Refugee integration
Many small towns dotting America have experienced large population declines over the last decade, which have taken a massive toll on their local economies. For example, in Fargo, N.D., the 350 refugees relocated there have made Fargo a better place to live for everyone. Through perseverance and innovation, refugees have started new businesses and added more tax revenue to this town, all of which helped to revitalize the economy.
In the United States, it costs the federal government $64,370 over five years to integrate a refugee. However, refugees typically have excellent work ethics, which allow them to become prosperous. After a refugee has been successfully integrated in the United States for more than 25 years, their median household income is $67,000, which is $14,000 more than the median American income. In 2015, former refugees earned $77.2 billion collectively and contributed $20.9 billion in taxes to improve the United States economy. Overall, 13 percent of integrated refugees become entrepreneurs, which is greater than the 9 percent average among U.S.-born Americans.
These entrepreneurs find new and innovative ways to build and grow businesses. This will create job opportunities for American citizens and grow the American economy. Thus, it is imperative that the United States allow more refugees to be integrated into our country.
CHRISTOPHER BENSON
Conway
Hey, I'm walkin' here
Drivers of downtown Little Rock: I walk three blocks from my parking space to my employer, and people frequently ask me if homeless people harass me. The homeless people I encounter have been courteous, more so than many of the drivers I dodge when I cross Broadway. Every day I deal with drivers who stop in the middle of a crosswalk, red-light runners, and the right-turn-on-red drivers who don't notice the flashing "walk" signal and pedestrians who are trying to cross the street.
I don't want my obituary to read, "She was mowed down while crossing Capitol and Broadway," so please be more aware of the people who walk downtown every day.
SARAH RICARD
Little Rock
What does that mean?
Not very computer-lingo savvy, I am. I always thought an Internet was something you wore on your head in an operating room or employed in a restaurant. Tweet and blog were things you did in the restroom, and if you did either frequently you could be suffering from a urinary tract infection or in need of a dietary fiber supplement. Got to run, so to say, for now.
BARRY TATE
Houston
They earned respect
Congratulations to the #MeToo movement and other women who've spoken up about sexual assault and harassment for being honored by Time magazine. Perhaps some of you might run for president.
MITCH DEAN
Dayton
Come to dinner table
Are family meals a thing of the past? Sixty years ago, you couldn't walk into a house during dinner time without finding the family eating a nice meal together. Having a meal with your family used to be something that no one thought twice about. It was just the norm. Fast forward to 2017; is a family meal something that even crosses one's mind? In the past 20 years, the amount of family meals eaten together has declined by an astonishing 33 percent.
Studies show that kids who regularly engage in family meals are less likely to abuse drugs and also less likely to experience depression. Not only is it rarer for them to fall into bad habits, but they are more apt to work hard in school. Students who eat with their families around the dinner table at least four times a week commonly receive better grades than kids who do not usually eat family meals.
Family meals have many benefits. Families will save a lot of money if they start eating dinner at home. Parents working long days often grab fast food on the way home multiple nights a week. The restaurant industry's share of the total food dollar is more than 46 percent, whereas in 1955 it was only 26 percent. For an average family of four, you could save up to $3,120 a year by just cooking dinner at home.
Fast food may be easy, but a healthy child is something a parent should value more than convenience. Fast foods provide unhealthy choices and a poorly balanced diet, resulting in obesity. The calorie content of meals that are eaten outside of the home is 55 percent higher than meals cooked at home. Children aren't being taught that cooked meals are a good thing, and this has led to more consumption of fast food. This pattern will only result in obesity for years and years to come.
LAUREN HENLEY
Sherwood
Face up to problems
I am encouraged by the column from Walter E. Williams. We need more people of his stature to take a stand for what is wrong with the serious problem of predominantly black schools and black communities without worrying about being called a racist. I'm sure there are a lot of liberals that would like him to go away so they could keep blaming black problems on white racists and rich people not paying their fair share.
Until we get a hold on the explosion of fatherless black families due to the "Great Society," all the funding in the world will not solve the problems that exist in these communities and schools.
DON COONFER
Hot Springs Village
Was another choice
Regarding David Brooks' recent column concerning the wedding-cake issue, he leaves out a third, more practical choice. The gay couple could have simply turned around, walked out and taken their business to any of the numerous other bakery shops in the Denver area.
But then that would not have promoted the anti-Christian agenda that most likely was at the center of their bakery selection in the first place.
BUD FINLEY
Avilla
Editorial on 12/11/2017