OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Well, all right, but ... | Vote against Issue 3 | Of neglect and decay

Well, all right, but ...

In response to the letter by Mr. James Hatch of Little Rock, who maintains that many people oppose Trump because of his personality and don't recognize his accomplishments: Being a longtime Republican and a conservative, I appreciate his stances on law and order and border security.

However, I remember that Adolf Hitler had broad popular support in Germany when he was elected chancellor. He had a number of major accomplishments such as reduced unemployment, set up youth programs, etc. However, he was an egomaniac who surrounded himself with yes men and made impulsive decisions. He managed to wrangle the elected position into a dictatorship. I seem to remember that in spite of his accomplishments, it didn't work out too well for the German people.

In response to the letter from Mr. Barry Emigh about a constitutional amendment limiting justices to 12-year terms which could be continued with Senate approval, I agree, but wanted to make the point that in 1787, the average life span for a white male was 38.7 years. So, at that time, there was already a limiting factor, The founding fathers didn't anticipate members of the court living to 90 and serving 40 years (or more).

PAUL HARPER

Sherwood

Vote against Issue 3

Issue 3 puts our state legislators' self-interest front and center. If passed, Issue 3 will make it significantly harder for citizen-led initiatives to get on the ballot while only nominally impacting the legislators' process for putting constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Currently we citizens can put an item on the ballot by collecting signatures from 15 counties before early July of the election year. Our Legislature is proposing to triple the number of counties where signatures must be collected while decreasing the amount of time allowed to collect them. If Issue 3 is passed, ballot measures from concerned citizen volunteers will be practically impossible to get on the ballot while ballot measures from special-interest groups will make the ballot because they have ample money to pay signature collectors.

In contrast, our legislators propose minimal changes to their own ballot measure process. If Issue 3 is passed, legislators will be required to obtain 60 percent vote in support of ballot items instead of the current 50 percent +1 vote. This would surely be easy for our Legislature given the overwhelming party majority.

We don't need stricter gatekeeping of citizen-led ballot measures. Getting a measure on the ballot doesn't automatically mean the measure becomes law. It just means that we, the people of Arkansas, get a chance to consider it and decide for ourselves.

Simply put, Issue 3 proposes changes that are good for the legislators and bad for the people. As Arkansas citizens, we have the right to put items on the ballot and make state laws. Don't cooperate with legislators in limiting that right to wealthy corporations and special-interest groups. Vote no on Issue 3.

CHARLOTTE SCHOLL SHURTZ

Bentonville

Of neglect and decay

A section of the 7700 block of Cantrell Road, one of the highest-traffic streets in Little Rock, might serve as an example of the broken windows theory, the concept that derelict property with visible decay such as broken windows will send a signal to the community that neglect and vandalism are acceptable. The theory further suggests that the abandoned property influences criminal behavior because buildings with litter, graffiti, and broken glass suggest that city leaders do not care about public safety.

The buildings once housed a car-detail business, a popular drive-in, and retail stores. Today the buildings are abandoned, some with roofs sagging, some with walls visibly leaning. The eyesore is almost directly across Cantrell Road from a modern and well maintained McDonald's restaurant. This is a busy commercial street, with thousands of cars and passengers driving past an urban blight every day. The unstated message is that neglect is tolerated.

A new business will eventually occupy these grounds. The property owner plans on putting a large car wash there, I have been informed by City Director Capi Peck, who told me the commercial property has been allowed to remain in decay despite objections from city directors who represent the area. Ms. Peck said the city has had the owner clean the site on several occasions, but it has quickly deteriorated again. This property needs to be condemned and the site cleared. A busy commercial street such as Cantrell Road should be a model of prosperity and cleanliness, not neglect and decay.

MARVIN SCHWARTZ

Little Rock

Positive ad messages

What a breath of fresh air! Have you seen the TV ads from the Joyce Elliott campaign? They just keep on getting better and better. They are so positive. How long has it been since we have seen ads of that nature?

Thank you, Joyce Elliott, for recognizing that the electorate has a brain, appreciates a rational and upbeat commercial, plus giving us the opportunity to vote for someone of your caliber.

DORIS SARVER

Little Rock

Can make difference

People may discount how effective a senator Ricky Harrington Jr. would be as a Libertarian. Imagine that Ricky beats Tom Cotton, and the party holding the White House has 49 senators. A Senator Harrington could be the tie-breaker or the tie-maker (with the vice president breaking the tie). Ricky could wield a trans-partisan power far beyond any one senator.

I would be very comfortable with a considerate and thoughtful person, like Ricky, in that position. It would sure beat the partisan gridlock that we have experienced for quite some time.

WILLIAM BARGER

Little Rock

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