Letters

Budget hurts seniors

Being a senior and a veteran who was in Vietnam twice, I am saddened to see President Trump's so-called budget, which shows neither where the money is coming from nor its effect on the national debt, but does call for the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) which provides funds for 5,000 agencies, and would thus curtail 2.4 million Meals on Wheels for seniors, 500,000 of whom are veterans, typically 60 years old.

Is this what our country has come to under Trump/GOP control? Does the party of Lincoln no longer possess a moral compass? Are they making America great again? If you don't believe your health care (Medicare/Medicaid) and Social Security are next, you haven't been watching. Do not stand for these outrages; contact your representatives in Washington. Asks them about their entitlements, benefits and health plans.

JOE SEAMAN

Lakeview

Opportunities abound

We love living in Arkansas, and Hot Springs Village is wonderful.

Having said that, the area outside the east gate is an untapped resource, waiting in anticipation of discovery by investors. At the east end of the village, residents are over 17 miles away from a grocery store, have no car wash, and could use a water park/swimming facility for the village and surrounding area residents.

There is a fabulous restaurant, Tanners, formerly situated inside the village, but now flourishing outside the gates. Several other businesses are thriving, including a Hallmark store, Dollar General, Shell station, bank, a rehab/health club, nail salon, and two beauty shops.

Village residents, as well as others, eagerly await the opportunity to support amenities not currently available. Give us a try; life in the "country" is nice!

SANDY A. WILLIAMS

Hot Springs Village

Don't execute 8 men

Governor Hutchinson, please exhibit your humanity. Commute the sentences of the eight men on death row. No purpose is served by their executions. A state-sanctioned killing is no better than the murders they were sentenced for.

You will do yourself and the state of Arkansas permanent harm. These acts will be seen as, and will in fact be, barbaric acts. What political gain is worth that? Arkansas will carry the burden of these actions throughout many lifetimes.

I love this state. I've moved back here twice in my adult years because I do. Executing these men is the wrong thing to do. It is shameful and inhumane and unforgivable. I beg you to commute these sentences. Please do not execute these men.

Thank you for considering this request.

REBECCA GLENN WHALEY

Little Rock

Choice: Farm or river

My family became residents of the Natural State in 1998 when we moved from St. Paul, Minn., to Little Rock. Having lived in a location that has its own claim to natural beauty (albeit ice-covered lakes, cold weather and snow), we were fascinated by the mountainous beauty, miles of woodlands, and stunning streams and lakes in Arkansas.

An introduction to the Natural State occurred shortly after our arrival when I was asked to be a chaperone for a youth campout on the Buffalo River. We swam, canoed, and experienced a great weekend with never a thought that this river may one day be at risk of being polluted.

It is difficult to accept that a hog farm would ever receive a permit to locate within the watershed of any creek, stream, river, or lake. But it happened when C&H Hog Farms was allowed to locate near the Buffalo River.

We are told that there is no evidence that suggests contamination of the river or the eventual threat of contamination. I just don't know how that kind of claim can be made. That which is foreign to soil and air will eventually accumulate to have a negative effect. And the accumulation will happen if we are not loving stewards of natural resources. That's the nature of anything that has its origin in uncaring human activity. Precautions that provide present assurances will one day fail. It is inevitable.

Whatever will bring about the discontinuation of C&H Hog Farms must be pursued.

WINFERD G. BRUHL

Little Rock

Give kids a good start

Perhaps our education system may be indicted for being filled with people with closed minds. Having taught school for 31 years, I've had that thought myself. But I submit that when we point a finger at our education system, we should consider where that finger stops.

Recently I found online a paper by John Heckman, Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. His position paper addressed the problem that faces our nation, in fact, the world: An uneducated citizenry costs.

The crucial issue which needs to be addressed is not parents with a "weak gene pool" begetting "dumb kids" or even the subsidies they draw, but the innocent children who begin their education behind and stay there.

Pray tell, what kind of logic causes us to say that we cannot afford to give children the good start (pre-K-third grade) to which they are entitled? That's a cheap entitlement. It's even in our Declaration of Independence. You know, that part about "the pursuit of happiness." The bottom line is we have too many children who cannot read. And we will pay for that one way or another. Sadly, their cost share is higher. Shame on us!

MARTHA COOP

Sherwood

Prayer for our leaders

My husband's prayer on a recent evening at our dinner table included this line: "Please, Lord, bring our leaders down to the level of the homeless people."

NEVA ERICKSON

Fairfield Bay

Editorial on 03/23/2017

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