LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Pressure hampers lending

I am concerned that the public is being misled that bankers are taking taxpayer dollars, refusing to make loans and paying themselves huge bonuses to boot.

Banks are generally seeking good loans. Frankly, they give us a higher yield than bonds and we make more money that way. The thing the press seems to be missing is that banks are required to maintain a percentage oftheir assets as capital, or net worth. When a bank has problem loans, regulators require that they be written down in value or charged off as losses. If reserves are not sufficient, then banks have to dip into capital. When that begins, there are two ways to maintain the required percentage: increase earnings or reduce assets. That means they have to quit making loans, the primary assets of a bank.

The result is the president pressuring us to make more loans and regulators pushing for higher capital, which in many cases necessitates reduced lending. The president and the press don’t seem to understand the position banks are being put in by receiving mixed messages from the federal government.

Rather than accepting loans from the government, most Arkansas banks have been giving back to their communities, sponsoring schools, charities, civic activities and economic growth. It is our obligation, and I believe we do it well. In addition, we’re paying taxes, not taking bags of taxpayer dollars as bonuses.

DON PATTILLO Stuttgart

War goes back years

Re the recent Afghanistan cartoon on the Editorial page: I’m pleased to note that someone actually reads history.

This whole charade for Afghanistan goes back to before 300 B.C. If we win, what do we get? Going back eight years, the military should have gotten those donkeys out west. The Afghans have used them forever.

If President Obama wants his own war, let him fight with his wife, although she might take him.

PAT CALLAWAY El Dorado

Courtesy on the wane

Common courtesy has been on the wane for years, but it seems particularly appropriate during trying economic times that retailers, restaurant managers and service people would do their best to solicit customer spending through good customer service, especially during the holidays.

Non-helpful clerks who simply shrug their shoulders; surly and nonattentive waiters; reselling returned defective items and then refusing to reimburse for such items when this discovery is made; not enough checkout registers; not counting out change at check-out; not bagging items that have been paid for; inept service in drive-through eateries; and the inability to say “Thank you for shopping with us” or “Happy holidays” are just some of the complaints I have yearround, but especially in the last three weeks.

Retailers and service folks: If you want our money, could you train your employees better?

NANCY VANDETT North Little Rock

Losing trust in leaders

In the beginning of our nation, the military won freedom from repressive government control. Our Constitution soon followed. Since then, more than 41 million men and women have served in the military and more than 650,000 have died in combat. They fought hard to preserve our freedom and our values. The task continues today.

Memorials in Washington, D.C., dedicated to those who died in wartime are beautiful but sad structures. For me, the Vietnam Memorial evokes dark memories of those who died in a conflict with a disputed goal; the government seemed to follow a nowin policy.

Still, men and women answered the call, swore to uphold and defend the Constitution and did what the country asked them to do. They were hated by many and even called murderers, thereby labeling 2.7 million Americans who served there.

Some elected officials still show their disdain for the military. Although elected members of government swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, it now seems that they are disregarding their oath while pushing a socialistic government and economic system on America. They are taking more and more power over businesses and our personal lives.

Many of us have lost trust in them. Did those who served and died for our country do so in vain? Are not Americans being duped and betrayed?

SAM HUTCHESON Fayetteville

Writing helps renew

Paul Greenberg’s column, “A kaddish for Joe,” was a jewel. In my opinion, he is the most gifted columnist writing today.

I think sometimes about canceling our subscription because the papers pile up so and the box where they leave the paper is a mile drive each way. But then I read a column like this one and I know I’ll go ahead and renew because I can’t afford to miss something so beautifully written.

GRACE DOSS Berryville

Advice left out point

An important word was missing in Wally Hall’s column urging Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett to return for the 2010 Razorbacks football campaign and not go pro.

The word is injury, as in Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. He spurned apparent big NFL money after his 2008 Heisman Trophy season to remain in college. He suffered two shoulder injuries and viewed much of the 2009 football race from the Sooner sidelines.

Bradford’s NFL value has declined because of the injuries, according to pro scouts. Actually, it’s an easy decision for Mallett and his family. If an NFL bonus is substantial, accept it.

TOM BLAKE Fort Smith

Feedback

Mail boxes are full

As did thousands of other Arkansas voters, I tried in vain dozens of times to call Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s Little Rock and Washington phone numbers to voice opposition to the socialist, communist Obamacare. All we ever got was a never-ending ringing or a recorded message of “Mail box is full.” That’s fine. She didn’t want to listen to us.

Now we go into 2010 with Lincoln sitting on her $4.1 million war chest to convince us poor, ignorant Arkies that she really represents the majority of Arkansas voters. Good luck. She’s going to need it.

She can spend away, but it will not help because she did not listen to us and we will not listen to her. But in November 2010, she will listen to us, I would be willing to bet. Until then, she can spend away on print ads and TV ads, but they will not get through because the voters’ mail box is full.

NANCY BLAND Fort Smith

Concern for youth

I believe that the health care bill will harm the young Americans of today because of the enormous debt that will be added to the already big enough national debt, debt that will be paid for later by today’s children (and their children, and their children’s children). Why am I concerned? Because I am 15.

ALEX ROSS Springdale