No drilling in refuge
It appears Congress is about to break another promise to the American people. It is very concerning to learn of the renewed attempt to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. The refuge is one of the last remaining wild and untouched places in the United States, and is an incredibly important habitat for birds and other wildlife. Damage to the refuge would impact all 50 states. A significant portion of mallards that winter in Arkansas, for example, breed in the Arctic Refuge.
The current threat to the refuge comes through the budget process and makes no economic sense. A promise was made to preserve the Arctic National Refuge by Republican President Eisenhower nearly 60 years ago. I hope that Senators Boozman and Cotton will work to keep the Arctic Refuge out of the final budget--it deserves to remain wild, both for the wildlife and for all of us who benefit from the splendor of bird migration.
JACK STEWART
Jasper
A nuclear nightmare
Arkansas WAND applauds the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) "for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons." At this critical time in history, the Nobel Committee has taken a giant step back from Armageddon.
The nine nations that have nuclear weapons (U.S, Russia, U.K., France, India, Pakistan, China, Israel and North Korea) did not take part in negotiations, saying they need nuclear weapons for deterrence. But as long as any country has nukes, there is always the threat of a catastrophic accident or a nuclear attack in the heat of war. Human beings should not have to live under the threat of nuclear annihilation.
We hope the U.S. and Russia will accelerate world disarmament by continuing to dismantle the weapons in their own stockpiles.
Instead of pouring money into upgrading weapons, on top of the $8.9 trillion we have already spent on them, the U.S. should put its money into peacemaking through diplomacy and foreign aid.
Tell the president and Senator Cotton to stop threatening to undo the painstaking work of diplomacy with Iran and North Korea and let the peace process work. It's far better than risking a nuclear nightmare.
JEAN T. GORDON
Little Rock
Laws equally effective
I agree with the recent letters and opinions calling for new laws on gun control. President Trump's administration and Congress need to come up with new laws that keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those mentally defective to prevent tragedies like happened in Las Vegas from ever occurring again.
While they're at it, they could also come up with a few laws banning hurricanes and the devastation they cause. I'm quite sure those new laws covering both these situations will be equally effective.
JOHN YATES
Conway
Focus on city services
As a citizen and taxpayer of the city of Little Rock, it is good to know that the city has plenty of money to cover all our basic services. The city is spending $175,950 with an out-of-state consultant to write yet another report regarding the 30 Crossing project. This is after spending $125,770 for earlier work. That is $301,720 to divert any negative impact away from City Hall since the report that could have been written in-house instead comes from an out-of-state expert.
Since the Little Rock Police Department doesn't need any new vehicles or additional funds for overtime, Public Works doesn't need any new garbage trucks and all the potholes are gone, and all the other basic core services have no needs, it makes perfect sense that City Hall would spend our money to buy reports slanted to bolster its anti-30 Crossing agenda. Unfortunately, this represents a standard spending practice in Little Rock government--fluff and politics often have a higher priority than basic services.
The section of I-30 through North Little Rock and Little Rock is crowded and dangerous. Delays along that route cost a fortune in lost work time and late deliveries. The plans to replace the river bridge and rework frontage roads/ramps take very little additional right-of-way and don't add anything that cuts off the areas to the east of downtown.
If Little Rock wants business and industry to locate in the city or stay in the city, City Hall needs to consider making it relatively safer and faster to get to those work sites. Choking the traffic flow will eventually force businesses to look elsewhere so that their customers/clients and employees can get to them. It is past time to get to work building the 30-Crossing project and well past time for Little Rock City Hall to focus on providing the basic services we need.
MARK BARNHARD
Little Rock
Oh, how times change
It is ironic that in the Nixon era the student protests were against the behavior of the military but the Nixon administration said the protests were against the police; whereas in the Trump era the NFL demonstrations are against the behavior of the police, but the Trump administration says the protests are against the military.
LEN WHITE
Fayetteville
A solution proffered
I think I have the perfect solution for those players kneeling during the national anthem.
As I understand it, the purpose is to show unification with those that want equal treatment for everybody. I must say that I agree with that opinion. To show that they are sincere, those kneeling should request that their pay be cut to $75,000 a year which would be equal to what the average professional probably makes. That way they would be more than equal to all those other protesters.
If that happens, I think we are going to see a lot of people become patriotic all of a sudden!
LAWRENCE H. ALLEN
Highland
Editorial on 10/13/2017