Neglected education
I believe we are reaping the whirlwind of more than two decades of neglected attention to teaching about our system of government, history and responsible citizenship. I'm afraid we're witnessing the beginning of the collapse of our republic, and it's not happening as a result of outside influences, as some would have us believe. Listening to comments on TV, from people on the street, some of our politicians and leaders, especially the so-called millennials, I wonder where those folks went to school. Did they graduate? Did they ever take an American Government or Civics or U.S. History class?
Tuesday (Feb. 12) had one of the best editorials I've seen in this paper ("Land of Lincoln"). It also had, I believe, the worst John Brummett commentary to date. It's good they are on separate pages.
JERRY GATLING
Sheridan
Grow up, America!
With the current brouhaha over the antics of the head politicos of Virginia, I'm sure there are some valid reasons to call them to account, but I think running around in blackface over 30 years ago or even today should not be one of them.
If America is to ever be made great again, America will first need to grow up. We have all too many people acting like spoiled brats, running around with their feelings on their sleeves, looking for something to kick up a tantrum over, and with the help of a compliant news media, create a national issue.
Considering the trend of things across the land, I don't think the "grow up" part will ever come about, so we can forget the part about being "great again."
Just as the unsinkable Titanic went to the bottom on its maiden voyage, so goes that indispensable America.
H.A. KIRTLAND JR.
Jonesboro
The surreality show
T-Rump continues his surreality show.
He's starting his third season and promises to continue his assault on common sense, the media, his intelligence chiefs, the truth and the entire concept of humanity.
In the basement of his soul, he separates infants from their young mothers, deprives government workers of their livelihoods, and carries out the bidding of dictators and tyrants.
America's majority needs a president!
HARRY HERGET
Little Rock
Not what we voted for
Minimum wage has been debated regularly since its inception. More recently, the push across the country for a $15 minimum wage has brought renewed interest in minimum wage increases. In Arkansas, the debate has been brought back to the forefront with renewed passion. Issue 5 passed with 68 percent of the vote during the 2018 election. Issue 5 incrementally raises the minimum wage to $11 by 2021.
Recently, Arkansas Sen. Bob Ballinger proposed legislation that would exempt anyone under the age of 18, those who are employed at a school, preschool, college, nonprofit, or a business with fewer than 50 total employees.
When giving a statement on the bill, Ballinger stated, "I really don't think the people intended to put their mom-and-pop businesses out of business. They didn't want to shut down ministries and nonprofits, they didn't want to make it where if a business wants to take a chance on a 16-year-old kid, they have to pay him $11 an hour. That wasn't the intent."
Most people are sympathetic to the burden being placed on small businesses. When voters approved the issue, they were aware that the new minimum wage would affect all businesses in Arkansas.
I would put forward two questions. On what basis has Ballinger determined the intent of the majority of Arkansas voters? Furthermore, if Ballinger only wants to protect those small businesses, why are schools and colleges included in the exemption?
The proposed legislation is in direct conflict with what 68 percent of Arkansas voted for.
MICHAEL RABEY
Fayetteville
Back to fundamentals
We have a lot of people on the political left and the political right who are throwing around the terms "liberal" and "conservative."
These terms, like many other wonderful words, have been trashed in modern society. They include the words "gay" and "rainbow." Each of these words, along with many others, are, in their proper context, representative of wholesome characteristics or wonderful natural events.
Anymore, when I am asked if I am a liberal or conservative, I try to respond as follows: "Whatever is in the Good Book (the Bible) that the Lord is for, I'm for and whatever is in the Good Book (the Bible) that the Lord is against, I'm against."
That being said, if anyone has a problem with my point of reference, they need to take it to someone with a much higher pay grade than mine. We need to get back to the fundamentals that this country was founded on, and not engage in name-calling.
JAMES CYRE
Bella Vista
Editorial on 02/14/2019