World nuclear affairs
I am writing to bring attention to important days of remembrance coming up soon. Aug. 6 and 9 will be the 72nd anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, the only times nuclear weapons have been used on civilian populations. As we observe these days, we remember the devastation caused, the lives lost, and reflect on the current state of nuclear affairs in the world.
The current state of nuclear affairs finds a world with roughly 4,000 active warheads and 10,100 total. Nine countries are believed to have nu-clear weapons, and tensions seem to be rising. As a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I find it troubling to see we're prioritizing show of force over strategic force. We used 59 small bombs on an airfield, failing to damage the runways, when proper targeting would have used one large bomb in the middle of each to disable them. We used the largest non-nuclear bomb in our arsenal on a cave that was just one of dozens in the area for the sole purpose of putting on a show. I find these actions to be disturbingly parallel to the actions in 1945 when the use of these weapons and their targets were chosen based on the shock value they would achieve rather than for strategic means of disabling military targets.
If we truly want to establish ourselves as a world leader, we should try doing so in the arenas of peace and nuclear disarmament.
MICHAEL D. VAUGHN
Little Rock
Poles were war heroes
Growing up, I heard many so-called "Polak jokes." They mostly depicted Polish people as moronic or slow-witted at the least. Well, the Poles were anything but that.
Prior to World War II, the Germans had invented an encoding machine they called Enigma, an extremely complicated machine using a superfluous method of encryption for their military messages. Just before the invasion of Poland by the Nazis, Polish patriots duplicated an exact copy of Enigma which was shipped to London. In addition, they were able to break the codes used, an almost impossible task from the German viewpoint. They had broken the ciphers even before Bletchley Park, staffed by such notables as Alan Turing, the inventor of the modern computer.
As hostilities further commenced, Poles formed an elaborate underground which harassed the Nazis on all fronts. They, more than any other nation on the European continent, resisted the German occupation, providing London with invaluable intelligence.
During the Battle of Britain, the Polish 303 Squadron in the Royal Air Force distinguished itself by shooting down more German planes than any other RAF squadron. Winston Churchill acknowledged that they were indispensable in defending England during its "finest hour."
Later, in the assault on Monte Cassino in Italy, after many failed attempts by Allied forces to take it, the Poles were the ones to finally take it from the Germans.
Their contribution to the success of the Allied victory was exemplified by their never-ending dedication to the cause of freedom.
LES BLEDSOE
North Little Rock
Laws not suggestions
I travel from Heber Springs to Little Rock and surrounding towns several times a month. Every trip I am reminded that drivers do just about everything behind the wheel except drive.
On our two-lane roads I expect to find vehicles crossing into my lane while the driver texts, eats a burger, applies makeup or is just not paying attention. The interstate is worse because drivers do all those things but drive at excessive speeds, well over the speed limit.
Come on, people! Drive with some respect for others' lives, if not your own. Those signs on the highways are the law, not a suggestion.
DEANNA PUCKETT
Heber Springs
Where onus belongs
I believe no working person should need Obamacare or food stamps. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide for those needs, not the taxpayers.
Raise the minimum wage to $14 an hour so workers can buy their own health insurance and food without begging for costly government assistance. Put the money in the worker's pocket. I believe Obamacare is a welfare program for wealthy Wall Street investors. Put the financial burden where it belongs. On the employer, not the taxpayer.
BARRY EMIGH
Hot Springs
Pursue real tax reform
The Republicans were unsuccessful in cutting taxes on those in the top tax brackets by repealing the Affordable Care Act. Now it seems they are more openly attempting to do so under the guise of "tax reform." The Trump Cabinet is crawling with billionaires and major corporate executives, like Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. A level-headed guy for sure, but if you don't believe he is more concerned about Exxon's bottom line than he is yours or mine, you will love The Emoji Movie.
Corporate taxes should be reduced for smaller businesses and startups, but the global behemoths who pay little or no income taxes need real reform. Giant, highly profitable companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft should bring their billions in foreign banks back home to really make America great again. Since when did corporate profits and shareholder value replace the common good as the goal of our national tax policy?
As in the corporate sphere, well-to-do individuals pay too little. To ensure that Medicare and Social Security are well-funded, the income ceiling on withholding for these taxes, which is now $127,200, should be removed on salaries above $350,000. Why should someone making $1 million per year pay the same employment tax as someone making $127,200?
Call or write your congressmen and senators. Tell them to stop favoring the Waltons and the Koch brothers and the cesspools of dark money that get them elected. Tell them to put America first; tell them to put you first for once.
DAVID ELI COCKCROFT
Little Rock
The door to the future
Seems the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial writers can't do what is good and decent when it comes to educating our children. They continue making their smarmy pronouncements while pouring their "we're oh so much better than they are" attitude into the debate. Can't stop griping about the sins of public schools and shouting hallelujahs about the glorious wonders of charter schools.
Give us a break. I think your year-in, year-out diatribes have been the toxic, high-octane fuel that has been feeding this controversy and problem for years. You've become like Joe McCarthy--finding evil and spouting your oversold brand of propaganda--and finally the public is waking up to the fact that you "have no decency."
So, why don't you shut down your hate-mill and give schools a fighting chance to work together for the benefit of all children and all schools? It's the right thing to do, and it's time you got on the right side and off your broken-down parade wagon.
Finally, you tell us that failure can be closed down. I believe the continual renewal of the failing charter Covenant Keepers proves you wrong. And your continual drumbeat of animosity toward public education also proves you wrong. Your failure to close down the hatred is the worst sin of all.
The door to the future is open. Please stop spitting through it.
JAKE TIDMORE
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/04/2017