Beware land pollution
As a student in high school, people surrounding me don't seem to care about land pollution, and they don't realize that land pollution is becoming more and more serious. When people think about it, they only tend to think about small litter like plastic bags and pieces of cigarettes on sidewalks or the side of the road. However, land pollution is becoming a more concerning issue, which contributes to impacting other pollution like water and air. Waste from land can be washed down to lakes or rivers, affecting our water systems and clean water, and polluted dust or particles can be breathed in the air. Also, large amounts of pollution can lead to huge landfills, which affect our community negatively.
Let's talk briefly about statistics--did you know that an estimated 80 percent of the birds found dead have some sort of plastic waste in their system? This means that the bird you see in the sky probably has some sort of plastic waste in its system. What did the birds do to deserve to die, only trying to survive, but consuming plastic along the way?
It doesn't matter if you're littering even a small amount. That litter can lead to bigger and bigger litter, which can eventually cause land pollution. This land pollution can cause damage to our environment as well as increase the amount of water and air pollution. Let's save our people of the earth!
YOUNGJAE LEE
Little Rock
Essentially excellent
My best regards to the author of the March 29 editorial called "When essential isn't," because it revealed what I believe to be the essence of Obamacare: that it isn't for everyone, yet the former president thought everyone should have it--and, if they chose not to have it, they should pay for it anyway.
The editorial exposed to the Congress that passed it in 2010 the reason for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's odd--at the time, not so much now--utterance that the voting members had to bless the health-care bill in order to find out what was in it. In fact, it was everybody pays for it and not everybody enjoys its benefits.
Just like letters that appear on the Voices page, some that are excellent and others not so good, editorials are the same way. But the March 29 offering was a dandy, to be sure. Congratulations!
PATRICK McKELVEY
Bella Vista
In case of big frauds
Seems to me that it's a huge flaw in our political system that if the president of one party is taken out due to fraud, that his chosen one steps up for the job. I think it's only fair that if the president has taken the White House by fraud of any kind, once this is proven, then all of the president's men should leave and the opposing party should win the election. Especially if the opposing candidate won the popular vote.
If an election is found to be illegal for any reason, that should "null and void" the whole kit 'n' kaboodle. Let the other side--the candidate who won the election by three million votes--the people not found to be fraudulent, take power and run our country.
MARIANNE BEASLEY
Fayetteville
Why vote for bad bill?
I was surprised to hear Congressman Steve Womack share his disappointment with the GOP failure to replace Obamacare. I was surprised because Steve was prepared to vote for a plan that enjoyed only 17 percent support among Americans. A plan that was so bad that after seven years of protest and planning, even his own party couldn't muster enough votes to pass. Even Tom Cotton thought the GOP health-care plan was not acceptable as presented.
Congressman Womack said the GOP plan would make the health-care system "more affordable and more accessible." Accessible is the GOP term meaning insurance will be there, but only if you can afford it. They were going to make sure it was affordable by eliminating the 10 essential benefits that all plans must have now. Without those essential benefits, you may have an insurance plan you can afford, but it won't cover much of anything. This plan over time would eliminate federal support for Medicaid, which many Arkansans depend on for their health care. I and many other Arkansans called and wrote Steve Womack, pleading for him not to support this plan. I think Steve chose party politics over good health care for all Americans.
Why the big rush to push a terrible health-care proposal through Congress? The GOP intended to reduce health-care spending by an estimated $1 trillion over several years, and use the money to reduce taxes for American companies. These guys had seven years to come up with a plan that would actually improve health care for Americans, and this is what they put on the table. Let's just say the slogan should read "Let's make Americans unhealthy again."
Seriously, Steve Womack, you were going to vote yes for this plan?
JOHN GREEN
Eureka Springs
Reconnect to the city
In 2016, the estimated violent crime rate in Little Rock was 696 per 100,000 people. The majority of these incidents occurred in neighborhoods south of Interstate 630. As a result, many people commonly avoid these southern areas of the city as they are deemed unsafe.
Interstates create buffers of land on either side called dead spaces that are unsuitable for residence and commercial establishments. In addition to creating dead spaces on either side, interstates can also divert traffic away from neighborhoods and districts that need pedestrian traffic. In Little Rock, I-630 virtually splits the city into two sectors, a poor sector in the southeast and a wealthy one in the northwest.
Despite the costs it would incur, I believe Little Rock should tear down I-630 from Park Street to the Interstate 40 corridor. This would allow automobile traffic to be dispersed throughout the city, reconnecting distressed areas to the thriving downtown historic district and reinvigorating the city. Additionally, the city would be able to cultivate small pockets of unused land, now along I-630, for economic development. Removing the highway will increase pedestrian traffic, which would create and reinforce opportunities for businesses to grow and benefit the residents of distressed areas.
ISAAC D. SIMS
Little Rock
Editorial on 04/04/2017