California's good idea
Editorial cartoonist Lisa Benson probably lived in California, or perhaps still does. Her offering published Oct. 17 shows a man and woman entering what appears to be a tunnel, waist-deep in water. The woman holds a book that is labeled Voter's Guide.
I have lived in six different states and the golden one was the first one that told voters in plain English what to expect. Each proposition, as they called the ballot's array of possible and diverse choices, was explained. Arkansas should have been on board with a similar breakdown, particularly on the 2016 pot questions.
PATRICK McKELVEY
Bella Vista
It should be obvious
Re last Sunday's Perspective guest column: Once again Messrs. Johnson and Silverstein have made an excellent case for what should be obvious to those who could make the necessary proper decisions in this ridiculous situation.
I am filled with disgust and near fury at the adamant stupidity of the plan proposed for I-30 through Little Rock. Apparently the state Highway and Transportation Department has somewhat the same mentality that the U.S. Corps of Engineers demonstrated some years ago when they wanted to dam the Buffalo: "If the money is there, we gotta spend it."
No one has yet answered why it's better to completely disrupt the city so this monument to bureaucracy might be built. There is a better way.
SKIP HARRIS
Benton
Little benefit to state
Is it such a good idea to bring Chinese-owned companies to Arkansas? A statement in a recent story about the Chinese paper mill coming here because there are more trees available was frightening. And then we read that counties have decided these companies we're begging to locate in Arkansas will not pay the same property taxes as American-owned companies. Will these firms owned by citizens of China be competing with home-owned Arkansas companies? What assurance do we have that these Chinese-owned companies won't pollute? Maybe they've heard it's pretty easy to do that here. I'm glad they don't want to raise hogs. Or do they?
I think the governor may need to curb his eagerness to bring little pieces of China to Arkansas. There are many questions that should be answered. Four hundred jobs sounds great, but for how long? At what price to the environment? At what loss of state and county revenue? The state is giving the Chinese owners $2.7 million in incentives. Couldn't some Arkansas entrepreneur create 400 jobs for that?
It seems like some Republicans--John Boozman comes to mind, and most recently the governor--are becoming world travelers on our dime, with very little benefit to Arkansas.
CAROL BURT
Morrilton
Money-saving tactics
Perhaps we can now save some money at the football powerhouse school in Fayetteville. Fire the staff and the athletic director and go back to truly amateur football.
JOHN LEONARD
Fayetteville
On candidates' health
As a U.S. citizen and voter, I believe that it is essential for each and every candidate for president to demonstrate that they are healthy enough to serve the people for four years.
This is also important for the vice presidential candidates to do since they could be called upon to serve out the term of an incapacitated or dead president.
There is no good reason for this to be controversial. Peace on earth.
DENNIS LARSON
Parthenon
Vote to heal our land
"For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, they will be unloving and unforgiving. They will slander others and have no self-control, they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray friends, be reckless and be puffed up with pride and love pleasure."
The words could very well describe Mr. Donald Trump. I will pray for him and vote to heal our land.
KELLY SANNER
Des Arc
What the nation needs
Re Harold Sadler's letter: First, I retired from 20 years of military service, and just because I do not plan to vote for Donald Trump, the whiner, does not make me a traitor as Sadler suggested. It is my constitutional right to vote for whomever I feel is better qualified to be the commander-in-chief, and I have earned that right. I don't know if Sadler has any military service because he did not mention it so therefore I assume he does not.
I do not plan to vote for Hillary Clinton either, as I think they are both unqualified to hold the office of president and both will lead our country down the wrong path. I only hope that I am wrong about that and if so, will be man enough to admit it. Sadler mentions that Trump was recently saved, but that only means that he has repented his sins and has accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. That does not make him a good Christian. I believe he is a bigot, an egotistical, temperamental bully and a whiner, and Hillary is a greedy liar.
I will be voting independent, as is my right. I am in favor of a stronger military, better immigration requirements and some kind of gun control. No one really needs a fully automatic weapon in their arsenal. It seems they are usually obtained by psychos who commit mass killings of innocent people. I agree that we as a nation need to put God back in the forefront of our lives and patriotism back in our schools, but we do not need someone calling people traitors just because they will not be voting for your candidate.
Regardless of who wins the election, we as a nation need to unite for our children and grandchildren. We can only pray that we make the right choice.
ROGER TOLLESON
Jacksonville
What's best for us all
It's time people vote for what's best for ourselves and country, for the elite establishment Republicans and the rich better-class Democrats are basically one and the same. They believe we the people of the United States of America working class are fools. Some grew up in the working middle class but have fallen into greed and try and use the moral fiber of the average American against them.
It seems that while they do and have done and said no better, often much worse, they attack Donald Trump for doing it. Not because they are or are not Christian because true Christians are about forgiveness, and if one is not for forgiveness, he cannot be a Christian. It doesn't mean condoning sin but not being condemned by it. To do and condemn others for doing it is being a hypocrite.
All the while the country is going past the point of no return, the burning upper crust of nation is flaming with their selfish greed, we the filling will be totally lost, and the great American pie will be fried. Vote Donald Trump.
FLOYD HOPSON
Hazen
Salary needs rollback
We pay Bret Bielema over $3 million a year to coach a team which is obviously going backwards. I think his salary should do the same.
MIKE BURSON
Little Rock
Editorial on 10/27/2016