LETTERS

— Stop legal double-dipping

The “evil vs. good” contrast drawn by Charlie Frago’s piece, “State widens investigation into retirees,” and Lamor Williams’ piece about charities needing help at Christmas could not have been more stark.

On the side of “evil,” Frago highlighted the disgusting practice of double-dipping. That is, many-some elected, some appointed and some school district officials-are collecting full-time salaries and retirement pensions at the same time.

On the “good” side, Williams highlighted the virtuous struggles of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the Arkansas Food Bank Network and the Salvation Army to gather enough donations to meet the monumental needs of so many unemployed and underemployed Arkansans.

Thus, on the one hand during this holiday season, we find the doubledippers gorging their unmitigated greed on the taxpayer dollar, while on the other thousands of tax-paying Arkansans cannot meet even the most basic of their human needs.

Key state legislators, Arkansas Public Employee Retirement System officials and the double-dippers have trotted out the old saw, “But it’s legal.” Perhaps. But allowing unrestrained bureaucratic greed to trump basic human decency is preposterous on its face. It is time for double-dipping to stop and stop now. It is unethical, it is immoral and it is evil.

BOB JOLLY Hot Springs

Differences respected

I’ve just read Mike Jenkins’ letter and was moved to respond. My husband and I spent a Saturday night in a Fayetteville restaurant with a room full of those “Freethinker” people. It didn’t take long before we realized that you couldn’t swing a dead cat in there without hitting someone who was exceptionally intelligent, well read, well-informed, charming, articulate and refreshingly good humored.

Differences in points of view were just dripping in respect and civility, with no insults, no religious arrogance and no moral superiority. Giving folks like this the right to express their views, albeit scientifically and historically accurate ones, and to help them spread ideas like being good for goodness’ sake could lead to an electorate of wise, critically thinking people. Whatever shall we do?

LINDA FARRELL Bella Vista

Day prime for attack

The day that marks the seasonal phenomenon at which the days are shortest and the nights are longest is known as the winter solstice. Roughly six months later, when the days are longest and nights shortest will be the summer solstice. In between those two will be the autumnal and vernal (spring) equinoxes, when days and nights are equal length.

This is nothing more than a seasonal routine with no more significance than a broken watch being right twice a day. But since the winter solstice falls close to the day most Americans celebrate the birth of Jesus, it becomes an opportunity for radical atheists to attack Christianity.

So-called Freethinkers, who if smarter might be paid thinkers like the rest of us, have to try to get their monument to what they don’t believe up at the same time the Nativity is erected on the Capitol grounds. Do they try to get it erected during the summer solstice? No, because there would be no Christians there to offend.

I have a suggestion for the Freethinkers: Why not choose a more appropriate date for your celebration of hopelessness?

Like April 1.

TOM GUSEWELLE Harrison

Apply laws to leaders

I believe it is unlawful for Harry Reid and/or the president to pay out my taxpayer dollars-and I am a taxpayer-to buy votes to pass a healthcare bill that, according to polls I’ve seen, the majority of working and tax-paying people in this country do not want and which I believe will ultimately bankrupt the country and lead us to pure socialism.

I am puzzled and amazed as to why there is no hue and cry from the American people concerning how members of Congress can continue to pass laws that do not apply to them. As far as I can tell, Congress is exempted from the health care bill that [was] our 2009 Christmas present. Oh, how easy it is to spend other people’s money and exact laws and requirements that pertain only to others.

We desperately need to clean house in Washington. I only hope there are enough people of integrity out there that we can vote for in coming elections.

FLOYD GARROT Hot Springs Village Farewell to senators

With over two-thirds of Arkansans opposed to the health care bill, Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor had the vision to vote for it. With heartfelt sentiment, I want to say goodbye. If they choose not to represent Arkansans as they were elected to do, we will find someone who will.

RANDALL NOBLETT Cave Springs

Still can’t play game

The lead paragraphs of a Dec. 23 Wall Street Journal commentary sums up Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s negotiation skills in service to Arkansas:

“Blanche Lincoln and Evan Bayh must feel like saps. The Arkansas and Indiana Democrats spent months caterwauling about this or that provision in the Senate health care bill, then at 1 a.m. Monday they voted to speed its passage without getting so much as a lousy T-shirt.

