Contemplative roach
I should like to offer Mr. Al Case some finite points to ruminate relative to his letter appearing in last Sunday's paper. Please grant me your kind indulgence.
I was somewhat incredulous that Mr. Case failed to quote the acclaimed philosopher, Carl Jung, who metaphorically hypothesized that man contemplating God is like a cockroach contemplating man (any paraphrasing is mine). Had he, however, used this dramatic analogy, I would have been constrained to implement strict precautions to avoid discarding it in my garbage can (no, I didn't frame it and hang it on my wall).
To clarify this rather touchy situation, I have a pet cockroach, Oscar, who resides in my garbage can similar to the Muppet on Sesame Street, only with much more tenure. Now, ol' Oscar is inordinately sensitive, and when someone makes light of his finite intellect, he understandably becomes not only offended but also categorically incensed. Bottom line, he sulks for weeks, and sometimes requires psychotherapy to return to his adorable little scurrying-around self.
I would just like to remind Mr. Case that both Christians and cockroaches have feelings too. Thank you for allowing me to get this off my chest.
BOB HARRIS
Sherwood
Give them credentials
Arkansas Registered Nurses Association (ARNA), where is your voice? The state Board of Nursing has spoken loudly and harshly--see the Democrat-Gazette front page Oct. 15. What is your position? A month of silence.
The DACA students who have Social Security cards, passed background checks and the same rigorous academic courses in colleges and universities as the rest of the aspiring registrants now find their path to licensure blocked. Permanently. Why? If one cannot get registered in the same state as the education occurred, then no state will allow you to be registered. Double jeopardy.
The state Board of Nursing is tasked to protect the public. How is denying these nurse applicants protecting the public when there is an acknowledged continent-wide shortage of nurses? Is the board's stand unique across the country? I doubt it. An article in the Buffalo Evening News about DACA students in New York state, who largely studied education and nursing, did not mention them being denied their professional credentials.
ARNA, speak up in favor of the students joining our professional ranks, STAT!
CYNTHIA B. SKINNER
Jacksonville
Prophecy and history
Prophecy is history looking forward and backward into time. The hearts of men determine this sine wave of history. Can we change? Perhaps we need the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon understood the futility of men's works in providing peace and contentment. Therefore, fear God and keep his commandments.
There is something out there bigger than we. Thanks.
MIKE BROWN
Redfield
Search for hypocrisy
RL Hutson of Cabot is certainly "reaching" in his quest to find hypo-crisy with the religious right. Typical liberal tactic. The best defense is a good offense.
Regarding "pro-life": We just recognize the difference between the total innocence of a child (born or unborn) and adults who freely choose to take illegal and immoral actions and threaten the safety and lives of others. Personally, I don't know of anyone that condemns Clinton and finds no fault at all in Trump. Indeed, the ones I know tend to recognize the shortcomings of both.
When did a liberal Democrat ever admit to wrongdoings by one of their own? It seems insecurity and weakness are the hallmark of the ultra-liberal agenda. They can't (or won't) successfully compete with the other 80 percent of the population, "so let's tear them down so we're all on a level playing field. Working hard and pulling your own weight is too much work, so let's attack those who are successful or happy with their lives and drag them down with us."
Very sad way to go through life.
GARY O'NEAL
Russellville
Tax reform fairy tale
Jason Rapert does a puff job on the Republican tax plan. Contrary to his assertions, the current Senate plan will in the long run raise taxes on people earning $10,000 to $75,000, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. The wealthy and businesses will get big reductions--by some estimates, 80 percent will go to the top 1 percent. All this will be financed by ballooning the deficit. We'll be borrowing billions from China to give to American billionaires.
Rapert claims that American businesses are handicapped by higher tax rates than other countries. But our effective corporate tax rate--the rate that corporations actually pay--is already on a par with other countries. Republicans claim that business tax reductions will benefit everyone. But that's just wishful thinking. Our economy has grown greatly during the past few decades, but wages are stagnant. Only the wealthy have benefited from the growth. There's no reason to think anything different will happen this time.
Space does not permit me to consider all the particular bad effects of the Republican proposal. It includes a frontal attack on higher education. If you or your kids hope to go to college, the Republicans want to make it harder. If you have a chronic illness and deduct your medical expenses, the Republicans will make you pay more. And if you pay Arkansas income tax, the Republicans want to tax you on top of your tax.
Don't be taken in by Rapert's fairy tale.
JACOB ADLER
Fayetteville
Find a workable way
Rich Roy recently quoted research from the Urban Institute's What Works Collaborative to the effect that affordable housing improves a child's chances for academic success.
As a retired educator, I have heard this obvious-as-the-nose-on-your-face pronouncement for well over 50 years. What I hoped to see near the end of the letter was any remote suggestion of a plan on how to address the problem. Alas, it was not there.
If the Urban Institute has a plan, Mr. Roy, please let us know. It is so easy to find reasons for educational problems, and seemingly nearly impossible to find a workable way to address them.
LARRY M. FISHER
Beebe
Deficit, debt different
The letter by Gene Lyons, "Rapert wrong on debt," indicates confusion between deficit and debt. While there may have been years without deficit, nevertheless the debt may have continued to increase.
CLARENCE WOLFE
Searcy
Editorial on 11/25/2017