Never, ever give up
Hats off to Mike Masterson for his tenacity! He never gave up championing the preservation of Arkansas' natural wonder. The pig farm was ill-located from the beginning. It took too long to accomplish its closure, but it would likely have been a lot longer if Mike had not persisted in his campaign.
Speaking of pollution reduction, I wish Mike would take up a cause I continue to articulate. If all political campaign contributions were taxed 25 percent, aimed at national debt reduction, it wouldn't eradicate the debt totally, but would put a good dent in it.
Mike, what do you think?
JOHN HAIN JR.
Little Rock
Democratic debates
Mike Scott, if you admit to watching only part of the 2019 Democratic debates, you really can't honestly write a letter complaining about the entire content of the debates. I actually did watch every minute of each debate and saw an entirely different scene than you described.
I was curious to the difference, so I looked up the topics from each debate and how much time was spent on each topic. From the first debate, we saw the most time spent on the economy, followed in order by immigration, health care, gun control, foreign policy, climate change, and least time to all other topics combined. The second debate saw the following: civil rights, foreign policy, climate change, the economy, gun control, and finally, all other topics.
If you listen to Rush Limbaugh, as I do, I know where your misconception comes from. Limbaugh's take on the debates did not reflect what actually happened.
Finally, I believe equating the heroism and sadness at D-Day to Republican values is totally bizarre and ludicrous. American soldiers fought and died for all Americans. They fought and died for Republicans and Democrats. They fought and died for our country's freedom, period.
STEVE EASTON
Conway
Missed a Razorback
Just an observation, but I found it interesting that in the "Off the Wire" (Compiled from Democrat-Gazette Press Services) article, "Feng wins by 1," in the Monday edition last week that no mention was made of the American Arkansas Razorback, Alana Uriell, who shot a 63 on her final round at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis.--the same as the leader Feng--and finished tied for ninth at a 21 under 267.
JACK OSTERMAN
Bentonville
A good role model?
I wonder if all the Americans who voted for Trump and are happy with their choice would also like to have Trump as a role model for their family.
If the one thing that they are so happy about is how he has made their bank a little bigger, that seems to be a big price to pay to say this is the person that is great for America and let democracy be damned.
CARL ANDERSON
Hot Springs Village
Painful regulations
If you or a loved one have had to endure severe or chronic pain without proper medication because of Arkansas' new opioid prescription regulations, please raise your hand. If you aren't raising your hand, and it's not due to pain, be prepared for the day when you or yours are prescribed a minuscule amount of pain medication or are denied a refill.
The new regulations appear to severely restrict how much medication can be prescribed, no matter the severity of the condition. It also appears that refills for these medications are not permitted. And probably worst is that doctors with a legitimate reason to prescribe these medications (i.e., trauma or other surgeons, orthopedists, oncologists) are the ones these regulations are most vigorously applied to.
It seems to me that some basic data analysis could identify cases like over-prescription and doctor-shopping. If such practices are not being flagged and investigated, then someone needs to be fired. The data exists and regulatory bodies should be using it. In my opinion, enhanced audit controls should be the focus of legislation and regulation instead of imposing onerous rules on doctors and their patients. Most doctors are very careful about prescribing these drugs and have been for at least the last 30 years.
Though concerns were voiced during deliberation, they were dismissed by the Legislature and others such as Asa Hutchinson and Leslie Rutledge. These nanny-state regulations can and probably will force patients to look to the streets or the Internet for relief. Hopefully we all understand how badly that can turn out, and changes can be made to fix these problems.
JOHN PERRIN
Little Rock
Taxpayers' best deal
Re Medicaid expansion: Since this seems to be one of John Brummett's favorite subjects, I have comments and questions for him.
I am not opposed to more people having health insurance at all in the cheapest cost for each person, with all paying some. What did our hospitals do before Medicaid expansion since it is a fairly new program? How are the hospitals making it in states that did not expand? Why not support Medicare for all instead of hanging on to Obamacare? Does the government really run Medicare, Tricare, VA Care, and Medicaid? Who sets the reimbursement rights for all services and prescriptions including private insurance and government programs?
Maybe someone can answer what would be the best deal for the taxpayer.
JOE FINLEY
Fordyce
Editorial on 07/16/2019