Lovely Christmas gift
I received the most wonderful Christmas present, brought to us by ARDOT and whoever was contracted to do the work on the intersection of Pleasant Valley and Cantrell and the new exit to Interstate 430 North.
After 15 years of living at the above intersection, we received a traffic light Christmas week that enabled all of us turning left onto Cantrell to make the turn without risking our lives. Our neighborhoods in this area lobbied heavily for such a light, and we were heard!
Not only was the light installed, but the crews that worked here were courteous, pleasant, and fixed any collateral damage that was done to the area promptly. For a relative few months of disruption, we were also awarded with an even prettier intersection due to the attractive entrance to the interstate.
My thanks to all of you. It was definitely "the gift that keeps on giving."
KAYE M. BEAVERS
Little Rock
Instill habits early on
Frustrated, Margaret Evans? Many years ago, several retirees not only picked up trash as we walked in the Rogers area, but also volunteered to teach the early grades about the importance of being neat. "Don't be a pig in Hog Country" stickers were earned by the youngsters as pride was instilled at an early age.
Margaret is right; this benefits everyone if taught in every school. This "set an example" program came to an end when volunteers moved away or died. The schools did not recognize the value or continue the program. Being the only one of the group still in the Rogers area, the treasurer disbanded the group and turned over the few dollars to our efforts to get swimming skills and education into our school system. Swimming is a healthy lifetime activity that saves lives.
Margaret, if teachers taught the first graders to deposit their trash into the basket as they left class each day, they would learn pride. It costs zero dollars, but a bit of effort which would instill neatness for life in our youngsters. Each year the schools would give students recognition and a wider area to keep neat.
Power Squadron members for years not only helped keep the lakes clean, but our Beaver Lake Squadron regularly (each quarter) cleaned up (now) U.S. 49.
At Japan's Olympics, each spectator was presented a trash bag when entering a venue, to be turned in upon leaving. Result? A beautiful, pristine facility. Think what this could do for our stadiums as these youngsters become adults.
Men and women of the military learn the good habit of taking care of their own gear. Why not teach it to the very young?
JAN and DEAN MUETZEL
Rogers
Changing expression
The Razorback Foundation has enough money to pay a coach over $11 million to leave and the UA athletic department has so many contributions for the football stadium renovations it doesn't need almost $13 million from the foundation, but UAMS must eliminate 600 positions and lay off 285 employees to survive financially.
Maybe we should change the expression from "root hog or die" to "root hog and die."
ROBERT GLIDEWELL
Sherwood
Need honest answers
Over the past several months I've written emails and surface-mail letters to several of our "public servants." Some were elected ones; others appointed. I got no replies, let alone honest answers from any of them.
I asked some in children's services and others on committees two questions: First, what is the legal policy of Arkansas concerning adoption/fostering by legally married same-sex couples? Second, what is the present actual practice in that regard? They're legally equal before the law, or they're not. Which is it to be? Currently they seem to work almost exclusively with "evangelical Christians" whose primary concern appears to be to get them "saved, baptized, and under their church's covenant." The religion seems to be of greater concern than warm, well-fed, well-loved kids in stable homes.
Your Bob Jones University fundamentalist governor and his cohort of mainly Baptist legislators probably know that Jerry Cox and his league will have a collective spasm and pitch a hissy fit, not to mention withhold funding donations if they do what they should be doing. Doing the best thing for the nearly 5,000 kids in legal limbo apparently takes second place in the considerations of the religious nuts among us.
There are questions I'd pose to the folks controlling this paper--but in 300 words every 30 days, how in the dickens am I to get that done? Among others, what medals does Tom Cotton have? What were they awarded for? Has he ever been in actual combat, or is he just a loudmouthed self-promoter as many of us perceive him to be? Does that oak leaf cluster have a "V" for valor on it?
KARL HANSEN
Hensley
Social Security at risk
The Economic Policy Institute has reported that Congress is intending to include a $492 million cut to the Social Security operating budget in a must-pass federal budget next week. This will likely cause a massive staff layoff, crippling the agency to the point where the public will have a difficult time accessing it or even applying for benefits.
This is how the illusion of government inefficiency is created. There is no need for such a massive cut except to make it appear that the agency, and therefore government, is inefficient, which will give the GOP leverage once again to propose handing our $2.8 trillion trust fund off to Wall Street, something that the people have continuously rejected.
Ever since its inception, it seems Social Security has been under attack by the Republican Party and sought after by Wall Street. No matter how many times the American people reject their efforts, the Republican Party keeps looking for ways to cripple and eventually kill or privatize the very successful and popular program.
Anyone who is currently receiving our earned benefits needs to call Congress and reject the proposed cut. I would also urge anyone close to receiving those benefits to do the same. And bear in mind that about a third of Social Security is disability, which is available to all ages, not just seniors.
JUDITH ZITKO
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 01/11/2018