Ruminations on taxes
Last Saturday's editorial/Voices pages are a must-read for Arkansans. On the editorial page, Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize winner in economics, writes that President Trump's 2018 federal tax legislation is a disaster. On the opposite Voices page, Arkansas' four members of the House of Representatives, all Republicans, believe the tax cut will be a savior for Arkansans.
Now we can wait until Arkansans file their 2018 federal tax returns in the spring of 2019, hopefully for a decision.
ROBERT B. BUCHANAN
North Little Rock
About hiding reality
Shame on the four Republican Arkansas congressmen for their recent op-ed piece subtitled "Tax reform to aid Arkansans."
It's a classic example of putting whipped cream on a cow patty.
DAVID L. HENDERSON
Hot Springs Village
Timely Christmas tale
A Christmas Carol (sometimes called Scrooge). We see it on TV every year at this time. The 1951 English version with Alastair Sim. It's the story of a Republican businessman who treats his employees badly, minimum wage, no benefits. But by the end of the story he's a Democrat: gives Bob Cratchit a big raise and helps with Tiny Tim's medical bills. He's seen the light.
What a wonderful outcome for Scrooge. Anyone listening?
REG EDWARDS
Compton
Not only Democrats
In response to Jack Mayberry of Sheridan: As Jesus said in Luke, "Don't be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies."
I stand for the rights of all people to love and be loved. Mr. Mayberry says that Democrats are pigs. I am trying to decide whether that is a compliment or a curse here in Razorback land. I would also point out to the kind gentleman that he is wrong in accusing only Democrats of alcohol-, drug- and sex-infused pleasure hunts. You can also find these actions in the lives of Republicans, i.e., Rep. Trent Franks, Rep. Tim Murphy, Rep. Blake Farenthold.
LINNETTE GARBER
Fayetteville
Missing in education
Jesus could have written these words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
God gave them to Emma Lazarus. They are on the Statue of Liberty. The United States is a beacon of hope for all mankind. We are the best hope of mankind. Let us act like it, unite to care for one another. Let there be freedom for all, freedom from ignorance, from fear, from hate, from want, from hunger, from sickness--freedom to be happy, where everyone and every creature is loved and cared for.
"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light," wrote Dylan Thomas. Burn and rave as long as you have breath. Where there is hatred, sow love; where there is darkness, light; where there is injury, pardon; doubt, faith; despair, hope; sadness, joy. Something is missing in our education. I think it is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Students the world over study this document and take great hope from it. Then they look at us, a great nation, the leader of the world, the architects of the Declaration, going down the path towards the dictatorship of little minds, worshipers of Mammon, who do not understand money.
Money is not real. There is no set supply. The supply of money can expand to meet the demand for money. When there is widespread unemployment and underemployment, the government should engage in deficit spending to invest in our future. U.S. law requires the government to borrow the money to cover the deficit. Sell bonds to the Fed first. The Fed can sell those bonds to the public to counter inflation as necessary.
RUUD DuVALL
Fayetteville
Quote to think about
Recently, I read a tweet that former FBI Director James Comey posted. He attributed this quote to Robert G. Ingersoll (1883, speaking of Lincoln): "Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. ... Most people can bear adversity; but if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power."
While I don't fully agree with all of Mr. Ingersoll's quotes, this one seems to be as true today as it might have been in previous times. I don't profess to know a lot about the use of power, but in my short time on this earth, I have seen many people that I felt definitely knew how to misuse a little authority or supposed power. Some perceive financial superiority as their right to abuse power, while some use their physical stature or gender as a license to abuse someone. This trait is not limited to politicians, teachers, priests, pastors, or only males. It can be a fault of any person, unintended or otherwise, in any part of our society.
I believe all of us probably need to look in the mirror each day and think about that quote.
RANDY BLAKEY
Cabot
Editorial on 12/19/2017