Letters

On peaceful protests

Kudos to those Lady Razorbacks for their courage. They chose to take a knee in support of a cause that meant a lot to them and their self-respect. The support they got from their coach and administrators was great. Isn't this what a university is, a place for self-discovery and searching for the truth? And isn't this how institutions learn from their students? Playing for a university's sport team doesn't make athletes indentured to it. Do students forfeit certain constitutional rights when they compete?

Ironic that this happened around Veterans Day, a time of year when we remember the sacrifices of military men and women in protecting our rights and freedoms. Yet when UA basketball players truly exercise one of those basic rights, the right to peaceful protest and assembly, significant controversy follows. Much of the criticism sounds sadly like something Rosa Parks might have heard, as in, "Ms. Parks, you can't do that on this bus. You take your idea of riding in the front of the bus somewhere else. Not here."

JOHN COFFIN

Little Rock

Good riddance to you

In his Nov. 10 column, John Brummett says the reason Donald Trump won the election is because of white working-class men without a college education. He mentions this four times. And once, he blames white females without a college education. Sexist!

It's time for Johnny to join other Hillary supporters who've retreated to their "safe spaces" (mostly moms' basements) with a puppy, some video games and John's column, pot, CNN and the Internet.

If you ever work up enough courage, why not move to California, the liberal bastion of the Western hemisphere where I've heard a lot of celebrities' housing is for sale? They've left the country. And when you go, take the Hogs women's basketball protesters with you, and good riddance. Meanwhile, us workin' folk have things to do.

STEVE HILL

Bella Vista

Where's my increase?

Well, here we go again! Social Security is going to give a 3 percent increase on our checks at the first of the new year, about $4 per month increase. But today the gas companies got a 19 percent increase for my winter bills. So that's not going to help me any.

Because the $4 increase means I spend $15 more to pay the gas bill, where's my income increase? We take a loss, those on incomes less than poverty. Food costs, meds, utilities, etc. My winter cost me a lot just to stay a little warm. Now they are going to get 19 percent more of my income.

Come on, Asa, give $98 million to the people to tear down the Broadway Bridge.

JEANNIE SMITH

North Little Rock

That electoral college

Paula K. Koch of Holiday Island expressed her concerns about the electoral college and how it apparently is outdated and needs to be changed. No problem, just have an amendment to the Constitution submitted and change this "outmoded" system of electing the president. However, let me point out a few details that need to be considered before making that move.

First, I believe Americans (especially liberal secular progressives) are not smarter than the 55 men who wrote and defended this document, period! Second, it takes ¾ of the states to ratify a new amendment to the Constitution so I would consider the fact those states would not ratify the amendment, for if there wasn't an electoral college, those states would always be bypassed in any presidential election as the candidates would concentrate on the urban areas of the East and West Coasts, border states, and major cities in the Midwest. Third, it was the grass-roots Americans that voted in Donald Trump, and as Sarah Palin stated in 2008, they're the ones who grow your food, work your mines, run your railroads, and fight your wars.

Finally, I believe Koch is incorrect with her statement asserting that this nation is a democracy. No, the United States of America is a republic, thus the reason for the electoral college.

THOMAS DEAN JOHNSON

Yellville

ACA helps hospitals

A recent editorial and John Brummett's piece the other day touched on this, but I'd like to re-emphasize a couple of things about Obamacare. One of the things that the Affordable Care Act has accomplished is to reduce the under-compensated burden on hospital emergency rooms to take care of people not otherwise able to pay for medical care, both by making it possible to get health care through the more efficient route of a primary-care physician, and by providing compensation for those who do end up in the emergency room.

At least five presidents that I know of have attempted to create systems to deal with the growing crisis of the cost of health care in this country, especially among the poor but, so far, it seems the only presidents who have managed to actually do anything about it have been Lyndon Johnson and Barack Obama, although I might stretch a point and give George W. Bush credit for Medicare Part D. I consider their contributions to be positive, and I would hope that we don't modify any of them in a way that will make them ineffective.

CLYDE BAILEY

Little Rock

A long, deep breath

I don't have any complaints. I no longer care about the election or whether the Razorbacks won or lost. I am going to take a long, deep breath and forgive myself and all mankind for being human, and enjoy the fall colors in Arkansas.

Maybe I'll go fishing.

God bless the people of Arkansas and know that at least God and I care about you. Peace and kindness to you all.

RONALD SMITH

Little Rock

Editorial on 11/24/2016

Upcoming Events