Must work together
Why does the president continually emphasize things that divide us? Our differences are meant to make us stronger as a light to the world that all peoples can live in peace. Both Presidents Washington and Truman expressed concern that the office of president must be used to build up, not tear down.
Prejudice and fear are easily stoked when we look at people as "other"--not our race, not our religion, not our language, not our sexual orientation, not our political party. Listen to the president's words. Why the almost-constant anger and hatred? His words and actions have put public figures' lives in danger.
It is time to stop. Stop hate within ourselves, stop hate in our political leaders. Hate does not solve problems. Encourage your representatives to work together to improve immigration policy, health care, prescription drug costs, mental health care, especially for returning vets, sensible gun laws, equal education, etc. America before party.
As you can see, there is enough to do. Vote in representatives of either party who want to unite us and solve problems in a bipartisan way.
ED PARKS
Rogers
Keeping his promises
A recent Chicago Tribune editorial declared President Trump has fulfilled his promise to reduce corporate taxes, and relief from the burden of federal regulations, and concluded, "... having a job is fundamentally important," and "... everything positive starts with jobs."
Consumer confidence at 18-year high; unemployment 49-year low; black unemployment historic low; NAFTA renegotiated, saving U.S. huge trade deficits; contract for U.S. to supply Poland natural gas, replacing Russia; depleted military being rebuilt; military leadership allowed to do their job; ISIS no longer exists as a marauding army or "Islamic State"; VA reforms and veterans allowed to see private physicians.
Those are results under the administration of a hard-driving businessman, not a politician, who doesn't "lead from behind" and is more interested in achievements for this country than niceties of speech--bluntly advising other nations that parasitic trade and defense practices must stop.
Social Security is going bankrupt and must be revised. Any changes will not affect those already receiving benefits or approaching retirement.
President Kennedy might not recognize the Democrat Party today. Socialism has always failed--note Venezuela; now globalism overseas and socialism at home threaten America, while anti-Americanism brainwashes young people on university campuses. Socialist-minded Democrats advocate free health care, free college and easily accessed borders. Our founding fathers tried to protect America from a gullible, uninformed populace through a representative government--unfortunately, that populace chooses the representatives.
When Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government the founders had created, he reportedly replied, "A republic, if you can keep it."
BARBARA FOREMAN
Siloam Springs
On uses for soybeans
American farmers are losing their shirts growing soybeans because of President Donald Trump's tariff policy. Economists now state that exports to China have decreased 94 percent. They use soybeans to feed their hogs and chickens.
So now we have harvested tons of soybeans which our farmers will allow to rot in big piles because they can't find a new market for them.
We need innovation! What has happened to the American spirit? Will the farmers just rest on their laurels, waiting for the federal government to subsidize them with handouts? Or will we create a new market for soybeans? New countries to sell them to?
In the spirit of George Washington Carver, one of our great scientists, why can't we develop new soybean products as he did with the peanut? As you might remember, he invented more than 300 peanut products including coffee, soap, and even printer's ink.
Maybe we need to promote soybeans more. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and are packed with vitamins which can help prevent aging and colon cancer. Soybeans have beneficial chemicals such as lecithin and linoleic acid (one of the omega-3 oils) to prevent heart attacks and stroke. We do have soy milk, tofu, sardines packed in soybean oil, and soy flour to bake bread, so I challenge our universities to develop more healthy products from soybeans for the consumer.
My hat comes off to George Washington Carver. Soy sauce, move over. Let's get busy creating a healthy diet of nutritious foods. Soybeans can help.
TOM KNIGHT
Little Rock
Reclaiming America
Make America great again--a very noble and extremely desirable endeavor. However, that will not be possible unless America starts to look like America again instead of the nightmarish polyglot boardinghouse for the world.
With the pollution of the disgruntled hyphenated "Americans" that now infest the land, not only will we not be able to make America great again, there will not even be an America except in name only, and if the present trend continues of rewriting history to conform to politically correct standards, that name will be gone also.
We'll either make America great again or we'll all know what it's like to live in a Third World country without even having to move.
H.A. KIRTLAND JR.
Jonesboro
Truth is plain to see
When people see things not as they are, but as they wish them to be, fed lies by a network that is good at tickling their ears while the truth is plain to see, trouble may lie ahead.
BILL SAYGER
Brasfield
Editorial on 11/19/2018