“In Harry Reid’s Senate, this qualifies as dereliction of duty, as the majority leader said himself on Monday in defense of his frantic deal-making to get 60 votes. ‘I don’t know if there is a senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that was important to them,’ Reid said at a press conference that offered an unintentional commentary on modern democracy. ‘And if they don’t have something in it important to them, then it doesn’t speak well of them.’ ”

The deals that were made might end up being dropped later or challenged in court, but Lincoln, after two terms, is still not able to play the game for Arkansans who will be paying the bills negotiated by other senators.

WARREN WALTERS Little Rock

Get to the real issue

As Congress has the nation’s major problems now solved, it’s time to get to the real problem close to all Americans’ heart: What is the nation’s No. 1 football team?

This debate will most likely be solved by the persuasive, i.e., strongarm, power of Sen. Ben Nelson. Nebraska will be declared No. 1 forever. ROBERT FLYNN Beebe Message is welcome

The message of the Nativity is simple and requires no written word. Hope, joy, love, redemption, peace on Earth and good will to all cry out from the cradle.

As an American and a Christian, I support our rights and welcome the Box of Knowledge alongside the Nativity and whatever message it has to offer. May God bless America and the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

PAUL B. FRANCIS Monticello

Think outside the box

Should non-Christians be allowed to celebrate during the end of the year alongside Christians? Why not? Poor state Rep. John Lowery, so ignorant of history and living in fearful anger at what he can’t or won’t understand.

My box: It would surely be the end of the world as we know it should someone beside Christians be allowed to exercise their right to religious freedom. Rarely have I heard a less eloquent or more profoundly ignorant excuse for prejudice than Lowery’s little speech about history proving that if people are allowed topractice their religious freedoms, they will destroy our society, collapse our economy, and cause the invasion and the ruination of our country.

Wow, I think I heard that same speech in “Ghostbusters.” It was funny then; it is very sad now.

To think a box would somehow take away the seriousness of a plastic Jewish baby in a feed trough or some candles that mark the mysterious longevity oflamp oil. I’d just like Lowery to know that Winter Solstice celebrations predate Christianity by thousands of years and are actually the real reason for the season. The gutless stupidity and kowtowing to superstition of lawmakers by not speaking clearly on this issue is typical of these spineless boobs. Rep. Nancy Blount is to be applauded for her honesty and ability to think outside the box, so to speak.

RICK BURRY Eureka Springs

Shame on Congress

Never, at least in my lifetime, has there been a greater gathering of selfabsorbed, arrogant, morally bankrupt individuals than our current Congress, as a group the least knowledgeable or concerned about the law of our land, the United States Constitution. Shame on them. God help us.

ROBERT McNEAL Walnut Ridge Just food for thought

Re your recent editorial: Speaking of grace, wouldn’t it be nice if you were not critical of every statement and action by our president and Congress?

If you must be critical, how about speaking to the Huckster’s missteps or even have the courage to write about the harassment of Congressman Vic Snyder in a public restaurant? Perhaps you might even find a problem with George W. Bush for the horrible mess he left us in or all of the unnecessary deaths he caused in Iraq.

Now there is some food for thought. See what you can do with that.

RICHARD M. CAIN Little Rock

Officials kept pledge

In 2006, requests were forwarded to Dan Flowers, director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, and Pulaski County Judge Floyd G. “Buddy” Villines concerning the high traffic at Arkansas 367 and Atwood Road in the Landmark community.

A study of the intersection was performed and a traffic light promised in three years. The light is now installed and the caution light is flashing to alert drivers to the newly installed traffic signal. This enhances our safety and improves our community, and best of all, these public officials kept their word.

GYPSY NEL HICKS Little Rock Who took a holiday?

I am just wondering how many people belonging to this Society of Freethinkers got Christmas day off with pay or received time-and-a-half for working it. How many are postal workers or working for the government? Hypocrites.

JERRY BINGHAM Hot Springs Village

Feedback What is the truth?

Since this Senate health care reform bill was all done behind closed doors and now we’re getting different stories from the Democrats and Republicans, how are we to know what’s truth and what’s lies?

If this was a good bill, wouldn’t it have been aired on C-SPAN as the president promised?

CHARLOTTE DEAN Mount Pleasant

Party bought votes

Price of Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu’s vote: $300 million.

Price of Florida Sen. Bill Nelson’s vote: $25 billion.

Watching Democrat senators bribed to pass their own party’s health care bill: Priceless.

VIRGINIA COWLING Little Rock (No) thanks, folks

I want to thank Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln for voting for the corruption bill (a.k.a. health care).

WOODY WORSHAM Pine Bluff

Editorial, Pages 17 on 12/29/2009

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