Move past the parties
Since antiquity, philosophers have puzzled about how we can be governed by the wisest among us.
Sadly, progress toward that goal has waxed and waned unevenly over the centuries, and today we are obviously at the bottom of one of those oscillating cycles. To restore upward progress, we first need to belatedly awaken to President Washington's farewell admonition about the dangers of forming political parties, by euthanizing both the donkey and the elephant--and replacing them with the American eagle.
The absence of party labels should ultimately produce a more enlightened electorate, since voters will be forced to focus on matters of character and policy positions in choosing among candidates.
Then, as more no-label politicians begin to populate public offices and our deliberative bodies, and blind allegiance to party and ideology gradually gives way to rational analysis, civil discourse, and a sense of common purpose, perhaps we will be governed in a fashion that would have pleased both our founding fathers and the ancient philosophers as well.
DAVID L. HENDERSON
Hot Springs Village
Is it guilt or shame?
Author Chris Masi in his book, Stop Chasing Carrots, makes a sharp distinction between guilt and shame. He says, "Shame and guilt both arise after doing something that we consider bad. How we react to that bad behavior determines whether we feel shame or guilt. We feel guilt when we recognize that we have done something bad. We feel shame when we think that we are a bad person because of what we did." He states further that shame is the stronger emotion and causes self-recrimination, while guilt prompts us to fix any problem we caused.
Going on the assumption that this distinction is justified, I thought of a perfect biblical example to illustrate this difference: the apostles Peter and Judas Iscariot. After Jesus' arrest and during his mock trial, Peter denied being one of his disciples three times; lastly cursing and swearing, "I don't know the man." Later he expressed his guilt by weeping bitterly. The scripture doesn't say, but surely he asked for and received forgiveness, then put it behind him and went on to become a great leader in the church.
Judas, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with shame after he had betrayed Jesus to the authorities. He could not forgive himself or bring himself to seek forgiveness from God or anyone else. His only solution was to hang himself.
All of us have done things we regret and perhaps have tottered on that fine line between guilt and debilitating shame, but with the assurance of God's infinite grace through Jesus the Christ, have managed to stay on the side of redeemable guilt.
JOHN McPHERSON
Searcy
No human is illegal
It is possible for a person to act illegally. However, I believe a human being cannot be illegal. Unless you are ready to call someone who runs a red light an illegal, please refer to people who do not have proper documentation as undocumented. Respect the dignity of every human being.
Thank you.
VERONIQUE ODEKIRK
Little Rock
A good compromise
The Climate Leadership Council calls for a carbon tax based on carbon dioxide pollution (CO2) emissions when fossil fuels are burned. The tax is set at a price per ton of emissions. Money collected is equally returned to Americans in quarterly payments. This fee is collected at the mine or well where the fossil fuel originates. American businesses are protected with a tax on imports from countries that do not have one.
Nationally recognized REMI (Regional Economic Models Inc.) recently completed studies on economic impacts of carbon tax in the U.S. and Arkansas. The economy grows and CO2 decreases more than with the Clean Power Plan.
Over 30 nations price carbon. In 2008, British Columbia passed a carbon tax. CO2 emissions fell, fossil-fuel consumption decreased, and the economy remained robust.
I believe trading the Clean Power Plan for a carbon tax is a good compromise. It will help grow the economy, improve health and reduce CO2 emissions. A nationwide carbon tax is the fairest way to reduce emissions. It is applied to all sources which emit CO2. The Clean Power Plan focuses only on electrical generation. A carbon tax is market-based and doesn't pick energy winners or losers!
After decades of inaction on climate change, we are poised to achieve significant carbon reduction. Let us follow the long forgotten American principle which makes our country great: compromise.
Environmentalists want to reduce carbon dioxide to slow climate change. Conservatives want to protect the economy. The Climate Leadership Council policy does both.
ROBERT McAFEE
Hackett
On insurance, media
The free market left 20 million to 40 million people without health insurance. Life insurance across state lines is a one-time payment. Out-of-pocket health costs for a family with two kids covered to age 26 can cost $200,000, not counting deductibles. My deductible is $6,000 a year; my medicine this year will cost $3,400 in co-pays.
Second point: Sometimes the media get it wrong. They're like people in a huge pile of leaves throwing leaves out into the air in search of a story. The true stories can be true, reports or speculation. Trump calling the media liars is interesting. He's told so many that nobody really believes him, sometimes even his supporters.
And a lot of people inherit a mess. Go to work.
STEVE WHEELER
North Little Rock
Must be anti-Trump
I feel it is quite strange or downright odd that it seems the letters to the editor are mostly without question anti-Trump, for example, the Feb. 13 edition of the paper. Surely there are some letters that support Trump.
I'm wondering if the people at the paper who were selecting letters to be published are mostly anti-Trump. Just wondering.
EARL KENNEDY
Dover
Editorial on 02/23/2017