidential quest.
What a quack. Caveat emptor.
ROBERT A. SPENCER
North Little Rock
Editorial on 03/02/2016