Wall a waste of funds
President Trump continues to hold the DACA Dreamers hostage to a $25 billion wall. It's been reported that all of the Democrats, a majority of Republicans and most Texas landowners are well aware this wall is a waste of money.
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Reps. Steve Pearce of New Mexico and Will Hurd of Texas oppose the wall because they favor a border-security solution based on improved technology and manpower. Rep. Hurd said he has made it clear that building a physical wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border. And Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana stated in a USA Today article that we need to ensure employers use the E-Verify system so that they hire only legal workers.
Many of the illegals come in on visas but just never leave. A wall certainly doesn't take care of this problem. According to the Sept. 20 USA Today article, it was found that walling the border in this wide-open area could require disrupting or seizing nearly 5,000 parcels of property at great expense and legal issues for years. A human smuggler said it would only allow him to charge more. Drug trafficking would continue to come through border crossings like San Diego where agents find most of the drugs.
Twenty-five billion dollars for a wall, or $25 billion for health care, infrastructure, highways, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the environment, or our national parks. Which is most important? Which is most important to you? Tell your members of Congress, especially Tom Cotton.
STEPHANY BAILEY
North Little Rock
Moniker not correct
I found the reference to Donald Trump as "Private Bone Spurs" in the Friday edition of the newspaper to be highly offensive.
After all, Trump is the president of the United States.
He should be called "PFC (Private First Class) Bone Spurs."
RICHARD ARMSTRONG
Pottsville
Update on influenza
National reports confirm that we are amid one of the worst influenza outbreaks in more than a decade. As a pathologist here in Little Rock, I am the doctor in the laboratory who runs tests, including the tests that make the diagnosis of influenza. To help ease people's minds and increase knowledge about the risk of influenza, I offer some beneficial information.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicates that flu activity typically extends through March and can sometimes run as late as May, so it is not too late to get vaccinated with a flu shot. While vaccine effectiveness can vary, the CDC stresses that the flu vaccine not only reduces your chance of getting sick from the flu, it can also decrease the severity of the illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization due to influenza.
Talk to your doctor early on if you suspect you may have the flu. If needed, pathologists and medical technologists will perform tests in the hospital laboratory to distinguish an influenza virus from other bacterial causes of respiratory illness. This helps your doctor select the most effective treatment for you. The CDC (cdc.gov/flu/index.htm) and the Arkansas Department of Health (tinyurl.com/fluAR) can provide you with more information about this year's flu outbreak.
REBECCA A. LEVY
Little Rock
Liberal propaganda
My travels throughout the central United States allow me to compare the Democrat-Gazette with many other daily newspapers from various cities. It pleases me to report the Democrat-Gazette is head and shoulders above those other publications.
Having said that, it is sad the main news stories featured on the front pages of our local paper are usually compiled from information obtained from the Washington Post and the New York Times--which I consider bastions of biased, liberal propaganda.
The story on page 1 from the Feb. 1 edition is typical, pertaining to the famous, or infamous, Nunes memo. The article refers to "Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election." Oh, really! Why not alleged interference or reports of interference?
The same article refers to the FBI job that is supposed to be politically independent. Who says the attorney general and the head of the FBI are supposed to be politically independent? The reporters should know these two positions are a part of the executive branch, and by the Constitution the president can appoint and fire anyone there.
It appears the anti-Trumpers writing for the liberal rags seem to have forgotten their job is to report the facts, not give their opinions. Did they skip Journalism 101, or are our universities so far left that everything is on the table if only they can blast Trump?
JERRY B. JACKSON
Heber Springs
Insult not intended
Lately, I've seen a few letters critical of Paul Greenberg for his use of the phrase "lowly infantryman." Please allow a former infantryman (though not a combat veteran) to come to his defense.
I've been a fan of Mr. Greenberg and his writing for a long time. Though I don't always agree with his positions, I find his writing to be clear, logical and literate. I find it hard to believe that the child of someone who was a refugee from Europe meant this as a criticism or slur. The infantryman was, is and always will be the backbone of the military. Even a former artilleryman like Mr. Greenberg would recognize this fact.
I believe Mr. Greenberg meant "lowly" in the sense of "humble," the first synonym listed in the definition of "lowly." No one who has read much of his writings would ever believe him to be contemptuous of the rank-and-file soldier. The top brass and our political leadership when they earn it? Yes, and rightfully so, but never the everyday (another synonym for "lowly") soldier.
So lighten up a little, folks. Stop looking for insults where none were intended. We have plenty of the chronically offended among us these days. We don't need any more.
BILL TUCKER
Lonsdale
Editorial on 02/14/2018