Forestall the kneeling
I was in attendance at the Razorback game in Fayetteville when we played TCU. I always enjoy the band's pregame performance. As we were standing and singing the national anthem as part of their performance, I found an answer to the growing problem of players taking a knee during the national anthem. I noticed the players were still in the locker room and not on the sidelines.
Why don't the NFL owners request the playing of the national anthem while the football players are still in their locker rooms? This will eliminate any TV time for players who want free publicity while they protest, in my opinion, the greatest nation on earth.
I also want at this time to brag on the Razorback basketball team coached by Mike Anderson. Whenever the national anthem is played, all his players are standing and remain standing until the flag's colors are retired from the basketball court. Go Hogs!
MARY NELL BLACKWELL
Sherwood
Baseball and politics
Our statewide newspaper has editorialized in favor of the Electoral College over the popular vote for presidential election by comparing its effect to a baseball World Series where one team wins one game by 20 runs, but loses four games by one run each, thus losing the overall contest.
A dangerous weakness of the Electoral College system is, even so, its lack of proportionality to the popular vote. This may be a narrow difference, but it could be wider in the future, perhaps by a 10 million or more vote plurality for the losing candidate. Such a development could indeed be revolting, causing insurrection in states where the popular-vote winner had big margins. To pooh-pooh this possibility begs for a possible, if not probable, breakdown of civil order.
The editorial wonders why we would want our candidates to campaign only in great cities, as might be the case if the election were determined by popular vote. The great cities and their states are the large economic engines of the U.S. The recent election was won by a candidate making his best pitch to the Rust Belt states. That area, not the economically strong cities and states, had its thumb on the scale, so to speak, of the election. Letting a decaying economic sector determine the direction of our federal administration seems pretty goofy. It's what the Electoral College has given us.
If we justify the Electoral College using the World Series analogy, then we should have a presidential contest yearly, as does baseball.
We might see then more accurately just how long voters would remain fooled by the junk hurled by Republican pitchers.
GARY BRODNAX
Fayetteville
Interesting contrasts
The juxtaposition of Walter Williams' and John Brummett's columns was particularly noticeable in Thursday's paper.
One uses factual data and statistics to make his point, and the other uses personal opinion, collective labels that are often insults, and pure emotion/passion to make his point.
One appears to be a rational thinker with a calm and pleasant disposition, and the other appears to be driven by emotion only and maintains a basic negative outlook on humans. Interesting.
MARK MASSEY
Little Rock
Answer to tax reform
Let's start tax reform by reviewing the tax returns of Donald Trump. Trump claims to pay no taxes ... when asked how he can do this he declared: "because I'm smart."
At the same time he has said: "I can get any woman I want." When asked how he can do that he replied: "because I'm rich."
Donald Trump, if he is paying no taxes and he is rich, has certainly found some loopholes in the tax code. Let's find those Trump loopholes and reform the tax code by closing those loopholes.
P.L. GUSTAFSON
Hot Springs Village
Best medical system
I am a family practitioner of 42 years in Siloam Springs. When asked, "What is the best medical system," my answer is always, "Medicare for all." Unquestionably.
However, our current Medicare system is unsustainable. Two policies can make it not only sustainable, but encourage substantial savings.
First, the system must be proactive and universal, based on emphasizing wellness and aggressive chronic-care management. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is currently pursuing this idea. The Commonwealth Fund, a medical think tank, estimates that $2 trillion can be saved over a 10-year period by putting such a system in place. Two trillion! Good chronic-care management as an outpatient can save billions of dollars spent on hospitalization and emergency room visits, while providing better care for the patient.
I would suggest two free wellness visits a year and generous wellness benefits.
Then, co-payments in all other medical transactions would be mandatory. Co-payments should be enough to encourage the patient to think about the worth, but not at a level that discourages the visit. The patient is then encouraged to ask the doctor, "What will this cost me," now involving both the patient and the doctor in the economics of what they do. This is the most effective and simple fail-safe for prevention of frivolous visits, unnecessary treatments and expensive medications.
I am so encouraged that Medicare-for-all is now part of our national dialogue. It is the only sensible answer. I am proud of our U.S. senators bringing this to the forefront.
GEORGE BENJAMIN
Siloam Springs
Beachfront property
Philip Martin indicates he is no longer interested in beachfront property along the East Coast. He should just be patient.
We are hanging on to our acreage in Garland County. Forecast maps indicate that the melting ice caps will turn ours back to beachfront property, as it was many millions of years ago.
SUSAN KASPAR
North Little Rock
Relieving discomfort
My heartfelt congrats to the discoverer of the tiny drug pump. I have never been an advocate of animal experimentation, but anything to relieve their discomfort is a good step forward. I also can see possible future human use.
Again, thank you.
CONSTANCE TRIPP
Fayetteville
Editorial on 09/24/2017