Letters

What the words mean

A political investigation usually brings up shades of word meanings. The meaning of what "is" is lingers from the President Clinton era.

The Comey hearing Thursday underscored "hope." Comey said President Trump said to him about Flynn, "I hope you let this go." Does "hope" as used here match the meaning as used by a gunman who sticks a gun in your side and says "I hope you'll give me your billfold"?

And what is honest loyalty (which came up in the Comey hearing)?

WILLIAM C. KRAMER

North Little Rock

Don't penalize pupils

As the school board president of the Pulaski County Special School District, I feel it is important to respond to the letter from Mr. Ernest Hesterly. He admits the millage extension to expand Sylvan Hills High School is a worthy proposal, the school needs it, and the students need it. His only issue is that the request is being held at a special election instead of a general election. The next general election will not be until November 2018.

In December, the overcrowding at Sylvan Hills was one of the first concerns presented by the administration to the newly seated school board. If the board had chosen to wait another 18 months to begin the process of expanding the high school, we would be seriously neglecting the needs of the students and delaying the opening of an expanded school by almost two years. The board believes the needs of the students are our priority and time is critical.

The existing campus was built for 850 students and at this time the school population is just under 1,500 students. To relieve some of the overcrowding, ninth-grade students have been temporarily moved to another facility. This is a stop-gap measure. Even this stop-gap measure has not solved the problem because we still have 1,200 students in a school meant for 850. The kitchen is small, and the cafeteria only seats 400, so at the three lunch shifts, students must spill over into classes to eat. Classrooms are crowded, halls are crowded, and supervision is more difficult when you cram too many students into a space that is too small. Do you really want to penalize students to protest a special election? I hope not.

The district is planning to build a school to educate 2,200 students to accommodate continued growth. I hope the public agrees with the decision to put the needs of students first. This will not be an increase in your tax rate. Please, vote for our students Tuesday by voting for the millage extension.

LINDA REMELE

Sherwood

Costs don't disappear

Our governor and other Obamacare opponents apparently are operating under the impression that when people are cut off Medicaid, these people and their problems simply disappear.

This impression ignores one of the primary laws of economics: For society, there is no free lunch. The costs that had been covered by Medicaid are not eliminated. They are simply shifted to others, such as people who buy health insurance, health-care providers and the newly uninsured.

The solution to our health-care muddle clearly does not lie in this direction.

LEN WHITE

Fayetteville

Recognizing workers

I would like the opportunity to mention my thanks to so many people in our community I feel are overlooked. My husband was a retired Marine, and he died in 2015. We have Memorial Day to honor our military personnel, but where and when do any of us take time to notice so many people we encounter on a daily basis?

Teachers, and all the personnel who help to make our children safe on a daily basis, including custodians, office personnel, administrators. Teachers don't make anywhere near the salary they should. Most teachers go far beyond the classroom on a daily basis, but people don't see that.

All of our nurses, nurses' aides, custodians, lab workers, cafeteria workers, and so many other positions filled in our hospitals and clinics. We love to complain when we aren't happy, but where is our gratitude for the nurse who is at the bedside when a loved one is in distress?

Our many workers who serve the public: Policemen and women, ambulance drivers and the EMTs, the unseen people who work the offices in these places. When we dial 911, there are very skilled people we speak with who may talk a child through what to do in an emergency--without that calming voice on the phone, what might happen to the person who is sick or injured? Our clergy and all who staff and maintain our places of worship.

This is only a short list and I apologize for leaving out dozens of workers I cannot possibly list here. But my thanks go to everyone who works retail, restaurants, bus drivers, airline attendants and other employees. But I ask that we all take time now and then to notice what jobs are being done in our surroundings. So along with Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other days set aside to recognize a few individuals, I would ask we all take some time to notice all people in the workplace who are far more important than they or anyone else might realize.

KAREN NEDDERSEN

Choctaw

In the suggestion box

Again, as mayor, police chief and dogcatcher of Possum Poot, I've done battle with a very serious decision. Many worried nights in my King James beanbag chair were spent on this decision. My decision was so well-liked by the higher-ups at the county GOP (God's own party) that I was called in and given knowledge from a lot further up the chain than I am entitled to. I was told by these most righteous and godly people one thing: "He who has the gold makes the rules." I will ponder this wisdom for quite some time. My decision was applauded well, but my suggestion really rocked their world.

Them darned liberals got the state to vote to approve "medical marijuana." We in Possum Poot cannot abide that. Yet we must follow the law. My decision says we'll be happy to dispense wacky tobacky to anyone who can recite the entire Old Testament of the Bible (King James) from memory. Who needs that stuff when we have a world-class moonshiner in our midst?

I must confess I borrowed my suggestion from events in the far-out land of Montana. Come the next political season I think Possum Poot will hold rasslin' matches between politicians and librul media types. First up: Super-righteous Sen. Jason Rapert agin Super-librul John Brummett. That should get us the notice (and money) we so righteously deserve!

STEVE GIBSON

Little Rock

Editorial on 06/10/2017

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