A permanent impasse
I'm sick and tired of Congress acting like a bunch of 5-year-old children; they can't agree on anything. I truly think if you decided to raise all of their salaries to $10 million a year, some would say it wasn't enough. Most of them appear to be that stupid.
They are supposed to be educated, intelligent people who care about our country and citizens. Most will give the reason for their running for office as being to make a difference and help the people and country. I truly think the real reason is their (ego) status.
The problem with having a two-party political system is that it prevents the best outcome of anything that would really help the citizens or the country, because if the idea came from the Republicans, the Democrats will not vote for it, and if the idea came from the Democrats, the Republicans will not vote for it.
Once elected, politicians seem to think only their party has the correct idea; they refuse to even listen to the other side, even if it's the best person or idea. What makes it so ridiculous is either idea or a combination of both may be the best solution, but the other side will never listen or vote for it. If the president is of the other party, he/she will never get anything because the other party hates the president and would never help pass a bill.
ROBERT L. MAYNARD
Hot Springs Village
Of hatred and bigotry
Straight, cisgender Arkansans have never had any reason to fear their fellow Arkansans who are LGBTQ.
When's the last time you heard of the LGBTQ community in Arkansas targeting straight/cisgender folks with actions and laws because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity? For example, physical assaults, being bullied in school, being murdered, being denied parenting rights, being denied jobs, housing, access to public accommodations and being legislated against constantly, simply for being straight/cisgender.
You haven't heard of these things because there's been no continuous assault on your humanity. There's been no policies, legislative or cultural shaming you, making you afraid, literally harming you for simply being who you are, straight and cisgender. Yet these things happen regularly to LGBTQ Arkansans.
It seems this current avalanche of anti-LGBTQ bills in the Arkansas Legislature aims to push LGBTQ lives in front of and under the bus of bigotry and hate, increasing the fear and uncertainty we already live with. It also increases the real risk of harm from our fellow Arkansans in a myriad of ways. Some will surely see it as a license to commit grievous harm against us. Our lives are seen as less valuable political fodder, despite being guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution an unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Think about it, the harm done by these bills if enacted; they target your family members, your neighbors, your co-workers--your fellow Arkansans. Legally enshrined hatred and bigotry will not make Arkansas a greater state.
RANDI M. ROMO
Little Rock
Doubtful connection
Dennis Leggett recently wrote: "An argument can be made that globalism is the latest iteration of Marxian socialism." That would be a curious argument, indeed, as globalism appears to be "the highest stage of capitalism," a world market designed to enrich corporate billionaires rather than sustain "the workers of the world" as Marx advocated almost three centuries ago.
Mr. Leggett ends his letter by tying efforts to stem climate change to this nefarious communist plot. He quotes Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change as saying one must give the illusion that climate policy is environmental policy while "we are de facto distributing the world's wealth." I'm not sure redistributing the world's wealth to poorer nations to help them address climate change is a bad thing, but I believe misrepresenting Dr. Edenhofer's views on the seriousness of climate change is.
In Edenhofer's words, "Denying out-and-out that climate change is a problem to humanity, as some cynics do, is an unethical, unacceptable position." And he's criticized the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change because he believes the limits set on global warming are insufficient to address the problem, agreements for cutting back emissions are voluntary, and compliance, rather than being legally enforceable, cannot even be verified.
Marxian socialism might be blamed for many things, but I doubt if globalism and efforts to save the world from climate change are among them.
DAVID SIXBEY
Flippin
Not funded by the U.S.
Ms. Jeanette DeVinney should study some statistics.
The government does not pay Planned Parenthood to perform abortions. Abortions for women who cannot afford them are paid by private donors. The government pays for health screenings and other services.
JUANITA LYNCH
Paragould
The leader we expect
Donald Trump is America's new president and our new leader. What kind of leader can we expect him to be?
Some say leadership will be shown in one of two opposing styles. The terms "power-over" and "power-to" describe these approaches. Power-over implies the leader feels all powerful and will allow little advice or input. It is difficult for the power-over leader to share in the decision-making process. The power-over leader believes only he knows exactly what needs to happen. President Trump's signature phrase--You're fired--places him quickly under the power-over style.
During the first three weeks of the Trump presidency his barrage of "executive orders" are clear indicators of a power-over leader. In these actions we have learned Congress, the Republican Party and Cabinet heads appear to have been excluded from decision-making. Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway have been busy trying to explain and clarify what the actions were meant to do. Only the inner-most circle knows what's going on.
The opposite style of power-over is power-to. Power-to is a leadership style that seeks input from others and then gives power in return. Trump's campaign led us to believe he would drain the swamp and restore power to the people. I'm afraid neither is going happen. Power-to leaders consult, listen and learn. Those attributes are not the characteristics of Trump. His ego is too fragile to be questioned or challenged. Donald Trump has always been rich and always been the boss. It is difficult to produce a leader who will consult and listen with that background.
One of Mr. Trump's early announcements highlights both his power attitude and his arrogance. He stated he didn't need the daily intelligence briefings of world events, because he was already smart enough. So what kind of leader do we have? Couple his power-over style with his arrogance and we have a leader who will give America a scary and bumpy four years!
DAVID ROBINSON
Sheridan
Ideas to save money
Just brainstorming here. Have American companies using foreign call centers and manufacturers pay their employees at least our federal minimum wages and use only American-made construction materials and American raw materials in those countries. Though this may increase consumer cost, it would be a step toward creating a more level playing field and increase American exports, which will increase jobs. If this doesn't work, then bring back Made in America signage and allow consumers to decide if they want to spend more or less on certain products. To place additional taxes on imports is a double tax for the American consumers; in my view, this would become a federal sales tax.
I believe in a balanced federal budget, reducing the size of government and monitoring/reducing elected federal employees' entitlements. I strongly oppose one entitlement that appears to have no restrictions or limits: taxpayers' money being spent by the president for trips to Mar-a-Lago, protecting his New York City tower and his family living there, and the cost of the Secret Service jetsetting with his sons, promoting the president's brand. The tens of millions of dollars could be better spent reducing the budget or at the very least help the damaged young people who have returned from fighting senseless wars overseas. Does Congress really need to give the president a blank check (for this entitlement) to push through their agendas?
DAVID BURROW
Fayetteville
Editorial on 03/11/2017