LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — More to replace them

The La Pantera Negra methamphetamine bust is yet another pyrrhic victory in the 40-year-long cat-and mouse game called the war on drugs. Give it another year or two, and there will be just as many or more methamphetamine dealers to replace the 31 taken off the streets in this bust. When will people realize that there will never be a drug-free America, much less a drug-free Arkansas? It’s all a useless, utopian pie-in the-sky dream that will never happen. As long as there’s a demand, there’ll be a supply. As I see it, a vast U.S. government anti-drug bureaucracy is counting on it. I thought conservatives were against utopian politics. I thought they advocated for less government, not more. I thought they valued pragmatism over dogma. Apparently all these fine principles are thrown out the window when it comes to drugs.

Let’s see: 31 prison terms multiplied by about $50,000 a year, which, I hear, is the going rate for warehousing prisoners these days. That comes to $1.5 million per year that Arkansas taxpayers have to shell out for this latest bust. But hey, all those state and county task forces have to keep that federal anti-drug grant money coming in, don’t they? By the way, who gets the $80,000 confiscated in the raids? Who gets the proceeds from auction of the 16 cars?

So congratulations to the Arkansas State Police, Drug Enforcement Agency, state and county anti-drug task forces for another publicity stunt guaranteed to keep them and the Mexican mafia in business for years to come.

BRAD BAILEY

Fayetteville

Wait . . . he said what?

Letter writer Charles Jennings says he will vote a straight Democratic ticket because he thinks a man’s wealth belongs to him.

Come again?

BUTCH BLANCQ

Stuttgart

A much better choice

Changing the name of Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field to Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is an insult to one of the greatest original Tuskegee Airmen and natives of Arkansas, Milton Crenshaw, a very distinguished man of honor and recognition on the national, state and local level.

To add injury to insult, check out the Little Rock administration. At the March 20 city board meeting, Crenshaw was showered with accolades and presentations which were long overdue, but the board’s presentation became intertwined with the broadcast news announcement of the airport name change. Oh yes, let’s not forget about the airport board members and our elected District 36 representative, Darrin Williams, and how they voted and advocated the name change.

Jesus’ own dishonored and disrespected him, a man who made history before I was born or either of the Clintons. In our society, it’s all about money, but the honorable Milton Crenshaw possesses what money can’t buy, the fruit of the spirit.

BARBARA B. SMITH

Little Rock

Support is real news

Re the article about the recent filings to the Arkansas Public Service Commission regarding Entergy Arkansas: It is hardly news that a Public Service Commission consultant disagrees with aspects of a utility’s filing. That is what the consultants are paid to do; it is all part of the process.

The real news, in my opinion, is the fact that the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. and several municipal utilities support Entergy’s move to Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). Entergy, the co-ops, and those municipal utilities represent a pretty large cross-section of Arkansas households and businesses reaching into all four corners of the state.

As Entergy gets ready to exit the system agreement, this is a major step forward for Entergy and, more importantly, for Arkansas.

MIRANDA FERRELL

Conway

See the danger ahead

Our Founding Fathers spoke of education being necessary for the preservation of freedom. What this means on a day-to-day basis is to stay informed about what is happening in our nation and in the world and knowing our rights. Without this knowledge, we are vulnerable.

Unfortunately, sharing information with liberals is like trying to feed an anorexic: They throw it up before their bodies have time to absorb the nutrients. Frequently, it is much the same for some who call themselves conservatives. They are consumed by their own self-interests and in satisfying the tapeworm of eternal hunger for the next emotional high. Sharing information with them shakes their nest of complacency, ruffling feathers of guilt. Guilt is not acceptable to those who seek perfect joy free from reality and responsibility.

What has happened to us that we ignore God and the wisdom of our ancestors? We were given directions for living (the Bible) and governing (the Constitution) that if followed will give us a purpose for living. Has our quest for the perfect life of more stuff and more fun grown so overwhelming that we are unable to see that we must be vigilant to protect our freedoms? Have we no concern for future generations and their needs? Are we grasshoppers playing our fiddles in the fading light of the sun? I do not wish to shake anyone’s nest, but if doing so might awaken even one complacent person to the dangers that lie ahead, then I will continue to do so and pray for America.

CARLA FOWLER

Damascus

His stature lifted state

If the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission was so determined to rename our airport, why did they not consider someone whose stature, name and accomplishments did so much to lift Arkansas? His name is Rockefeller.

Instead, who did they choose? Two people whose combined ability to embarrass our state knows no equal.

BERNARD A. FRAZER

North Little Rock

Google and godliness

Re the recent editorial cartoon on the Voices page which depicts Google as an all-knowing god: And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God. God’s law is written upon the fleshly tables of this country’s heart.

So what to do about salving that screaming conscience? Enter the false prophet, Rick Santorum.

JUSTIN LOWRY

Fayetteville