Tackle real challenge
It seems obvious that all the competing income-tax overhaul plans currently being discussed will significantly lower the taxes owed by the biggest businesses and highest earners while, at best, only slightly lowering the taxes on all the rest of us. The justification for this disparity is that they are the "job creators" and giving them a break will encourage them to hire more workers.
However, just a cursory glance shows an almost historic low rate of joblessness at this time. Even though, unfortunately, too many of these jobs are entry level and/or minimum wage. However, there are currently thousands of higher-paying jobs going unfilled due to the inability of businesses to find qualified applicants.
Then there is the reality of a constantly rising stock market. The price of a stock rises when the investor buying that stock expects the company to make a higher profit and pay a bigger dividend. Investors are expecting just that to result from the advertised tax overhaul plans.
So, putting all this together, it seems clear that any lowering of taxes on big business can be expected to result in higher profits and dividends rather than more jobs. Just maybe we should be spending our energies on improving the quality of our workers so they can fill the better jobs already available. That would mean an education system overhaul. Now there is a real challenge.
RICHARD PICARD
Little Rock
Not afraid of people
So ... they fired Jeff Long. I'd like to state that he is the only person in the University of Arkansas System who has ever responded to me in a handwritten message or anything on any suggestion that I have made.
I'm assuming the real problem is that he is not afraid to have contact with the "little" ordinary people of Arkansas.
Hats off to Jeff Long!
ARCH WESTMORELAND
Sidney
Committed to readers
This Thanksgiving season, as always, I am most thankful for my faith, my precious family, and my friends. But I am also grateful to live in a free country, one in which we almost take for granted the freedom of speech and of the press.
John and I think that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is one of the finest local newspapers in the United States. Its "Statement of Core Values" is more than words; it is a commitment to printing the news without bias and in-depth at the local, state, national and global level. The highlight of my morning at 5:30 each day is looking out my kitchen window for the headlights of the car of our faithful and prompt delivery man. Thank you for this great service to our doorstep.
We regret that changes in the economy and in the newspaper business beyond your control have necessitated that you downsize your staff yet again. But we rejoice that you are still publishing daily so that we can continue to keep up with local and state government through your reporters, that we can read national columnists like David Brooks and Bret Stephens, Arkansas columnists like Rex Nelson, Tom Dillard and John Brummett, and feature writers like Sharon Randall and Carolyn Hax. Your editorial page is more conservative than our views usually are, but there is no bias in reporting. On the lighter side, we both enjoy the weekly food section, the Voices page, history features, comics, and the High Profile section. We are grateful to you all, so keep up the fine work, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette publisher Walter Hussman and staff!
PAT LILE
Little Rock
Kids must be priority
It's been almost two months since Congress let funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expire. Roughly 120,000 children in Arkansas rely on CHIP for their health insurance, according to Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
CHIP--together with Medicaid--has brought the rate of uninsured U.S. children to an all-time low, with 95 percent of all children covered. A vital part of our nation's health-care system, CHIP has consistently had bipartisan support.
Lawmakers from both parties have recognized that investing in children's health is an investment in our country's future.
Congress must act--now--to enact a long-term CHIP extension to give states and families the certainty they need. Leaving millions of America's children without insurance is unwise and unacceptable. Kids ought to be the priority, not tax cuts.
VICTOR J. ROJAS
De Queen
Concern about others
I read your paper on a daily basis. Therefore I know all about the suffering and strife that people have to bear. There are so many people that have no hope for a decent life. Do I think I'm special or that I've earned this good life? No. I think I'm extremely lucky. So the thing I'm most thankful for is my good luck! My God is fair. He doesn't bless me while some child is being abused and killed. I think it's very possible that since I'm so lucky God expects a lot from me. I'm pretty worried that in eternity my luck will be gone.
So I think what I'm trying to say is we should not be concerned about what I am thankful for. We should be concerned about the people who have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
JANIE McNEILL
Maumelle
The good and the bad
We are told in I Thessalonians: "In everything give thanks." Everything? Yes, everything--the good and the bad.
I am thankful to God for the many blessings he has given me. I have family and friends who care, clothing to wear, food to eat, shelter over my head, and I live in the greatest country in the world! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
NAOMI BUTLER
Bodcaw
Editorial on 11/24/2017