Performance shocks
Our president's performance at the summit with Vladimir Putin was a shocking display of incompetence, weakness and capitulation to a dangerous and murderous adversary. Rather than "peace through strength," it seems Donald Trump's doctrine with Russia is peace through sucking up and surrender. He bashes our longtime allies and trashes his fellow Americans and U.S. institutions like law enforcement, intelligence agencies and past presidents, about which he ceaselessly whines. Instead of recognizing the obvious Russian menace, Trump calls those who report the news the enemy of the American people and the European Union a "foe" of the U.S. It appears Putin has been richly rewarded by Trump for his interference in the last U.S. election.
We need a president who prefers democracies to dictators and who recognizes friends of the U.S. from its foes, one who understands the many real threats to the U.S. (terrorism, cyber threats, climate change, gun violence, etc.) instead of this one who sets up scapegoats like journalists, investigators, Muslims, asylum-seekers and immigrants, judges and trading partners.
Congress needs to grow a spine and, as a co-equal branch of government, start to assert true American interests (including economic ones) and values in the face of the threat Trump poses to them. And everyone needs to vote this fall.
CINDY DAWSON
Little Rock
Sought to demean him
The newspaper's editorial comments under the heading "Wild and crazy guy" were in poor taste, and sought to demean Sen. Chuck Schumer. I believe a thoughtful president with vision and a sense of responsibility and fairness for all those he serves might consider naming Barack Obama's nominee for the court.
But not this president.
BILL SAYGER
Brasfield
Bar Putin from entry
I voted for President Trump, and likely will again. Nevertheless, Congress should enact a law prohibiting Vladimir Putin from entering the United States, and if necessary should override any veto of it by the president.
Presidents have great leeway in conducting diplomacy, but Congress can control who comes within our borders. In this case, Congress should prevent further embarrassments from occurring on our soil.
If President Trump wants to grovel before Putin he should do it somewhere else, not in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
PETER TONNESSEN
Fayetteville
The time to stand up
Patriots, speak up now.
Much has been said since, but consider this: On July 13, the Justice Department issued indictments against 12 Russian military intelligence officers for interference in the federal elections of the United States of America, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats publicly said that "warning lights are blinking red."
Over that weekend, as President Trump prepared to meet with the leader of a resurgent and aggressive Russia, he named the European Union when asked our "biggest foe globally right now," and dismissed his government's indictments by blaming the former administration for inaction against his own campaign.
Monday the president stood at Putin's side, promising a newly cooperative stance and accepting Putin's strong denials of meddling--over the fully established consensus of the United States intelligence agencies, confirmed recently by the bipartisan United States Senate Intelligence Committee. We may further assume that President Trump's 2013 trip to Moscow pursuing business contracts and hosting a Miss Universe pageant was thoroughly documented.
Do you stand?
CHAIM GOODMAN-STRAUSS
Fayetteville
Child care important
As a recently retired Arkansas educator, I have seen firsthand how high-quality early childhood programs help children and families thrive. The first years of life are the most critical for children's brain development, which means that high-quality care is necessary so kids can learn in safe, nurturing environments.
While this type of child care is not cheap, it is an investment that we must make. Child care is not only important for the healthy development of children, but it's also essential for parents and caregivers to maintain employment or return to work. A study last year found that a family of four earning less than $25,000 a year with an infant and toddler in a child-care center would have to spend 73 percent of its income on child care. That's why I'd like to thank Congress, and specifically Sen. John Boozman, for voting to double funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).
CCDBG helps low- and middle-income families afford child care. We must call on Congress to continue these effective investments and ensure CCDBG receives this historic level of funding again in fiscal year 2019. We are already seeing the positive impact of these funds here in Arkansas. Arkansas will use those funds to get nearly 4,000 more children in child care! That means that we'll clear the entire waiting list of over 2,000 children and reach many more.
When we invest in the early years of children's lives, particularly those living in poverty, we are setting them up for success in the future. Child care is important for our youngest learners, our families, and our communities.
BRENDA L. TYLER
Appleton
Weak and cowardly
I believe President Trump's press conference behavior at the Helsinki summit can be best described as weak and cowardly. Standing next to the man who reportedly orchestrated the attack on our last presidential election, he chose to discredit our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to support Vladimir Putin's denial statements.
Trump's failure to confront this little dictator flies in the face of his very own campaign slogan "Make America great again." No nation on earth can appear strong if its leadership is unreliable and weak facing an adversary. Trump has been called the most powerful man on earth. It is time he acts like one in our country's interests.
BILL FARRELL
Bella Vista
Editorial on 07/22/2018