He rewrote history
I received re-education on the history of the Great Depression and of World War II from Victor Davis Hanson's column last week. He reported that only after wealthy industrialists were "unleashed" from New Deal restraints could the economy improve. Shame on me for thinking that these courageous captains of commerce had three years from the stock market crash until FDR's election. What happened?
Hanson did not specify what restrictions impaired these leaders. Was it lack of women in the work force? Or was it lack of government funding? Check out the national debt level at the end of World War II. Restrictions I know occurred during the war were wage and price controls, and rationing of certain goods.
The stellar collective industrial effort certainly led to victory and provided a template for our consumer economy. That debt had to be paid down; please note that income tax rates on the highest earners were about 90 percent under Eisenhower (was he a neo-socialist?).
Folks, the national debt was approaching WWII levels before the coronavirus pandemic. Hanson offers no specific measures to revitalize the economy, only a vague hint to unleash the big dogs. There is no evidence that massive tax breaks for the rich and lack of regulatory control make life better for the majority.
RICK BELT
Fayetteville
He's invited criticism
I have enjoyed Rex Nelson's columns about small-town Arkansas, the restaurant scene around the state and Razorback sports. When he ventured outside his bailiwick and confirmed his status as an anti-Trumper "Bushie," however, he opened himself up to criticism as a total hypocrite who refuses to see the white elephant in the room.
The apparent catalyst for his transformation (or at least his announcement) was a recent three-minute video from George W. Bush which made the astounding statements that "we are not partisan combatants" and "we rise or fall together." Beautiful sentiments in the Wonderland these guys inhabit. Bush's ignorance or forgetfulness of the left's loathing for him and his unwillingness to demean the presidency and fight back gave us eight wonderful years of Obama and company. Does Bush not consider Trump's impeachment by the entire House Democratic membership to be "partisan combat?" It is understandable why Trump voiced his frustration that Bush never uttered a word in public about that travesty.
Winning by losing is the approach taken by traditional Washington Republicans since WWII that has given us our leviathan state. As long as Republicans knew their place and did not question Democratic power, everyone could get along just fine. After all, only Republicans are supposed to cross the aisle to work with the other side. Rex Nelson's criticism is about Trump's personality, which even his backers find frustrating at times. It was telling that Nelson did not identify one substantive policy position of Trump's with which he disagreed. Say what you will, but at least Trump is a fighter.
Lastly, calling readers and subscribers "apparatchiks"--basically, idiots--does not strike me as a brilliant or viable business model.
MICHAEL EMERSON
Little Rock
Wary of that promise
Given Mayor Scott's reported influence over the outcome of the Starks investigation, just how independent should we expect his "independent" investigation of the police department will be?
SCOTT STUBENRAUCH
Roland
Editorial on 05/23/2020